Chapter 12
The Male Lead Went Crazy for the Troublesome Villainess — Episode 12
As the final gateway to Greystone, the place was packed with people. The market also seemed fairly well stocked with supplies.
I thought I remembered reading a description saying it would be hard to obtain provisions anywhere but here. And he was asking for my help with something that important?
Definitely suspicious.
Full of doubt, I arrived at the market to find Kael's subordinates facing off against the merchants with grim expressions.
Looks like something serious happened.
I exchanged glances with Seraphine, who stood among them. Thanks to training together over the past few days, a strange sense of camaraderie had sprung up between us.
By now, Seraphine and Kael's relationship should have been growing closer. The progress of their romance had a major impact on the novel's plot, making it one of the most important elements. Go, Seraphine.
Let's not forget that this was an R-19 dark romance fantasy.
I pictured Seraphine being tormented day and night by monsters or by Kael, and sent her my silent encouragement. Once again, go, Seraphine!
I'm rooting for you!
"Your Highness, you called for me?"
I paid my respects before Kael. From within the crowd surrounding him, Kael's gaze turned toward me. This was the first time I had seen him up close. He really was handsome. It couldn't be easy to look so ravaged and yet so beautiful at the same time.
In the original novel, Kael could be cruel, and at times downright nasty. Seraphine had been hurt because of it more than once. It was all supposedly for the expedition, the greater good, the empire, and the world, but there had definitely been times when Seraphine had every reason to be hurt.
And yet, the one and only reason Kael had been forgiven was this.
That face.
As expected, a handsome face is all the plot justification you need.
People say you can't live on a man's looks alone, but I swear, with Kael you probably could. Just looking at him made everything forgivable. How could anyone look like that?
A sharp nose bridge as if carved by a sculptor, well-shaped red lips, and alluring eyes that looked as though painted with a brush. His mysterious violet eyes grew more fascinating the longer I looked, and the tiny beauty mark beneath his right eye only added to his charm.
And on top of that, silver hair. I really had a weakness for handsome men with silver hair.
Without realizing it, I licked my lips and swallowed hard.
Just then, those sculpted lips parted.
"......Lady Rosana. The situation is not good right now. So I would like to ask for your help."
Help? I quickly snapped back to my senses.
"How can I help?"
"The merchants are demanding outrageous prices from the expedition."
With that one sentence, I could grasp the whole situation. I recalled the state of the market I had taken in while coming to see Kael. The merchants' expressions, the condition of the goods, and even their subtle exchanges of glances.
Aha. Price-fixing, then.
They're trying to cash in big, aren't they?
But from the expedition's standpoint, they couldn't possibly meet all of those demands.
So negotiation was necessary, but none of the straightforward knights were suited to it. This had happened in the original novel too.
I remembered the negotiation taking quite a long time. That was why they had ended up having to stay in Willow for four days.
If he had sought me out to resolve that kind of situation.
It was a fitting choice.
But how did he know I could run my mouth at times like this?
I deliberately stayed silent and looked up at the Crown Prince with an odd expression. Should I pretend not to know? What if my actions affected the novel?
Before I could make up my mind, Kael spoke.
"......The Rainford black market."
"Gulp."
I swallowed audibly. I felt my eyes twitch uncontrollably. So you could actually feel something like that.
"......Under military law, my lady, your offense carries the death penalty. You left the expedition without authorization......."
"How much should I get them down to?"
Kael frowned. I smiled brightly at him and made a circle with my thumb and index finger.
"Just trust me, Your Highness. Haha, I'll make sure those fellows snap to their senses."
I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched Kael press his lips firmly shut.
Only then did I understand why I was here. No, wait — when did he see that?
Hoo. They say the walls have ears.
No secrets, none at all!
* * *
Having received a special mission from Kael, I approached the merchants with a bright smile. They had already banded together. They had everything riding on this too, but so did I.
Did you not hear him just now going on about military law?
My life is on the line here.
I had served in the military. I knew better than anyone how terrifying military law was. And I also knew just how dangerous what I had done really was.
I flipped open the nearest sack of flour with a flick. Dust piled on top of the sack puffed into the air.
"How long ago was this milled?"
"Ahem. It was milled this year."
"That can't be right. It looks at least two years old. There's discoloration."
I checked the condition of the other goods one by one, then straightened up. The merchants watched me with sour expressions. The truth was, supplies were practically our only means of survival right now.
They probably never imagined anyone would scrutinize freshness this closely, so they had hauled out everything they had.
The merchants cleared their throats, faces reddening as they avoided my eyes.
"I have no idea what kind of conscience lets you demand prices like that. You intend to sell this to the expedition at that price?"
"Now see here. I don't know who you are, but our families' livelihoods depend on this."
"That's right! Do you think we're at ease either?"
"Then you should do things you can feel good about. Do you even know what we're heading out to do? If we fail, do you think your families will still have a future?"
The merchants pressed their lips shut and stared at me in disbelief as I stood with my weight on one leg. They probably never expected the Crown Prince's representative to act like such a thug. Maybe they hadn't heard the saying: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
"And these...... did you trim the sprouts off these potatoes before putting them out for sale?"
I'd lived alone for so long, there was no way I wouldn't recognize something like this. The merchant who had been about to deny it met my eyes and whipped his head away. I shaved a thin layer off the potato's surface with my dagger, revealing the bluish discoloration beneath the skin.
"Cough!"
"You've got some nerve. If the expedition knights eat this and get food poisoning, will you take responsibility?"
"Wh-why should we be responsible? It's up to you whether you buy them!"
"Our responsibility? So the sellers bear none?"
Hoo. I blew a puff of air to flip my bangs.
You're bringing out my old habits.
"Listen carefully. If our knights eat this shoddy excuse for supplies you sold and fall ill, they won't be slaying monsters — they'll become monster feed. And then those vengeful spirits might just haunt your families for generations."
I grinned and swept my gaze over the merchants.
"Think I can't? No, I will. Your families, your grandchildren, every generation after them. I'll hound you to the bitter end."
"Wh-what are you saying! Are you threatening us right now?"
"It seems to me the ones doing the threatening are you. You put out this garbage, demand those prices, and act like thugs. Or did you say you wouldn't sell otherwise?"
I smiled coldly. Honestly. No matter where you go, there are always people who raise your blood pressure.