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Chapter 23
“No one would dare openly trade Creta’s belongings. …At times like this, though, I almost wish someone would—just so I could find her whereabouts.”
If only she would contact him. The last image of her would not leave Lucas’s mind.
Once again, he looked at Lucy’s portrait on the wanted poster before turning to the knight beside him.
“Select a few skilled knights and discreetly search for Lucy Diallo. The goal is to protect her.”
At those words, the knight, Xenon, gave him a puzzled look.
“Lucy Diallo, sir?”
“She is my benefactor. When I was injured during the hunting tournament, it was she who helped me. A Cretan never abandons their benefactor in distress.”
“Understood. Cretan knights will track down and protect our lord’s benefactor, no matter what!”
At the word benefactor, the head knight Xenon nodded with grave determination.
“Lucy… may the goddess’s blessing be with you on the path ahead…”
Lucas sincerely prayed that the girl of haunting beauty would find happiness.
The burly men didn’t set Lucy and Anna down until they reached the lodgings—throwing them aside rather than releasing them gently.
Then, scowling menacingly, one growled,
“Don’t even think of running. Never forget that we’re always watching you.”
Dragged and shoved along, the girls were sent back to separate rooms under the watch of the men guarding the place.
“From now on, except during mealtimes, neither of you may leave your rooms. Don’t do anything foolish.”
Back in her room, Lucy’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
“Dino sent us to a terrible place! How could I have trusted a stranger so easily?”
She felt crushed by the unbelievable reality. She had never once imagined things could turn out like this.
There were never any clichés from novels to rely on here…
This was real.
“Only now do I understand—there’s no such thing as kindness without a price.”
Lucy despised herself for realizing this too late.
“Stupid girl. Pathetic Lucy…”
But the truth was undeniable—she was Lucy now. This world was her reality.
What kind of foolish dream have I been chasing all this time?
Her eyes burned, and tears, long suppressed, burst forth in torrents.
She wept bitterly, clutching her chest in anguish—because she was disgusted with herself, because she had dragged Anna into this, because she resented Dino so much for deceiving them.
“Miss… Miss!”
Anna’s voice echoed through her foggy mind. Lucy held her pounding head and forced her swollen eyes open.
“Anna?”
Her throat was raw, her voice rasping metallic and strange.
“Miss! Are you awake?”
At Anna’s trembling, tearful voice, Lucy snapped fully back to her senses.
I made Anna cry again…
Her memory of the night was blurred. She must have cried herself into exhaustion and passed out. Her body was heavy, like waterlogged cotton, making it hard to move.
But what hurt most was that she seemed to be making Anna cry constantly.
“Don’t cry, Anna. I’m fine. What time is it?”
“Miss, you were found collapsed yesterday morning—it’s already been a whole day. Madam said I could stay by your side until you recover, so don’t worry and try to regain your strength. Hic…”
Lucy forced herself upright despite her dizziness. Now was no time to be lying down. She had to focus.
“Anna, could you go to the dining hall and bring back whatever food is left? As much as you can.”
Anna nodded quickly and left.
Through the crack of the opening door, Lucy glimpsed a burly man stationed outside, standing guard.
The moment the door closed again, she swiftly locked it and hurried to search through her belongings in the corner of the room.
No matter what, I have to escape this place!
For that, she needed money. She frantically rummaged for her coin purses.
No way…
The brooch from Lucas was still safe, but the coin purses she had hidden in various places were gone. She realized she hadn’t checked her luggage since arriving—only grabbing the brooch.
Digging through again, she finally found a few gold coins tucked into the inner pocket of a coat.
She slipped them into her clothing just before Anna returned carrying a plate of bread and soup.
“Miss, please eat and regain your strength.”
“Anna, did you eat anything yourself?”
Lucy studied the food while her mind whirred with plans.
“I ate earlier, so don’t worry. Please, eat.”
“You eat, too. Whatever happens, we need full stomachs to move. And—”
Lucy lowered her voice, whispering,
“How many are guarding us right now?”
“Just one. That big man.”
Anna’s reply was almost inaudible.
“We’ll escape at dawn! Keep pretending I’m very sick. By the way—have you checked your luggage yet? For money?”
Anna shook her head.
“I haven’t had the chance…”
“Later, say you need to fetch something from your room and check. If you find money, hide it well—like in your underclothes. And change into clothes that won’t slow you down when we run.”
Anna nodded with a grim expression.
Together they shared the bread and soup Anna had brought, quietly planning their escape. It wasn’t time to give up yet.
Night fell.
As planned, Anna left on the excuse of retrieving her belongings.
Lucy lay still with her eyes shut, pretending to sleep so the guard outside wouldn’t be suspicious.
Even iron men can’t keep watch 24 hours a day! They’ll have to switch shifts eventually.
She would take that chance.
But as she was steadying herself and waiting, Anna returned with a downcast face.
“The money… it’s all gone!”
Her tearful whisper made Lucy’s heart sink.
Lucy embraced her, soothingly.
“It’s fine. I half-expected it. They must have searched our things when we were out. Let’s just focus on escaping.”
She calmed Anna, then changed into lighter clothes and pulled out the hidden gold coins.
“Anna, how much are five gold coins worth?”
Anna’s eyes widened at the sight.
“Luckily, the thieves didn’t find these.”
“One coin is enough for food and lodging at a high-class inn for three days. With this much, we could rent carriages and pay for room and board for a good while!”
Lucy handed Anna three coins.
“Hide these carefully in your clothes, so we don’t lose them.”
“You should keep them, Miss. You’ll need them more than I will.”
Lucy shook her head.
“No, mine will be the backup. We’ll spend yours first. I don’t know the value of things, so it’s better if you handle payments.”
After a moment’s thought, Anna nodded.
Lucy smiled faintly. She had spoken convincingly, but in truth, her real intention was different—if things turned dire, she wanted Anna to have enough to escape on her own.
“Once they switch guards, the new one will get sleepy by dawn. That’s when we make our move. If he wakes and catches us, then we follow the second plan I told you. You understand?”
Anna nodded.
“And promise me—if either of us is caught, the other runs without looking back.”
Anna’s lips quivered.
“But I…”
“Anna! If I get caught, you must seek help or wait for a chance to rescue me later. If we both get caught, they’ll only tighten their surveillance!”
Her firm tone left Anna no choice but to nod.
“Then promise me the same. If I’m caught, you mustn’t look back either!”
Reluctantly, Lucy nodded.
I can’t just lean on Anna anymore. This is my life. This is reality.
She steeled her resolve.
As night deepened, Lucy lay listening to the faint noises outside her door, waiting for the right moment.
