What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 3.12

* * *

“You don’t look well, Cathy. As expected…… are you worried about the Princess of Solaris?”

Following the Imperial ball, Leslie called Caitlyn out on the pretext of showing off her newly purchased jewelry. Caitlyn, immediately realizing that Leslie had invited her out of concern, accepted the invitation. But to think she was harboring such a misunderstanding. Caitlyn shook her head lightly.

“No. Rather, I’m feeling grateful. Now, even if His Grace breaks off our engagement, won’t everyone feel at least a little sorry for me?”

“Cathy…….”

Leslie looked worried but did not mention Princess Adelheid again. It was quite a relief. Caitlyn truly prayed only for this ill-fated connection with the Archduke to end.

‘Since he deceived me from the beginning.’

If the claim that her past life had stolen his power was a lie to begin with, then how much of what he had said so far was actually the truth?

‘I can’t believe him.’

In fact, even at this very moment, she was anxious. She feared that once she completely handed over the power, he would simply vanish without keeping his promise. Even if that happened, there was nothing she could do. The side effect where no one believed her words would also disappear, so she could at least make Leslie happy, but Edward would end up dying.

Caitlyn chatted with Leslie for a short while before returning home. Since she didn’t know when the Archduke might contact her, she wanted to stay home as much as possible. A short while later, Caitlyn, who arrived home comfortably thanks to Leslie lending her a carriage, noticed something strange.

‘……That’s a carriage I haven’t seen before.’

Not a carriage with the large crest of the Archducal house, but a plain, ordinary, common carriage was parked in front of the gate. Caitlyn furrowed her brows. There were no visitors who would come looking for her or Edward. It had been a long time since even peddlers had attempted to sell them anything.

‘Who is it?’

Caitlyn cautiously stepped between the carriage and the house, intending to open the door. Her first thought was to ask Edward. But the moment she grabbed the doorknob. Someone from behind clamped a hand over Caitlyn’s mouth.

“……!”

Caitlyn’s eyes flew wide. Kidnapping in broad daylight!

She struggled to break free from the kidnapper, but she could not escape the suppression of the large man. The man tied her hands, stuffed a handkerchief in her mouth, and tossed her into the carriage like a lump of luggage. Immediately, her eyes were covered with a blindfold, and Caitlyn was carried away in the carriage without knowing where she was going.

Rattle, rattle. Tears streamed down Caitlyn’s face. The feeling of helplessness was greater than the pain of her entire body being jostled and bruised every time the carriage shook. She could do nothing right now. If she didn’t want to suffer further harm, she would have to follow these people’s demands unconditionally.

Above all, the most frustrating thing was the fact that she couldn’t figure out the purpose of these people in this situation. Were they trying to get a ransom since she was nominally the Archduke’s fiancée?

If so, Archduke Akbar, who needed her for now, would easily pay the ransom. But what about after her usefulness ran out? If she remained a hollow fiancée even then, dangerous situations like this would only continue to occur. How much time had passed? The carriage stopped, and she was forcibly dragged out. Someone picked Caitlyn up, walked with long strides, and sat her down in a chair.

‘It’s indoors.’

Caitlyn realized. Furthermore, based on the texture, the chair was quite high-end. As expected, it seemed these people intended to use her as a hostage to demand something from Archduke Akbar. The most likely possibility was, of course, money. Thinking that actually made her feel more at ease.

Therefore, as soon as the blindfold and the handkerchief in her mouth were removed, Caitlyn was not afraid at all; she opened her eyes clearly and looked straight at the person opposite her.

“……?”

In that moment, the only thing that rose in her mind was a question.

‘That woman is…….’

The woman standing straight and glaring at her was definitely wearing Solaritian clothing. Judging by her jewelry and posture, she was upper class. It seemed she was one of Princess Adelheid’s attendants. Why? For what reason? The woman spoke stiffly. It was fluent Common, like Princess Adelheid’s, but unlike the Princess who had no accent at all, her tone sounded somewhat foreign.

“Seeing you in person, you’re even more pathetic and shabby than I thought.”

“Kidnapping someone is what’s truly pathetic, though.”

“A low-born creature, yet your tongue is quite alive…….”