Another kidnapper suddenly got annoyed.

“I told you not to listen to this woman!”

“But it’s 30 million gold?”

“You fool! How can you believe that?”

“We’ve got nothing to lose, what’s wrong with asking?”

They were stupid guys with no teamwork.

It seemed the goddess of fortune was on my side this time.

“What a pity. You still haven’t realized you’ve been fooled.”

I said with a sigh mixed in.

The kidnappers who had been bickering among themselves got angry.

“What do you mean we’ve been fooled?”

“If you knew my identity, you wouldn’t be satisfied with a measly 10 million gold.”

“M-measly?”

“I feel like confronting the person who mediated this. The pricing is way off.”

There was a brief silence.

Though they kept their mouths shut, the guys were clearly flustered.

A kidnapped woman not crying or begging for her life?

That alone was strange, but she was even complaining that the ransom was too low.

They must be dying to know my identity, right?

I’ll teach you specially, you fools.

“Aren’t you curious who this woman is, so calm in this situation?”

“…!”

“I am Elizabeth Emster. Yes, the sole heiress of that Emster Trading Company. The first commoner to become the education officer for His Highness the Crown Prince. Does that ring a bell now?”

“Stop lying!”

“Have you ever seen someone risk their life with a lie that would be exposed immediately?”

“…”

“Hurry and check. At least raise the ransom a bit.”

The kidnappers whispered in low voices.

I dozed off briefly while they busily confirmed the facts.

I was surprised that I could fall asleep with my hands and feet tied and face covered.

It seems my nerves had become somewhat accustomed to this tumultuous fate.

“She really is Elizabeth Emster! Soldiers searching for this woman are spread out everywhere!”

“Damn it! They didn’t even tell us she’s the heiress of the Emster Trading Company! We really were fooled!”

“Money isn’t the issue. They say she’s the Emperor’s favorite woman! The Emperor himself has led out the knights!”

The atmosphere began to flow urgently.

The kidnappers cursed, blaming both the client and the mediator.

I had to make a move before their anger reached me undeservedly.

“Have you realized how serious the situation is now?”

“You shut up!”

“If I shut up, you’ll all die.”

“Someone like you, we’ll just kill you and be done with it.”

“Hmm. You’re really bold. Giving up on money and life.”

“?”

“Even at this moment, His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Guard are probably chasing after you. If you kill me, not only you, but your families, friends, and colleagues will all be executed.”

“That can’t be. You’re not even the Empress.”

A kidnapper muttered in an uncertain voice.

“You guys are complete amateurs? Not knowing the identity of the person you’re kidnapping, not knowing why the client wants them kidnapped.”

“…”

“It’s because a woman who’s not even the Empress is monopolizing His Majesty’s favor that this is happening, right?”

“Y-you, what kind of relationship do you have with the Emperor?”

“It’s a complicated and sticky relationship that can’t be explained in words.”

Contracts, games, and the original work were intricately intertwined, but that answer was sufficient.

“Let’s hand this woman over quickly and run!”

“She’s the Emster heiress! 10 million gold is too cheap!”

“If we waste time, we might die without getting a single coin!”

“We’re cornered. There’s nowhere to run!”

The kidnappers were in a panic without any clear plan.

It was a situation that made me sigh.

‘Judging by the cheap amateurs they hired, the client isn’t smart either. Most likely it’s someone trying to check Baron Brenden. Or maybe they’re trying to intimidate me to stay out of it…’

Because of these cowardly humans, I was covered in a dirty sack rolling around in the back seat of a carriage.

My back ached and my limbs were numb.

How should I be compensated for this damage?

I should squeeze at least 100 times the amount out of them.

For now, I decided to sweet-talk these rookie kidnappers.

“I’ll tell you how you can survive.”

“…”

“Hurry. Before I change my mind.”

Was it because I changed my tone?

The hesitant kidnappers removed the sack covering my head.

Intense light stung my eyes.

Just breathing in the fresh air made me feel much better.

“Phew. Now I can live a bit.”

“If you trick us, we’ll kill you right away!”

“Hey rookies. Until now, aren’t I the only one who’s told you the truth? Think about it. Now I’m the only one you can trust.”

“This wench sure has a smart mouth!”

“Untie me. If there’s a scratch on my skin, His Majesty will cut off your hands and feet. Though he’s more likely to start with your heads.”

