PSTB 14

~Chapter 14~

“Heh heh, what are young ladies like you doing here without any fear?”

“Yeah. This handsome guy will have to help you out.”
The red-bearded man, who wasn’t handsome at all, said that. I was speechless.

“St-step back! This is Lady Dahlia Demerov, wife of His Highness Etienne Demerov!”

“Demerov? Oh no, we didn’t realize you were the princess. Go on your way… Did you think we’d say that? That’s hilarious. If you’re the princess, then I’m Crown Prince Veseth!”

The short-bearded one laughed weirdly and started talking nonsense.

I don’t even like Veseth that much, but saying something like that is a crime.

How dare you compare your face to his!

Even if you were reborn 522 times, you still wouldn’t look like him.

“Seriously, have you ever seen a noble lady wear clothes like that? Even my wife wouldn’t wear such dark, gloomy clothes.”

I looked down at my outfit. Hmm…

Among all my dark clothes, I’d picked the one that stood out the most.

“Today I’m going for the ‘spider lady’ look!”

I’d even bravely added a hat with a black veil. But I guess it wasn’t enough.

While I was thinking about my clothes, the bearded men stomped closer. Penny stepped in front of me, shaking with fear.

“You… you punks! Stop right there!”

Oh, Penny. I thought she only cared about money, but she has loyalty too.

I promised myself I’d give Penny a gift as a reward after this, and I pulled her behind me—even though she was taller.

“Penny, it’s okay. Step back.”

I was so confident because I had a good reason.

I’d seen it from the carriage—our family knights were secretly guarding me from afar. So there was nothing to be scared of.

I casually flipped my hair. Go ahead and act tough, you crusty beards.

“Wow, the little lady is even braver.”

The bearded men whistled and laughed. Then the brown-bearded man pointed at my face.

“Hey, look at this girl, she’s pretty!”

How rude! Do you need to get beaten up to come to your senses?

“That’s right. If we sell her, we could get a good price. And she’s got pink hair hidden under her hat—pink hair gets double. It’s been a while since we had such a good catch.”

I glanced at the pink hair peeking out from under my hat.

Ha, even my hair is pretty. What a pain.

I put my hands to my mouth dramatically.

“Oh my. I thought your beards were so ugly you had no sense of style, but at least you can see beauty when you find it.”

“What? Hahaha, you’ve lost your mind. But, well, some nobles like girls who talk like that.”

“Let’s stop messing around and just take them.”

The black-bearded man came toward me and reached out his hand. Even though I was acting brave, my hair stood on end in that moment.

“W-wait! If I really am the princess, what do you think will happen to you?”

“What?”

“My bodyguards are following us. They’re the best knights and could wipe you out in ten seconds flat!”

The bearded men looked around, uneasy. But the alley was quiet.

Come on, where are those lazy moles? Why aren’t they showing up! I’ll cut your pay! (Not that I have the power…)

The bearded men frowned in the silence. I guess they thought I was lying.

“Hey, girl. Save your lies for later.”

The black beard quickly slung me over his shoulder.

“Ahh!”

The world flipped upside down. I was dangling like a sack over his shoulder.

Just then—

A loud scream came from one of the men. Unless Penny’s voice suddenly broke, it must have been one of the beards.

Looking around upside down, I saw a red beard with an arrow stuck in his fat thigh. The five beard brothers panicked, drawing their swords.

Yes! Our knights are here! Save me!

The Demerov knights charged with their swords. Blades clashed, blood splattered. Penny kept screaming in terror.

Nice job, knights! Bonus for you! Beat them up!

I was still upside down, cheering them on.

But wait, why did it feel like I was getting farther away? That wasn’t my imagination.

The black beard started running off with me, away from the fighting.

“No! He’s running away with me! Hey, knights! Save me first!”

I shouted loudly, but my voice was drowned out by the chaos.

We turned into a narrow alley, and soon I couldn’t see the knights at all.

From a distance, someone was watching her.

“Etienne, Lady Dahlia’s been taken! We should send more guards—”

“Quiet, Simon. I see it too.”

Etienne stayed perfectly calm. Simon just stood there, legs shaking.

He looked from Etienne to Dahlia, who was getting farther away.

“No matter how much you dislike Lady Dahlia, you can’t just let her die!”

“Do you think that’s real?”

“What?”

“They’re obviously working together. It’s just a cheap trick to get away from the guards.”

Etienne’s eyes flashed. Simon’s jaw dropped.

“That’s what it was? How did you notice? You’re a genius!”

Simon even gave him double thumbs-up.

“I’m not as slow as you. This much is basic. You underestimated me, Dahlia. I’ll follow in secret, so you take care of the remaining knights here.”

Etienne stood up with a determined look.

“I won’t be fooled this time.”
He followed after the black beard.

“Put me down, you… ugh!”

Every time the bearded man ran, my stomach was jolted. I punched his shoulder with all my strength, but he kept running.

“If you’re going to run, do it alone! Why are you taking me?”

“Shut up!”

He tore a piece of cloth and shoved it in my mouth. It smelled like sweat.

Ugh!

My scream was muffled. My hat fell to the ground as I struggled, and I watched it roll away.

Will the knights follow my hat? I hope so. Surely they wouldn’t leave me behind just because they think the princess isn’t worth saving.

I thought I might throw up the beef stew I ate for breakfast.

We stopped in front of an old, shabby building.

The black beard looked around, then went down some hidden stairs.

The basement smelled damp and moldy. I looked around as best as I could. Big men were standing everywhere.

The black beard dropped me on the ground. He roughly tied my arms and legs. I struggled, but it didn’t matter to him.

Just then, a greasy-looking man with long black hair tied back came out from inside. Black beard greeted him.

“Viktor, long time no see. Are you here for a deal?”

“Yeah, I’m leaving soon.”

“What about Donin? Do you know where he is? It’s urgent.”

“He’ll be here soon.”

Viktor replied carelessly and walked by. But when his oily eyes landed on me, he stopped.

“…Moon?”

“What?”

Black beard asked again. I listened closely. He definitely called me ‘Moon.’

Does he know me? Well, this kind of beauty isn’t common.

Viktor looked me up and down, then shook his head.

“I have a business partner with pink hair like that.”

“What? Pink hair is rare. Is she your client? Is she… someone important?”

“No, I don’t think so. That woman has long hair and she’s not stupid enough to get kidnapped like this. She’s got a nasty personality too. Pink hair is rare, but not unheard of. Anyway, I’m late, so I’ll go. Good luck with your deal.”

Viktor lost interest and left in a hurry.

I thought over his words carefully.

Pink hair, business, not naive? This must have something to do with Dahlia.

My heart raced. I needed to get out and tell Etienne.

Viktor. Moon. Oily eyes. Tall. He said he did business.

I kept repeating his words and appearance so I wouldn’t forget.

Then a strange man with a big turban staggered out.

“Hey, Donin. Why are you so slow? Hurry up, I don’t have time.”

Black beard rushed him, looking at the stairs anxiously.

Yeah, be scared. The knights are coming. You’re about to be kebab!

“No matter how much of a hurry you’re in, you still have to check the goods. Wait.”

Donin lifted my tied hands. My armpits hurt, but I glared at him as hard as I could.

He just laughed and patted my cheek.

Ugh, gross. If I didn’t have this dirty rag in my mouth, I’d spit in his face.