Chapter 1

First chapter

*Slap-!*

Her head jerked to the side with a burning pain but she straightened herself with a smile and stared at her red-faced father.

‘Finally, your terrible nature has been exposed.’ On the outside he pretended to be a respectable, educated man, but as his façade cracked, revealing his truth to the world, Carinne felt excitement surging through her and wondered how repulsed he must have been to see her laughing when he was being dead serious.

“Are you laughing?! How can you be laughing right now?! You wench!”

“Thank you for the praise.”

Carinne nonchalantly swept her hand over her stinging cheek and replied in the same manner. She knew exactly what to do in order to infuriate him and he knew how to reply, for his hand that was resting on his sword handle, was raised in the air again promising another slap as he saw her twisted lips.

*Slap-!*

This time it was the other cheek. Carinne felt helpless as she could neither stop him using force, nor resist the pain spreading through her face, with the taste of iron in her mouth she was sure there was blood.

‘My cheeks are going to swell.’ Doubting she’ll be able to step out of the house any time soon, she decided not to fret about.

“You dare get pregnant?! What kind of filthy scum you got mixed with? You crazy bitch !”

“Well, I ran into him at a shabby bar. His body was covered with muscles, and his husky voice…we were a little drunk. Even the night was ···.”

*Slap-!*

Her face jerked again, this time the pain has been aggravated by accidentally biting her tongue, however Carinne didn’t let it show, she was feeling proud because she has ruined the grand scheme of the man in front of her.

“Shut up! You’re grounded from today. You won’t be able to move a step out of your room! Someone lock her up in the basement right now!”

“That’s a shame, you missed a good chance to sell your daughter for a high price.”

“I said drag her out right now!”

Only then did the servants, who witnessed the whole ordeal, started to move. Carinne turned her body toward them and stared at them with a furious gaze that made her resemble a wild beast. The contempt in those unfeeling eyes stopped them from moving for a moment as if they were frightened.

“Don’t touch me, I’ll go on my own.”

“Damned, demented bitch!”

Amidst the chaos, the sound of something breaking made its way to her ears.

Carinne smiled internally as she walked into a narrow, dark and smelly room on her own, thanks to her plan she was able to avoid getting sold to the fat stinking count; the dirty pervert who committed matricide.

‘It hurts.’ The beaten cheeks were already swollen. Carinne walked into the narrow basement and lowered her eyes to her swollen belly that was beyond concealment. *klang* The iron gates were closed and locked together with the clattering of iron.

She heaved a short sigh, and sat on a creaking shabby bed, then laid slanted on it, tired, and closed her eyes, trying to remember when things started to go downhill, that will be six months ago.

***

“The Count Bupo wants you as a concubine. We’ll have a half-year preparation period and then we’ll proceed to send you to him, so keep that in mind.”

Carinne clenched her fist at the announcement, her opinion was not taken into consideration at all, it was an arrangement that only considered the benefit of Count Tyrian himself.

Count Bupo was rumored to be the wealthiest among the nobles. she heard he’s running a business and that it’s going really well. Though what kind of business it is didn’t concern her. Because that wasn’t the problem; Count Bupo already had a wife and three other concubines. He was famous for his figure, large and heavy enough to hear a thump whenever he walked. She shuddered at the chilling reminder of Count Bupo, whom Carinne saw once at a banquet.

She ran away while getting new clothes for their marriage meeting* that day, she had to get the deed done and an opportunity presented itself like a charm. Carinne made a choice to not lead the usual noble lifestyle, but it was better to not be anyone’s than to live as someone’s toy for the rest of your life.

If things go according to plan, she would not only be able to annul her upcoming marriage but also get revenge on her father, Count Tyrian…

“Ha…. damn”

With a low groan Carinne stretched her crouching body when she stood up, it was the result of hiding in a suitable secluded place until nighttime when all her surroundings were engulfed in the darkness.

“Oh…”

While she was contemplating where to meet a man, she heard a voice coming from her path and immediately looked for the source of the sound ‘… a man?’ The dark blue hair and red eyes caught her attention. The man’s eyes were blurry as if they were out of focus, and the man was frowning as if he were sick. ‘Should I help him and then ask?’

Carine lacked this kind of common sense because she was always locked up in her room except when she was attending a banquet under the orders of Count Tyrian himself. The choice to pick a quick moment of shame and her entire future was an easy one, so she turned to the alley.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“…Excuse me, who is it?”

The man swung his big hand, he wasn’t able to focus his sight correctly on her even though she was standing closely to him..

“Can’t you see me?”

“…”

“I have a question. I want to help you and then ask you, So how can I help you?”

“…What?!”

The man could not hide his bewilderment at her words. It is true she has a question, and it was clear that she could ask for free, but she would help first then ask.

He was a little surprised because she was so straightforward. But then it was also true that she was worthy of suspicion.

“Is something wrong with your eyes?”

“…yes, I need a place to stay for the night.”

In fact, the man had no other choice and spoke meekly. His constitution robs him of his sight. He looks like he doesn’t usually go out when that occurs. However, in this world, there are days when the perfectly fine moon abruptly disappears. Such days are called “red blood moon day”, they are unpredictable and sometimes tricky situations would arise on that occasion.

“I see.”

She raised her eyebrows to the voice of a woman, clumsy and a little bit high.

“That inn was where travelers stayed for the night, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not too far from here, so I’ll help you. Can you walk?”-

“…If you hold my hand, I’ll follow your footsteps.”-

“Yes.”

Carinne nodded straight away, reached out and held the man’s hand tightly, his body flinched for a moment, but soon soon his alert body relaxed.

“This way.”

Carinne dragged him down the road. The man, wearing a robe, walked along her side. she tried to feign her ignorance of the way and looked around her with a sharp sense.

‘I don’t know how to take him to that inn.’ The thought quickly faded away, because the smell of food and loud noises caught her ears in an instant. Carinne went into a fairly large inn without reserve, it was crowded with people and tourists who came to eat.

“Are you going to stay for a day?”

“That’s right.”

“Is one room all right with you?” asked the staff, who took turns looking at the man in front of him and Carinne. she thought for a moment and nodded.

” 60,000 pesos.”

“Well,…Hey, you don’t have company, do you? Do you have money?”

The man nodded at Carinne’s low question.

“There’s nobody else.”

The man answered, took his money pouch out of his robes and handed it over to Carinne who frowned looking down at it. ‘10,000 pesos is one silver coin.’ She pulled out six silver coins,using the common sense she had read in books. Fortunately, the employee put the key in her hand without saying much to make sure the price was right.

“Have a good time.”

“Huh? Yeah. Yeah.” Carinne, who tilted her head to the staff’s greeting, answered and grabbed the man’s hand again.

“OK, let’s go.”

He followed her up the stairs. She led the man into a room with the same number as the one on the key. She put his pouch on a desk and looked at him quietly, taking off his robe while standing close to the door.

“Oh, if you go straight ahead from where you’re standing now you’ll find a bed, and if you go left, you’ll find a desk. I left your pouch on the desk.”

“…Thank you for your kindness.”

“No, I’m asking for something in return.” Carinne shook her head lightly.

“So, what do you want in return?”

“Where do I have to go to meet a man?”

* When the respective families of both future marriage partners meet to discuss the union of their children.

——