Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Father Sold His Daughter
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"To all the abandoned ones, and to you who are unforgiven."
That night, young Lena visited her father's study with a pounding heart.
"Father, did you call for me?"
"Come in."
At the voice from beyond the door, Lena bit her lip and smiled. Lena's father, Viscount Rubel, was a splendid man. Handsome, sociable, and highly capable, he was always admired. His only flaw was his single-minded devotion to work, neglecting his family somewhat, but Lena loved him including that. For her proud father to call her aside like this—it was a first.
'Why did he call me? Did he hear I was praised in violin lessons? Or is it about my birthday?'
Next Wednesday was Lena's twelfth birthday. Perhaps he had prepared a special gift. Brimming with anticipation, Lena stepped into the study. But what her father had prepared was not a pretty gift, but a cold abyss.
"The child is here."
As Lena entered, her father announced lowly.
"Is that her?"
A stranger's voice followed. Lena startled and turned her head. Sitting in her father's chair was a man she'd never seen before. He was beautiful, like an angel from a holy painting.
"She's quite pretty. Are you sure about this? She seems too precious to use as a sacrifice."
The man asked, looking at Lena.
"Decide carefully. Not even a corpse will be left, so even holding a funeral will be impossible."
Lena doubted her ears. Corpse? Funeral? As she stared at the madman with shocked eyes, her father gripped her shoulder.
"The decision has already been made."
"...Father?"
Lena was flustered by the adults' senseless joke. She looked up at her father, but to no avail. Viscount Rubel's face was utterly serious, without a trace of a smile.
"She's ten this year and healthy, never had so much as a cold. She'll surely be of use to Your Highness."
The viscount said, pushing Lena forward. At the matter-of-fact evaluation, Lena's expression went blank. She couldn't comprehend the situation. It felt like a dream. Amid her dazed mind, the viscount's words echoed in her ears. —Ten this year—healthy—never had so much as a cold. None of it was true. Young Lena was so frail that even a cold breeze would make her cough. Because of that, the servants would pickle ginger in honey for her and prepare padded clothes whenever the weather turned chilly. But that was a minor misunderstanding—the real issue was elsewhere. The viscount's daughter wasn't ten this year, but twelve. Lena blankly stared at her father, who didn't even know her birthday, let alone her age. But the viscount didn't look at Lena, pressing down on his daughter's small shoulder. The heavy grip snapped her awake. Unbelievable, but undeniable. Her father had sold his daughter. That night, Lena was abandoned. By the father she respected endlessly, whom she loved more than anyone. It had already been six years ago.
***
Humans have value. The younger, the more so; and especially if they're beautiful. It was the empire's tiresome trend of commonplace human trafficking, turning even bandit dens into such places. In the empire, people vanishing was an everyday occurrence, so women and children didn't wander the streets carelessly. Thus, the sight of a lovely young lady sitting alone in the square was quite unfamiliar to the citizens.
"Young Lady!"
A spirited voice echoed across the faded square. The one calling was a child dressed as a maid.
"Young Lady, you must be hungry? Have this."
The ten-year-old maid ran up and offered a sandwich. The lady on the bench smiled softly. Though her rare beauty drew glances, she seemed oblivious. Looking at the sandwich the maid brought, the young lady tilted her head.
"Why only one? What about Uni?"
"I'm fine."
"Did you run out of money?"
"Um, regrettably, yes."
At Uni the maid's reply, the young lady's expression hardened feignedly. So Uni thrust out the street-vendor sandwich more pluckily.
"That's why you eat this, Young Lady. I'm small, so I don't need to eat!"
"The smaller you are, the more you should eat. It won't be enough, but let's share."
The young lady smiled warmly, split the sandwich in half, and returned the larger piece. Uni beamed and took it.
"I'll dig in!"
"Yes, me too."
The beautiful lady and cute child sat side by side and began eating. Even so, countless gazes poured in.
'What are those kids doing?'
'No guardians?'
'What are they trying to get into....'
Most were worried or disapproving. Citizens clicked their tongues at the fearless pair, then hurried along while scolding their own daughters or sisters nearby.
"Noble?"
"Hey, would a noble act like that?"
"Try talking to her?"
On the other hand, the errand boys gossiped among themselves. They all seemed smitten but lingered at a distance due to their shabby appearances. And the tall youth standing at the square's entrance was one of those observing the lady. It was then. In full view of everyone, a uniformed man approached the lady.
"May I see your identification?"
At the unfamiliar voice and the shadow blocking the sunset, the young lady looked up. An unknown man had approached, looking down at them. By his attire, he seemed to be city guard.
"Identification?"
"We received a report of suspicious persons. Show me your identification."
"I, uh, don't have it on me right now...."
Frightened by the word "report," the young lady trailed off. The guard's impassive eyes narrowed.
"Where do you reside?"
"We're not from this city."
