Escape (4)
Having hope was truly an incredible effect.
Even if things were tough right now, the expectation that things would improve soon filled me with motivation.
"You... are you okay? Why have you been like this since yesterday?"
"Because the food was really tasty."
"...Ah. Is that so? Okay then."
Sungho looked at me with eyes full of sympathy.
It was a gaze as if he were looking at a crazy person, but that didn't matter to me.
After all, I was saying goodbye to that human now too.
I fiddled with the crumpled paper deep in my pocket.
I kept checking to make sure it hadn't vanished. Of course, I had already memorized the contents completely, but I wanted to keep the piece of paper close to my body.
It would become my talisman until the plan was carried out.
"Aren't you going to work today?"
"Ah. I have something to do today."
While the other men were bustling around, Sungho remained calm.
Even the cheeky man over there seemed to be preparing.
"So, you should come to work there together today too."
"Alright."
That wasn't even difficult.
After saying goodbye to Sungho, I was led by the staff to the carriage where the male workers boarded.
It was spacious enough for quite a few people to sit, giving it a van-like feel.
I wonder if all the men here were in the same situation as me.
Clearly, their hair colors and eye colors stood out.
Of course, there were those who came to work at the establishment because they liked it.
I honestly didn't understand, but I would just assume they had a strong sense of duty as workers.
Most of them had unhappy expressions on their faces.
Probably because the female guards supervising them made them feel even more subdued.
"Eh? What's this? Another one?"
"Ah, hello."
The cheeky man sitting beside me greeted me as if he knew me.
Then he reached out with his finger and touched my cheek.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"...What is that? Is it because of my bare face? Your face looks different from last time."
His bold attitude left me momentarily speechless.
I was about to point out his rude behavior.
"Don't get too close."
"Who?"
"Who else would it be?"
He was spouting nonsense out of nowhere.
Even without naming the person, it was clear enough who he meant.
Weren't those two close before?
"What secret? You're telling me only about me in such a sneaky way."
"What are you talking about?"
I swear I hadn't done anything.
Actually, at first I thought I had lost some weight from struggling.
Since I stayed indoors, my skin had just gotten whiter.
Of course, when I looked in the mirror, I could clearly see the change myself.
It was even more suspicious that I hadn't noticed it.
But what I had done was really nothing at all.
The cheeky man stared at my shirt with narrowed eyes.
I wondered if the sparkle in his eyes was just my imagination.
"What do you do for exercise? I'm pretty muscular myself.
Most guys don't exercise. It makes me feel a sense of camaraderie.
We should be able to sell ourselves well."
I didn't have to sell myself.
It was hilariously natural for a man to treat himself as a commodity.
But why was he suddenly acting so friendly?
"I'm not into exercise."
"What are you saying? But you can maintain that body?"
"No..."
"That isn't easy. With irregular schedules and drinking every day.
If we rely on each other and help each other, things might improve?"
His words trailed off.
The carriage arrived in front of the establishment.
Entering the building en masse wasn't a pleasant experience.
I ignored the cheeky man boasting about his muscles and wandered aimlessly down the hallway.
Just to pass the time, I heard that Seonghyun's name had come up.
⁕⁕⁕
The term 'Meruan Ortini' was used for many things.
She was the eldest daughter of the Ortini family and the duke's successor.
When describing her appearance, the word 'ordinary' was the most fitting.
She had a somewhat rounded nose bridge and slightly slanted eyes.
She had plump cheeks, but with a little care, she had a decent appearance.
However, among her blood relatives, she was the lowest in evaluation.
That was only natural.
Despite being an illegitimate child, she had entered the hero party with her magical talent.
She had taken the fiancee position of the crown princess.
Her conditions were perfectly skewed.
Even her academic ability was mediocre.
She had no choice but to receive the duke's blatant discrimination.
The stories she heard from the noble ladies with questionable morals were sweet.
They were also her friends who had come to her first.
Alcohol, cigarettes, and men.
Of course, she hadn't crossed the line.
That was her final pride as a high-ranking noble.
And the man who touched that pride was the one.
A handsome man deserves to live up to his looks.
I knew that.
But I didn't want to cater to the whims of a man working in this place.
He was better than any other young master I had seen before.
No, it wasn't even better. It was night-sky-like hair and eyes.
Smooth, soft-looking skin.
Most of all, his neat features, yet somehow there was a flowing decadent charm that made my heart race.
Of course, his actions were beyond amateur. They were next-level.
His pure actions were cute, but he was deeply hurt when I rejected him.
The noble lady who had gone with me earlier gave me tips while poking my cheek, saying to try something.
But she had already spent a fortune on the establishment workers, so she was tired of that kind of thing.
Even though her friends had begged her so much, all she heard was the brothel owner's coercion.
"This time, for sure. I will never forgive him."
That handsome man. Or this brothel owner.
"Argh. When will he come?"
