“Speak.”
A woman who only wanted immunity in return for saving the royal family had no reason not to grant her request if she wanted something else.
“Geographically, my family clearly belongs to Landhill. However, for some reason, we work for the Lord of Lesonia.”
Carson’s eyebrows furrowed at the incomprehensible words.
“How is that possible?”
“I understand that the boundaries of the territory changed about 35 years ago.”
It was not common for the boundaries of the territory to change, but it did happen occasionally depending on necessity and circumstances. As she had said, the Swenden family was located on the border between Landhill and Lesonia. With just those words, he could quickly grasp the situation that had arisen.
He thought for a moment. If this had been a long-standing problem for her family, now that she had saved Louis, it was clear that now was the best time to solve it.
“I’m not particularly happy about the Viscount of my territory serving another's family.”
Ines smiled brightly at his words. It was a pure smile that made her age of 20 seem real.
“I can’t say that the Swenden family will be listed on the Landhill noble list right away. It requires royal approval. But I can give you a definite answer.”
“If it’s a definite answer?”
“Before the end of this year, Swenden will only take care of the lands of Landhill.”
He expected a brighter smile, but the woman bit her lower lip slightly. He couldn’t tell whether she was holding back joy or sadness.
He gave her a moment to calm down. Carson sat up a little to clean up the place, seeing Ines’ expression that seemed relieved as if she was about to finish talking.
“Then...”
“And... I have one more request.”
Was the word request always such a curious word? Carson nodded, leaning back into his chair and telling her to speak.
“I want to meet that woman.”
“That woman?”
“The woman who tried to harm the Princess.”
This time, Carson stood up without asking why. As if to lead the way, Ines stood up urgently and grabbed his collar.
Carson unconsciously turned his head and looked at the sleeve that she was holding.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Then she was startled and moved away from him.
“You must be busy, so I can’t bother you. There’s no reason for the Count to come with me.”
“...”
“If you don’t feel comfortable sending me alone, I can bring someone else with me. There’s no particular reason. It’s just that I don’t want to take up your precious time because of my curiosity.”
Carson tilted his head for a moment but quickly stepped back from her. Then he nodded toward Noah, indicating that he should accompany her. Carson took a deep breath as he watched the woman’s back as she turned away without any regrets.
Her attitude was unclear. Her intention to meet the sinner was also quite ambiguous. However, one thing was certain. She had no ill will toward him, no matter what reason she was hiding.
“Young Lady?”
So he called out to the woman who was just leaving the door.
“Yes?”
She turned around obediently.
“Have we met somewhere before?”
He was so curious that he ended up asking the woman he liked a question that seemed like a flirtation.
“I was born and raised here.”
The result of the flirtation was a complete failure.
The secret room of the mansion was not a prison, so it was not a dark or scary place.
“This way.”
When Ines, who was guided by Noah, looked around, he continued quietly.
“Of course, it’s not a dangerous place, but it won’t be comfortable for you, Young Lady.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
Although it was a secret room, the place where Lena was being held was a small room with a bed. Two knights were standing guard in front of her door.
When she entered without permission, she saw Lena’s back. She was sitting blankly, facing the wall, as if in a prison.
“Lena.”
When Ines called her intimately, she turned her head. It was strange to see the eyes focused on her.
“It’s you.”
Lena showed hostility as soon as she saw Ines. She seemed to remember her face from the square. Sensing the sharp atmosphere of the two women, Noah sat Lena down on a wooden chair. Then he had the knight tie her arms to the chair.
The two sat facing each other at a small table that could fit two bowls.
“Why did you come here?”
Lena glared at Ines, who had ruined her plan as if she was going to kill her. However, despite receiving that murderous gaze, Ines’ face had no particular expression.
She did not answer Lena’s question, but smiled slightly and continued.
“You’ll be going to court soon.”
“...”
“You know that, right? After the court sentences you... you’ll probably end up in Romfield.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why? Did you think you could avoid Romfield because the Princess wasn’t dead?”
Noah, who had been standing by, flinched for a moment at Ines’ cold voice, whose smile had disappeared.
“Absolutely not. I know that. People like you are destined to end up there.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“You’d be lucky if you could stand in court. Even if someone like you were taken away in the middle of the night, no one would care.”
“Your fingernails and toenails will be pulled out in no time. Your joints will never be in their proper place. In the summer, you won’t be able to sleep properly for even a moment because of the bugs and rats.”
“Stop!”
“There will come a day when you will be glad to swallow the food you vomited again. You won’t even remember the face of anyone who takes you to be raped at any time.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Your day will begin with you burying your face in the water and listening to the laughter of men next to you.”
Ines looked at Lena’s terrified face and smiled like a beautiful devil. Then she grabbed her left ear and whispered close to her.
“Oh, was that cut off too?”
