chapter 92
“From here to here. Give me everything. Charge it to this account.”
“What do you mean? I already said I’d buy Cherry Cherry’s clothes. And that’s not how you place an order.”
I sat on the boutique sofa, alternating my gaze between Lord Ferdinand and Yeloise.
On our way to the center of the estate, before passing through the main square, we had stopped by the most famous boutique in Kreuz.
But then…
“Madam, first measure Cherry Cherry… no, this young lady’s size. Send all the selections from this catalog and the matching accessories as well. Charge it as usual. Address: Black Dragon Castle.”
Yeloise signed the paper with ease, but Lord Ferdinand snatched the quill from her.
“Hmph. Who cares who buys it? Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I bought you clothes. Why don’t you pick something for yourself this time?”
“Bank transactions are blocked, you know.”
“You fool, that’s been resolved! If anyone heard that, they’d think I’m a backroom old man!”
Lord Ferdinand stroked his gruff chin.
‘That’s true.’
I quietly nodded between them.
It wasn’t that Lord Ferdinand was a backroom old man—he had secretly solved the banking problem a few days ago.
It was done so discreetly that no one noticed. Apparently, the news reached Lord Ferdinand directly.
In any case, I sat awkwardly on the sofa, watching the rare scene of two people arguing over who would buy my clothes.
“Are those the former Duke and the young lady? I’m surprised they came together…”
“Who are they, anyway, arguing over who buys whose clothes?”
Whispers came from the fitting room.
I had expected this ever since arriving in the capital, so I calmly ate the cookie the madam offered.
Then suddenly…
“Could it be…?”
A staff member’s voice trembled.
“What?”
“Could she be the daughter of the former Duke…?”
“Cough, cough.”
I choked on my cookie at the absurd speculation.
“Are you okay, dear?”
“Cherry Cherry, drink some water.”
Fortunately, Lord Ferdinand and Yeloise didn’t seem to notice my predicament, but the more they cared for me, the faster the whispers behind us spread.
It felt like the rumors were being fueled even more.
“Please visit us anytime, young lady. If you call, I’ll come immediately.”
As the madam saw us off, both Yeloise and I came out wearing our new clothes.
Two men, who had been watching us from afar, bumped shoulders with Yeloise.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!”
It looked like a deliberate act.
But the men’s mischief didn’t end there.
“Will the expensive clothes get dirty?”
“No, I think they look even better!”
Seeing Yeloise’s stern face and their smirks, it was clear they were hunters from out of town.
‘This is bad. Lord Ferdinand just bought her clothes after a long time… she seems to like them…’
I nervously inhaled.
As expected…
“Hey.”
Yeloise tilted her head and grabbed one of the men passing by.
The worst possible scenario unfolded.
Yeloise knocked one of the men down, and his companions rushed over.
“How dare you lay a hand on a noble granddaughter!”
Even Lord Ferdinand, who had tried to stop Yeloise, jumped in. The Black Dragon Castle knights waiting outside joined to break up the fight.
It was utter chaos.
‘Should I add my little squirrel fists? Would staying still help?’
I was stuck, unable to decide what to do.
“Mom!”
A desperate voice called out.
I quickly turned, but the bustling street was silent—except for people on the roadside gasping as they saw Yeloise.
‘Did I imagine it?’
I turned again, and the voice echoed, screaming in my mind.
“Mom! I’m here! Please save me!”
It was slightly different from the telepathy used to hear animal voices.
This was clearly the voice of a young beast-child.
I had never heard a beast-child speak before.
What was going on?
But there was no time to ponder.
‘What’s happening?’
I looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice.
Fortunately, the telepathy continued.
“Is anyone there? Please save me!”
I followed the voice almost instinctively.
‘Little one, can you hear my voice?’
“W-who are you? Please save me!”
‘What happened?’
“I don’t know. I was holding my mother’s hand when suddenly someone pulled me away. And now I’m trapped…”
The child explained between gasps, then abruptly went silent, like a machine losing power.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—I seemed to have found the child.
The problem was—
I realized we were in a dead-end alley.
“Got a problem with us?”
Three men who clearly seemed to be doing something illegal glared at me.
One of them frowned and asked.
My gaze fell on the sack the man next to him was carrying over his shoulder.
It was large enough to hold a child around seven years old.
“Show me that sack.”
I clenched my fists and said it without hesitation.
Was I scared? Of course.
‘I should’ve come with the knights.’
Regret hit me, but hearing the child’s cries left no room for thought. I just had to follow the voice.
“Ha! Don’t bother us and go on your way.”
Of course, the men ignored me.
“M-my grandfather is a very famous thug. He’ll come for me soon. So leave the sack and go.”
“What? Are you a thief? Why are you telling us to leave someone else’s property?”
“It’s not yours!”
“Hmm? You know what this is?”
One of the men raised an eyebrow and stepped toward me.
I backed up.
“What’s with that expression? You’re staring at us like we’re criminals.”
“….”
At that moment, I realized my eyes had widened.
“Haha, looks like we’ve witnessed this little one being kidnapped, huh?”
“Yeah, so hurry…”
I was about to demand they release the child.
Suddenly, darkness fell over my vision, and a sack was thrown over my body.
‘There were more accomplices…?’
But by the time I realized, it was already too late.
“This isn’t our usual merchandise, but oh well, we’ll manage.”
“Yeah, who do you think you are barging in?”
I could hear only the kidnappers’ laughter through the thin sack.
I came to in a dark basement.
The damp, moldy smell hit my nose. A metal grate blocked the way ahead.
‘Ugh, my head…’
I held my dizzy head.
Fortunately, my hands and feet were free.
But I had no idea where I was, nor how much time had passed.
‘Everyone must be worried…’
I sighed repeatedly.
Rustling sounds came from nearby.
‘Seems this isn’t the time to worry about that.’
I clenched my fists, ready to attack, pressing my back against the wall.
And then…
Dozens of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness like stars in the night sky.
‘Predators… beast-people…?’
Strangely, I wasn’t scared.
Because—
‘They’re small…’
Better said, their eyes were low.
The beasts approaching had eye-level roughly the same as my seated height.
“An adult!”
“They came to save us!”
The darkness lifted halfway, revealing their forms.
All looked about seven years old.
They shone with trust, as if certain I had come to rescue them.
‘That’s not it, kids…’
I’m also trapped.
