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Chapter 29
Dino and Lucy rode off on the horse they had stolen from the stables and fled the count’s estate. After galloping for quite a while, they finally stopped in front of a shabby old building.
“This used to be an inn. No one knows about this place, so you can relax.”
Despite its run-down exterior that seemed like a ghost could appear at any moment, the room they entered following Dino was surprisingly well-kept and clean.
“The parents of one of my subordinates used to run it. You can trust him—he’s reliable.”
“Subordinate?”
Lucy tilted her head in confusion, and Dino turned away as if too lazy to explain.
“Thank you for saving me. But what exactly happened? Is it true, Dino… is it true that you sold us to that shop?”
Lucy finally asked the question she had been holding in since they left.
“No, I didn’t do that. I have my own complicated circumstances… But it’s true that I’m responsible, so I owe you an apology.”
With that, Dino began unbuttoning his shirt one by one—and then abruptly threw it off.
Startled by his sudden undressing, Lucy quickly turned her back to him.
“You should get cleaned up. The bathroom’s that way. I’ll wash up too, so just grab some clothes from the wardrobe and change.”
He grabbed a shirt from the closet and stepped outside.
Once he left, Lucy approached the mirror in the corner of the room. She gasped when she saw herself—her body was covered in dust and dried blood.
“Blood? Where did all this blood come from? Was it when I stabbed the Count…?”
Only then did Lucy look down at her hands. Her palms were smeared with smudges of blood.
Tilting her head, she stepped into the bathroom Dino had pointed out.
After washing herself in cold water, she returned and opened the wardrobe. There were only a few shirts and pants, all with similar designs.
Lucy pulled out one shirt and held it up to herself. It was far too big and so thin that it seemed almost transparent.
In the end, she took off her dress and climbed into bed wearing only her petticoat, hiding under the blanket.
Even though she wore undershorts beneath the petticoat and wasn’t too exposed, she still felt embarrassed at the thought that Dino might recognize what she was wearing.
Is what Dino said really true? Then who actually sold us to that place? Can I really trust him?
Lucy sat on the bed, huddled under the covers, lost in thought.
“Ugh…”
She must have dozed off without realizing it. Lucy’s eyes shot open at the sound of a groan.
Dino was sitting on a chair, wrapping a bandage around his chest.
“Dino! Are you hurt?”
Only now did Lucy realize he was injured. Blood was seeping through the bandages.
So… the blood on my hands earlier—was it Dino’s?
Lucy hurried off the bed and rushed to him. Dino paused mid-wrap and looked straight at her.
“It’s nothing… But you, what’s with that look?”
“Ah… your clothes were too big for me…”
Remembering she was only in her petticoat, Lucy blushed and shyly covered her exposed upper body with her hands.
“I’ll get you something proper to wear tomorrow. For now, just get back under the covers. You’ll catch a cold.”
Clicking his tongue once, Dino casually resumed wrapping the bandage. Lucy hesitated, wondering if she should help him, then quietly returned to bed and wrapped herself in the blanket.
“But what really happened? How did you know I was there? If you didn’t sell us, then who did?”
The questions still plagued her.
“Well, maybe don’t trust strangers so easily next time?”
Dino looked back at her with a smirk.
Now that I think about it… his tone, it’s completely different…
Lucy felt confused by how much Dino had changed.
“That day, after Dino left the house, someone came looking for us…”
She began recounting everything that had happened over the past few days.
“If what you say is true, then the place you were taken to was Madame Rozelle’s shop. Most likely, the woman who visited that day was working with my former colleagues. They lured you there.”
“Then… were you working with them too? If not, how did they know about me? If that’s the case… If you have even a shred of conscience left, Dino, you should take some responsibility for what happened to us!”
Enraged by the revelation that Dino’s former comrades had sold them out, Lucy raised her voice.
After all, he was connected to them.
“Yeah, and that’s why I rescued you, didn’t I?”
But even as she shouted, Dino only shrugged with a dry laugh.
Then he rose to his feet and slowly buttoned his shirt as he walked toward her.
“What about Anna? She’s still trapped there! You can save her, right? Please, Dino—please save her!”
Clutching the blanket, Lucy looked up at him and pleaded.
But Dino didn’t respond.
He simply returned to his chair, rested his chin on his hand, and stared intently at her face. Uncomfortable under his gaze, Lucy turned her head slightly.
“If I do save Anna… what will you do for me in return?”
The question came out of nowhere.
In that moment, Dino looked no different from all the men who had tormented her in the past, and Lucy found herself momentarily speechless.
“I… I was robbed of everything when I got there. I don’t have anything now to give you… But I swear—I’ll repay you, no matter what!”
She raised her voice, desperate to get Anna out.
But part of her began to doubt Dino’s intentions. Surely he already knew how helpless she was—so why ask such a question?
Was he going to be like all the other men?
Stay sharp! Right now, the only one who can protect me… is me!
Lucy stared Dino straight in the eye.
“There it is. That look—I like it.”
He grinned, shoulders shaking with laughter as he lowered his head.
“You even stabbed that bastard Count at the manor. Would’ve been better if you’d gone a bit higher.”
Is this really the Dino I knew? No. Something about him now…
When he raised his head again, Dino looked like a lazy beast eyeing its prey, a faint smile on his face.
“Poor Lucy. What should I do with you…”
His low voice murmuring to himself sent a chill crawling down her spine.
* * *
“Lucy, wake up. You need to eat.”
A hand gently shook her awake.
It was Dino.
Blinking groggily, she turned toward the window—morning had come.
Seriously? I actually slept through all that?
She gave herself a bitter smile.
Wait… something smells good?
“Here, eat this for now. One of my guys will bring you something to wear later.”
Dino set a bowl on the table. The aroma of food made her stomach twist painfully.
When was the last time I ate?
She remembered the bread she and Anna had eaten the day they escaped.
Still half-asleep, Lucy stumbled to the table and sat down. She felt oddly amused by how obediently her body followed its instincts, even in this situation.
“You’re not eating?”
She noticed there was only one bowl and glanced up at Dino in confusion.
He sat across from her, legs crossed, leaning back with a slouched posture.
“I already ate. You really do sleep a lot in the morning, you know that?”
Embarrassed, Lucy quickly lowered her gaze to the bowl. It was a seafood stew, filled to the brim.
“Anna… she probably hasn’t eaten properly because of me… This is all my fault…”
Just the thought of Anna brought tears to her eyes again.
Dino said nothing and simply stared at her.
“Enough of that pathetic talk. Just eat.”
At his words, Lucy pouted slightly and picked up her spoon.
Damn it… the stew was delicious.
Even so, she couldn’t stop thinking about Anna.
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
