A silver pendant, adorned with intricate patterns, didn’t appear much different from others.
However, it was the item Ian was searching for and the Emperor’s desired silver shield.
After the previous Empress’s death, a maid who was expelled had stolen this pendant. In reality, it was an artifact that could control the imperial family’s defensive barrier.
Losing such an artifact posed a significant threat, potentially sparking a rebellion.
Hence, the Emperor kept its loss a secret and deployed a secret knight of the royal family.
Despite the Emperor’s efforts, it was the heroine who eventually acquired the pendant, leading to her fateful connection with the Crown Prince.
‘A low-ranking noble and that status only in title, being made the Crown Princess… making Rose recognized should be a piece of cake.’
Ian nodded, smiling contentedly.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“This is quite a rare item, worth 10 silvers. You said you’d pay three times that, right? So….”
‘Look at this guy, trying to scam me. It was 5 silvers in the original story.’
Though the man had pretended earlier that the pendant was unavailable, finding it a hassle, Ian found his sudden eagerness annoying.
Nevertheless, the extra cost was negligible if he could secure the pendant before the heroine did.
“35 silvers. I’ll pay you extra.”
“Thank you!”
The man handed over the pendant to Ian, and Rose’s eyes sparkled at the sight.
“Uncle, I want to see it.”
“Sure.”
Since it wasn’t a dangerous item, Ian placed it in Rose’s hands.
The man, having pocketed 5 silvers, slyly approached Ian.
He whispered,
“Are you interested in the real black market?”
Sensing that Ian was an extraordinary customer, the man started leaking information after Ian had swiftly paid 35 silvers.
“The real black market?”
The man, thinking he had piqued Ian’s interest, grinned.
“Tonight, a doll market will open. Interested in knowing the location?”
‘Dolls? Suddenly… Ah!’
Ian suddenly recalled an event from the novel.
‘Damn it.’
***
Ian pondered as he watched the child sleeping peacefully.
‘She was the daughter of Count Berman.’
Count Berman was an exceptional talent in both politics and business management.
Therefore, he wasn’t criticized much for running a business despite being a count.
However, misfortune struck his seemingly perfect life when his only daughter was kidnapped by a slaver while she was out playing.
The count searched everywhere for his daughter, and even sought the Emperor’s help, eventually finding her.
But his delicate daughter, unable to endure the harsh conditions of the slave shop, had already died.
The count and his wife, devastated by the loss, had retired from all activities except for their business.
It was only after seeing the lively heroine, Yekhaterina, who reminded them of their late daughter, that they returned to society.
The count helped with money, and the countess, acting as a chaperone, became a supporter of the heroine.
Though they were her allies, they also felt sorry for Rose and did not oppose her.
Because of this, Ian hadn’t paid much attention.
Hence, he had almost forgotten that the count’s youngest daughter was to die at the slave auction tonight.
‘I need to go save her, right?’
If he hadn’t known, he might have ignored it. But now that he knew, he couldn’t turn a blind eye. Ian understood the pain of losing a child.
Rising from his seat, Ian created a shield around the bed.
Ian cast a shield spell over ten times to ensure that no one could invade or attack the room. Despite his efforts, he was still not satisfied.
Thus, he added an alarm spell to the entire room so that he would be alerted if anyone else entered.
As Ian meticulously set up the magic, Ermenia, observing closely, let out a small cry.
It was as if she was asking if he didn’t trust her. Ian chuckled dryly.
“Would you be able to leave your family with a stranger just like that if you were in my position? ”
Ermenia turned her head away, looking sullen.
“Guard it well. Otherwise, I’ll find a way to terminate our contract, even if it costs my life.”
Ermenia responded with a dissatisfied sound, but Ian ignored it as he put on the rabbit mask he had bought when they checked into the inn.
“Time to go.”
Ian quietly left the room, climbing through a window onto the adjacent building’s roof.
***
Ian, now alone, quickly scanned the surroundings.
Since the black market staff hadn’t provided the location, he had to figure it out himself.
Illegal slave auctions were typically held discreetly.
However, knowing that they took place at night when everyone was asleep made it easier to locate them—he just needed to find where the people who weren’t asleep were gathering.
Spotting several carriages moving quietly, Ian followed them, jumping from roof to roof without making a sound. He moved so stealthily that no one noticed him.
“There it is.”
In the middle of a forest on the outskirts, a grand black tent stood, almost blending into the darkness.
Behind the tent were cages that looked like they were meant for holding animals.
Ian hid in the forest, maintaining vigilance. Although he had come to rescue the Count’s youngest daughter, he had no intention of revealing himself.
