Chapter 32
“Open the door! Eva Baker! I know you’re in there!”
The doorknob rattled violently. The latch fell off with a clack, and the front door swung wide open.
Through the opening, a rough-looking man grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
Eva ran to the door, while I, just in case, gripped a fork and knife tightly.
“With a door this flimsy? Tsk. Oh? Got a guest, too?”
“Get out. Let’s talk outside.”
Eva tried to drag the man out by the arm, but he didn’t budge.
Then the man’s eyes landed on me, standing behind Eva.
“Selena, go inside. Quickly.”
“Selena, huh? Pretty name.”
“I’ll pay you. I can even return some of the principal along with the interest today.”
“Well, well. If you hadn’t paid the interest today, I was going to sell you into slavery. Seems you got lucky again.”
“Shut up and get outside!”
Ignoring Eva’s pale, frantic expression, the man winked at me.
“Hey, Selena. If you ever need money, come find me.”
“Watt!”
Eva pulled out some cash from her pocket and shoved it into Watt’s hand.
Only then did he finally take his eyes off me.
Watt began counting the money, and Eva looked at the broken door with a flushed, ashamed expression.
I wanted to step back inside to give her space, but I couldn’t leave her alone.
“This isn’t enough. At this rate, how will you ever pay off the principal?”
“What are you talking about? This should cover the interest!”
“The money you paid last time was only enough to cover the interest on the interest.”
“What?! That’s absurd!”
“Stop yelling. The accumulated interest is no joke. It’s clearly stated in the contract—if the interest is overdue, the rate increases.”
“That’s… that’s fraud!”
“Fraud? You’re the one who signed the contract. If you don’t pay me 30 kronas by next week, I’ll have no choice but to sell you off as a slave.”
That was it. I couldn’t watch this any longer.
She was being tormented by this lowlife…
“That’s illegal. Under Article 32, Clause 1 of the Economic Law, late interest payments may accrue, but defaulting on interest alone cannot justify additional penalties.”
“What the hell are you talking about, missy?!”
Watt lumbered forward. When he raised his hand, Eva stepped in front of me.
“Don’t hit her! She’s not someone you can lay a finger on!”
When I opened my tightly shut eyes, Eva was trembling in front of me.
The bruises on her arms earlier… they were because of this man. I was sure of it.
“Eva Baker! You think bringing in someone clever will save you? You’re still just a slave-in-waiting, got that?”
His violent tone made it hard to breathe, but I couldn’t back down.
I pulled Eva behind me and squared my shoulders.
‘Don’t tremble.’
Compared to what I endured at the Inquisition, this loan shark was nothing.
Thinking that calmed my nerves.
“The late Emperor Damian II declared that debt-induced slavery causes social disorder and is strictly prohibited. That’s Article 13, Clause 5 of Imperial Law. Your threats are considered illegal coercion.”
I hadn’t realized my voice could sound so cold.
If I didn’t step up, Eva would be enslaved—just like I was treated like a witch for nothing.
“If I report this and testify, you’ll be charged with violating special laws. And slave-related crimes are closely monitored. You know what that means, right? You’ll be locked in Alba Prison. You know where that is, don’t you?”
“T-That place…”
“Yes. The one you don’t leave unless you die. The worst prison on the continent.”
If he was ready to enslave someone, he should’ve been prepared for that much.
“From the looks of it, this isn’t your first illegal act. I could report you right now. And don’t even think about silencing me. There are people coming to see me soon.”
“S-Selena is telling the truth. She’s the tutor of Duke Calypso! The Duke himself is coming in a few days to see her!”
At the mention of House Calypso, Watt’s face changed.
I hadn’t wanted Aiden’s name brought into this…
“And if you were the one who injured Eva, that’s assault. And breaking in like this? That’s aggravated intimidation.”
“T-That’s…”
“If you accept a few conditions, maybe we can pretend this never happened.”
Watt, now clearly desperate, asked quickly:
“What conditions?”
