Collector’s Cage - Chapter 53

Their eyes met. Directly in her line of sight was a man sitting with his legs crossed, looking bored, his chin resting on his hand.

Hermie’s mouth snapped shut. He, too, seemed frozen like a statue, unable to speak.

He looked just as shocked as she was.

The thought that flashed through Hermie’s mind in that instant was:

‘I’m screwed.’

She felt the ground drop from beneath her feet, her breath catch, and her heart crumple like a sheet of paper all at once.

What kind of cruel trick of fate was this? Marquis Froy had no business at the Pumpkin Flower Guild, so why was he sitting in the reception room?

‘Is this a dream?’

Hermie briefly escaped into the thought that she might be dreaming, but after blinking several times and seeing Froy still sitting solidly before her, she realized this was reality.

‘I may have missed him, but I didn’t mean I wanted to see him for real!’

Hermie cursed the heavens. If he discovered she had deceived him, her life would be in danger.

No, if she explained she was forced by the mage, might there be a chance to survive? Of course, she’d have to return all 2,000 gold she had taken.

It felt like she had fallen into her own trap. She should have discarded her foolish feelings and run away. Her hesitation had landed her in this situation.

Running away now would only make things worse. There was no other way but to face it head-on.

Survive first, think later.

Hermie forced strength into her frozen, immobile face.

“What brings you to the Pumpkin Flower Guild?”

Yes, that seemed like a decent enough greeting. Her smile seemed appropriately plastered on, too.

Even though Froy was still frozen like stone, staring holes into her face.
His gaze felt as sharp as a needle. It stung, it pierced. It pierced her conscience.

“Marquis…?”

Froy still said nothing. Then, as if Hermie’s call had snapped him out of it, he blinked.

“Ah.”

A breath that had been stuck seemed to release, and he let out a short exclamation. Instinctively, Hermie also let out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“Right.”
After a long pause, Froy rolled his tongue in his mouth. Then he asked.
“Hermie, was it?”
I shouldn’t have given my name. Hermie regretted it too late.
“Yes.”
“An accountant for the Pumpkin Flower Guild?”
“…Yes.”
“Astonishing.”

He uncrossed his legs and lowered his head. Letting out a sigh that seemed drained of energy, he put a hand to his forehead.

What was so astonishing? Was it astonishing that Hermie had pretended to be a fairy? Or was he amazed that there was a person who looked exactly like a fairy?

Hermie waited like a criminal. No, she was a criminal.

‘It’s over.’

Anyway, that reaction meant he had recognized her face. That Fairy Hermie’s face and Human Hermie’s face were identical. But would that be enough for him to accept they were the same person?

Until he got angry or held her accountable, her best defense was to pretend not to know.

“So, what is the matter?”
“……I’ve come to do business.”

Froy’s ice-blue eyes opened wide and fierce. His gaze pricked Hermie’s skin like a needle.

“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“A mage named Dormi said he purchased a fairy from here.”

That crazy bastard. He’s throwing us under the cart? Only now did Hermie realize why Froy had come to the Pumpkin Flower Guild.

“I, I see.”
“I’ll need to acquire another. The fairy ran away.”
“……A f-fairy, you say?”
“Yes.”

To acquire a fairy? What on earth could he be thinking? Hermie was utterly baffled, unable to comprehend what was going on in his head.

Froy rose from his seat and strode purposefully toward Hermie. Hermie, as if terrified, took a step back only to find herself blocked by the wall.

The look in his eyes as he gazed down at her was deeply unsettling.

“It must have black hair and fair skin.”

He reached out and gently lifted a strand of Hermie’s hair. At his touch, her body went rigid. She was so startled she felt her breath choke off completely.