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CHAPTER 64
Behind the Black Rose, in a narrow alley, the man who’d been beaten unconscious earlier was lying on the ground like a lump of meat.
When the employee who had moved him rang a bell and waited, two strong-looking men soon appeared.
“This the one?”
“Yes, sir.”
“No trouble afterward, right?”
“He’s no noble. Just a man who’s hit rock bottom. No one will care.”
“Really? Let’s see…”
One of the men crouched down and flipped the body over to examine it.
“Face is ruined. Can’t use this one. And he doesn’t even look strong.”
“He probably hasn’t eaten in days. Gambled away even his meal money.”
“Gambling addicts… useless bunch.”
The man clicked his tongue and stood up.
“I’ll give you five gold.”
“What? That’s too low! He’s still got all his limbs!”
“Doesn’t matter.
He’s worthless.
Hmm… fine, ten gold. That’s the best I can do. If you don’t want to sell, splash some water on him and toss him out.”
“Fine. But if he’s that useless, where do people like him get sold?”
The man pulled out two thick five-gold coins and handed them to the employee.
Then the other man stuffed the unconscious body into a sack and slung it over his shoulder.
“There are places that need things like this. Over there.”
He jerked his chin toward the tower where purple smoke billowed up—the Magic Tower.
“Oh, they’d be better off dead.”
The employee shuddered, and just as the two men were turning to leave, the back door opened again.
They turned to see another employee bringing out someone else.
This time, it was a young woman, unconscious and clearly drugged.
The two men exchanged grins, looking like fishermen who had just caught a prize.
Young women were the most expensive kind of slaves—and the ones who brought the biggest profits.
***
Morning exercise was on hold for now.
I tried again the next day, but Vincent showed up once more.
Him tagging along was fine, but he worked me too hard.
I just wanted something refreshing, but Vincent turned it into a walk through hellfire, and now I was scared to continue.
It was embarrassing too, since every time my legs gave out, he carried me back.
So today, I decided to skip it—just wash up and get ready for work instead.
Thankfully, the dress I’d bought from Laura Boutique had already been altered, so I didn’t have to wear a maid uniform anymore.
Thank goodness.
To get help putting it on, I gently shook the summoning gem.
This time, like yesterday, someone other than Vivian entered.
“My lady, you called?”
“Yes. Could you help me put on this dress?”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maid looked a little older than Vivian—her name was Lauren.
As Lauren came around and tightened the belt at my back, I asked,
“By the way, why did Vivian take leave? Do you know when she’s coming back?”
“Ah, well… about that… Vivian…”
Through the mirror, I saw her pupils tremble as she grew visibly nervous.
Once she finished tying the knot, I turned around sharply.
“Vivian? What happened to her?”
“N-no, nothing serious. I heard she’s just not feeling well. She’ll be back in a few days.”
“She’s sick?
Where?
How bad?
That’s strange, she looked perfectly fine the last time I saw her.”
“I… I don’t really know the details.”
Lauren’s voice shrank as if she’d done something wrong.
Unlike the lively and confident Vivian, she seemed timid and hesitant.
Well, everyone’s different, I guess.
I was just about to head out when my attendant, Charles, appeared.
“My lady!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“You have visitors.”
“Visitors? Who?”
Charles scratched his chin awkwardly.
“Well… they said they’re Sir Aiden and Sir Eric from the Wentworth Ducal House.”
My mood immediately dropped.
Ignoring Aiden’s loud reaction, I spoke firmly to Charles.
“Go.”
Charles hesitated, glancing between Aiden and me before quietly leaving.
That was fine.
I had Derek with me in case something happened.
And it didn’t take long before he was useful.
Aiden, being his usual self, reached out to grab me the moment he saw me.
“Hey, you. Who do you think you are, telling my attendant what to—ugh!”
Before he could finish, Derek twisted his wrist sharply.
“Wh-what the hell!
Ow!
Let go!
That hurts!”
Derek didn’t even flinch, just looked to me as if asking for permission.
I sighed.
“Let him go.”
When Derek released him, Aiden clutched his reddened wrist, eyes watery.
Serves him right.
What was the Duke of Wentworth thinking, sending this idiot to the palace?
There’s no way he doesn’t know his son’s temper.
Unless… he sent him on purpose—to test whether Amelia could handle this kind of trouble.
“So, why are you here?”
“Oh, you’re in trouble. Father’s furious.”
“….”
Just as I expected.
I waited silently for his next words.
“You didn’t reply to Father’s letter, right?
He was fuming, so I told him you probably didn’t answer because you can’t write very well. You’re welcome.”
“…Ha.”
What the hell does he think Amelia is?
He really believed she couldn’t even read or write.
“So Father said it’d be better to tell you in person. He sent me as a favor, really.”
It was true that when Amelia first entered the Wentworth family, she was behind in her studies.
After all, she’d grown up wandering the streets, starting late and without much of a head for learning.
