Chapter 23
I Was Possessed by a Dark Imprisonment Novel as a Homebody
Episode 23
“Hah!”
At that moment, I quickly hid my body behind the Grand Duke’s vast, ocean-like back before anyone could see.
Then, I poked my head out just enough to gaze at the sky once more.
But sadly, no matter how many times I blinked or rubbed my eyes, the fact that the flag of Salt was there never changed.
‘Why are they….’
My hardened gaze naturally drifted downwards.
They hadn’t spotted me yet, but the people gathered closely beneath the flag were faces I knew.
Especially Count Tonals, who stood proudly at the front, seemingly as the representative of the envoy. I knew him all too well.
At that moment, a forgotten memory flashed back into my mind.
“Ah, you said your name was April Solt.”
“This person is His Majesty the King’s…!”
“I know. But she is an unrecognized bloodline. So, is there no need to treat her as royalty?”
At the time, the Count’s gaze towards me was filled with clear contempt.
He even constantly looked for an opportunity to foist his work onto me as soon as he realized I was useful.
Indeed, he had even subtly coaxed the clueless Lemeia into taking on his tasks.
He was truly a scoundrel with no sense of decency.
‘Even from afar, those eyes are so obnoxious.’
I had been meticulously collecting the corrupt deeds he committed, intending to repay him someday. Seeing his ugly face now brought back a flood of regret for the revenge I had forgotten.
‘Still, I can’t be caught.’
Hoo. Taking a deep breath, I retracted my head like a turtle and quietly stepped back.
Separate from my desire for revenge, I had to endure.
Given the greedy Count Tonals’ nature, if he even caught a glimpse of a single strand of my hair, he would immediately try to take me back to Salt.
“Why are you hiding?”
“Well….”
Is it because I don’t want to lose the only place I can sleep soundly, and more importantly, return to a horrific life of slavery?
But before I could finish speaking, a sinister smile flickered across Grand Duke Bleil’s face.
“Wh-what is the meaning of that smile….”
“I thought you wanted to go back.”
“H-hahahahaha. How could that be?”
“Then you mean you want to continue living with me?”
No, why are you saying it like that? Of course, it’s not wrong, but….
Conscious of my voice growing louder, I completely shut my mouth and changed my demeanor, putting on the saddest expression I could muster.
“No, no. It’s not that. Of course, I want to return to Salt, my homeland and my home, but… it’s just disappointing that I can’t.”
If I were to admit that I truly had nowhere to go, the villainous Grand Duke before me would undoubtedly start exploiting me in earnest.
“And why can’t you?”
“Because I have an obligation to keep my promise to Your Highness.”
“Or I could say that I was protecting a lost Princess.”
Are you insane?
“D-d-d-do you really have to? Why would you tell such a lie… haha.”
My blood ran cold for a moment.
But then, as our eyes met, he let out a chuckle.
…No matter how I looked at it, he was clearly enjoying teasing me.
“Let’s go for now. To the accommodations provided for us.”
“What? H-huh!”
My vision suddenly rose.
It wasn’t until my feet left the ground that I realized the Grand Duke had picked me up.
“You don’t seem to be able to walk properly, so isn’t this better?”
“Gkk…!”
I lowered my head deeply so my face wouldn’t be seen.
Normally, in such a situation, one would feel fluttery or a strange emotion.
‘I feel like I’m going to throw up.’
My stomach, pressed against his firm shoulder, felt like it was insisting I expel the food I had just eaten.
And one more thing.
‘The hammer… I hope it doesn’t get discovered, right?’
Worried that the leather strap might loosen and come undone, I had no choice but to tighten my legs, tears welling up.
The top floor, reached after a long ride on a magical elevator that existed only in the Magic Tower.
Given Grand Duke Bleil’s status, the room provided by the Magic Tower was incredibly luxurious and beautiful.
It was no less grand than his own room in the Grand Duke’s residence. The balcony visible through the large window, the purple sky, and the elegant scenery created by the silver moon that hung there year-round were mystical enough to evoke awe in any observer.
This was not the case for Kayan Bleil, who had seen such sights countless times.
“Oh, my stomach….”
“Are you being a bit of a crybaby?”
“Ahaha.”
April’s face stiffened awkwardly at his not-quite-a-rebuke.
Every time, she had so much to say but chose to hold back. That was the problem, as it only made him want to provoke her more.
And before long, an uninvited guest arrived.
Knock, knock.*
At the sudden knock, Kayan turned and touched the surface of his desk.
Soon, the name ‘Tomald Tonals’ appeared in the air as translucent particles.
“Tomald Tonals.”
As he muttered to himself, April’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s, and she shot up.
“He’s here?”
“Do you know him?”
“He… uh… he’s the representative of the Kingdom of Salt’s envoy, isn’t he?”
“I see. It seems he’s here to request an audience.”
“Wh-what if you refuse?”
“Unless there’s a special reason, refusing an envoy from another country is impolite. You know this too, Princess, don’t you? That the neutral Magic Tower serves as a diplomatic ladder for many nations.”
April’s already pale face grew even more so.
At that moment, the Grand Duke barely managed to suppress a laugh.
Does April Solt know? That her thoughts and emotions are so clearly reflected on her face.
Whatever she was thinking in that small head, the truth was, the person most inconvenienced the moment Kayan Bleil spotted the Kingdom of Salt’s envoy was Kayan Bleil himself.
After all, if the whereabouts of the kidnapped Princess were discovered, he might be forced to hand her over.
But unexpectedly, April seemed to want to avoid them. Perhaps even more than Kayan himself.
Her shocked expression upon seeing the flag of Salt, as if something unthinkable had happened, was still a magnificent sight to recall.
‘Whatever the reason, it’s not a bad thing.’
Since he knew she wasn’t the Rumeia Solt from the rumors, it was technically the right thing to send her back.
However, Kayan… personally, he was reluctant to let go of talent that seemed to have many uses for free.
And how coincidental it was.
That the Kingdom of Salt’s envoy would come to find them while they were together like this.
“Hmm.”
Convinced he had teased April enough, Kayan tilted his head as if in deep thought.
In fact, he had intended to refuse the audience even if she hadn’t resisted so desperately.
It was at that very moment.
“Ah, I don’t care!”
April, who had been sitting far away, suddenly ran towards him.
Then, as if to show off, she crawled under the desk in front of Kayan… did she?
“What are you doing now?”
Kayan’s voice, which followed, was somewhat bewildered.
“You said refusing is impolite?”
“Princess.”
“I’ll be hiding here like a dead mouse, so please accept the audience. Pretend I’m not here.”
As always, April Solt clearly had a remarkable talent for leaving people speechless.
Just as her reactions were always amusing when he teased her, Kayan’s lips curled upwards, anticipating an unexpected development this time as well.
“Very well.”
He changed his mind and tapped the desk twice, and the door opened.
Count Tonals, who had been waiting anxiously at the door, rubbed his hands together like a fly and scurried towards him.
His attitude was a stark contrast to the one he had shown April, utterly servile.
“Oh, Grand Duke Bleil. It is my family’s honor to see Your Highness’s radiant countenance with my own eyes. Hahahaha!”
But at that moment, what Kayan saw reflected in his eyes was…
April, crumpled beneath the desk, making a gagging motion as if she were about to vomit.
