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Chapter 93. Bait (10)
After leaving the banquet hall, Eirin gave up on everything and climbed into the carriage.
It’s really over. Everything is over.
Now she really had to live as the second wife of an old noble.
Where did it go wrong? Was it wrong to greet Noel privately? Or that she got caught by Camilla, who was nominated as Noel’s fiancée?
Eirin shrank her shoulders.
Unable to bear her reality, she sought out Camilla. She wanted to somehow clear up the misunderstanding and go back to how she was in the past. But what Camilla wanted wasn’t just an apology. Camilla wished her to bring Elusiana, her childhood friend, before her. It wasn’t difficult to guess what that call meant since she had experienced firsthand Camilla’s malice.
She was thinking of making Elusiana like me. To push her into the gutter where she can’t get out and watch her struggle in pain.
It was a really terrible pain. Even though she knew it, Eirin turned a blind eye. If she admitted it, she wouldn’t have the confidence to ask Elusiana again.
Is that why I’m being punished? Just because I was trying to use Elusiana for my own comfort?
Maybe Camilla didn’t even expect it, contrary to what she said. If it went well, it would be all good, but if it didn’t go well, she would just throw her away.
“I was the one who was used by her.”
Eirin was horrified by the way Camilla moved her as she intended.
It was then. Hiiiing— Rattle —\
“W-who are you?! Uuuaaargh!”
With a loud noise, the carriage shook and stopped.
“…Mister? M-Mister?”
Eirin trembled and crouched in the corner of the carriage. If she hadn’t heard wrong, the scream just now belonged to the coachman. She covered her head with trembling hands.
She just needed to hold on a little bit and wait for the security forces that would come here soon. It was late at night, but this place was definitely the main street. There was such a loud scream that the security forces couldn’t just ignore it.
Then, suddenly, the carriage door burst open, and a large hand came in.
“Kyaaak!”
Seeing the large hand, Eirin screamed. It wasn’t the hand she knew. It was a black, rough hand.
In time the door opened completely, revealing the face of the man whom she had never seen before. A man who laughed furiously. Judging by his casual clothes, he wasn’t definitely a knight. Afraid, Eirin squeezed her voice out.
“…W-w-who are you?”
“Hahaha. What a lovely lady.”
“…W-what about Mister Coachman?”
“Ah, if that’s the case.”
The man with a mischievous laugh shoved something into the carriage. It was the coachman who looked already dead.
“Kyaaaaak!”
Eirin, who had screamed once more, staggered as if she were going to faint.
“Hey, hey. It’s not fun if you faint.” The man violently grabbed Eirin’s arm and pulled her out of the carriage.
“Kya!”
Without resistance, her frail body was carried behind. When they came into the forest, the surrounding was silent.
T-this place is not the main street! How did this happen?
The words ‘Save me!’ and ‘Help me!’ lingered in Eirin’s mouth. But she couldn’t say it because she felt suffocated.
“Kehugh. Eugh….”
“Hahaha.”
Disgusting laughter was heard above her head. After a long conversation, he soon grabbed Eirin’s arms with a fishy smile.
“N-no. Let go of me! Let go!”
Eirin shook her head with tears in her eyes. They kidnapped her. Seeing the carriage in the forest, the coachman seemed to be involved. Since when? But why did he kill the coachman?
The man grinned as he grabbed Erin’s chin. “What’s wrong, Lady? Wonder why I killed the coachman? Hahaha. It’s not for any particular reason. The fewer eyes to see, the better.”
Eirin’s eyes trembled as she was terrified.
“Heeuk. Heuk…”
“It seems you are completely out of your mind? Hey, Lady, don’t be scared. As long as you cooperate… We’ll finish it quickly. Hahaha.”
“Heuk. Huhu. P-please save me… save me… Please!”
Eirin wriggled herself. The smiling face of the man crumpled meanly.
“Shh— You might break a bone if you wriggle yourself like that, Lady. You should cherish the body your parents gave you.”
“Huhu. It hurts. Let go. Let me go. Please let go. Heuk. Huhuhu.”
“I know. You should have watched your mouth. Or watch out for those pretty eyes. Why covet other people’s things and make us bad people, huh? We don’t like doing this either.”
