UDBL~22

Chapter 22

“So this works out perfectly.”

“What does?”

“We both know each other’s secrets.”

Gray spoke as if his logic was completely sound.

“We’ll make such good friends. We’re both holding each other’s leash.”

Gray was a test subject pretending to be a slave. Riana was a magic user pretending to be a maid.

Hmm. Maybe friends do resemble each other?

‘Wait, no. That’s crazy.’

Riana almost fell for his words but quickly shook the nonsense out of her head.

“From the moment you’re trying to put a leash on the other person, that’s not friendship.”

“Reina.”

“You don’t even know my name… It’s Riana.”

“Right, Riana. I could’ve just run away. But I came back—to find you, my savior.”

Riana frowned. Even if her memory of the original webtoon was fuzzy, she remembered clearly that Gray was an ungrateful guy who didn’t care about favors or loyalty.

So clearly, he was lying. And when people lie, they’re usually hiding what they really want.

‘He’s trying to get something out of me.’

Earlier he said, “I came to find the lady.” That must mean he thought Riana was some noblewoman who attended social events.

So now this clever male lead was risking everything, thinking he’d gain something by getting close to her…

‘But I’ve got nothing. I’m broke.’

If he kept wasting time poking around a poor person’s life, it was his own loss. He should just return to his home country, get revenge, earn his title, and go meet the female lead.

So Riana generously gave him an offer.

“If I say you don’t need to repay me, will you just quietly leave now?”

“Then the poor duke might be falsely accused. Who’s going to testify?”

“Ah…”

The guilt that had been sitting in her chest suddenly grew heavier. She couldn’t kick out the only witness.

“Then how about this…”

Riana sighed and quickly added, “Once the trial is over, you leave right away. Deal?”

That way, you’re gone from my life. Forever.

“…So, you’re saying you really don’t want to be friends?”

“Exactly.”

Riana’s eyes sparkled with determination. Maybe that emotion actually reached Gray, because he gave a dramatic sigh.

“Haa…”

He raised both hands as if giving in.

“If that’s what my savior wishes.”

Yes! Finally, a male lead who backs off when told to!

Riana cheered in her head.

Thank you! I mean it!

Kim returned with Gray after the meeting.

As the only maid at the isolation tower, Riana stayed nearby in case they needed anything.

…That was just an excuse. Honestly, she wanted to eavesdrop.

She perked up her ears and heard Kim’s calm voice.

“We would like you to testify at the trial, Mr. Gray.”

Gray replied smoothly, “That’s why I came.”

Riana could bet everything she had—including her cat—that he was lying.

‘That twisted psycho wouldn’t help someone for nothing.’

Then Gray placed his clasped hands on his knees and began talking.

“I understand if the Duke doesn’t trust me. I’m just a lowly man, without honor or pride, who changes his words without shame.”

He was speaking to Killian, even though Kim had been leading the conversation so far. It was like Gray knew exactly who he needed to convince.

“You’re right to worry. I might have lied before, or I could be bribed before the trial.”

“…Go on.”

“So I’d like to suggest a way for the Duke to trust me.”

Gray smiled brightly, almost innocently.

“Before anyone else tries to bribe me… the Duke should bribe me first.”

Bastian and Allen’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. None of them expected such bold words from someone who had just escaped slavery.

Kim, on the other hand, didn’t flinch.

“Droche does not bribe people during sacred trials.”

Gray didn’t even look disappointed. Once he confirmed that, Kim added,

“—But we always repay those who help us.”

Gray shrugged like that was fine too and smiled.

“So it’s just a matter of whether I get paid before or after. I’m fine with either. A Duke wouldn’t break his promise, after all.”

He rubbed his hands together and looked eager.

“But I’d like to agree on the payment now…”

Kim sipped his tea calmly and then gestured for him to continue.

Gray opened his mouth—and stared not at the Duke or Kim—but at Riana.

“1,000 gold.”

He was looking directly at Riana, who was standing quietly like wallpaper.

“…What?”

Oops.

Riana gasped and quickly covered her mouth.

‘What is that guy doing?!’

1,000 gold. The exact number Riana had written in her notebook. The amount she needed.

Seeing her face turn pale, Gray’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Then he finally looked at Killian again.

“Is that too much?”

“Hmm…”

Not at all.

That amount wasn’t even half of what they had budgeted to pay a good witness. And if Riana couldn’t testify, someone else had to step in.

‘Doing good really does bring luck sometimes.’

And it was practically free.

Killian sipped his tea, hiding his smile, and after a pause, said generously:

“For a friend of House Droche, that much is nothing.”

To make sure the price didn’t go up, it was Kim’s job to act cautious.

“If you don’t mind me asking… what do you plan to do with that money?”

“To buy an island.”

“An island?”

“What else would a runaway slave want? Just a piece of land to be free.”

Riana glared at Gray with sharp eyes.

‘That jerk…’

Her fists trembled.

‘Is he trying to pick a fight with me?’

It was an obvious challenge.

Spes Island was being auctioned off. And in auctions, whoever had more money won.

She had rejected his offer of friendship—and now, she had gained a rival.

‘Why is he doing this to me?!’

Riana’s silent scream died on her tongue. But she couldn’t hide her furrowed brow.

‘Why do I keep getting tangled up with male leads?!’

But she hadn’t lost all hope yet.

‘At least I escaped Duke Veloci. I even managed to avoid him at the party!’

Riana relaxed a bit and even smiled.

That grim reaper in a white suit—Duke Noel Veloci—was now her one and only hope.

Just then, Killian spoke.

“We’ll prepare a place for you to stay until the trial. Hmm… how about the room on the right, third floor of the main building?”

As soon as he said that, Kim quickly responded.

“Oh, that’s the room Duke Veloci will be using.”

The smile vanished from Riana’s face.

‘…What? Who’s staying where?’

She rubbed her ears. Maybe she heard wrong.

Surely the last hope she had didn’t just shatter like glass.

“A safe place without outside interference would be best…”

Kim tapped his chin in thought.

And at that moment, every last bit of life left Riana’s face.

If they wanted a secure place where no one could interfere and no one would pay attention… there was only one place left.

Riana covered her face with one hand, knowing what was coming.

“Then it has to be in the main house.”

Kim nodded and offered a suggestion to Gray.

“Would the attic be okay?”

“I’m in no position to be picky. Anywhere’s fine.”

The deal ended with laughter between a duke’s household and a conman witness. Each got what they wanted. It was a happy deal.

Except for Riana—whose face had gone ghostly pale.

‘Three male leads… are now living under the same roof!’

And that roof was hers!

“Uwaaaah!”

Thump, thump, thump! Riana’s fists pounded the bed as the blanket flapped helplessly.

“Damn my life! Damn it all!”

It was early morning, and the sun had just risen.

Except for Alan and a few servants, no one was awake yet.

After holding it in during work at the isolation tower, Riana finally let out all her screams at home.

“Ughhh! No way. There’s no way my luck is this bad…!”

Her rage, which sounded more like sobbing, finally settled down after many minutes.

Worn out, Riana collapsed face-down into the pillow and fell asleep.

Breathing softly, she wished—deep down—that this nightmare would be gone when she woke up…

But of course, it wouldn’t be.

Knock, knock.

Around lunchtime, someone politely knocked on her bedroom door.