Click, click.
Click, click!
Click, click!
Sigh…
Could riding a naked bike on a rough, unpaved road have been any more comfortable? probably.
But, as it turns out, I – no, April – was stronger than I expected. Even severe motion sickness became bearable somehow.
Maybe that's why I was able to survive working under Limia despite the harsh conditions.
Of course, the threat I faced now was on a completely different level from those stressful days.
“Could things get worse than this?”
sniff.
I held back the tears that no longer came. I sat in the dark carriage, my face covered with a foul-smelling burlap sack.
The kidnapping and the seemingly endless journey had eroded what remained of my fragile mental state.
It must have been a huge misunderstanding, but ironically, it made me even more afraid to deny that I was Limia.
If the kidnappers realize their mistake midway, they may decide to kill me out of convenience.
All I could do was sit quietly, hold back my sobs, and pray that I had not provoked the kidnappers as we headed to an unknown destination.
“Princess Limia, we will reach our destination soon.”
Someone informed me in a calm voice, but that didn't change my situation.
nag.
“Heck…”
I was miserable. On top of that, I was hungry.
I was really hungry before I was kidnapped, but the kidnappers didn't care. They fed me a small piece of hard bread and some thin porridge once a day.
They said it was to reduce their bathroom visits due to the travel schedule, but that didn't make it any less annoying.
“In Korea, depriving someone of food is unthinkable!”
Three months under the harsh salt of Limia and three days with these kidnappers – these were the worst experiences of my life ever.
But the worst part was...
“I don't want to die.”
No, it's not like I want to die before this, but if I have to, I'd at least want to avoid dying like this, right here in the middle of nowhere.
When I first moved, I was so confused by the situation that I couldn't fully comprehend what was happening.
The days of hard work have consumed me, and I'm constantly struggling to eat more or sleep longer.
In fact, I only realized that I was in the Forced Empress after I heard an old man I was working with call Limia's name.
Even the details about April didn't come back to mind until just before I was kidnapped, which speaks volumes about how preoccupied I was with just surviving.
snore.
Knock!
While I was desperately trying to hold back my tears, the carriage - which had previously been moving steadily - suddenly stopped.
A bright light pierced the hastily woven burlap sack above my head.
We have arrived. Please, Your Highness.
“M-My legs...they're cramping up...”
After being in the same position for several hours, except for a brief bathroom stop earlier, my body became completely stiff.
After a moment of silence, a rough hand grabbed my arm, pulling me out like a broken doll.
Splat!
"Yes!"
I landed face first on the ground.
Oh, my miserable life...
“We completed the mission successfully and returned.”
As I lay on my back in a daze, unfamiliar voices spoke around me.
“Is the princess unharmed?”
"Yes."
“So why is she on Earth?”
“She said her legs were cramping.”
As I flopped onto the cold ground, a large hand gently lifted me up.
“Shoot it.”
“Should we silence her, in case she screams?”
no. If the rumors are true, she is smart enough to know what is expected of her.
Whoosh!
The burlap sack that was obscuring my view was removed with almost humiliating ease.
My eyes had not yet adjusted to the sudden brightness, but before I could take in my surroundings, I shattered the man's expectations with a loud scream.
“I'm not Limia Salt!”
I have prepared for this moment.
I clung to the faint hope that there would be an opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding.
“I'm just a servant – no, I'm a slave!”
It was insulting to say that word out loud, but when I look back at my life under Limia, it was an undeniable truth.
Maybe, just maybe, they'll realize the mistake and let me go.
But my hopes were dashed by the silence that followed.
gulp.
In the tense silence, the sound of someone swallowing something rang out unnaturally loudly. Finally, I carefully raised my head.
The first thing I saw was the polished shoes of a man reclining on a large chair.
Whenever I looked up, my gaze met his cold green eyes. There was not an ounce of warmth in them, just the look of someone looking at something, not at someone.
Even in this life-threatening situation, I couldn't help but notice how disturbingly handsome he was.
“This must be Grand Duke Blair...”
If it was him, could he really kill me?
This thought erased all admiration for his appearance, and only intense terror remained of him.
As I froze, looking at him like a mouse trapped by a snake, his lips opened.
Do you know something?
"Sorry?"
His cold voice was not directed at me, but at a man wearing glasses next to him.
“Further investigation is needed,” the man replied coldly, adjusting his glasses before bowing his head in apology.
"I'm sorry."
“So, this is not the point but a useless shell.”
cortex.
The icy disdain in his voice made me shrink even more.
“What should we do?” The man with the glasses asked the Duke.
I was already able to anticipate his response.
1. The useless shell has no value – kill it.
2. For any other reason – kill her.
3. Just kill her.
The result was the same: death.
“Wait, wait a minute!”
jingle!
Facing imminent death, I fell to my knees without hesitation.
My face, exhausted and pale from days of hunger, had transformed into the most pitiful expression I could muster.
Please save me! I've had a very difficult life. I don't want to die.
The Duke had my life in his hands. I knelt down, humiliating myself further, crawling towards him on my knees.
Even though his face was twisted in annoyance, I didn't care. Desperation pushed me forward.
No need to come back. I am hardworking! I swear I will serve you for free if you let me live!
Despite my desperate pleas, his expression remained cold as he looked at me.
The only small consolation was that he did not order my immediate execution.
“Please, can’t we agree on something? I’m very good at work… My nickname is slave… No, I’m actually slave…”
Sigh.
My sad voice filled the room as tears clouded my vision.
“Is this the end for me?”
As I began to resign myself to my fate, the Duke's chin drooped slightly.
“Take it away until we decide what to do.”
What do we do with it in the meantime?
“Lock her up somewhere.”
It wasn't the best outcome, and going back to prison didn't sound great either, but…
As the conversation continued, my face lit up.
I have escaped the threat of imminent death! At this moment, I wished to kiss the polished tips of his shoes in gratitude.
Thank you very much, really! Thank you very much!
If I had not been dragged away by my kidnappers at that moment, I might have done so.
Thank you! I promise to live honestly as your slave!
Even as I was pulled away, I screamed my gratitude at the top of my lungs.
Anything to continue living.