“…!”
Eirin, who widened her eyes, raised her head. Why does the face she doesn’t want to imagine come to her mind at this moment? Don’t tell me… C-Camilla? No way. W-w-what’s wrong with Lady Camilla? Why?
But the man’s hand had no mercy. He grabbed her neck before she could ask anything back.
“Ugh. Euurgh!”
Eirin, who was strangled, struggled like crazy. However, the vicious hand held her slender arms and remained motionless. Please… somebody… help me.
It was the time when she closed her eyes tightly in anticipation of impending death as her breath was choked to the tip of her chin. Pow. Pow, pow. She thought she could hear punching sounds, but soon the silence fell.
“…!”
Eirin took a deep breath with her eyes closed. The hand that was strangling her fell off, but she couldn’t open her eyes hastily because of the fear that it would start again.
But at that very moment, something warm wrapped around her body.
“You almost got into trouble, Lady. Are you okay?”
“…?”
A sweet and warm voice. It was a soft, calm voice, not of grumpy men who giggled.
Eirin opened her eyes instinctively. “W-who are you?”
“Ah, my introduction is late. I’m Genoyer Run Sestein.”
“…Prince… Sestein?”
“Do you know me?”
Eirin looked up at the man standing. Even though he had his back to the moonlight, the man was clearly in the form of that prince.
“P-Prin… ce… Heuk. Thank you. Thank you very much.”
“Oh dear, you must be shocked. You can rest assured now. I’ve definitely cleaned up the trash.”
“…!”
Eirin’s gaze looked down. But before that, Genoyer pulled her face toward him.
“It’s an ugly sight for the beautiful Lady to see.”
“Huhu… Yes.”
Eirin, who closed her eyes tightly and opened her eyes, finally calmed down and spoke. “But how did Prince get here…”
“I followed after Lady.”
“…Me?”
Erin clutched the cloak, which appeared to be his, and pulled it up to the end of her neck. A wave of shame washed over her messed-up behavior, but more than that, her heart thumped with anxiety.
“W-why me?”
“Because I’m interested in you.”
“…!”
Eirin’s pupils widened as she was surprised. It was the first time she had met him face-to-face, but when on earth had he seen her? D-did he fall in love at first sight? N-n-no way!
Eirin, who strongly denied Genoyer’s words, hurriedly turned her gaze.
“Didn’t I tell you beforehand that it would be difficult to look that way?”
Genoyer lowered his stance and gently wrapped Eirin’s chin.
“Gasp.”
Eirin, whose chin was held, faced Genoyer’s face right in front of her eyes. She saw very cold eyes. But when those eyes met her, they bent like a lie.
“…!”
“Are you going to get up now? I will take you home.”
Genoyer held out his hand politely. Eirin stared at his hand. After a moment of hesitation, she put her hand shyly.
“Well, then, please.”
“Me too. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
Genoyer bent the corners of his mouth and supported her to get into the carriage.
* * *
Tak.
Genoyer entered the door and put down the key on the table. He, who roughly brushed his hair, strode towards the window.
Where he was now was the highest-floor hotel with a panoramic view of the island. Genoyer thought there would be no place as safe as this place because it was right in the middle of the capital.
Okay, let’s see. He could kill me if he made up his mind. But he wouldn’t be able to touch him hastily. It was because Genoyer had already scattered his traces here and there.
Genoyer twisted one corner of his mouth as he looked down at the beautifully spreading lights. It was just then. Knock, knock.
Looks like you’re finally here.
Genoyer, with a satisfied smile, sat down in his chair and said, “Come in.”
With a click, the door opened, and two middle-aged men entered. They were Count Hailan and Viscount Basil.
“How have you been, Prince?”
“Greetings to the Prince. My name is Viscount Basil.”
“Yes, nice to meet you. Did you have any inconvenience coming all the way here?”
“W-what do you mean inconvenience? Prince called me, so I must go even if it is a thousand miles away. Hahaha.”
Viscount Basil laughed out, looked at his eyes, then smiled awkwardly.
“That’s a relief. Would you like to take a seat first?”
Genoyer held out his hand and offered a seat, and the two sat across from each other in the empty chair.