“Erase the interest. Of course, the principal will still be repaid.”
Watt fell into thought. I did my best to act calm.
Behind me, Eva clutched my wrist tightly.
I patted the back of her hand, signaling it would be okay.
Finally, Watt answered.
“You’re not planning to double-cross me later, right?”
“I swear on my name.”
“Fine. Deal. Eva Baker, you’re lucky to have someone this clever by your side.”
Watt stared at me like he was trying to memorize my face, then left.
Once his footsteps faded, my legs gave out.
Eva caught me.
“Selena!”
“I’m fine. Just… tense.”
It felt like the blood drained from my body.
My heart was still racing.
“The door’s broken. We shouldn’t stay here tonight. Let’s pack up and go to an inn.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect him to come back this week. I sent money just recently…”
Eva sniffled softly.
I gently patted her back in comfort.
“You’ve been through so much alone…”
I should’ve helped her sooner. It would’ve been so easy.
Even in the name of revenge, I shouldn’t have ignored someone in need.
That would’ve made me no different from a villain obsessed only with vengeance.
*“At least I’ve come to my senses now.”*
I’ll return all the pain the Estarion family gave me.
But revenge isn’t my only goal.
This is about reclaiming my life, my future—and along the way, vengeance will come.
If I live only for revenge, I’ll burn myself out like a moth to flame.
What they did to me will be returned—not out of hatred alone, but as part of my healing.
*“You abandoned me. But I will not abandon myself.”*
I’ll fill my life with people who love me.
I’ll love myself more than Estarion’s shallow affections ever could.
I’ll be happy—desperately so.
Even without Estarion, Selena will shine.
To them. And to myself.
—
Eva and I packed our things and moved to a nearby inn.
It was clear two women couldn’t stay in a house with a broken door.
“When you go back, I plan to move into House Calypso as well. They provide rooms for the maids.”
“That’s fine. And if that loan shark comes back, let me know. Filing a report isn’t that hard.”
“Thank you. I’ll repay the principal steadily with my wages. You don’t have to worry.”
“Can I ask how you got into debt in the first place?”
“Ah…”
“You don’t have to answer if it’s uncomfortable.”
“I went to an information guild.”
“Information guild?”
As we walked to the inn, Eva explained.
“I grew up in an orphanage. I wanted so badly to find my parents, so I hired an information guild. But they couldn’t find them—and I just wasted money.”
“I’m sorry. That must’ve been hard to share.”
“No, it’s okay. Honestly, it’s just embarrassing. There was no way they could find them. I was just a foolish child.”
Her awkward smile stung.
I opened my mouth to offer comfort—when someone called my name.
“Selena?”
I didn’t even have to see who it was. My body froze, like a trained hound sensing danger.
That voice. That scent lingering in the air—I knew it too well.
It made me angry, how instinctively I responded.
Because it belonged to no one else but Crown Prince Philipso.
*“Why are you here…”*
Time stood still.
A tangled knot of emotions bloomed in my chest.
*“I wasn’t ready… I didn’t want to see you yet…”*
As if unaware of my turmoil, the Crown Prince smiled.
“It really is you. Ah, let’s skip the greetings—there are too many eyes watching.”
He wore commoner’s clothes. Likely on a secret outing before his official visit.
Despite the plain attire, he still looked dazzling.
Still beautiful. Still elegant. Still arrogant. Infuriatingly so.
“You’re out in disguise, I see.”
“Didn’t expect to find you here. Are you staying nearby?”
“I’m here on some business. Just for a short while.”
“I see. Have you been well?”
I had to tense my lips to answer.
Otherwise, I might’ve laughed bitterly. Or let my lips twist in disgust.
He knew everything.
He saw me in prison, watched me get dragged away like a dog.
He knew I was abandoned by those I once called family.
And now he dared ask if I had been well.
I clenched my teeth, holding back the venom.
“It’s been a valuable time of reflection. I’ve learned who truly matters in my life.”