"Visitors? Any companions? Reason for visiting our city?"
"No companions, just passing through...."
"Just the two of you?"
Though the young lady answered sincerely, the guard crossed his arms suspiciously. Then he interrogated further.
"What is your status?"
"I'm from the Northern Marquis household...."
"A marquis's young lady wandering the square with just a maid? Don't talk nonsense."
The guard cut her off with a scoff. The young lady's face paled.
"No, I...."
"Unidentified and impersonating nobility. You'll be investigated until cleared. Come along!"
The guard suddenly seized the young lady's wrist.
"What are you doing!"
"Uni, it's okay!"
"Young Lady...!"
"It's okay, it'll be fine. Just an investigation, right?"
The young lady soothed the child and rose to follow the guard. The indignant Uni had no choice but to close her mouth. The guard dragged away the innocent young lady and child. Though many people filled the square, they all averted their eyes, as if accustomed to it.
. . .
The place the guard led the young lady to was not the guard station, but a deserted alley. There, he laughed for the first time.
"This is too easy?"
As the guard snickered vilely, the men who had been hiding revealed themselves.
"Wow, where'd this come from?"
"Look at that pale skin. This one's a real woman."
The ragged men leered as they approached. The young lady turned to the guard with a frightened face.
"Y-you're not really city guard?"
"Right, but the pay's low, so I do side gigs sometimes."
"How could you...."
"Exactly, wandering around defenseless like that. So dangerous."
The men cackled, pretending to worry, and at their vulgar demeanor, the young lady shrank back. Then one muttered.
"Hey, isn't this risky?"
The grown lady was too naive. She seemed like a pampered rich daughter however you looked. At his companion's concern, the guard scoffed.
"Idiot, would a fine lady go out without escorts?"
"Could be sneaking out?"
"So what? Sell her off and done!"
The guard reached out roughly. Then Uni shrieked.
"You jerk! Don't touch the Young Lady!"
"Puhaha!"
The men burst into laughter at the child's outburst.
"This one'll sell well too. Perverts will love her."
"Please don't. Let us go, please."
At the sinister mockery, Uni ground her teeth. The young lady embraced Uni and pleaded. It only made things worse. Her trembling voice stirred their twisted desires. The men chuckled like bubbling swamp, reaching to snatch the young lady. It was then.
Bang!
With an unexpected noise, one of the men blocking the alley toppled backward. Everyone turned in shock, then froze as if by agreement. At the alley's far end stood a man with the sunset at his back. A tall fiend masked over his face, cloaked entirely in black. And at his feet lay the lookout, collapsed pathetically.
"What the hell, you bastard!"
The men yelled at the intruder. The fiend didn't reply, merely stomping the head of the fallen man at his feet. A bone-crunching sound rang out, but the pinned man didn't twitch, likely unconscious.
"You son of a...!"
Unable to watch, another man charged with a fist. The fiend dodged shallowly, seized the man's arm mid-swing, and snapped it.
"Kaaak!"
With a sound like breaking wood, the man crumpled. The fiend then kneed the lowered jaw.
"Guhk...!"
The merciless blow sent the man sprawling limply. As comrades fell one after another, the remaining men tensed to rush. Then the fiend straightened, rolling his shoulders. Unnoticed in motion, upright he was enormous. Moreover, the eyes peering through the mask were razor-sharp, murderous. Overawed by his imposing build and chilling gaze, the men faltered, then spat curses.
"Damn it!"
Scared dogs bark. The enraged men backed away and fled. With the dogs gone, the alley fell silent instantly. But the young lady and maid still clung to each other. The cloaked fiend seemed as dangerous as the guard and his gang. The pitch-black fiend approached, shadow trailing. He quietly asked the gulping pair.
"You okay?"
An ordinarily kind voice. Startled by the unexpected tone, the young lady blinked as the fiend removed his mask.
"Ah...."
The revealed face startled her once more.
Contrary to his brutal actions, his features were refined. Moon-pale skin, clean-cut features, and deep black eyes now calm, unlike before. This mild-looking youth had smashed men so viciously—it was hard to believe even having seen it. As the young lady blinked, the youth continued.
"Saw you in the square and followed. Don't follow some guy claiming to be guard blindly. It's dangerous."
The youth gently chided, extending a hand to the still-rigid young lady.
"I'll take you."
"Huh?"
"Not all the way home. Just nearby."
"...We're not from this city."
The young lady replied in a voice like a spring breeze.
"Just passing through, heading to the capital."
"Just the two of you?"
She nodded, and doubt rose in the youth's eyes.
"My father is in the imperial palace."
The youth stared, and the lady confessed with a beautiful yet fragile face.
"My name is Lena Rubel. My father is His Excellency Cardo Rubel, Marquis of the North."
The lady, Lena Rubel, speaking thus—her eyes were unchanged from six years ago. As frail and pitiable as when abandoned by her father.