Drriik-!
Meruan, who had been waiting alone in the room, slowly looked at the man she had called.
It felt like time and space had slowed down, like a slow spell.
He looked even more handsome than last time, which made her angry.
"I'm sorry about last time, noona."
Meruan pressed the chair she was sitting on tightly.
Even this time, he sat down right next to her.
"Hmph. You know? So what can you do for me?"
What can you do for me?
Physical affection. Will you do it?
Even if I don't pay money.
Will you be different from the other prostitutes?
Chuk-!
A light peck on the cheek.
That one little thing melted away the resentment that had been piling up in Meruan.
Maybe it had been from the moment the man entered the room.
But she deliberately sulked to hide her inner feelings.
That was the best she could do.
"Hmph. Do you think this will make me feel better?"
Seonghyun's arm wrapped around Meruan's shoulder.
It smelled good.
The man's tongue began to explore inside the noble lady's lips.
The languid, wet sensation of the tongue made Meruan instinctively close her eyes.
"Huu... hng."
Her half-closed eyelids.
"What? Why are you so good at this? Last time, you were definitely..."
He had seemed so innocent and inexperienced!!
I thought he was pretending to be pure, but he wasn't.
Meruan felt a bit unhappy, but on the other hand, her heart was constantly stirred by the active, handsome man's figure.
Just as she was enjoying herself, he suddenly stopped.
She encouraged him with an annoyed tone as his lips slowly pulled away.
"Why? Why are you stopping? Why?"
"Ah. Time's up.
I have somewhere to go.
But next time, I'll look from outside."
What? You can do it inside.
Just a moment!
Look from outside?
The idea of scolding him harshly had long since vanished.
Meruan's lips simply swallowed with regret as she watched Seonghyun leave in a hurry.
⁕⁕⁕
Phew
That was handled somehow.
I immediately headed to the reception room where Jane was.
Humans are an adaptable species, they say.
Now that I knew the noble lady was at a level comparable to a fairy, my heart itself was a little at ease.
Most importantly, I could endure it for now.
Soon, I would leave this hated place.
Of course, I hadn't been there long enough to get tired of it.
But did that matter?
I wasn't one to brag, but I never thought I would use the kiss I learned from Jane like this.
"That woman really thinks this is a class?"
Actually, besides the kiss, she had given me all sorts of advice.
Like, treat me more gently.
Call me noona, or you'll be finished as a customer.
Such things.
When I reached the door, I felt a strange sensation.
I didn't even need to grab the doorknob to open it.
Jane's room was already open, as if someone had left it for me to see.
I didn't have the habit of peeping, but my instinct told me to check.
I held my breath.
And then Jane's voice came.
"You did something fun, didn't you?"
In the reception room, Jane was talking to Sungho.
It was an odd combination, but my brain worked for a moment.
Jane added.
"My shop was a place anyone could enter."
"......"
Then Sungho looked panicked.
His face turned pale, and he fell to his knees.
"Owner, I'm sorry."
"...Ha."
Jane's nonchalant expression turned toward the door.
She looked as if it was only natural that I was watching her.
"What do you want to do, young master?"
"Me?"
Surprised, I entered the room with heavy steps.
When I looked at Jane as if I wanted more detailed instructions, the words I heard were shocking.
"You keep saying stupid things.
The woman who vomited in front of the young master's eyes is actually a street beggar who took him along.
It lowers the class."
Upon hearing those words, anger surged up inside me.
I immediately looked at Sungho, who flinched in a daze.
Why... why?
"Huu. First, how about apologizing?"
"I'm sorry."
"Not to me.
To this half-baked young master."
"M-My apologies.
I'm really sorry."
Hearing his apology, I felt no emotion.
It was surprising.
Actually, I might have been expecting it.
"So what do you want? Our young master."
What do I want to do?
Yeah. After all, I'm leaving anyway. It doesn't matter.
"O-Owner."
"Huu?"
"Please forgive me just once.
I haven't been working here for long.
Actually, I..."
"What is your name?"
Jane's interest made Sungho open his eyes wide.
Hope burned in his eyes.
"My- My name is..."
"No. I don't want to hear it.
It means that existence like you doesn't interest me at all."
Sungho's expression was pathetic.
He was soaked in despair, and his will to live seemed completely broken.
"Bring him."
A short, blunt command.
Sungho, who had come to his senses, began to thrash about like he was having a seizure.
But the female guards' strength to grab his limbs was stronger.
"W- What will happen to him?"
"Curious?"
Jane crossed her arms and fiddled with her lips with her fingers.
"There's an orc dungeon nearby."
"......"
"Well, that's what I said."
For the first time, I felt fear toward Jane.
This place was dangerous.
"Huu. Besides, there's something cheeky about it.
Peeking."
Jane chuckled and laughed.
Seeing her smile, I decided to leave this place as quickly as possible.