Chapter 163: Chapter 14. Saving

This is what I call an unexpected encounter.

Nothing foretold of trouble: suddenly I was kidnapped and made a commodity in the slave market. And after all that had happened, I was bought by Rachel… In the end, we were now riding in a wagon to the imperial palace.

I guessed our destination from the beginning.

It was because I had no trouble recognizing the true identity of my «mystery» customer.

I would have recognized Rachel's voice and demeanor from hundreds. Especially since the last time I'd been tricked into disguising myself as Elsa. Of course, now I wasn't fooled by some kind of mask.

And if Rachel had stayed the same, she would have easily recognized me, too. But now… She really did mistake me for a common slave.

My jaw had almost dropped in shock at the auction the other day. What was Rachel doing in a place like this? I had no idea she was into that sort of thing before…

Anyway, I was ransomed for five hundred thousand gold pieces. And now we were in opposite seats, and I was desperately trying to figure out a way to get out of here. Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

With her arms folded across her chest, Rachel looked at me with interest.

— Worried?

I pursed my lips.

— You could say that.

She was quiet for a moment.

— Why don't you take off your veil? I want to look at you.

Surprisingly, it didn't even sound like an order, it sounded like a request. Otherwise I would have had no choice to disobey.

I got nervous.

In fact, I had no trouble stopping everything that was going on right now. All I had to do was give my real last name. And if it were any other aristocrat, I would do exactly that.

No one in their right mind would hold the Archduchess, especially not after she had revealed her identity.

But… Since it was Rachel, somehow I hesitated before this decision. Was it fear or excitement? It's hard to say.

But my hand never moved to remove the veil. Instead I said:

— You first.

— What?» The girl was very surprised.

— You haven't taken off your mask, either,» I reminded her, «so I haven't seen your face, either.

After listening to me, Rachel's pupils dilated first, and then she grinned. When you look at it that way, I was a very cocky slave.

For a while we stared at each other in silence and neither of us dared to do it first. Eventually Rachel just closed the subject. I didn't hesitate to ask:

— Why did you spend so much money on me?

— Hmm? — Rachel shifted her gaze from the window to me.

— The starting bid was only five gold pieces,» I said, «You could have just left it at that. Why overpay?

Rachel watched me with a sneer.

— You know you're very cheeky, don't you?

— I know,» I sighed.

— You dare ask me questions even though I'm your mistress. Are you not afraid of punishment?

— If the punishment comes from you, I'm not afraid…

— What?» the woman was taken aback.

I covered my mouth with my hands. Did I really say that out loud?! And why am I the only one with no bones in my mouth?

— I mean… You seem like a good person! So I don't think you're going to punish me too much…

After my ridiculous excuse, Rachel gave me a strange squint for a long time.

— «A good person?» — she repeated quietly with a chuckle,» Ha… Funny.

I coughed.

— You still haven't answered my question.

Rachel let out a chuckle: when I continued to behave this way against the rules. Especially at the risk of insisting on an answer.

— Because I didn't think you were worth that much,» it came out of her mouth.

— What?» I wondered.

— You're not worth five gold pieces,» she repeated softly.

I blinked.

That's the whole reason? I didn't expect her to be so… simple. She shook her head.

— Oh…» And so that's it.

Should I take that as a «compliment»? Though, I admit, rather dubious…

We drove on in silence for a while. The further we went, the more I realized that my chances of escape were shrinking like sugar… That was bad.

Not many guards accompanied us, but that was not the main thing. After all, Rachel was still my main obstacle. I had no idea how I would ever be able to escape, much less overpower her… It didn't even sound realistic in my head.

I knew the answer to that question, but I asked it anyway:

— Where are we going?

Surprisingly Rachel didn't even hesitate before answering.

— To the palace.

At this point she apparently decided to show her hand.

— I'm not really a marquess,» she blurted out, «I'm the queen.

I acted surprised.

— What?!

— For some reason I had to hide my identity,» she said, «But now you know.

I coughed.

Did she really think I wouldn't guess, even as we rode in the imperial carriage? Rachel seemed to have completely underestimated the thinking abilities of commoners.

— This is… This is so unexpected!

It really isn't. Even if I really didn't recognize Rachel and we were riding in an ordinary carriage: I still wouldn't believe that I had an ordinary aristocrat in front of me. Simply because they didn't have that much money.

Only Rachel-who after ascending the throne combined the imperial treasury and the fortune of the Duchy of Cassius-could throw the money around as she wished. Because she became the richest person in the empire.

While I fluttered my eyes in amazement, Rachel gave me time to «come to my senses» after such news.

— Your Majesty…! Forgive me for not recognizing you at once! — I exclaimed.

