Chapter 02
‘Even if I tried to cancel the engagement, nothing would have changed.’
Besides, the Duchess probably wanted to see me beg, cry, and plead desperately. That would’ve made her happy.
‘I won’t give her that satisfaction, even if I’m being kicked out.’
The next day, I asked a maid to help me pack.
I tapped the ground loudly with my cane. The maid helping me with the luggage spoke up.
“Miss, since it’ll be cold in the North, I’ve packed many thick clothes.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
I reached into the trunk she handed me and felt around.
The bag wasn’t filled with fancy dowry or jewels, but with practical items I might need in the North.
Thick clothes made of fox fur, boots made of lambskin, a thick blanket to stay warm, and…
‘It feels like there’s a night gawn… but I doubt I’ll ever need it.’
I sighed and lifted the trunk with one hand, holding my cane with the other as I left the mansion.
“A-Are those all your bags, Miss?”
“Yes… um, yes. That’s everything.”
Since my memories returned, even speaking informally to the servants and coachmen feels strange.
Maybe this was the last bit of kindness from this house—Father had arranged a carriage to take me to the North.
‘But none of my family came to say goodbye.’
By now, the Duchess and my sister are probably watching me from the glass windows of the mansion. They’re enjoying the sight of me being dragged away like a cow to slaughter.
‘I won’t let them see me broken.’
I loaded my trunk into the carriage, got help climbing inside, and sat down.
“Miss, the road to the North is rough. Please be careful.”
The servants said their goodbyes politely.
I wonder what they really think of me.
Do they think I am stupid for choosing to run into a fire rather than dying a dignified death because I am too afraid?
Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.
I leaned out the carriage window and smiled as if nothing was wrong.
“You all stay healthy too.”
The coachman grabbed the reins, the horses neighed, and the carriage began to move. The servants fell silent. Maybe they were glad I was finally leaving.
I rested my arm on the window and let the breeze brush past my hair.
I dozed off.
I woke up to the sound of the horses shrieking and the carriage stopping suddenly.
What’s happening?
I reached for my cane, heart pounding with anxiety.
Something was wrong. I called out to the coachman.
“What’s going on?”
“M-Miss… it’s…!”
His voice was shaking with fear.
What could scare a coachman like that? It can’t be something small like a rock or broken bridge—he would find another way for a problem like that.
‘That means…’
There was only one answer left: we were ambushed.
Most likely, by bandits waiting on the road, worst case.
The thought alone made my body tremble. I remembered the fear of dying in a back alley in my past life.
There was only one way to survive a bandit attack.
“Hey! We’re under atta—”
Just as I tried to yell out the window, a man’s voice cut in.
“Well, well, what do we have here? A pretty little lady.”
A cold, sharp noise followed, and something warm splashed on my face.
The metallic smell and taste of blood told me immediately realise it was blood.
Ah… the coachman’s dead.
Realizing that, I began to shake uncontrollably with fear.
“What brings such a fine lady to the North?”
Their voices were lewd and mocking. I focused on listening carefully, counting the footsteps.
‘One, two, three… eight in total, maybe.’
They sounded relaxed, underestimating me.
I had to think fast. I can’t die like this again.
Then I felt a cold blade at my neck.
“Should I open the door for you, or will you come out nicely?”
The bandit laughed. I could feel his gaze running up and down my body.
I gripped my cane tightly and spoke as calmly as I could.
“…I’ll come out on my own.”
“Oh? That’s a good girl. Unlike your coachman, who got himself killed for being too slow.”
The others laughed loudly. They weren’t on guard.
Stay calm.
This is my only chance.
Even though my hands were shaking, I had no other choice.
“Hurry up—huh?!”
SLAM! I threw open the door with all my strength, hitting the bandit hard. He fell back, groaning in pain.
‘This is my chance to escape!’
Judging by the smell and air, we were at the border between the South and North—not in the North yet.
If I’m lucky, there should be border guards nearby in the forest.
And I can ask the trees—they remember everyone who passes by.
‘I just have to run!’
But then, someone yanked my hair hard. I dropped my cane and screamed.
“Aaaah!”
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
“Let me go!”
I scratched at his hand with my nails, but it didn’t help.
My head twisted. I tasted blood in my mouth.
He slapped me, hard. My ears started to ring. Everything sounded far away.
“You damn brat! I was going to enjoy you gently… and this is how you repay me?!”
I was like a fish on a chopping board.
It didn’t matter if I was a beggar in my last life or a noble lady in this one. People still treated me the same—like nothing.
Even being able to hear trees talk was useless right now. Meaningless.
I could hear the thieves shouting about something, but to me, it was all just noise now.
Even my staff had fallen from my hand. There was no other way out of this situation. I just wanted to live like everyone else. Just once, I wanted to live freely. Was even a normal life too much to ask for?
I never wished for a miracle in this life or the last. At least, I thought I hadn’t.
Then, out of nowhere, a strange voice rang out.
“That’s enough.”
Snap! I heard a finger snap. At the same time, a refreshing peppermint scent cleared the fog that filled my head.
“Aaagh!”
“What the—? Where did all these thorns come from?!”
“Ugh! I can’t move at all!”
The thief who had been holding my hair let go. I collapsed to the ground and groped around, trying to find my staff.
Everything was confusing. What just happened? If the thieves weren’t touching me anymore, someone must’ve stopped them. But how?
“The binding won’t be undone without my permission. Take care of the rest.”
“Yes, sir!”
Just as I was trying to make sense of the situation, I heard several footsteps approaching. As I focused on counting them, the peppermint scent grew stronger.
Someone’s coming closer.
I tried to stand with weak legs, but it was no use. Worse, my head spun every time I tried—probably from being slapped earlier.
I can’t pass out here…!
But my body wouldn’t listen. I collapsed onto the ground again.
“…Take them to the gla… castle…”
The voice sounded faint and broken. Who was it?
I blinked behind heavy eyelids, but I couldn’t see anything. Only the peppermint scent drew nearer.
After that, I don’t remember much. I felt warm arms hold me, and I heard urgent voices.
“…Could this be His Grace the Grand Duke’s…?”
“Until they regain consciousness…”
Still, as far as final visions go, this wasn’t a bad one.
“…You were lucky.”
Amid several overlapping voices, one spoke very close to me, saying I was lucky. There was a faint sense of relief in it.
Lucky, huh.
I’d been terribly unlucky in both this life and the last.
With that bitter thought, I lost consciousness.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
If you want to support the translation and the translator, you can buy a coffee~
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