Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Last night, arriving at the imposing mansion after the auction, she assumed it would be her new home. However, the man instructed the waiting servants to prepare for departure to his estate. The order seemed earlier than planned, but preparations were swift.
‘Have they been traveling all night? Are they alright?’ Unlike herself, comfortably seated in the carriage, the coachman and knights would have had no rest. Hilde felt a pang of worry.
‘But… why did he offer me a seat in the carriage?’ When she learned they were leaving, she naturally assumed she would walk, perhaps lucky enough to ride in a baggage cart. She was, after all, a slave. Yet, the man had her board his carriage and sit opposite him.
‘I don’t understand why.’
Hilde cautiously lifted her gaze, confident he would be looking elsewhere. She was startled when her eyes met his, gleaming like gold, and shifted in her seat.
“Good morning.”
The greeting slipped out habitually. She realized her mistake a moment too late, as his lips curled into a wry smile.
“Should I reply with ‘good morning’?”
“Oh, no.” Hilde shook her head quickly. ‘He must have seen me sleeping.’ On second thought, they had been in the same space the entire time; it was more improbable he hadn’t noticed.
“I apologize for falling asleep without permission.” She quickly added, “…Master.”
One of his eyebrows rose slightly. “Who taught you to call me that?”
“No one taught me… I heard the servants use it when we stopped at the mansion yesterday.” Some called him “Your Grace,” but that didn’t seem right. She was different from the ordinary servants who were paid for their work.
Although vastly different from the life she had dreamed of, Hilde was gradually accepting her fate as a captive slave. As always, she knew her meager strength could not change her circumstances. She was merely complying to endure the harsh life ahead.
‘At least I’m alive… I survived, and that’s enough.’ It’s alright. She forced down the sadness that threatened to engulf her. This is enough. Someday, happiness will find me.
“If that title is not permitted…”
“No, use that.” He cut her off. “You seem observant. You must have figured out who I am by now.”
Hilde swallowed. Feigning ignorance wasn’t wise. After a brief hesitation, she stammered, “Duke Oaklien, Your… Your Grace.”
“That’s not all, is it?” The man tilted his head, his brilliant golden eyes alight with cruel amusement. A predatory gleam, the kind that savored toying with trapped prey, played on his lips.
“Tell me.” His voice, deceptively soft, sent a chill down her spine as he coerced her answer.
Hilde couldn’t refuse. More accurately, she knew her position didn’t allow her to. “The Supreme Commander… who led the vanguard during the war… the Empire’s hero…”
“Conversely, the man who destroyed your homeland.” His lips twisted into a crooked smile. “Isn’t that right?”
Hilde gasped, the scar on her shoulder suddenly throbbing. “I…” She couldn’t discern his intent, but she knew she shouldn’t lie to him. So, Hilde chose honesty. “If you hadn’t appeared that night, Master, I might have died.” The memory of being strangled, her breath cut off, her mind fogging, her body weakening, was still vivid. Perhaps her fate was sealed the moment the orphanage director sold her to the Count.
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