Chapter 22
I Was a Homebody, But I Possessed a Dark Imprisonment Novel
Episode 22
“Princess!”
With the Grand Duke’s surprised voice, a warm embrace enveloped my body.
At the same time, I saw a large bookshelf descending behind him.
CRASH!
Fortunately, the bookshelf fell onto another bookshelf opposite it, creating space underneath, but the real problem was elsewhere.
Thump, thump.
Thick, hard books rained down from the tilted bookshelf.
Each time a heavy impact landed, the Grand Duke’s brow twitched as if in pain.
‘That must hurt.’
It was a dull sound, one that even someone lacking empathy could feel.
Time that must have passed quickly felt incredibly long to me now.
When I came to my senses, I found myself lying on my back on the floor, covered by a plush carpet.
“Ah…”
I stared blankly up at the Grand Duke, who was sprawled on top of me.
It wasn’t the situation that bothered me, but the excessively close physical distance, more than the pain he must be feeling.
Our bodies were so close they could almost touch, our faces mere inches apart, close enough to feel each other’s breath, and I felt my body temperature rising.
‘What is this!’
Isn’t this cheating?
It’s not like some third-rate drama!
Of course, his face, befitting a male lead from the Northern Grand Duke, was flawless even in this close-up shot, but the story changes when the other person is me.
In a historical drama, it would be like a king rushing to protect some lowly maid.
‘I won’t get assassinated by the Grand Duke later when he has a reality check….’
Damn it.
While I was lost in such frivolous thoughts, the books had all fallen, and the surroundings had fallen into a lull.
“Hoo, Princess…”
The Grand Duke, having confirmed my safety by turning his head, slowly knelt up.
Seeing the books falling from his back, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how heavy and painful it must have been.
‘I’m really sorryyyy!’
Should I have just asked for help?
But how could I, a mere bastard child not even treated as royalty, possibly order around the Grand Duke in this rigid class society….
I quickly closed my eyes, making excuses in my head.
However, the voice that followed made me stare blankly.
“You said you were good at… acupressure points or something.”
“Yes?”
“I’m asking if there are any acupressure points that can alleviate pain.”
“Ah…”
Not knowing how to answer, I stared at him, dumbfounded. Grand Duke Blale stretched once and then offered me his hand with a perfectly normal expression.
It was obvious he wanted me to take his hand and stand up, but I couldn’t easily take it.
“…I’m sorry. I think I caused trouble for Your Highness by rashly intervening.”
He didn’t answer.
Nor could I ignore the outstretched hand, so I carefully took his large hand and stood up.
In the awkward silence, I whispered in an even smaller voice.
“A-and thank you.”
“Then I expect you to repay me later, tenfold.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you promise to be a loyal, unpaid slave? It wouldn’t do to let such valuable labor get crushed to death by books.”
Ha, this man.
…He’s a more wicked employer than I thought.
After the unexpected book-falling incident, I stopped going to the library.
As a result, I naturally lost contact with the Grand Duke, but I knew he would seek me out again soon.
Why?
“I was planning to go to the Magic Tower soon anyway. Think about it carefully until then, Princess.”
Though I didn’t want to believe it at the time, the Grand Duke had essentially proposed that we go to the Magic Tower together!
And that was a definite opportunity.
‘I’ve found a clue on how to break the Core….’
The only problem was where to get the Partanium to use as the material.
Recently, finding weapons or tools made from processed Partanium had become as rare as finding a needle in a haystack.
But then.
“Why wouldn’t there be? Of course, there is!”
“A… Partanium weapon?”
“Of course. There’s nothing the Grand Duchy doesn’t have. Hoho!”
It was Bonita, the capable maid, who gave me the unexpected answer.
Bonita, who had stated it with confidence, returned that evening carrying a box.
And inside the box, surprisingly… lay a hammer made of Partanium.
How did I know? The enclosed warranty listed all the raw materials, proving its value.
“Why is this….”
As I was utterly bewildered, Bonita proudly shrugged her shoulders.
