Perhaps because she had met Count Noah on her way to work, Shioana found herself staring intently out the window during every break. She was so anxious that she couldn't concentrate on her work.
'They must have stopped by on business, right?'
But if he stopped by for business, why Zone 8?
This was a rough neighborhood for nobles to frequent. Usually, nobles would go to the upper district to handle business, and only sent their servants here.
Due to their similar culture and history, Urcheka and the Caspian Empire adopted the same laws and social status systems.
For that reason, the Caspian nobility was actually recognized as a title here as well. In her case, however, she comes from a fallen family with no property, and she lives like this because she has to conceal her identity.
'After all, Count Noah was a well-known figure of wealth even in Highbell. It might not be that difficult for him to exert his influence in Tabria as well. Could it be that he has come looking for me? It’s fine if something bad happens to me alone, but I’m not alone right now.'
If she is caught by Count Noah, Martha and Harriet might starve to death immediately.
Although Martha was capable of doing anything perfectly in Regbell, she was unfamiliar with the geography of this place and still only knew how to give a simple greeting to Urcheka.
Shioana became sensitive due to worry about her family.
However, since she has lived as cautiously as possible since coming here, it will be impossible for Count Noah to find her. Just as Shioana was coming to the most optimistic conclusion possible, Raul suddenly appeared.
“You damn bastards!”
His face, flushed with anger, looked menacing, as if the knife scar had grown longer. He reeked of the sea, as if he had just disembarked.
He threw his large captain's hat onto the desk, fumed, and immediately looked for a cigarette.
"W-what's wrong?"
Shioana, who quickly opened the window, asked cautiously.
"I had a fight with some pirate bastards."
"...Ah."
"How dare you target my cargo? You've really lost your nerve."
Shioana doesn't know why his words reminded her of her deceased father.
'We will soon be rich.'
Her father, who used to boast so much, lay asleep beneath the pitch-black sea, burdened with nothing but debt. It suddenly occurred to her that if Raul kept chasing money, he might end up just like her father.
"Take care of yourself, boss."
"...Ah."
Raul scratched his head at the short remark Shioana made.
'She's such a strange woman.'
There were quite a few people in the empire who flattered him.
Even setting aside the fact that he was the illegitimate son of Marquis Calix, Raul was wealthy. The fact that he was a handsome and rich young merchant made him a popular figure.
Thompson and Murphy also respected and envied his ability.
'But Shioana doesn't show any sign of that at all.'
Shioana looked only at the documents with ink on her hands, paying no attention to this muscular, masculine body or face.
'She has such a lovely face, looking exactly like my mother.'
Didn't the mother, with her long, luscious black hair and clear eyes, captivate Marquis Carlix at first sight?
In any case, Shioana did not show more interest than necessary in either his good looks or his wealth.
'But to suddenly tell me to take care of myself...'
She might be paying more attention to him than Raul thinks.
'You gave me the biggest soup bowl last time I went to your house, too.'
Feeling inexplicably smug, Raul combed his hair back. He had been angry because of those pirates clinging to him like leeches, but now he felt better.
"Hmm. Right, I'll be careful, so you don't need to worry so much about me."
"...What?"
As she flipped through the documents with his thimble-wearing hand, Shioana looked puzzled, and Raul's ears turned red. It seemed that Shioana was pretending not to notice because she was embarrassed.
***
As Shioana left the office after work, her face was frozen.
'Let's not get nervous for no reason.'
However, contrary to her words, she began to adjust the headscarf she was wearing more carefully and look around in all directions.
As she cautiously made her way through the alley, the filth poured by the merchant splashed onto the ground, staining the hem of her dress. However, the people on the street, except for Shioana, made no thought to avoid it and hurried on their way.
"..."
Although most things were still unfamiliar, the hardest thing to get used to in Tabria was that she kept bumping into people while walking down the street.
'You really never know. I never thought I would end up living entangled with more people than bushes.'
It was just as a faint smile appeared on her face as she turned the corner.
"No way! You know what? This woman stole the fish I put away last time too!"
"Did they only take the fish? It looked like they were stealing the washed clothes and selling them."
The alley, where fights broke out day after day, was boisterous again today. Until she heard the wailing voice of a woman, Shioana simply thought that she didn't want to get involved.
"I really didn't do it! I have no idea what on earth you're talking about!"
