I’m Supposed to Be the Neglected Princess in the Future, but Something Seems Strange... - 25 - Trap – Part 2

Rose was tied up by her hands and feet and thrown onto the floor. She bit her lip tightly.

Her mind had frozen, unable to think clearly. All she could understand was that this situation was very bad—and very scary.

Her hands, tied behind her back, were shaking slightly.

Two men were in the small room.

They wore torn pants and dirty shirts. With their thick, muscular arms and sunburned faces, it was obvious they were laborers. But even so, their faces looked rough and dangerous.

When Rose came to Room 3077, there had been three men.

As soon as she opened the door, they had grabbed her, tied her up like this, and tore a piece of her dress. Then, one of the men left with that torn piece of dress.

She had no idea what was going on.

There was no sign of Lea in the room. Instead, there were men who shouldn’t be there, and Rose had been captured and tied up. Even if she tried to think about it, her brain wasn’t working because of fear and confusion.

“Sorry, pretty girl. Nothing personal. This is just our job.”

(Job?)

What did he mean by “job”? Was it really their job to capture her? That didn’t make any sense. Even if they captured her, they wouldn’t gain anything. Even if they asked for ransom, her father the king wouldn’t pay even a single coin—not even if Rose’s life was in danger.

“The client told us to ruin you, but we don’t want too much trouble. These walls are thin, you know. If you behave, we’ll sell you tonight—still in one piece—to a friend’s shop in Huig Port. So just stay quiet and be a good girl, alright? I don’t want to hit your pretty face. If you’ve got marks, we can’t sell you for a high price. Don’t worry, you’re a real beauty. Someone at the shop will treat you real nice.”

What was he saying?

(Sell me? What does that mean…?)

And what did he mean by “ruin her”?

(Where is Lea…? Was she abandoned too…?)

And who was this “client”? Rose’s mind grew more and more confused.

The men said they wouldn’t hurt her if she stayed quiet. It wouldn’t be smart to scream. But if she stayed here, she would really be sold at the port. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clenched her teeth.

(Lord Raphael…)

Was this her punishment for sneaking out without telling him? Or maybe it was because she had thought, just for a moment, that it would be easier if they didn’t find Lea. Maybe God was angry because Rose, someone who was never meant to be loved, had wished to be happy by Raphael’s side.

A tiny sob slipped through her clenched teeth, and a tear fell from her eye.

Rose was helpless. There was no way to escape from this. Even if she were sold, escaping afterward would be nearly impossible. …She might never see Raphael again.

More than being sold, the thought of never seeing Raphael again scared her the most.

“Lord Raphael…”

She whispered his name through tears.

And just then—

“Rose!!”

The moment she heard that voice she loved so much, the door to Room 3077 burst open.

Out of breath, hair messy—unlike usual—Raphael stood there. The moment Rose saw him, her tears overflowed uncontrollably, like a dam breaking.

The men panicked and tried to run, but Raphael’s guards rushed in behind him and caught them in an instant.

“Rose, you idiot!”

Raphael lifted her into his arms and hugged her tightly as he scolded her with a shaky, breathless voice.