“I found it in the storage. I had a feeling it would be there. There’s nothing our Grand Duke’s residence’s storage doesn’t have. Last time, I found a spare of the Mithril needle Marina lost, and even the watering can that old gardener George boasted was one-of-a-kind…”
“Ah, I get it. Th-thank you.”
I cut off her seemingly endless words and slowly took the hammer.
It looked luxurious at first glance, and the grip was incredible.
“But this… it looks expensive. Can I really use it?”
“Everything is just stashed away and forgotten, so it’s no problem!”
“…What if it belongs to His Highness the Grand Duke?”
As someone who didn’t want to be a thief who stole the Grand Duke’s belongings, it was a natural concern.
Bonita paused at my words but then replied confidently with a bright smile.
“Of course, some things might, but… many don’t. Actually, the storage within the Grand Duke’s residence is where all sorts of junk is piled up.”
It didn’t sound like a lie, and besides, Bonita, a maid of the Grand Duke’s residence, wouldn’t steal the Grand Duke’s belongings for me, so I nodded.
But then.
“Where and how will you hide this?"Hoohoohoohoo!"
Before the words were even finished, a chilling laugh was heard right beside me.
“B-Bonita…?”
“There’s no investigator bold enough to search a Lady’s body! Woohooohoooho!”
.
.
.
And that’s why I’m walking with such an awkward gait right now.
Wobble, wobble.
Moving unsteadily like a newborn goat, I walked very, very slowly towards the magic circle.
‘It’s so chafing…!’
The hammer, secured to my inner thigh with a leather strap, constantly rubbed against my delicate skin, causing discomfort.
I had refused Bonita’s suggestion because I wanted to be like a cool female agent from a blockbuster infiltration movie… but at this rate, I’ll look even more pathetic than usual, let alone cool.
“Princess. Why are you walking like that today?”
The Grand Duke, who had been watching me intently for some time, asked.
“Wh-what do you mean?”
The Grand Duke’s face, looking as if he had seen the strangest sight, made me feel an unbearable sense of shame.
But even so, I couldn’t stop walking with this awkward posture and gait.
If I suddenly took out the hammer from under my skirt now, the situation would become even more unmanageable…!
Sob, I should have just packed a separate pouch for personal items!
‘If this is discovered, I’m finished.’
No matter how much I writhed in bitter regret, there was no other option.
“…Whatever folk remedy that is, at least stand up straight.”
“Why…”
“Aren’t you clinging to my right arm with all your might right now?”
“Ah, Ahahaha… Hahaha! Oh dear, I’m sorry!”
Realizing belatedly that I was gripping one of the Grand Duke’s arms tightly, I flinched and straightened up.
‘Ah, how embarrassing.’
My face felt hot, as if all the heat was escaping through the top of my head.
“If you are ready, we will depart now.”
The mage, who had finally finished checking the headcount, placed his hand on the magic stone, and a dazzling light enveloped my body.
“Oh, amazing… Ugh!”
For a moment, I forgot the pain and looked down at myself, but before I could finish speaking, I bent over.
They say long-distance teleportation magic causes severe motion sickness, and sure enough, my body twisted violently, and nausea surged.
It was an intense queasiness, like experiencing seven hours of motion sickness on a crowded, bumpy bus all at once.
The light faded, and I heard the voice announcing our arrival, but I couldn’t regain my senses for a while.
“You seem to suffer badly from Teleportation Sickness?”
“…It seems so.”
Clutching my throbbing head, I lifted my gaze to see an unfamiliar landscape filling my vision.
The first thing I saw was a purple sky filled with abundant Magic Power, and a tall, black tower.
Built with pure and intricate magic from jet-black bricks, the Magic Tower showed no signs of age despite its immense history.
As I was blankly overwhelmed by the never-before-seen scenery, the Grand Duke, who had been standing quietly, gently patted my shoulder.
“Don’t be nervous.”
“What?”
“Don’t you see the flag?”
What flag?
Finally coming to my senses, I slowly looked around.
And then I discovered it.
‘Whoa, crazy….’
Fluttering in the wind… was the national flag of my homeland, Salt.