“You... who are you?”
Lena writhed away from Ines. But Ines didn’t stop.
“You will be beaten so much that you will go blind and deaf. The moment when you will think that you are so lucky will definitely come, you.”
As she chewed and spat out each syllable, a harsh curse burst out of Lena’s mouth.
“Uh, crazy... bitch.”
Ines laughed out loud at that. The moment when Lena, the crazy girl from Romfield, would say that she was crazy. She wasn’t wrong. Ines had a hard time maintaining her sanity as she tried to suppress the anger that was rising every day.
A woman who only wanted immunity in return for saving the royal family had no reason not to grant her request if she wanted something else.
“Geographically, my family clearly belongs to Landhill. However, for some reason, we work for the Lord of Lesonia.”
Carson’s eyebrows furrowed at the incomprehensible words.
“How is that possible?”
“I understand that the boundaries of the territory changed about 35 years ago.”
It was not common for the boundaries of the territory to change, but it did happen occasionally depending on necessity and circumstances. As she had said, the Swenden family was located on the border between Landhill and Lesonia. With just those words, he could quickly grasp the situation that had arisen.
He thought for a moment. If this had been a long-standing problem for her family, now that she had saved Louis, it was clear that now was the best time to solve it.
“I’m not particularly happy about the Viscount of my territory serving another's family.”
Ines smiled brightly at his words. It was a pure smile that made her age of 20 seem real.
“I can’t say that the Swenden family will be listed on the Landhill noble list right away. It requires royal approval. But I can give you a definite answer.”
“If it’s a definite answer?”
“Before the end of this year, Swenden will only take care of the lands of Landhill.”
He expected a brighter smile, but the woman bit her lower lip slightly. He couldn’t tell whether she was holding back joy or sadness.
He gave her a moment to calm down. Carson sat up a little to clean up the place, seeing Ines’ expression that seemed relieved as if she was about to finish talking.
“Then...”
“And... I have one more request.”
Was the word request always such a curious word? Carson nodded, leaning back into his chair and telling her to speak.
“I want to meet that woman.”
“That woman?”
“The woman who tried to harm the Princess.”
This time, Carson stood up without asking why. As if to lead the way, Ines stood up urgently and grabbed his collar.
Carson unconsciously turned his head and looked at the sleeve that she was holding.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Then she was startled and moved away from him.
“You must be busy, so I can’t bother you. There’s no reason for the Count to come with me.”
“...”
“If you don’t feel comfortable sending me alone, I can bring someone else with me. There’s no particular reason. It’s just that I don’t want to take up your precious time because of my curiosity.”
Carson tilted his head for a moment but quickly stepped back from her. Then he nodded toward Noah, indicating that he should accompany her. Carson took a deep breath as he watched the woman’s back as she turned away without any regrets.
Her attitude was unclear. Her intention to meet the sinner was also quite ambiguous. However, one thing was certain. She had no ill will toward him, no matter what reason she was hiding.
“Young Lady?”
So he called out to the woman who was just leaving the door.
“Yes?”
She turned around obediently.
“Have we met somewhere before?”
He was so curious that he ended up asking the woman he liked a question that seemed like a flirtation.
“I was born and raised here.”
The result of the flirtation was a complete failure.
***
The secret room of the mansion was not a prison, so it was not a dark or scary place.
“This way.”
When Ines, who was guided by Noah, looked around, he continued quietly.
“Of course, it’s not a dangerous place, but it won’t be comfortable for you, Young Lady.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
Although it was a secret room, the place where Lena was being held was a small room with a bed. Two knights were standing guard in front of her door.
When she entered without permission, she saw Lena’s back. She was sitting blankly, facing the wall, as if in a prison.
“Lena.”
When Ines called her intimately, she turned her head. It was strange to see the eyes focused on her.
“It’s you.”
Lena showed hostility as soon as she saw Ines. She seemed to remember her face from the square. Sensing the sharp atmosphere of the two women, Noah sat Lena down on a wooden chair. Then he had the knight tie her arms to the chair.
The two sat facing each other at a small table that could fit two bowls.
“Why did you come here?”
Lena glared at Ines, who had ruined her plan as if she was going to kill her. However, despite receiving that murderous gaze, Ines’ face had no particular expression.
She did not answer Lena’s question, but smiled slightly and continued.
“You’ll be going to court soon.”
“...”
“You know that, right? After the court sentences you... you’ll probably end up in Romfield.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why? Did you think you could avoid Romfield because the Princess wasn’t dead?”
Noah, who had been standing by, flinched for a moment at Ines’ cold voice, whose smile had disappeared.
“Absolutely not. I know that. People like you are destined to end up there.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“You’d be lucky if you could stand in court. Even if someone like you were taken away in the middle of the night, no one would care.”