Startled by a familiar voice, she pushed her way through the onlookers and stood in the middle of the alley, where Martha, holding Harriet, was lying on the ground.
"...Martha!"
Shioana hugged Martha's body to protect the family from the threatening people.
"What are you doing? If there is a problem, you should resolve it through conversation."
Shioana, suppressing her trembling voice, confronted those who were picking a fight with Martha.
“I’m telling you, that foreign woman stole our stuff!”
"And baby's mother, are you in a position to raise your voice like this? Set your behavior straight. Don't act like you're someone important just because you drink every night and ride in a noble's carriage."
"I'm telling you, the mother and daughter are really shameless."
Their words were, without exception, nothing more than blind accusations without any evidence. The arrows of blame quickly shifted from Martha to Shioana.
Eventually, everyone living in the alley came out to watch Shioana, Martha, and Harriet in distress.
Harriet, perhaps startled, had been crying for a while and made a strange sound as if he were about to suffocate.
"Everyone, please stop. We didn't steal anything."
Surrounded by onlookers, Shioana earnestly pleaded.
“You’re funny!”
"Did you think we would just say 'yes, yes' if you said that?"
Madness flickered in the eyes of those surrounding them.
'How good.'
Shioana felt at a loss.
In fact, for these people, the truth might not be important.
'Do they need someone to take their anger out on?'
They have already failed to persuade so many people, and they are outnumbered. Without someone's help, it will be impossible to resolve this crisis.
However, there was no one here to help them. Just as tears were welling up in their eyes, they saw the familiar figure of a carriage at the end of the alley.
'...Ah. That's.'
Shioana ran through the crowd of onlookers to the end of the alley. One of her shoes came off while she was running, but she did not stop. She slumped down at the feet of someone who had stepped out of a carriage and gasped for breath.
"It seems you forgot the item about always maintaining dignity."
Duke Bernhard, scanning Shioana's wretched appearance, replied coldly.
"...Ha."
The Duke clearly did not know what pity was. She felt like turning away right then and there, but the situation made that impossible.
'Because this is the only person I can rely on right now.'
Hearing Harriet's faint sob from a distance, Sioa couldn't even think to stand up and clutched his ankle.
"My lord, please help me."
"...What do you mean?"
"Please protect my family, Martha and Harriet."
He let out a short sigh as he looked down at Shioana, who was begging for pity to the point of looking abject.
"I don't know why I should help you."
Through the sagging cloak, his narrowed red eyes touched Sioa's scraped hands and knees. He was undoubtedly mocking her pitiful plight, but Sioa didn't care and opened her mouth.
"...Y-You said we were lovers, didn't you?"
"Are you ready to do this properly now?"
Shioana felt disillusioned with the Duke, who was spouting wordplay even in such a desperate situation.
There was nothing she hadn't granted him until now. She had come when he called, gone when he went—she had played the role of an obedient dog at every turn.
'So, are you asking if she’s going to do it properly now?'
However, the answer that came out was utterly subservient.
"I'll do anything for you, so please help me."
"...Whatever, you seem to know your place quite well."
As the Duke raised his hand to stroke his chin, guards who had poured out from nowhere surrounded Martha and Harriet. The Duke, who had been quietly watching this, boarded the carriage and extended his hand to her.
“Get in the carriage.”
“Ha. But...”
"I thought you promised to do it properly."
"...My family."
"I will send another carriage to bring them in."
It was a situation where she could not help but believe the Duke's words. Shioana took the Duke's hand and climbed into the carriage. Leaning back against the plush seat, her mind was in turmoil.
'At least I guess I can worry less about Count Noah.'
Shioana found herself pathetic for feeling relieved in such a humiliating situation. Through this incident, she realized how insignificant she was.
"I wonder when you will say thank you."
He was looking at Shioana with a strange look, his gloved hands clasped together. She had forgotten an important greeting in her haste. If Mrs. Hooper had seen this, she might have fainted.
Shioana straightened her back and cautiously spoke to him.
"I apologize for the late greeting. Thank you for your help."
Her gratitude was sincere.
Had it not been for him appearing just in time, she would undoubtedly have been beaten up by the villagers. After all, they had eyes that wouldn't let them resist hitting anyone, not just Shioana.
"You might not need to thank me..."
A sinister voice flowed from the mouth of Duke Bernhard as he leaned his back against the carriage.
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