Chapter 3
I'm a Homebody, But I Possessed a Dark Captivity Novel
Episode 3
"This is utterly absurd."
Even as he said that, Kayan's gaze was directed towards the door.
It was the direction the woman, who had shown a shamefully servile attitude, had disappeared.
"I am ashamed, Grand Duke."
Liam, the Grand Duke's aide, a man wearing a monocle, bowed his waist.
But it was spilled water. This incident was an unexpected accident that even he hadn't foreseen.
"Who knew the shadows I personally raised were walking around with eyes as mere decorations?"
"Shall I send people again, even now?"
"No, the King of Salt is not a fool either."
He would have already noticed that the original target was the precious First Princess, so he would have tightened security even further.
So, sending the shadows again now would obviously be in vain.
"Ha."
Kayan Bleil.
He, who owned vast territories that surpassed most kingdoms, more than just the northern part of the Cletan Empire, leaned back against the armrest of his chair and let out a hollow laugh.
It was ridiculous that the shadows had kidnapped the wrong person due to a laughable mistake, but the woman's lies as an excuse were even more absurd.
Despite her appearance, which was no different from a beggar, perhaps due to the hardships on the way, her posture was upright.
There were no signs of physical labor, which a slave would naturally have.
Her skin was as clear as white jade, and her eyes were a pale blue, characteristic of the Salt royal bloodline.
And although her messy hair and stains of unknown origin covered her face, her appearance, revealed intermittently as she moved, was strikingly beautiful even to his discerning eye.
If his suspicions were correct, the woman kidnapped instead was not a maid or a slave, but the King of Salt's illegitimate daughter, whom he had received a report about recently.
She probably believed her identity had not been exposed, which was why she had shouted so loudly like a commoner in the marketplace...
As he repeatedly recalled the woman, the Grand Duke's expression became ambiguous.
"However, there is one point that I couldn't mention earlier, which is rather unsettling."
Seizing a brief silence, Liam recalled the report that had been bothering him.
"What is it?"
"In the reports from spies planted in the Salt royal palace, it was repeatedly stated that Princess Rumeia was careless and indifferent to her work, contrary to what was known. At the time, I thought they might have mistaken something collectively, but..."
His eyes behind the monocle grew serious.
"According to the shadows, that woman was approving documents in the Princess's office earlier."
Not only did their appearances closely resemble each other, but the shadows had acted with certainty because April was using the Princess's seal.
What they failed to consider was that the clothes she was wearing were too plain to be the Princess's.
After finishing his explanation, he bowed his head towards Kayan.
"Therefore... perhaps we should consider the possibility that this intelligence is true."
Raiden, the Crown Prince of the Cletan Empire, had desired Princess Rumeia, who had shown outstanding diplomatic achievements over the past few months.
However, King Salt, wanting to gain more benefits through his daughter, would not give a definitive answer even if he allowed the Crown Prince and Rumeia to meet. Then, recently, he had stopped letting Rumeia leave the palace altogether.
But did that drive Raiden, who had to have whatever he wanted, mad?
He ordered the Grand Duke, who could deploy elite knights externally, to kidnap Rumeia. In exchange, he proposed a secret deal.
But... what if, contrary to the Crown Prince's thoughts, Rumeia was merely a fool who stole the credit of others?
"She said herself that she was a hard-working slave."
Recalling the situation from a moment ago, the corner of his lips twitched upwards slightly.
"Try to tamper with the trade deal that Rumeia is currently negotiating, subtly. But in a way that the Princess, as she has been, would be able to notice."
"I will carry out your command, Grand Duke."
Kayan understood.
That the calculating Crown Prince was not coveting Rumeia out of the emotion of invisible love.
Even if he were to find out that the woman he desired was a worthless illusion, would that irrational obsession continue?
Thump.
The large double doors closed, leaving Kayan behind.
Sitting alone in the vast room, he suddenly cast his gaze upon the sack lying on the floor.
"I don't expect you to send me back, and honestly, I'm someone who works really hard. If you just spare my life, I'll serve you without pay, working myself to the bone!"
That woman's face was crumpled terribly, just like that sack.
Moreover, no matter how he thought about it, her attitude was too servile to be royalty. Usually, even a drop of noble blood would make one boastful.
To be honest, she didn't even seem like a noble.
If it weren't for her external features and rare beauty, he would have readily accepted her claim of being a slave. But.
Swish.
Kayan stood up and picked up the sack.
When he turned it upside down, tear marks were visible, shaped like her face.
"...Haha."
A smile that escaped involuntarily echoed in the empty room.
"You cannot leave until the investigation is complete."
"...Yes."
"Even if an outing is necessary under any circumstances, it is impossible without the Grand Duke's permission."
"Yes, yes..."
Honestly, the man's words didn't properly register.
My gaze was solely fixed on...
'I want to lie down quickly.'
The bed.
The large bed in the room they had guided me to as my place of stay.
"If you attempt to escape, your safety cannot be guaranteed. If unavoidable, you will be sent to the underground prison..."
"Um, but..."
The man whose words were cut off fell silent and deliberately pushed up his monocle with his middle finger.
'Is it a habit?'
There probably aren't any middle-finger gestures here.
Anyway.
Appealing for harmlessness as much as possible, I asked the important question I had been wanting to ask.
"When... do I get to eat?"
"If you're thinking of escaping by taking advantage of the move to the dining room, let me tell you it's pointless. Meals will also be taken indoors."
"Yes, I see."
I lowered my head with a dejected expression.
'Even better.'
And I barely managed to hide the silent cheer that erupted.
For some reason, the man with the monocle seemed convinced I would try to escape.
Why would he think that? Even if I succeeded in escaping and returned to the Kingdom of Salt, I would still be a slave.
I already knew. My biological father, King Verga of Salt, was not the type of person whose attitude would change just because his illegitimate daughter was kidnapped and returned.
"...Are you listening?"
"Yes, yes?"
"The Grand Duke is not one to waste his benevolence unnecessarily. Therefore, with a humble heart, maintain your composure and show gratitude for him sparing your life..."
I'm truly sorry to the man with the glasses, but his words lightly brushed past my ears.
My concentration had thinned to a spiderweb, with a bed I could lie on immediately right in front of me.
Thump.
"...I will be watching."
The door closed.
Just in case, I pressed my ear to the gap in the door, but I heard no sound.
Swoosh, swoosh.
My bare, wounded feet sank into the plush carpet.
The man's words were long and rambling, but only one thing remained in my mind.
So.
"I'm locked up here, right?"
The room was spacious. Compared to my storage-like room in the Salt royal palace, it was large enough to be compared to a sports field.
Shifting my gaze from the bed where I had been fixed, I saw a small door leading to the bathroom and a bookshelf filled with books.
Shiver.
My clenched fist trembled slightly.
I was trapped. Imprisoned.
In a prison from which I could not leave no matter what happened, and where I had to handle all my living, including meals, within its confines.
It was also uncertain when I would be able to leave. The 'investigation' they mentioned didn't seem to have a set deadline.
In that case, for now...
"Let's lie down."
Flump!*
As I threw myself down, the soft bedding met me as if waiting.
Upon reuniting with the fluffy comforter, tightly packed with high-quality cotton, I almost shed tears of joy.
"Ah."
Was kidnapping and imprisonment this good?
Cheering silently, I grinned foolishly and then fell into a deep sleep.