At that moment, Lena spat at Ines. It was Lena’s habit to do this to someone who was blaming her.
“Oh!”
Noah approached Ines, surprised by her behavior.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“Please go upstairs.”
“No, Sir. I’m sorry, but I left my handkerchief in my room. May I ask you a favor?”
“Yes. I’ll go and talk to the knight.”
Noah left Ines in the room and hurriedly walked to the door. Ines seized the moment and brought her face close to Lena.
“I know who ordered you to do this.”
Lena’s brow furrowed at the sudden words.
“But do you know? The Lord of Lesonia will abandon you.”
Lena’s face turned completely pale at the mention of Count Graham.
“Don’t say something ridiculous.”
Ines glanced in Noah’s direction. It seemed that he was still explaining the location of Ines’ room to the knight.
“Oh!”
Noah approached Ines, surprised by her behavior.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“Please go upstairs.”
“No, Sir. I’m sorry, but I left my handkerchief in my room. May I ask you a favor?”
“Yes. I’ll go and talk to the knight.”
Noah left Ines in the room and hurriedly walked to the door. Ines seized the moment and brought her face close to Lena.
“I know who ordered you to do this.”
Lena’s brow furrowed at the sudden words.
“But do you know? The Lord of Lesonia will abandon you.”
Lena’s face turned completely pale at the mention of Count Graham.
“Don’t say something ridiculous.”
Ines glanced in Noah’s direction. It seemed that he was still explaining the location of Ines’ room to the knight.
“ Didn’t he say that if you just did as Count Graham said, there wouldn’t be any problems?”
“This, this... !”
“This, this... !”
“You don’t believe that, do you? Whether you succeed or fail, Count Graham doesn’t need you at all. There’s no reason to keep you alive. You shouldn’t know that...”
“That can’t be...”
“Jason.”
“What?”
In fact, Ines didn’t know exactly who the Jason name Lena had been muttering in prison was. Some said it was the man Lena loved, and others said it was her dead child.
“He’ll die.”
“Oh, no.”
“He’ll kill him. Definitely. I know for sure.”
Lena’s eyes shook without mercy. What Ines was saying was the one and only perfect truth. Lena would go to Romfield because of this, and whoever Jason was, he would die at the hands of Lord Lesonia.
Ines looked Lena in the eye clearly, confident that the pure truth she was saying would be completely conveyed.
“Jason, whom you cherish, will surely die at the hands of the Count.”
Lena, who had been glaring and breathing heavily, suddenly stood up from her seat. Then, like an angry animal, she thrust her upper body at Ines. Ines did not panic and moved away from her. With a thud, the sound of chairs and tables falling over echoed along with Lena’s scream.
“No. Absolutely not!”
Noah, startled by the commotion, strode toward the two.
“What’s going on?”
Noah told the remaining knight to grab Lena. At that moment, Ines spoke again to Lena, silently opening her mouth.
‘Jason will die.’
Lena, who understood those words, rushed at Ines, tripped on the table that had fallen, and fell down on the spot.
“Shut up!”
Ines slowly approached her as she sat on the floor and groaned.
“Romfield, you know.”
“...”
“Yes, Romfield, the place where you will soon be staying. You’ve probably heard rumors about that prison, right?”
Noah stared blankly at Ines, who suddenly spoke. The woman, who straightened her body and lowered her eyes, had an attitude that made it hard to believe that she was a young girl of 20. Even though the criminal in front of her was threatening her with anger, she didn’t back down an inch.
“That’s not a place you can dare imagine.”
Ines bent down to face Lena, who had fallen. Then she grabbed Lena’s chin and made her look her in the eye. Lena’s eyes, which had been upside down due to the strong grip, slowly came into focus.
“Listen carefully, Lena.”
“...”
“Your fingernails and toenails will be pulled out in no time. Your joints will never be in their proper place. In the summer, you won’t be able to sleep properly for even a moment because of the bugs and rats.”
“Stop!”
“There will come a day when you will be glad to swallow the food you vomited again. You won’t even remember the face of anyone who takes you to be raped at any time.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Your day will begin with you burying your face in the water and listening to the laughter of men next to you.”
Ines looked at Lena’s terrified face and smiled like a beautiful devil. Then she grabbed her left ear and whispered close to her.
“Oh, was that cut off too?”
“You... who are you?”
Lena writhed away from Ines. But Ines didn’t stop.
“You will be beaten so much that you will go blind and deaf. The moment when you will think that you are so lucky will definitely come, you.”
As she chewed and spat out each syllable, a harsh curse burst out of Lena’s mouth.
“Uh, crazy... bitch.”
Ines laughed out loud at that. The moment when Lena, the crazy girl from Romfield, would say that she was crazy. She wasn’t wrong. Ines had a hard time maintaining her sanity as she tried to suppress the anger that was rising every day.
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