RVMPT Chapter 107

Chapter 107 

“Live a life worse than hell and regret it with every bone in your body.”

The cold, biting voice of Marchioness Mayer rang in his ears.

The Count tried to move his lips, but the drug’s effects finally took over, and he collapsed. Just before he lost consciousness completely, a dull thud echoed in his ears.

***

Ten days later, the Count shivered from the cold.

‘…Why is it so cold?’

He reached out for his blanket, but couldn’t find anything. Frowning, he noticed a salty smell he hadn’t been aware of before.

That smell would never come from the Garcia estate. And his bed—normally soft—felt hard and uncomfortable. 

What was going on…?

“Ah!”

He suddenly sat up.

What happened before he passed out came rushing back to him.

‘Where… am I?’

He wasn’t in a prison cell—that was certain. The room looked more like a storage room, filled with various items.

Carefully hiding his presence, he headed for the door. Luckily, it wasn’t locked, and he easily stepped outside.

Once outside, he realized why he kept smelling salt.

He was surrounded by the sea.

‘So I’m on a ship…’

If they’d taken him this far, it meant a lot of time had passed since he was knocked out.

He didn’t know where they were going, but the Count suddenly thought of his butler and sneered.

The butler probably hoped he’d end up rotting in a dungeon. But here he was—in a completely different place.

The Imperial Court would soon notice his disappearance and wouldn’t forgive the Garcia family.

‘Tsk. He should’ve stayed loyal from the start.’

The Count didn’t care about the family he’d built over his lifetime. What mattered more now was how to escape this ship.

He leaned over the railing and stared into the dark ocean below.

‘I used to swim with other noble youths in the lake when I was young…’

It had been years, and he wasn’t confident in his swimming anymore. But it was his only chance. Just as he gathered his resolve and climbed over the railing to jump—

“I wouldn’t recommend that.”

A voice stopped him. It was John, grabbing him firmly.

With his other hand, John tossed food into the ocean.

Splash! Something stirred in the water, and three giant fish with razor-sharp teeth rose from the depths.

The Count’s face turned pale.

“People who live on land don’t realize it, but the sea is full of creatures like that. Still want to jump?”

The Count shook his head violently.

As if expecting that, John pulled him down from the railing and dragged his weakened body across the deck.

“John, is the Marchioness here too?” the Count asked, remembering John being with her before.

“She is not.”

“…What are you planning to do with me?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, whether you want to or not.”

“I’ve hidden great wealth! Free me against her orders, and it’s all yours!”

“Don’t try to deceive me.”

“I’m not lying!”

“Even if it’s true, I owe the Marchioness far more than your promises.”

With that, John locked the Count back in the storage room.

Life on the ship became a nightmare from that day on.

He was only allowed to eat scraps left behind by the sailors—mixed together like garbage. At first, he refused to eat, but they forced his mouth open and shoved the food in.

The sailors also harassed him for fun. His body became covered in bruises, and he barely got any sleep. After ten hellish days, the ship finally docked on land.

Now chained, the Count had to follow wherever John led him.

‘Where am I?’

The Count examined the unfamiliar sights and people around him. Some looked like nobles based on their attire, but none resembled the diplomats who once visited the Empire.

He kept looking around until he noticed something strange—people who looked like nobles were followed by chained individuals.

Just like him.

He frowned.

Then a well-dressed foreigner approached and stared directly at him, muttering something in a language he didn’t understand.

But the man’s leering gaze disgusted the Count.

The foreigner spoke with John, then left reluctantly.

This happened multiple times.

The Count felt increasingly uneasy from their strange language and persistent stares.

“John, what are they saying about me?”

John hesitated, then finally answered.

“This is a closed-off country that only started trading with the Empire three years ago. They’re fascinated to see a foreign slave for the first time. Also…”

“…?”

“They keep saying you’d be perfect for their bed chambers and begged me to sell you.”

“W-what?!”

The Count’s face turned red with humiliation. John laughed.

“Don’t worry. You’ve already been sold. They won’t get a chance.”

Sold? Me?

It was ridiculous to even think of himself as a slave. And the rest… was unthinkable.

Enraged, the Count shouted:

“You know who I am! Stop this madness and let me go!”

John sneered and ignored him.

Each time the Count resisted, he was dragged by force.

More foreigners commented on him, some even whispering to John again.

Through insult and humiliation, the Count was finally brought to a mining labor camp.

John handed him over to the officials and offered some final advice.

“You’ll work here until the day you die. Don’t bother trying to kill yourself. You’ll just end up suffering more under the watch of guards and other slaves.”

With that, John left, and the Count was dragged away by the staff.

‘I, the head of House Garcia, forced to work like this for the rest of my life?’

He clenched his jaw in disbelief. He had never bowed to anyone, and now he was chained like an animal.

At least he wasn’t sold as a bedroom slave—but his future still seemed hopeless.

The guards pushed him into a room.

Inside, four other slaves stared at him.

The official said something to them and then closed the metal door behind him.

Creak. Slam. Click.

Footsteps faded away, leaving only silence.

The slaves stood up and walked toward him.

“…!”

Though he didn’t understand their language, the tone was familiar. And their eyes—he recognized that look.

Pale with fear, he backed away until his back hit the cold metal door.

He shouted for help.

But no one came.

***

Meanwhile, I finished my last duty for the day and stretched.

My responsibilities as a duchess were finally over.

‘Now, it’s time to take care of my personal business.’

I rang the bell to call Anna.

“Anna, can you help me get ready to go out?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

I changed into my outing clothes and left my room, stepping into the carriage.

I told the driver where to go.

“The usual place, I presume?”

“Yes.”

My destination?

It was the Aneis Guild.