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Chapter 7
I picked out a suitable request for Kaisar and glared around at the group of hired carriage drivers.
Of course, renting a horse would have been much cheaper and faster.
But the problem was that Kaisar didn’t know this region well. We would either need a translator and guide, or a hired carriage driver.
The first option was too expensive and hard to find.
So we had no choice but to use carriage drivers every time—but yesterday’s incident had been the first of its kind.
Where the hell is that goat-beard bastard.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“That carriage driver from yesterday—the one with the goat beard—where is he? Is he not working today?”
“He should be at the hospital right now. Probably getting treated. I heard he was happy yesterday after catching a sucker… but it seems that sucker beat him badly.”
…That “sucker” is probably referring to our household sucker.
And “beat him badly”? Our household sucker would never assault a civilian.
He knew very well that it could even end in death if he wasn’t careful.
But there was no need to explain that.
Honestly, it was better for him to be seen as a dangerous villain than a sucker. If people thought he was someone who might kill you if you tried to scam him, that was even better.
Just go ahead and spend all the money on hospital bills. That would be less unfair.
“Tsk tsk. You can’t scam mercenaries. He messed up. Doesn’t he know you’ll get punched if you do something wrong?”
That “punch-first” person is actually our guy.
Again, our guy is gentle. He doesn’t hit just anyone. If that human weapon had really struck him seriously, he would already be dead.
I gave an awkward laugh.
But if you don’t provoke him first, he never bites. He’s really that gentle.
This time, I chose a more trustworthy-looking carriage driver and sent Kaisar off.
When the carriage driver saw Kaisar, he flinched. He clearly knew who the goat-beard man had been dealing with.
Well, that’s fine. Suckers are underestimated and exploited, but villains are feared. Be a villain, Kaisar!
Since I had come out two hours early after being told to arrive one hour early, I had some time left and wandered around near the harbor.
I was hoping to see someone from the Kingdom of Luikaron. Or maybe someone searching for us.
Since I kept visiting the harbor regularly, I was getting familiar with the area. I could even see the police station ahead.
Even if it was just a fragile thread of hope, I couldn’t let it go completely. I still believed my family, who loved me, and the people who cared about Kaisar, were searching for us.
A police officer who had seen me several times greeted me.
“Oh, you’re here again today?”
“Yes. I was wondering if there were any missing persons reports.”
“Nothing so far. If anything related to Luikaron comes in, we’ll let you know immediately.”
“…And you’re sure there’s been no order from the imperial capital either?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
I let my shoulders drop and sighed.
I thought maybe Luikaron’s imperial family might have contacted the Siern imperial court. Or that they might have expanded the search area here too. But nothing yet.
Why aren’t they looking for us? Or… can’t their reach extend this far?
Well, it’s not easy to believe we would come all the way here.
Across the sea of monsters, to the opposite continent.
My family’s faces and Roella’s face flashed through my mind.
Don’t tell me… they gave up on me already?
Maybe they already held a funeral.
My heart wavered like reeds in the wind.
I left the police station feeling deeply disappointed.
Coming here was no different from emotional torture. Every time I came with faint hope, I left with deeper disappointment.
And yet, I couldn’t stop myself from coming again.
“…I miss you, Mom, Dad, brother. I miss you, Roella.”
As I walked slowly, a police officer came running after me.
“Hey, Milena!”
“Yes?”
Could it be…?
I turned with that faint hope.
The officer stopped me, took off his hat, and sighed.
“Instead of coming here, why don’t you try visiting Count Caster’s house? Count Caster controls maritime security in the Siern Sea. Especially this area—it’s under his jurisdiction.”
“Count Caster…?”
I blinked.
Before moving here, I had briefly studied this region to survive. You had to know something to live.
And I had learned exactly that—the region was tightly controlled by Count Caster. Despite his young age, he was trusted by the Emperor and governed one of the largest ports in Siern.
He was said to be highly skilled in both military ability and appearance, making him very popular among noble ladies.
And apparently still unmarried, which made him even more sought after.
“Yes. You’ll get information much faster than coming here. Or you could ask them to send word directly to Count Caster.”
However, I didn’t yet understand the personalities of the nobles in this country.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“No need. Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful. We’ll contact you immediately if anything comes up.”
“Thank you again.”
I turned away from the officer.
My mind was now filled with Count Caster.
Just going there wouldn’t mean I could meet him. He was a noble, the ruler of this territory. I was just a commoner.
Hmm… maybe I should go work at his estate? And look for a chance?
Lost in thought, I walked forward when I noticed a crowd gathering in the square.
“I heard Count Caster’s estate is hiring.”
“They’re recruiting maids?”
“Hmm, maybe I should send my daughter. The pay is pretty good.”
“But I heard you have to serve a crazy old lady?”
Crazy old lady?
I slipped into the crowd.
Fortunately, people here didn’t look very different from those in Luikaron or Siern, so I blended in easily.
“Is it true Count Caster’s house is hiring? What kind of maid are they looking for?”
“They’re hiring a maid to take care of the dowager. She’s apparently suffering from dementia and is on her last days. Maids can’t last a week—they all run away. She’s apparently extremely difficult. That’s why even Count Caster is troubled. He’s still young and not even married yet because of it.”
“I see.”
My eyes lit up.
I looked at the notice again.
It was indeed an announcement for a maid to care for the dowager in Count Caster’s household.
And the pay was high since it was full-time.
Well, taking care of a patient isn’t easy.
But if it meant caring for the dowager, I would likely meet Count Caster often. This was practically a miracle sent for me.
At this exact timing, in this exact place.
It looked like today would be my last day working at the bakery.
I read the notice carefully once more and headed to work at the bakery with light, almost flying steps.
Hoping that Count Caster would be someone I could communicate with.
