Chapter 2
I'm a Homebody, But I Possessed a Dark Captivity Novel
Episode 2
Rattle, rattle.
Ratt-le!
Rattle, rattle!
‘Haa….’
Wouldn't the ride be better now, even if I were scraping my bare bottom along this bumpy, unpaved road?
But I, as a person, no, April, was tougher than I thought. The severe motion sickness had somehow become bearable.
That's probably why I endured working so harshly under Rumeia.
Of course, the threat I face now is on a different level than any of the hard labor before.
‘Could anything be worse than this?’
Sniffle.
I squeezed out tears that no longer came. Inside the dark cargo wagon, with a musty-smelling sack pulled over my face.
The kidnapping and the endless journey were completely eroding my already weakened mental state.
There seemed to be a huge misunderstanding, but the more that was the case, the more I couldn't say I wasn't Rumeia.
I was afraid the kidnappers would kill me if they realized their mistake midway, deeming it too troublesome.
All I could do was stay quiet as I was taken to an unknown place, forcing myself to swallow my sobs to avoid angering the kidnappers, whose identities I didn't even know.
“Princess Rumeia, we will arrive at our destination shortly.”
Someone calmly informed me of the situation, but nothing changed.
Grumble.
“Hic….”
I felt pathetic. And most of all, I was hungry.
I had been starving even before being kidnapped, yet the kidnappers showed no consideration for my situation, feeding me only a hard piece of bread and watery gruel once a day.
They explained it was because they couldn't take me to the restroom frequently due to travel time, but it was still pathetic.
‘Not giving someone food in Korea is unthinkable!’
Three months under the wicked Lemeia Solt, and three days with the kidnappers—these were the worst experiences of my life, never to be repeated.
And the worst part was.
‘I don't want to die.’
No, even if I wanted to die, it wouldn't be a death on the streets like this.
Immediately after possessing the body, I was too overwhelmed by reality to fully grasp my situation.
My days were a whirlwind, and I was solely focused on eating a little more or sleeping a little longer.
In fact, I only learned I had possessed the <Forced Empress> when the old man I worked with called out Rumeia's name.
I only remembered details about the April I had possessed right before being kidnapped, so anyone could guess how hard I was struggling to survive.
“Sob sob….”
Rattle!
As I desperately tried to hold back my tears, the wagon, which had been moving rhythmically, suddenly stopped.
Following that, intense light streamed through the loosely woven sack.
“We have arrived at the destination, so please get up.”
“My, my legs are cramped….”
Except for a trip to the restroom a few hours ago, I had been sitting in the same position, so my body felt completely stiff.
After a moment of silence, a strong hand grabbed my arm, and I was dragged out like a puppet with its strings cut.
Thump!
“Aah!”
And then I was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground.
Ah, my fate…
“We have safely completed our mission and returned.”
While I lay sprawled out, trying to regain my senses, unfamiliar men conversed.
“Is she unharmed?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is the Princess lying on the ground?”
“Ah, she says her legs are cramped.”
As I struggled on the cold floor, a large hand gently pulled me up.
“Let her go.”
“Should I cover her mouth so she can’t scream?”
“No, if the rumors are true, she is a wise person. She should be able to judge what she needs to do here.”
Whoosh!
The sack that had blocked my vision was removed with surprising ease.
Before I could adjust to the sudden brightness, I shattered the man's expectations and screamed.
“I, I, I am not Lemeia Solt!”
In fact, I had been preparing.
Hoping for a chance to clear up the misunderstanding someday.
“I’m just a maid, no, a slave!”
Slave. It was a bitter word to say myself, but looking back at my life, it was undeniably true.
Perhaps, just perhaps, they might admit their mistake and let me go?
But there was no reply, as if mocking my futile hope.
Gulp.
The sound of my dry swallow was unusually loud. As a tedious silence ensued, I cautiously lifted my head.
The first thing I saw were the man's polished shoes, resting on a large chair.
As I raised my gaze, I met his green eyes, which held not a trace of warmth.
It was the gaze one would give an inanimate object.
Despite being in a life-or-death situation, he was a blindingly handsome man.
‘It must be Grand Duke Blale….’
Could he be the one to kill me?
Thinking that, his magnificent appearance faded from my sight. Only fear remained.
As I stood frozen like a mouse before a snake for a long time, the man’s lips, which had been closed like a painting, parted.
“Do you know anything?”
“Y-yes?”
Following my dazed reply came a rather chilling voice.
“…It seems further investigation is required.”
He wasn't asking me.
My cheeks flushed hot.
The man, who adjusted his rimless monocle, bowed his head as if embarrassed.
“I apologize.”
“So, this is not the target, but some chaff.”
Ch-chaff.
The coldness emanating from his tone made me shrink, not just feel intimidated, but my entire body felt like it was shriveling.
“What should we do?”
The man with the monocle asked the Grand Duke dryly.
Here, the answer I could predict was as follows:
We don't need chaff, so kill her.
Kill her for various other reasons.
Just kill her.
So, the conclusion was death.
“W-wait, wait a minute!”
Slam!
Facing the imminent threat of death, I immediately dropped to my knees.
Distorting my face, which was already disheveled from not eating properly for three days, into the most pitiful expression possible.
“Please spare me! I’ve lived a really hard life until now. I don’t want to die.”
My life and death were clearly in the Grand Duke's hands.
Turning towards him, I lowered myself obsequiously and crawled on my knees.
The Grand Duke's face contorted strangely, but it didn't matter. Driven by a survival instinct I didn't even know I had, I made a resolute vow.
“I don't even expect you to send me back. Actually, I'm someone who works incredibly hard. If you just spare my life, I'll work myself to the bone for free!”
But despite my desperate plea, he continued to look down at me with a displeased expression.
The only glimmer of hope was that he hadn't immediately ordered my death.
“C-can't you… really do something…? I’m good at my job… my nickname is slave… no, I really am a slave….”
“…Haa.”
My pathetic voice echoed mournfully in the quiet room.
At the same time, physiological tears, born from the fear of this, the greatest adversity of my life, blurred my vision.
‘Am I going to die like this?’
To die outside, not even in my own home… I’m the kind of person who wants to die peacefully in a warm bed, even if I become a ghost!
At this moment, one second felt like an hour.
Did my desperate state move him? After staring at me for a while, the Grand Duke gestured with his chin.
“For now, take her away until her fate is decided.”
“How should she be treated?”
“Confine her somewhere suitable.”
It wasn't a very appealing outcome, and it sounded like I was going to be confined again!
But as the conversation continued, my expression brightened.
I felt so relieved to have escaped immediate death that I wanted to kiss the Grand Duke.
“Thank you, thank you so much!”
…Actually, if I hadn't been helped up at just the right moment, I might have kissed the tip of his gleaming shoes.
“Let’s go.”
“Thank you so much! I’ll live a good life from now on! No, I’ll live as a diligent slave!”
As I was dragged away by the kidnappers who had brought me, I earnestly appealed in a loud voice.
That I wanted to be kept alive from now on!
