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Chapter 16
“Yes, then just pay the original fare.”
Sienna sat cramped inside the carriage and kept thinking about the coachman’s reply.
‘He’s too calm. So calm it’s almost cold.’
The carriage had already entered another forest.
The shapes of the leaves brushing against the window looked unfamiliar. Some trees even had strange claw marks on them. But Sienna was too busy thinking about what had happened earlier to notice.
“Miss, have you ever been to Abeiru?”
The scar-faced man sitting across from her suddenly spoke. Despite his frightening appearance, his tone was simple and friendly.
“…No.”
Even though Sienna answered shortly, the man happily continued chatting. It seemed he was very bored during the carriage ride.
“Then you must not have tried Abeiru’s specialty, the Crescent Shrimp!”
“Crescent Shrimp?”
“Yes! Large shrimp that can only be caught when the crescent moon rises over the sea in front of Abeiru. They’re delicious sprinkled with salt and grilled over straw fire. Steamed, they’re amazing too!”
When food was mentioned, the bald man who had been quiet joined in.
“The best way is to grill them with butter. Then pour honey and garlic sauce on top.”
Big shrimp with butter, honey, and garlic.
Just imagining it made Sienna feel like she could taste the soft shrimp meat in her mouth.
The men’s eyes shone as they talked about food. Seeing their innocent excitement, Sienna slowly lowered her guard.
“That sounds really delicious. Do they have fried shrimp too?”
“Of course they do! They’ve got everything.”
“The fried shrimp there is the best. There’s a yellow cart near the harbor. For one coin, they fill a striped paper bag with fried shrimp.”
Just thinking about it made her mouth water.
“They also sell lemon juice next to it. It tastes incredible.”
“A bite of fried shrimp and a sip of lemon juice by the blue sea—nothing better than that.”
“That really does sound wonderful!”
For a while, they chatted happily about Abeiru’s food.
The conversation was so enjoyable that Sienna even forgot about the pain in her backside from the uncomfortable carriage seat.
“But what brings you to Abeiru, miss?”
“Oh, I’m… um…”
What excuse should she give?
Sienna’s mind quickly searched for an answer.
“I’m running an errand.”
The two men looked like they wanted to ask whose errand.
So Sienna quickly mentioned the only noble family name she knew in the capital.
“It’s for… His Grace, the Grand Duke Bledel.”
Her eyes fell on the charm attached to her bracelet.
“I’m going to have this charm appraised under his orders.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the scar-faced man looked startled.
“So you’re connected to His Grace the Grand Duke Bledel.”
Sienna waved her hands quickly.
“No, not connected exactly… more like a connection I want to get rid of.”
‘What nonsense am I saying?’
Even she thought it sounded ridiculous.
She gave an awkward laugh to ease the mood.
“It’s… a bit complicated. Haha.”
“I understand that feeling very well!”
The bald man suddenly interrupted.
“My cousin used to supply firewood to the Grand Duke’s residence, you see…”
His voice was dramatic, but Sienna listened closely. She wanted to know more about the male lead’s behavior.
Maybe it could help her while she was on the run.
“You know the rumor, right? That the Grand Duke Bledel is cursed.”
Sienna nodded seriously.
‘Of course I know. That’s why I’m running away.’
“I hear he suffers from the curse regularly, but sometimes he has terrible fits.”
“…Fits?”
Sienna froze at this new information.
‘No wonder he was so obsessed with the Saintess despite his daily pain.’
It seemed there had been a detail in the original story she didn’t remember. Since the Crown Prince also suffered from the same curse, he must have similar fits too.
Sienna suddenly felt a bit sorry for them.
“When a fit comes, they say he can’t see anything in front of him. Once, my cousin happened to visit during that time. He ran straight into someone who looked like the Grand Duke in the hallway. His eyes were bloodshot red, and he growled like a beast.”
Sienna felt chills.
He was already tall and imposing. How terrifying would he be when half-mad from pain?
Meeting a crazed Grand Duke alone in a dark hallway… the worst nightmare.
“The maids, servants, even his aide couldn’t do anything. Then suddenly he grabbed a huge sword—bang!”
Sienna almost jumped from her seat.
The bald man continued gravely.
“Thankfully my cousin wasn’t hurt. But that sword stabbed straight into the marble floor. After that, he stopped supplying firewood there. Even though they were his best customer.”
That was understandable.
‘I really did the right thing by running away.’
Maybe during one of those fits, he would swing his sword over Sienna’s head.
And someday, he might find a way to end that horrible pain forever—by sacrificing her life.
Sienna forced herself to ignore the pity she had felt.
“So, miss, it’s better if you don’t have any connection with the Grand Duke Bledel.”
The man’s expression was kind.
So when she heard his next words, Sienna thought she had misheard.
“So hand over the charm the Grand Duke gave you. And the bracelet too.”
It was clearly a threat.
“Coachman…!”
At her trembling voice, a sly laugh came from outside.
“Miss, do as they say. Otherwise, you’ll suffer today.”
The two men sitting in front of her stared at her as if ready to pounce.
‘Can I jump out now?’
Sienna glanced out the window.
“Hyah!”
As if reading her thoughts, the coachman whipped the horses. They raced through the forest road.
“You saw the claw marks on the trees, right? This forest is famous for monsters. There’s no one to help you.”
There was still no sign of other people nearby. They had clearly waited until reaching this place.
‘Stupid Sienna! Chatting happily with robbers!’
She bit her lip.
The scar-faced man spoke as if he were being generous.
“Don’t think about jumping. Even if you’re lucky and don’t break your ribs, a monster will eat you soon enough.”
The bald man added,
“If you hand over the bracelet quietly, we won’t sell you to the slave market.”
Sienna’s trembling hand touched the bracelet on her wrist.
But no matter how hard she tried, the clasp would not open. It was as if it were enchanted.
The bald man grew irritated, thinking she was stalling.
“Stop playing tricks!”
“It won’t come off!”
Sienna snapped back, close to tears.
Noticing something strange, the bald man came closer.
He also tried hard to open the bracelet, but strangely, his fingers seemed to slide in the air. The clasp wouldn’t budge.
“This really won’t open. Is it enchanted?”
“If it’s enchanted, it would sell for a high price. What a waste.”
For a brief moment, Sienna felt hope.
‘Will they let me go?’
But the scar-faced man grinned.
He stood up and came closer to her.
His foul breath hit her face.
“If the bracelet won’t come off… then we just cut off the arm.”
The bald man’s face brightened.
“You’re a genius!”
The scar-faced man pulled out a dagger.
The blade, well-oiled and sharp, gleamed. His thumb slid along the blue-edged steel.
It looked ready to slice through Sienna’s white shoulder at any moment.
“It won’t hurt much, miss. He’s quite skilled.”
“Though you might die,” the bald man snickered.
Sienna listened blankly.
‘Die? Me? I haven’t even been here long since I transmigrated…’
The tip of the dagger aimed at her.
“I’ll finish it in one clean cut.”
At that moment—
The carriage jolted violently.