Rachel waved her hand.

— But… I'm just a slave girl. I have no idea what I can do for you…! — I tried to get out of it.

— Yes, you can,» she protested.

— Wh-what…?

— I'm sure you've heard that I have a fiancée. You'll be her maid.

Now I'm really open-mouthed.

— «Maid…?» — I repeated in disbelief.

Rachel nodded.

— I found you the most entertaining of all the slaves. I'm going to leave you at the palace to serve her.

— …

— You must be glad,» the girl suggested easily.

— I am. Very glad,» I didn't «hide it,» «I couldn't dream of serving the crown princess…

Perhaps being Camilla's maid would be the crowning glory of my career. Who wouldn't want that for themselves…

I let out a fake smile that I couldn't see through the veil. Myself, with a desperate inner plea for help, I leaned out the window.

«Somebody! Help me!»

Though, who's going to hear me here. Even the gods have turned their backs on me since I entered this world.

So who am I…

Just when it seemed there was no escape, I suddenly heard the sound of horses stomping. It was coming from nearby, and it was speeding up.

I was dumbfounded: when after a few seconds I could see the familiar silhouettes on the horizon.

At last!

A sigh of relief escaped my mouth. I was beginning to think they weren't coming for me.

— Stop at once! — Maxie yelled as she sped toward us.

Rachel noticed the stranger's presence, too, and frowned.

— Who the hell is that?

Maxie and Razor lunged forward and blocked the road right in front of the carriage — causing the carriage to stop. Rachel couldn't take it anymore, and she got angry. I could tell by the look on her face that she was about to head for a showdown.

I pretended to be frightened so as not to arouse suspicion.

— Stay here,» she ordered, before stepping outside.

I nodded.

— I–I hear you!

It's a good thing Maxie and Razor were smart enough to hide their faces, too. They would have had no one to explain what the Crown Princess of Oberon and the former second prince were doing here…

Maxie spotted me through the window, and before the fight could start she signaled. We silently agreed with each other.

Bam!

With anger Rachel slammed the carriage door with terrible force. A fight ensued immediately.

— How dare mere brigands attack the imperial carriage!

— We apologize for the surprise attack, Your Majesty,» Maxie grinned.

Rachel clenched her teeth.

— You two are corpses.

— Already preparing to be,» the girl retorted.

Maxie and Razor fought Rachel at the same time, but they couldn't hold her for long. I had to take a chance and escape.

Fortunately, the rest of the guards present were also mired in the scuffle-and no one was paying much attention to me.

I dared, with a breath in my chest, to stick my head out. The entrance to the forest was just before the door, and I dashed toward it.

I ran without stopping until I was hidden behind a tree.

Even from here I could hear the metallic clang of swords.

It went on for a while: then finally everything went quiet. Maxie and Razor found me after half an hour on their own.

— Are you all right? — The second prince was the first to ask, though I should have been the one to ask.

— I've been worse,» I sighed.

They took their hankies off their faces and sat wearily under the tree beside me. I asked cautiously:

— What's wrong with Rachel…?

Maxie snorted.

— We had a hard time pulling away from her. I guess she wasn't kidding when she said she wanted to make corpses out of us.

— Rachel never jokes about that,» I pointed out.

— Yeah… We get it,» Razor frowned.

Considering what the three of us have just been through, we've just been trying to recover for a while. Then Maxie involuntarily spoke:

— This is all very strange… We've been looking for you for days, and we found a slave trader. But he was arrested as soon as we left.

— Really?! — I was astonished.

— Yeah,» she nodded. «It sounded like an ambush.

I couldn't believe it: was justice being served, and would these fellows really get what they deserved? That was good news!

— And what of the other slaves? — I asked her at once.

— Well…» Maxie hesitated, «Since they are Imperial guards, they must be released after all the proceedings.

I breathed a sigh of relief. It's good that Dylan and the others are safe.

In the meantime, I decided to ask about it after all. I took off my veil and sighed.

— How bad is it? — I asked.

— What?» the daughter of the Marquis was surprised.

— I mean, I have not seen myself in the mirror… How disfigured my face?

She hesitated.

— I do not know what you mean.

— А?

— Your face…» The girl coughed, «There's nothing wrong with it.

My pupils dilated in surprise.

What do you mean, 'all right'? While I'd been prepared to be ugly for the rest of my life, Maxie's words stunned me.

— Are you sure?! — I asked her a question, and I clutched at her shoulders.

— What are you talking about? — Or are you just asking for compliments? Well, I can say that you're beautiful without it…

It was obvious Maxie wasn't lying about my face or trying to comfort me. But then… What's going on?