Chapter 40
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I possessed the body of a homebody villainess locked away in a desolate tower. Chapter 40 3,792,080. What does this number mean? It was the exact amount remaining in my account right now. After settling every last coin the Grand Duke had demanded, all that remained was a meager 3.79 million Tri. With this pittance, I couldn't even afford a house—I'd have to worry about paying next month's lodging fees. Of course, there would be royalties from new settlements and profits from the blackout curtains eventually.... But the real problem was that I didn't want a hand-to-mouth existence!
"Sigh..."
In the end, a deep breath escaped from the depths of my being.
"Why do you keep sighing?"
Because of you. I stared silently at the face of that infuriating, ruthless employer. Here I was, my heart aching over my depleted bank account, while someone else lounged about without a care in the world—the injustice of it was unbearable.
"You'll strain your eyes doing that." ....
"The princess's eyes have a pale blue light to them."
Flinch. What is this dialogue? I'd been so absorbed in contemplating just how perfectly straight the Grand Duke's nose was and how sharp his gaze remained that his unexpected remark struck me like an ambush. I hastily averted my eyes elsewhere, acutely aware of the heat rising in my cheeks as I replied tersely.
"...That's too much."
"Too much of what?"
"Well, I mean..."
You made me poor! But I couldn't say that—not when I was still receiving lavish treatment at the Grand Duke's Residence, with nothing materially different from before. Yet it was true that after all my struggles to finally earn something I could call money, watching it vanish in an instant left me feeling deeply wronged. So yes, I was... genuinely angry with the Grand Duke.
"Hmm, seems you don't want to say."
He leaned back nonchalantly and added.
"We won't need to camp tonight, apparently. We'll reach the village and stay at an inn instead."
Perk! The moment the words left his mouth, my entire attention snapped in that direction.
"Really...?"
"According to Liam, the roasted duck legs they serve at that inn are exceptional."
Oh wow, that sounds delicious. After days of tearing into nothing but tough, dried jerky, I was beginning to feel the pangs of genuine hunger. And it was well past lunchtime now. Growl. At the faint sound of my stomach growling, the Grand Duke's lips curved upward.
"I'll buy it for you."
I too possessed a modest but precious fortune of 3.79 million tris. It meant I could afford roasted duck legs on my own. Yet instead of refusing, I nodded obediently.
"I'll... gratefully accept."
Why refuse when he was offering to pay? When it was free? If I thought of it as recovering the money the Grand Duke had squeezed from me, there was even less reason to decline. Of course, I felt sorrowful at how I inevitably debased myself in the process, but that was unavoidable.
"However, there is a condition."
"Sigh."
Even buying me a meal came with conditions? But since the one buying was the Grand Duke himself, I listened with the resolve to hear him out.
"From the moment you arrive at the village, follow this guideline."
"A guideline?"
"Yes. Follow it. That's why I specifically ordered it to be written in the format of the guideline that appears in 【Regarding Safety Precautions for the Haunted Duke's Castle】, the story you're in charge of."
Truly, this was moving consideration. With that thought, I silently accepted the stiff paper the Grand Duke handed me. The contents were as follows. 【Quick Turtle Inn Usage Guidelines】 We welcome all guests utilizing the Quick Turtle Inn, a landmark of the quiet and peaceful Traga Village. These guidelines have been prepared to ensure a comfortable and safe inn experience. However, you must never let the staff know you possess this guideline, and the author assumes no responsibility for any problems arising from failure to follow these guidelines. 1. If foreign objects appear in your food, pretend not to notice. Small inns in remote villages typically lack thorough hygiene management due to circumstantial limitations. Pointing out unavoidable issues may deeply hurt the feelings of the kitchen staff and cooks who prepared the precious menu. 2. Do not bring any liquids provided by the inn to your lips, regardless of type. As mentioned in guideline 1, the inn's sanitary conditions are rather poor. Consuming unheated beverages may result in stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and chills. 3. Ignore any requests for help from children or the elderly. Generally, when strangers from outside make contact with village members, it often creates unnecessary wariness. If someone asks for help, smile apologetically and politely decline. 4. Lock the door securely, but do not completely lock the windows—leave them slightly open. Due to the nature of old inn rooms, accumulated dust requires continuous ventilation. 5. If the black-haired staff member guides you to the exit, follow their lead. Before the other staff members grow suspicious of their identity, accompany them as swiftly as possible. . . . ...What is this? I reviewed the instructions with a puzzled expression, but nodded along anyway.
"...Well, it's not difficult. I'll follow them."
I didn't need anything else—I just wanted to collapse into bed as soon as possible. It had already been four days since Blaire Grand Duke and I set out toward the Cletan Imperial Capital. For reasons unknown to me, the teleportation circle leading to the Imperial Capital was under maintenance, so we were traveling by land instead. The Grand Duke's carriage was comfortable enough that my back and rear weren't aching, but the monotony and fatigue were beginning to wear on me. 'The romance of camping only lasts a day or two....' The thought of finally resting under a proper roof filled my weary body and mind with renewed vitality. The Grand Duke's face, which had looked so hateful throughout the journey, was beginning to seem almost tolerable. Just then, a knight outside shouted.
"Traga Village!"
I hastily drew back the blackout curtain attached to the carriage and opened the small window, revealing wisps of smoke rising beyond the ridge. Whether the carriage had picked up speed or not, it soon came to a rattling halt. And so I arrived—at the very village where I had to follow the instructions Blaire Grand Duke had given me. * * * "Hmm?"
What was this? Standing before the inn that was supposed to provide me with peaceful rest, I felt a chill run down my spine instead of comfort. I instinctively glanced up at the Grand Duke, but he simply stared straight ahead as if nothing were amiss.
"Aren't you going in?"
"...Oh."
Only then did I realize I'd been standing there the entire time since stepping out of the carriage, still holding onto the escort he'd offered me.
"I-I'm so sorry!"
I trembled as if struck by an arrow and quickly stepped away from his side. My face, which had been unnaturally warm before, grew even hotter. Apparently amused by my reaction, the Grand Duke's voice took on a playful tone.
"No, feel free to rely on me. Though I might just charge you for the escort service."
"...Are you serious?"
"I'm joking."
It didn't sound like a joke. I deliberately ignored his voice, which sounded far too sincere, and stepped into the inn. While the Grand Duke spoke with the knights, Bonita approached me, apparently having finished her preparations.
"Miss, about this village... the atmosphere feels rather eerie, doesn't it?"
"Does it?"
"Something's odd. Is there no Security Force in this village?"
Small villages sometimes didn't have their own security force, so it wasn't particularly unusual.
"What else seems strange?"
"I don't see any children."
Suddenly recalling the contents of the instructions, I turned to Bonita with a suspicion.
"Did you see any elderly people?"
"Elderly people? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen any old folk around either."
"Hmm."
I lingered on that unsettling feeling for a moment, then recalled the Grand Duke's forces positioned at our rear and shook my head dismissively.
"Well, with so many knights accompanying us, what trouble could possibly arise?"
"That's right. Let's head inside quickly, Miss!"
Fortunately, the inn located near the center of the village stood completely empty. Unlike the atmosphere outside, the proprietor—a plump and kindly-looking man—readily agreed to rent out the entire inn at a reasonable price for the Grand Duke's household. However, the moment the meal was served, I found myself facing an unexpected obstacle regarding my adherence to the guidebook.
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