Chapter 8
I Who Am a Homebody, Possessed a Depressing Captivity Novel
Episode 8
“What is this?”
Liam did not hide his expression of chilled disappointment.
He had secretly harbored expectations that the Princess might show him something extraordinary.
“It’s a letter.”
But the result was merely a single letter?
Even though Grand Duke Blale had delegated the necessary budget and authority?
He looked down at April with a hint of disappointment.
“Just send it to the address written on it.”
The Princess, not hiding her tired face, urged him on, waving the thin envelope in her hand.
Though the Princess’s small face changed expressions multiple times even in the brief moment they were face-to-face, I couldn’t grasp what she was thinking.
Liam reluctantly took the letter and checked the recipient.
[United Nations of Ilamena, Golbro Territory, To Genevra Golbro]
As if asking who that was, he looked at her. The Princess replied,
“Someone I met through work. I need to ask for a favor regarding manpower.”
It was as the Grand Duke had said. Finding groups with free hands to deploy them for dam construction.
Liam curled his lips and crossed his arms at the result that perfectly matched his prediction.
“Is that all?”
“Huh? Well… for now, this seems to be the best I can do.”
“As a precaution for any ‘what ifs,’ a knight who has sworn loyalty to Grand Duke Blale will deliver the letter.”
It was a warning that they had sufficient means to prepare, even if the Princess were trying to disguise the letter as a plea for help to the Kingdom of Salt.
“Ah, yes. Please do.”
But the Princess merely nodded listlessly.
“Is there anything else you need…?”
“No. Then.”
In the past, he would have suspected she was sneaking off somewhere else if she left so quickly, but now Liam knew.
The Princess wasn’t sneaking off. She was returning to her room faster than anyone.
‘Why does she keep wanting to be locked up in that prison?’
In the past, there was a swindler who claimed to be the granddaughter of the cousin of the hidden son of the former Grand Duke.
Even though that woman was confined to the room for only three days, she would cry buckets whenever she was allowed brief outings and was desperate to spend even a little more time outside.
This Princess had an excessively strange side to her.
“By the way.”
Even if the letter were delivered within three days using a gate, it would take at least several weeks to find suitable manpower, request their connection, and negotiate.
Therefore, the task given to the Princess was essentially a failure.
‘I should tell His Highness the Grand Duke to consider a secondary plan.’
Regret flickered across his face.
.
.
.
A week passed after that.
A week truly passed by so emptily. And nothing happened since the day the letter was sent.
At this point, Liam began to worry that the Princess might try to escape.
Ever since reporting the situation to Grand Duke Blale, Liam had been keeping a close watch, or rather, trying to, for any suspicious behavior from the Princess.
‘I need her to come out first if I’m going to monitor her or interrogate her.’
However, a week after sending the letter, the Princess’s door remained firmly shut.
Since the plates and bowls were cleared out, meticulously emptied three times a day, it didn’t seem like she had died or escaped from inside.
“Hey.”
“Greetings, Assistant.”
Unable to bear his frustration any longer, Liam found himself standing right in front of the Princess’s room, exchanging greetings with the guard.
He feigned a calm expression and lowered his voice to ask,
“Has anything happened since then?”
“What do you mean by ‘anything’…?”
“Any attempts to escape from inside, or suspicious individuals loitering nearby…?”
The knight flinched and waved his hands.
“Nothing of the sort has happened! The windows inside cannot be opened from within, and the door is guarded by three shifts, leaving no room for error.”
Liam could only nod sheepishly, as that was something he already knew well.
“I see… Well, please continue to do a good job.”
Another week passed, marking the halfway point of the two weeks given to the Princess.
\ \ *
‘This is heaven.’
I was enjoying a truly sweet vacation.
I could sleep for fourteen hours straight without anyone waking me, and even then, my meals were always provided.
Naturally, my body and mind, which had become gaunt and devoid of energy, began to regain a healthy glow.
‘I never knew doing nothing could be this happy.’
Before I died, I couldn’t even imagine staying home without a smartphone, but after being worn down by the grueling labor in a fantasy world without even basic human rights ordinances, my perspective changed.
Humans were such simple creatures, capable of finding happiness simply by lying in bed with the covers pulled up to their necks.
Therefore, I was immensely happy and content.
Of course, just because my heart felt full didn’t mean I suddenly felt like being diligent.
The bomb the Grand Duke had thrown at me was still unresolved, so I wasn’t just playing around recklessly.
However, I had something to rely on.
‘If there aren’t enough people, then you just have to find more.’
Numerous mercenary groups specializing in fulfilling requests were scattered across the continent. The mercenaries of the Ilamean Federation were among them.
And Genevra Golbro, to whom I sent the letter, was the daughter of Count Golbro, who owned a unit called the Black Eagles, a construction corps, and was the negotiator one had to communicate with to hire them.
In other words, I had made a direct request. And with very specific conditions that couldn’t be refused.
‘Unless a natural disaster strikes, the Black Eagles should be well on their way to Bleil Territory by now.’
The result didn’t even require waiting the full two weeks.
The moment the letter left my hands, half of it was already resolved.
Others might think I had given up and was just crying in my room.
However, there are times when results speak louder than lengthy explanations.
Most importantly, I wanted to rest my mouth right now. How long had it been since I’d spent time without talking to anyone?
‘What if King Salt hadn’t cut off trade with the Ilamean Federation at this opportune moment?’
Originally, the Black Eagles had an exclusive contract with Salt, making it impossible to accept requests.
But King Verga of Salt, in his vain hope that an expedition he had invested a vast sum in would return with a large number of free slaves, had cut off trade starting this month.
I knew that expedition was a scam orchestrated by the Empire, but I had no way to persuade a king whose eyes were already glazed over and who didn’t particularly like me.
But who knew that would come back to bite him like this?
It would be foolish not to take advantage of it, so I had no choice but to jump on the bandwagon.
‘The work will be finished quickly.’
The Ilamean Federation primarily funded its operational budget by dispatching personnel in various fields.
Therefore, they were incomparably more capable than ordinary mercenary groups or merchant guilds.
Perhaps they could finish the construction project, which was currently dragging on at its final stages, in an instant.
‘And I’m already skilled at meeting the conditions that would satisfy them.’
This was a thought I could have after exchanging hundreds of letters with the demanding Miss Genevra.
When I was treated like a slave in Salt, I had even handled administrative tasks for Rumeia, who wanted to gain the favor of the people, which led to this.
Normally, when contracting with such professional groups, one had to engage in lengthy debates to reconcile differences regarding everything from price to the scope of the request.
Well, the story of how long it took to get Miss Genevra to understand me is one that cannot be told without tears, so I’ll set that aside for now.
Once the mercenary group arrives, the administrators of the Grand Duke’s household will handle the rest, so there’s no need for me to be called in. That was my calculation.
‘Until then…’
I should rest.
I felt a bit sorry for the Grand Duke, who had generously allocated the budget and authority, but…
I should rest to my heart’s content, as I don’t know when I’ll be worked like a horse again.
I rubbed my back against the soft mattress and closed my eyes.
