I Don't Want to Break off my Engagement... Translation

31. Illegal Organization

“Can Lady Fern use magic?”

“Lady Tiarize, before anything, just refer to me as, ‘Fern’. We mustn’t disclose our real status here. I’m sure that’s a better option, in this kind of… place.”

Fern lowered her face.

Certainly, it was dangerous to keep referring formally to each other here.

If it was known that Fern was a Countess’ daughter and I was a Duke’s daughter…

wait, what if those people already knew since the start?

Well, maybe they didn’t.

This status was useful in the royal palace, but in a place like this, I felt like it would only hamper my feet. Until we managed to escape, it was indeed better to hide it.

“I see your point. Then, you can call me Tia.”

“B-but… there’s no way I can do that. Lady Tiarize is the daughter of a Duke and is also the fiancée of the Crown Prince…”

Fern looked disturbed.

She was the one who suggested to remove the title, though…

Wouldn’t it be strange if she keep referring to me as before? I shook my head and answered.

“No, the name Tiarize may be unusual in Talia, and most importantly, it’s for the sake of safety. So, I will call you Fern, is that alright?”

“…I understand, Miss Tia.”

“No honorifics. Just call me casually, you understand right, Fern?”

“…”

After a long pause, Fern opened her mouth.

“Then, let’s refer to each other this way until we can safely return home… please forgive my uncouthness…”

“I’m the one who asked you, therefore, you aren’t in the wrong.”

After telling Fern so, I looked around.

…as expected, my rapier was nowhere to be seen. They must had taken it.

I couldn’t fight like this. There was a limit to fighting with magic alone. If they slashed at me during my chant, I wouldn’t have anything to deflect their attack. It was also disadvantageous for me to not have anything to protect myself quickly.

First of all, I must recover my rapier.

As I was thinking, I suddenly heard a shout from downstairs. Fern stiffened.

“…Fern?”

“Lady Tia—I mean, Tia. Listen. This is a slave market, but disciplinary action is also required. We were entrusted with the children. One of us will stay here while the other guards the children. That’s basically it.”

Fern replied in a gloomy tone.

…Oh my god!

So they kidnap children? Will they sell those children? What would happen to those sold children? The answer was obvious.

I clenched my fist, shaking off the vile thoughts.

A scream was heard downstairs—a girl’s.

“…!”

“Be strong, Tia. If we were to create a mess right now, we would be under stricter surveillance, we wouldn’t be able to escape.”

“…”

Fern was correct. But still, I couldn’t forget the sorrowful scream of the girl downstairs.

I was about to unleash my magic.

What should I do!? What should I do!?

In this kind of situation, if it was that Prince, what would he do?

But the First Prince—His Highness—had monstrous power. He would solve this instantly with brute force, as such, I couldn’t count on him to give me ideas…

…another person, yes, what would Vioris do in these circumstances?

Would he stay silent? Maybe he would search for a way to escape, instead. That would be difficult… I knew that, but…

…the girl’s screaming had stopped.

Then, another scream.

A loud scream was heard.

I’m at my limit!

I ran pass Fern, opened the door, and went down the stairs in front of me.

The screams were getting louder and louder. Fern followed me in a hurry.

As we descended downstairs, we gasped. There were small cages here and there—the place itself was akin to a big hall. In the cages, the children were kept in a bundle. They sat down, huddling to each other, as if shrinking. Everyone had hollow a gaze.

The girl who was screaming had been dragged out of her cage. She was being struck by an iron cane.

The girl’s body was a terrible site. She was so full of wounds, I unintentionally looked away.

A big man raised the iron, while another man held her down. The girl’s scream became even more broken.

My emotions exploded.

I felt something cold in the back of my mind.

In the next moment, when I blinked, the entire hall was frozen. Literally. All the furniture was frozen.

Huh…? Did I even chant just now…?

When I pondered so, the eyes of the men, who hadn’t received any damage, turned to me.

“Huh—!? Who are you—!?”

“Hee, isn’t she pretty cute, though? As usual, that Sudi guy brought in some high quality goods…”

The man holding the cane shrieked as if scared. The iron he was holding was completely frozen, unlikely to be useful anymore. The other man glared at us.

What do I do now?

I unintentionally came out. What do I do from this point?

There were lots of children. I must find a way to ensure their safe escape! Think, think!

Otherwise, I will die. At worst, everyone will die.

The man holding the girl down was visibly laidback, and even licked his tongue when he stared at us.

“They still possess some willpower, huh? Doesn’t matter, after some disciplining, you’ll sell like hot cakes.”

I was frowned upon in a disrespectful manner. The man even whistled.

“You’re strong, too~”

“Oi, don’t do anything foolish. You’re one of the goods Sudi brought in yesterday! Why did you come here? This is our place! Return to your room quickly!”

Fern called out to me. “…Tia.”

Goods, huh? I guess I didn’t mishear the first time. They really treat are treating these children as wholesale…

Don’t joke with me!


***T/N: ……

……………………………..

“Lady Tia—I mean, Tia. Listen. This is a slave market, but disciplinary action is also required. We were entrusted with the children. One of us will stay here while the other guards the children. That’s basically it.”

BUT–!!! THAT’S–!!! THAT’S TOO QUICK OF A PROMOTION FROM ‘HOSTAGE’ TO ‘HOSTAGE KEEPER–!?!? HOW MANY DAYS HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN THERE, two, WHAT, TWO–!??!?!!?

“Oi, don’t do anything foolish. You’re one of the goods Sudi brought in yesterday! Why did you come here? This is our place! Return to your room quickly!”

oh. …Oh, I get it now. I understand everything. My, Tia, if it isn’t your lucky day!!!! You were captured by your most friendly-neighborhood-kidnapper-child-trafficker-group, who wouldn’t hesitate to beat up those who were clearly weaker than them–aka those children, using iron cane, but at the sight of someone who can magic and is clearly a threat– aka, stronger than them–the worst they’ll do to you is tell you to go back to your room like above. No restrain, no nothing.

–y’know, like how kidnappers usually do.

<Previous chapter

Next chapter>