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Chapter : 02
“Father!”
Pushed into the room, Anna was forced into a chair before she could even resist. John’s men came in after her and tightly tied her wrists and ankles.
Lastly, John put a gag in her mouth and grinned.
“Anna, be good, okay? If you behave, I’ll bring your husband here. He’s a gentleman who’s been waiting for you. He’ll surely treasure you just like your father did, so don’t be too scared.”
“!”
Anna, pale as a ghost, twisted her body, but she couldn’t move at all. Every time John put his face close to hers, a terrible smell filled the air.
“Even God knows how much I cared for you, even though you’re not my real daughter. Isn’t it time you repaid that favor?”
“!”
“Leave everything to your father. You just get ready to be loved.”
He stroked Anna’s soft blonde hair with his dirty hand and turned away. He and his men left, and the girl hesitated at the door, looking at Anna, before leaving too. With a thud, the door closed and Anna was left alone in the dark room.
“……”
Anna was almost in a panic. Oh no, her father really meant to sell her to the Marquis—right now! There was no way talking would work anymore.
‘I have to escape!’
Terrified, Anna struggled with all her strength. She fought until her face turned red, but the ropes were tied so tight they didn’t loosen at all.
“Huff…”
She was out of strength, left only gasping for breath, when suddenly the door creaked open slowly. Anna held her breath, thinking John had returned, but someone else quietly entered, closed the door, and looked at Anna.
‘Why is that girl…?’
It was the girl who had guided them here. She gripped her worn-out skirt tightly, then pulled out a small knife with a serious face. Anna stopped breathing in surprise.
The girl calmly whispered,
“I’ll set you free.”
“!”
It was a surprising, welcome message. But Anna immediately felt suspicion.
‘What if it’s a trap?’
The girl came silently, quickly cut the ropes, and even removed Anna’s gag before stepping back.
“Hurry. You have to run before the Marquis comes. He always brings huge, scary men with him.”
Anna rubbed her tingling wrists. Luckily, it didn’t seem to be a trap. She asked anxiously,
“But what about you? Will you be okay?”
Anna was worried that the girl would get in trouble for helping her. The girl was thin, with visible bones and marks of violence on her face and body, but she looked at Anna with clear, honest eyes.
“Jenny told me to live with pride. If I just left you here, it would be the most shameful thing I ever did.”
“……”
Anna was speechless for a moment, then quickly took off the earrings she was wearing.
“I don’t know who Jenny is, but thank you—both of you.”
She put the earrings in the girl’s hand and whispered with a trembling voice,
“You should run away too.”
The girl hesitated, then put the earrings safely in her pocket.
“I’ll guide you to the carriage stop.”
She opened the door a little and checked outside, then signaled for Anna to come out. Carefully, they walked down the dark hallway and stairs. No one stopped them—even at the front door. They managed to get outside the building.
“This way!”
The girl grabbed Anna’s hand and ran down a dark side street. Anna was out of breath but used every bit of strength to run.
They ran past staggering drunkards and prostitutes showing off their legs and thighs to attract customers. The cold, damp air, and the smells of lust and decay, stabbed sharply into Anna’s lungs. They passed through narrow alleys and hidden doors, and finally reached the entrance of Lily Street, marked by the Snow Lily sign.
“Just go down that way a little more, and you’ll find the carriage!”
The girl pulled a few coins from her pocket and handed them to Anna. Anna took them, full of heartfelt gratitude.
“Thank you so much. I’ll never forget what you did for me today.”
“Go quickly.”
The girl looked around one last time and gave Anna a clumsy wave. Then she turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Anna took a deep breath and stepped outside of Lily Street. At that moment, a hand grabbed her hair from behind.
“Ah!”
“You’re making things difficult, miss.”
The big man who caught Anna grinned as if he wasn’t bothered at all. Under the light of the Snow Lily sign, a long scar from his temple to his chin twisted as if it were alive.
“Let me go!”
Anna struggled, but the man dragged her back into the alley, ignoring her. Just as Anna screamed in pain, feeling her scalp tearing,
A black cane swung between them, hitting the man’s face hard.
“Aaargh!”
The big man screamed, covering his face with both hands. Anna barely got free, but before she could regain her senses, someone grabbed her wrist and spun her around. Suddenly, everything went dark—someone was hiding her behind their back.
“Ellieana!”
John came running with his men.
“Who are you?!”
John’s men surrounded the man with the black cane and Anna. John shouted, veins bulging in his neck.
“How dare you try to kidnap my daughter? Marquis Nomen will never forgive you!”
The man replied in a low, relaxed voice,
“Did you forget me so soon, Everkline?”
“!”
Anna’s shoulders shook.
“What are you saying? Who are you?”
John scoffed and walked forward. Anna’s head was spinning from everything that had happened so fast, but she stared at the man’s back.
Somehow… he didn’t feel like a stranger.
‘No way…’
Anna swallowed hard and reached out a trembling hand toward his back. Then the man spoke again.
“It hasn’t even been that long. Would you recognize me now?”
He stepped boldly into the dazzling light of the Snow Lily sign. Left in the darkness, Anna reached out helplessly into the air. John gasped.
“You—you’re…!”
The crowd buzzed in shock. The man spoke coolly.
“I’m a little late, but I came to get you.”
He turned halfway, letting the light shine on his face for Anna to see.
“…my bride.”
Anna’s heart dropped. The man’s sharp eyes slowly traveled from her head to her toes, then settled on her face. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smooth, elegant smile.
“…my bride.”
The person Anna loved most in the world—Raiden—had come to save her.
“Miss, are you awake?”
When she finally opened her eyes, Lucy’s round face was right in front of her. Anna frowned and slowly sat up.
‘When did I return to the mansion?’
Her mind felt foggy, like it was covered in a white veil. Lucy spoke in a worried tone.
“You must be really tired. While you slept, you kept crying and yelling for someone to go away.”
Anna blinked, unsure, then suddenly remembered what happened the night before—Raiden!
“Where’s Raiden? Where is he?”
She looked around anxiously, and Lucy made a sad face.
“Who is that?”
“…Oh.”
Was it just a dream…? Anna hesitated, but Lucy carefully asked,
“Are you talking about the man who brought you home last night?”
So it wasn’t a dream! Anna’s face brightened, and she nodded. Lucy tilted her head.
“But, miss, didn’t you go out with the Count last night? Why did someone else bring you back…?”
Before she could finish, angry footsteps echoed in the hallway, and the door slammed open.
“Ellieana!”
“!”
Seeing her stepfather John, Anna froze. Memories from last night flooded back. She gritted her teeth and motioned to Lucy, who was scared, that she was okay. Anna got out of bed and wrapped herself in the robe hanging on the screen.
John stomped over, furious.
“How long have you been seeing him again? Don’t tell me you let him touch you!”
“What are you talking about?”
Anna glared at him with contempt, and John quickly changed his expression, realizing his mistake.
“I mean, when did that man come back?”
“I don’t know either. Last night was the first time I saw him.”
“Really?”
John seemed relieved at Anna’s answer, and his angry face softened. Anna found even that disgusting and spoke coldly.
“Is that really the problem right now?”
John, flustered, shut his mouth. Anna glared at him with fiery, angry eyes.
The Everkline count’s blood came from Anna’s mother, and after her mother’s death, Anna inherited the right to the estate. Her stepfather John only held the title temporarily, until Anna married and had a husband. He could only act within the limits Anna allowed—a half-count at best.
But Anna had loved and respected John since she was young, so she had given him a lot of authority. Now, she deeply regretted that.
She never should have trusted him so much…
