ASDEF 08

Chapter 08

From behind, I heard Olf’s sly, worldly laugh.

“You think I’d be fooled twice? I saw you run away last time, did you really think I’d let you escape again? Heh heh.”

“Is this kind of coercion even allowed? I have absolutely no intention of becoming your wife, young master!”

“Hah, that’s exactly like you. But do you think your parents will feel the same way?”

“I don’t care what my parents think! If you don’t let me go right this instant, you won’t get away with it!”

At my words, Olf crooked one corner of his mouth into a lopsided grin.

He took a step closer, then another, and I backed away until I was cornered.

“I really like this side of you. It makes me want to tame that wild streak.”

“Don’t come any closer. I said I don’t want to.”

“The more you resist, the more charming you become.”

“What nonsense are you— Eek!”

Olf grabbed me roughly and pulled me toward him. I nearly lost my balance.

“Let go of me!”

This was the worst. Ever since I was possessed into this novel, there hadn’t been a single good moment.

First, I was a minor extra who worked herself to death, and now, regardless of my feelings, I was supposed to live as the wife of a lord’s son who was old enough to be my father.

Without thinking, I slapped Olf’s face hard as he drew closer. It was an instinctive reaction born from a sense of danger, and I only came to my senses afterward.

The man, clutching his reddening, bruised face, had bloodshot eyes filled with rage. He shouted to the soldiers outside.

“Eek! Seize this woman immediately!”

The soldiers rushed in and grabbed both my arms.

Olf screamed furiously.

“How dare you hit me!? I’ve been far too lenient with you! Drag her away at once!”

“No, no! I said no!!”

No matter how much I struggled, I was helplessly dragged away by the soldiers.

They threw a cloth over my face. As my vision was blocked, my fear reached its peak. My hands and feet trembled, and my lips grew parched.

All my senses focused on my ears. I could clearly hear the soldiers’ breathing and Olf’s cackling laughter nearby.

I was being dragged somewhere like that when I heard someone’s voice.

“What exactly is going on here?”

It was a familiar voice.

Even though my vision was blocked by the cloth, I could instantly tell who the owner of that voice was.

It was that man who appeared in my dreams every single day and tormented me—Daniel.

“Do you know who you’re blocking the path of? How dare you!”

At the soldier’s scolding, Daniel’s voice dropped even colder.

“How dare… you? Surely you weren’t speaking to me.”

Olf, who had been watching the situation, soon stepped forward in front of the soldiers.

“Who the hell are you! Do you know who I— Ah, no! Isn’t this Lord Benson’s son?”

At his words, the soldiers’ movements stopped instantly. They seemed fully aware of his status.

No matter how much Olf was the son of the local lord, the other party was a man of several ranks higher.

“Wh-what brings you here…?”

“I needed something, so I stopped by for a moment.”

“You mean at this restaurant?”

“Yes. The food here seems to be quite famous. But where is the owner?”

“W-well, that is…”

Olf, glancing nervously at Daniel, surreptitiously pulled the cloth covering my eyes away.

“The owner… went home earlier on my orders. But the employee is here.”

“That’s a shame. What I need isn’t an employee.”

…Huh? The development is strange.

At this, Olf pulled me forward and stood me in front of Daniel.

“If you want Goblin Stew, you’ll need the employee. Because this girl is the one who makes it.”

“Is that so?”

Before I could even collect my thoughts, I heard Daniel’s footsteps approaching quite close. His familiar face came clearly into my view.

He gazed silently at my frightened expression, and a faint smile spread across his face.

“Then this works out well.”

With that, he shifted his gaze from me to Olf.

“Do you have any more business here?”

“Excuse me…?”

“I noticed earlier that this girl seemed to have done something wrong to you. I was wondering if that was all settled.”

I shouted firmly.

“That’s not— Ugh!”

Olf hastily clamped his hand over my mouth and gave a creepy smile.

“Don’t worry about it. It was nothing important.”

Then he whispered quietly in my ear.

“If you run your mouth carelessly, your entire family will be as good as dead.”

“…”

I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

Daniel, seeing my expression that clearly showed how unfairly I was being treated, continued speaking.

“In that case, thanks to you, this will be much faster. I don’t have much time, anyway.”

“Please take care of your business. Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Very well.”

Olf, showing off his few strands of hair, bowed his head and stepped outside.

After Olf left, countless questions arose, but I first decided I should express my gratitude.

“I’m sure you didn’t intend to, but still, thank you.”

“Who said I didn’t intend to?”

“Excuse me…?”

So this *was* intentional?

“Ah, I see. I don’t know what business you had passing by here, but anyway, thank you so much for saving me!”

I bowed my head repeatedly. Until an unexpected remark sprang from Daniel’s lips.

“Why did I come here? Well… I came to catch someone.”

“Did someone else do something wrong to you, my lord?”

Who is he threatening now?

I don’t know who it is, but I hoped no more victims like me would emerge. At least for a while.

“You. I’ve been thinking, and you committed a grave offense against me.”

“Excuse me…?!”

Seeing my eyes grow wide, the man only gave an ambiguous smile.

“You need to pay the price for touching my body so carelessly.”

“P-price, my lord…?”

I stared blankly at Daniel’s slick face for a long while.

He shows up out of nowhere and starts talking about payment again? What did I touch carelessly…

Gasp! Suddenly, the incident in the carriage that day flashed through my mind like a lantern slide.

Before I knew it, my gaze was fixed on Daniel’s body. And I immediately clamped my hand over my widening mouth.

Seeing my reaction, Daniel crooked one corner of his mouth in an incredulous smirk.

“Did you think you’d get off that easily?”

Daniel’s persistence was no joke.

He hadn’t let me go willingly. What if this was just an excuse—giving me money for preparations and then saddling me with debt again?

Fear washed over me.

What should I do? I’ve already spent all that money.

No, you petty noble! How can you give something and then take it back!?

I stared at Daniel with wary eyes. Seeing my narrowed eyes, Daniel let out a scoffing laugh.

“This is problematic. Surely you’re not planning to deny it in front of the person involved?”

“That was an accident! It happened because the carriage shook…”

“Because the carriage shook, you touched my body? You know very well how absurd that sounds.”

“Wh-what’s so absurd about it?! Are you saying I, I did it on purpose? I just fell over!”

I insisted on my innocence, veins bulging in my neck. I resolved not to show any weakness.

“I have no money! So I can’t pay you! If you’re that upset, then you touch my body too!”

My booming voice echoed through the air.

A moment of silence lingered in the dark shop.

Daniel, who had been staring blankly for a moment, had an evil smile spread across his lips.

“Ah, I didn’t think of that. Such a fair method. You’re smarter than you look.”

“Th-that’s… Excuse me…?”

This isn’t right…

At the instinctive threat, cold sweat trickled down my back.

Hey, why are you like this? Just a moment ago, when you saved me from that nasty lord’s son, I was so grateful I could have cried.

Daniel’s gaze, which had been looking at my frozen face, gradually moved downward.

Wh-where are you looking…?

Suddenly, the dreams I’d had about Daniel came vividly to mind. And a thought flashed through me—could those have been prophetic dreams?