MPAWD 10

Chapter 10

“You should be grateful! If my right hand wasn’t in this state, you wouldn’t have gotten away unscathed either!”

Just thinking about all the things the original Lucy had endured before her possession made her blood boil.

But a little later, when she stepped into the dressing room and saw her reflection in the mirror, Lucy felt her lost reason return.

In the mirror stood a woman with messy hair, panting angrily, her face twisted in rage.

If I haven’t even become the duke’s mistress yet, just like in the original story, then I’m already looking like the villainess from the start, aren’t I?

Was it the situation that was changing her, or had this side of her always been hidden deep inside? She didn’t know.

“I’ll take the black dress.”

The boutique owner looked troubled at Lucy’s insistence on black, despite the array of bright colors around her.

But what was there to dress brightly for? Either way, that day was bound to be a tragic one for her.

Of course, unlike in the original story, she had no intention of clinging pitifully to Edwin, nor did she want to be involved with him in any way.

That thought made her wonder if maybe she should dress as brightly as possible and smile as if she were happy.

No, bad idea! People are already gossiping about how scandalous my private life is and how I seduce men—this would just fuel the rumors.

Lucy absentmindedly nodded at one of the designs the shopkeeper suggested and rose from her seat.

“I’m going back with Anna first.”

“Do as you please. It’s better than running into you again on the way back anyway. But make sure to send the carriage straight back here!”

At Jessica’s words, Lucy quickly grabbed Anna and stepped outside.

“Anna, let’s go back first,” she said loudly enough for the guards outside to hear as they boarded the carriage.

Once the carriage had been moving for a while and was far enough from the boutique, Lucy tapped the wall toward the coachman’s seat.

“Turn the carriage back toward the city. I forgot to buy a gift for my fiancé, Duke Vallon.”

The coachman hesitated for a moment but eventually turned the carriage around.

“Where would you like to go, my lady?”

“Well… honestly, I don’t know. But I don’t know my way around here at all, so I’d like to take a look around the busy part of town first.”

She kept thinking she needed to run away, but she had no idea when, where, or how.

The biggest problem was that she had no money for an escape. On top of that, Baron Diallo treated her like an asset—he wouldn’t stop searching for her.

And judging by the greed in Duke Vallon’s eyes, he wasn’t likely to give up easily either.

While Lucy was lost in thought, the carriage stopped. She got out and told the coachman not to worry—she’d make her own way back—then sent the carriage to return to the boutique.

“My lady, is this really all right? You’ve never gone out alone like this without permission. If we don’t return soon, the baron will be furious.”

“Anna, should we just run away right now?”

Instead of answering, Lucy threw the question at her. She really did want to escape this very moment if she could.

“My lady, do you really mean to run away? If we get caught, you could be in serious trouble!”

“So, are you going to tell Father that I’m planning to escape?”

Anna shook her head firmly.

“If I did that, I’d be cursed by the heavens! You’re the only one who’s ever reached out to me when I was treated as less than human. For you, my lady, I’d gladly give my life!”

Lucy felt Anna’s sincerity in her voice and eyes.

This must be because of Lucy’s memories, she thought, feeling a sting in her nose as she forced a brighter smile.

“By the way, do you happen to have any savings?” she asked half-jokingly to change the subject.

To her surprise, Anna admitted she had been saving almost all her wages as a maid.

“I never had much to spend it on, really. Hehe!”

Her shy smile made Lucy’s chest ache warmly again.

“If we were to run away, where do you think would be the safest place?”

Now that it was just the two of them, Lucy thought it was the perfect time to discuss an escape plan.

“We should go as far from the capital as possible. The baron hires mercenaries as skilled as knights and has many connections through his merchant ventures. That means we’d have to go somewhere no one knows you.”

Lucy was surprised at how much Anna seemed to know about Baron Diallo.

“If we take a ship, we could buy some time. With the money I’ve saved, we’d have enough for the trip and to live on for a while!”

At Anna’s words, Lucy felt like the fog around her future began to thin—there was hope.

“If we take a ship, where should we go? Do you have a place in mind?”

“Hm… what about the opposite direction from the capital? Since the capital’s in the south of the empire, we could head north.”

Lucy had never even considered that before. It confirmed that Anna needed to be part of this plan.

“Since you don’t have your memories, I’ll look into suitable places. Just trust me.”

“Then how about making our move on the day of the imperial banquet? If we sell the jewels and clothes I wear that day, we could get some extra money.”

As they talked, they turned into a quiet alley. Realizing too late that they had gone the wrong way, they turned to retrace their steps—

“Well, well. Pretty ladies, where are you headed? Lost your way?”

Four young men had blocked their path, having apparently followed them for a while. Anna stepped forward protectively, hiding Lucy behind her.

“We have an appointment nearby. Our companions are waiting for us, so please let us through,” Anna said.

They didn’t believe her, exchanging smirks instead.

This is… oddly familiar. In novels, this is when a handsome man usually shows up to rescue the heroine, isn’t it?

Lucy looked around, hoping someone would pass by—and then it happened.

“What are you doing here, darling? I’ve been waiting forever and was just about to come find you.”

Gasp! Handsome man alert!

A stunningly handsome man appeared out of nowhere, smiling warmly as he walked up and wrapped an arm naturally around her shoulders.

“Are these guys acquaintances of yours?” he asked, jerking his chin toward the men. They quickly slunk away, embarrassed.

Lucy stepped back and bowed slightly.

“Um… thank you so much. We got lost and ran into some unpleasant people.”

The man’s hand lingered briefly on her shoulder before he chuckled softly.

“A place like this doesn’t suit beautiful ladies. Let me escort you somewhere more lively.”

Before she could refuse, he strode ahead confidently.

“You seem unfamiliar with the area. Not from around here?” he asked, glancing back with an easy grin. He had the air of a playful troublemaker.

Between Lucas and this guy, I’m starting to realize Edwin isn’t the only handsome man in this world!

A dramatic meeting at a dramatic moment—plus an exceptionally good-looking man.

Could this be, like in novels, the fateful benefactor who becomes my lifeline?

It was possible. After all, this world was built from every cliché in the book.

“My family is strict, so I rarely get the chance to go out. I was so excited to be in the city that I…”

He watched her for a moment before his eyes curved in a mischievous smile.

“Aha! Then how about this, lovely ladies—I’ll be your guide for the day. I know this place like the back of my hand.”

With an exaggerated bow and a grin full of mischief, he held out his hand to Lucy.

Surrounded only by rotten ropes to cling to, she figured she might as well take the one offered. Lucy gladly placed her hand in his.