TNCTR 29

Chapter 29

From within the crowded interior filled with countless people, a man suddenly sprang out and screamed when he saw me staggering through the open door.

“Whoa! You scared me!”

“……”

I was even more startled.

“Where’s Sir Pavel? Why are you alone?”

That rough voice was incredibly grating.

Even worse was the hand that grabbed me right after.

I decided to calm myself down for a moment.

‘Wait a second… this guy’s the one who grabbed my face and shook me earlier!’

I definitely remembered his face.

I debated whether to dodge the hand that was reaching for me, twitching lips and all.

The decision didn’t take long.

“What are you standing there for!? Move it!”

I massaged my ears, which rang from his raised voice, tightened my fists, and made a vow.

You… I’ll deal with you later.

The man shoved me into the crowd.

“Don’t touch this woman.”

My place in the order had been changed to the very end, which was unacceptable.

“Earlier, Pavel…? He told me to go up as soon as he left. Am I allowed to stand here?”

Speaking politely and trying to appease worthless people like them made my stomach churn.

I wanted to get up on that platform and see the precious faces of those highborn nobles as soon as possible.

I desperately wanted to stir up a commotion, but first, I needed to check on the people I’d promised to help.

“Sir Pavel?”

“Come to think of it, why aren’t you restrained?”

I boldly dropped Pablo’s name, who wasn’t even here.

“Sir Pavel removed them for me.”

I blinked innocently, and the slave traders fell for it easily.

“Hmph… that’s rare.”

“Maybe Sir Pavel intends to take her with him.”

“He seemed to like her earlier.”

“Tch!”

And just like that, I was moved to the front row.

I stood before a pair of siblings who seemed to be next in line.

“Noona…”

“Shh. Quiet now… Come here, I’ll hold you.”

‘……’

My gaze turned cold.

They looked around my age.

I slightly turned my head and made eye contact.

The boy didn’t seem to recognize me, but the girl—who had been with me earlier—visibly flinched as if she instantly knew who I was.

I brought my finger to my lips, and her trembling eyes settled as she nodded and held her brother tighter.

“Phew…”

I took a deep breath.

The host’s voice boomed from the front, piercing into my ears.

My heart sank with cold dread.

It felt like I was sinking slowly into a dark and frigid abyss.

The host’s revolting words stirred the crowd into excitement.

Their joy came from others’ misery.

“Alright! So, the next one!”

I couldn’t bear to hear any more.

There was no reason to.

I had nothing left to endure.

I had seen plenty of filthy and disgusting things in my life while on the run…

But nothing had ever felt this revolting.

“Hahaha!”

“Next! Who’s up next?!”

Cheerful voices, vulgar evaluations.

These people would change their shoes if they stepped in filth, yet they didn’t even recognize this as filth.

What’s the use of looking clean on the outside if you’re this rotten inside?

“Stop wasting time and walk out on your own!”

Men shouted roughly at the siblings.

“N-Noona…”

“Hng… Sob…”

I tilted my head back, trying to steady my breath.

Then I reached forward and pulled the siblings firmly into my arms.

They looked up at me.

“You don’t have to go.”

I hoped my gentle words reached them.

“I told you, I’d save you.”

That was the reason I’d come.

It wasn’t just for me.

Even if it was partly self-serving, I came to this vile place because I wanted to save them.

“Just wait a little longer. I’ll change everything.”

The men stared at me, confused, but I easily brushed off their gaze.

People started calling out and trying to stop me as I climbed the stairs—but I ignored them all.

“Ah, I’ll be borrowing your shoes.”

I stole shoes from a woman who seemed to be with the group nearby.

Oh, and I took her gloves too—they were nice.

‘Mine were taken earlier, after all.’

I couldn’t do much about the dress, but now I finally looked a bit more like a proper noblewoman.

“Then, let’s begin again!”

The host raised his arms cheerfully, pausing his hype.

Following the sound of his voice, I walked forward.

Click-clack, click-clack—my heels echoed throughout the hall.

Sweeping my brown-dyed hair back, I stepped onto the platform.

Sensing all the gazes now focused on me, the strange newcomer, I smiled softly.

“Everyone seems to be having fun.”

The brown hair, tinted by an artifact, began to darken—starting at the crown and turning jet black.

“Mind if I join?”

Under the chandelier, shining brighter than the sun, it was as if pure darkness had descended.

The blackness trailing down my flowing hair felt colder than snow on a winter night.

Creak.

The masks that hid identities.

The provocative decorations that stirred excitement.

In the midst of a den of depravity, where human value had been discarded, a small woman’s sudden appearance froze everyone mid-drink.

No one here could possibly not recognize the face of the woman who had entered the capital in a blaze of glory and inherited a noble title.

My luscious black hair erased any doubt in their minds.

Click-clack, click-clack.

The hall fell silent.

It was as if time had stopped.

No one dared move, speak, or even blink.

Holding their breath, they merely rolled their eyes to follow my every move.

“Why stop? Keep going.”

The host, clueless about the situation, was quickly shoved aside with a flick of my hand.

“Why is the Duke of Mertiel there…?”

“Could she actually be interested in this kind of thing…?”

They wouldn’t dare speak those thoughts aloud—but they were surely thinking them.

“Everyone’s wearing such lovely masks.”

Feigning innocence, I laughed, ignoring what was in their hearts.

“I wonder if I’ll recognize any faces once they come off.”

Some might’ve still clung to hope, but that illusion shattered quickly.

“I’m curious, so let’s hurry up and clean this filthy place up.”

That statement was enough to get the frozen crowd moving again after the shocking appearance of a heavyweight.

Like oiling up rusty joints.

“Me-Mertiel…”

Someone muttered—and the whisper exploded like fireworks.

The stunned host was unceremoniously shoved offstage, and those standing on the platform were sent back to their seats.

‘As for the rest of them…’

They were all on the other side.

Then there’s no problem.

“Nice to meet you all.”

“D-Duke…”

I descended the stage with confident steps, heading straight toward the loud man at the front.

“Oh my. Won’t you return my greeting?”

I withdrew my extended hand with a chuckle.

“It’s a shame, but at least I won’t have to wash it now—so I should thank you.”

I smiled with narrowed eyes.

The man trembled and looked around.

“H-Haha. I didn’t expect the Duke to have an interest in a place like this…”

It was obvious even to him that this wasn’t the case, but he was just saying anything now, watching me nervously.

“Yes, interest. I’m very interested.”

“T-Then…!”

“I’m interested in throwing all of you into prison.”

I laughed, knowing he probably thought I was alone.

“It’d be best to stop thinking too hard. I’m in a very bad mood right now, and I don’t know what I’ll do if I see someone trying to be clever.”

Even though I appeared to be alone, my confident attitude anchored fear in the nobles’ hearts.

But there’s always an exception.

“I-If the Duke does that, we’ll have no choice but to act to protect ourselves!”

“Y-Yeah! Even if she brought people, if we gather everyone on our side—!”

“Forget it! I’m getting out of here! Agh! Why won’t the door open?!”

A mocking smile settled among them.

“You’d better stay still. I’d like to take you all in humanely.”