“It seems like we have the most customers today.”
“Of course, everyone wants to buy the beastfolk.”
‘Beastfolk?’
Ian felt a surge of unease. In the original story, there was only one significant beastfolk character—the sub male lead, Fenrex, the youngest prince of the wolf tribe.
‘There’s no mention in the original story of Fenrex being sold at an auction.’
“How much do you think that guy will sell for?”
“He looks so weak; probably not much. The owner’s spreading rumors about selling him quickly because he’s about to die.”
“Aha. No wonder… I thought it was strange hearing those rumors.”
“Hurry up, Fren, come here!”
Hearing the shouting from inside the tent, the chatting men rushed in.
‘So, he’s about to die. That means it’s not Fenrex.’
In the original story, Fenrex was an extraordinarily strong wolf beastfolk who could tear an orc apart with his bare hands.
Therefore, the weak beastfolk mentioned here couldn’t be him.
Ian carefully checked the cages, passing by several large ones until he found a small one with a girl lying inside.
She was breathing heavily with a flushed face, dressed in clothes too luxurious for a commoner.
‘I found her.’
Ian approached the girl’s cage cautiously. It wasn’t locked, likely because they assumed she was too sick to escape.
As he entered, he felt the heat emanating from her feverish body. Ian quickly took her small hand, which was as delicate as Rose’s.
“Heal.”
The magic flowed from Ian’s hand, cooling the girl’s flushed cheeks and steadying her labored breathing.
As she began to recover, her eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes.
“Mmph!”
“Shh.”
Startled by the sudden appearance of the masked man, the girl tried to scream, but Ian swiftly covered her mouth.
She struggled, and his mask fell off, allowing the moonlight to reveal his face.
The girl, seeing Ian’s face, stared in awe.
“An angel?”
Ian inwardly chuckled.
‘I’m not quite an angel.’
Thinking of his own handsome appearance, Ian took advantage of the girl’s calm moment to whisper softly.
“I’m not an angel. I’m here to help you. Soon, someone will come to rescue you. Until then, just pretend to be sick. Understand?”
The girl, still looking at Ian, nodded slightly, her eyes trembling.
The girl’s eyes were filled with a desperate plea, asking if he couldn’t rescue her right now.
“Not now. To get you home, someone else has to come.”
In <Flower Garden>, the count asked the emperor for help to find his kidnapped youngest daughter, and the emperor commanded his brother, the grand duke, to handle it.
The grand duke, unbothered by bloodshed whether it was war or raiding a slave trader, accepted the task without hesitation.
However, when he raided the slave trader’s den, the girl had already died due to the harsh conditions.
Ian knew that if he could keep the girl in good condition, the grand duke would soon come and rescue her, ensuring her safe return to the count’s estate.
The girl’s eyes welled up with tears. She seemed terrified at the thought of being left alone again.
Her trembling figure reminded Ian of Rose, so he pulled her into a comforting embrace.
“If you cry, it will be harder. You’re going home soon, so you have to show your parents that you’re healthy.”
“But…”
As the girl’s tears soaked his shoulder, a loud explosion rang out, causing a commotion in the auction hall.
“They’ve arrived.”
The girl looked at Ian with wide, frightened eyes.
“I’ll be right over there.”
Ian pointed to a tree beside the cage.
“Wait just ten minutes. If no one comes, I’ll take you home myself.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
Ian patted the anxious girl on the head and picked up his mask, putting it back on.
“Keep an eye out.”
Ian placed the girl down, exited the cage, and slowly walked to the tree.
He then jumped up, hiding among the thick leaves. From a distance, he was invisible, but from the girl’s cage, she could see his hand.
Clinging to the cage, the girl watched Ian before lying back down, pretending to be sick again.
‘She’s a smart girl, just like Rose.’
As Ian thought of Rose, the commotion grew louder. People in armor came running behind the tent.
“Over here!”
At the knights’ appearance, the dazed captives in the cages began to shout for help one by one.
“Find the Count Berman’s daughter first!”
At the commander’s shout, the knights spread out, checking each cage.
A man with a fierce presence approached the commander with slow steps. Blood dripped from his sword, and his aura was that of a beast.
The commander bowed his head when he saw the man.
“Grand Duke.”
“Have you found her?”
“Not yet.”
‘The Grand Duke? Is that him?’
Ian frowned involuntarily.
The man with black hair and black eyes was the same person who had given up his lodging for Ian in the previous village.
is she the OGFL??
Yekhaterina are the OGfl Σ(゜゜)