I smiled coldly while narrowing my eyes gently.

The kidnappers, trembling as if they’d met the grim reaper, untied the ropes.

Their touch was more careful than the maids who attend to my clothes, making me smile bitterly.

I switched my tone back.

“Take me back quietly. If you tell me who the client is, I’ll give you 100 million gold as a service fee.”

“100 million gold?!”

“It’s a bit lacking for a ransom, but consider it a small gesture of goodwill.”

“Isn’t this a trap?”

“You have three options. First, hand me over to the client who deceived you. You’ll receive a pittance and be chased by the pursuit team until you die.”

“Damn it! What kind of choice is that?!”

“Second. Kill me and run away. You’ve lost the money, and incurred the Emperor’s wrath, so you’ll end up dead. Let’s see how long you can survive without funds to escape.”

“…What’s the third?”

“Receive 100 million gold and reveal the client’s identity. Cross over to another country and live a new life as a wealthy person.”

“!”

“If you want, I’ll put you on an Emster merchant ship. You can smuggle yourself anywhere on the continent.”

There was no need to ask what choice they would make.

I was about to use my demonic power if they didn’t listen, but the kidnappers saved me the trouble.

“Where should we take you?”

Even if gold coins were rotting away, I had no money to give to criminals. Especially, I couldn’t make a deal with kidnappers.

The moment my safety was guaranteed, I planned to backstab them.

I led the kidnappers to the main branch of the Emster Trading Company.

It was where the Emster Trading Company’s boasted ultra-large vault and VIP room were located.

Of course, there were also as many security guards as stars in the sky.

“To withdraw 100 million gold, I need to go in person.”

“Are you asking us to release you?”

“Is there another way?”

“What if you betray us?”

“Didn’t we agree that you’d tell me the client’s identity after receiving the money? What’s important to me is who ordered my kidnapping.”

“…I can’t feel at ease. I’ll go with you.”

One of the kidnappers took off his mask.

He had such an ordinary and vague impression that I wouldn’t remember him even if I met him on the street.

It was the man with thin lips and narrow eyes who had been quietly observing the situation without mixing words with his colleagues.

“You look enough like you could pass as my secretary. Follow me.”

For some reason, an inexplicable uneasiness began to creep up.

Though I pretended to be calm as I led the way, cold sweat broke out on my hands and feet.

“Don’t try anything funny. Next time, I’ll go in deeper.”

The man who stuck close behind me said.

Suddenly, a searing pain spread as if burned.

Did he stab me with a knife?

Along with the dizzying pain, anger welled up.

‘With him behind me, I can’t even use my demonic power. What should I do?’

My lips became parched.

What if the man behind me was a crazy killer immune even to demonic power?

The situation was taking me in an increasingly unexpected direction.

“Don’t you know it becomes more dangerous if you hurt me?”

I asked calmly, hiding my fear.

“What’s worse than dying?”

“Your friends would think differently…”

“They do. That’s why I wanted to get rid of you from the start. While you were wagging that clever tongue of yours.”

A sinister killing intent was felt from behind.

My heart was beating madly.

If he was a kidnapper, he would hide his face, so why did this man take off his mask?

Even though there would be witnesses.

Was he really planning to kill me from the start?

“There are many guards at the main branch.”

“What does that matter when the great heiress is here?”

“…”

“Bring all the money from the vault. If not, I’ll cut off your fingers one by one.”

The man chuckled as if telling an amusing joke.

‘Even if it’s dangerous, I need to face this man. One wink, one hand kiss should be enough, right?’

Just as I was about to turn my head, the man gripped one of my arms tightly as if in warning.

“Ugh!”

The knife tip felt closer against my back.

“Stop messing around and walk.”

“You… bastard.”

“I like watching humans suffer. I like watching them die even more.”

I bit the inside of my mouth hard.

Even if a hole was made in my back, I couldn’t show this guy the sight he would enjoy.

“Shall I tell you your fate? As soon as I get the money, I’ll drag you to a mountain valley. There, I’ll have some fun in various ways and then…”

The man deliberately trailed off.

His moist and dirty breath touched my earlobe.

Even a thousand caterpillars crawling on my skin wouldn’t be this creepy.

Was I too confident?

Did I delude myself into thinking I could control a criminal with a knife?

My knees were shaking.

It felt like I would collapse at any moment.

That’s when a wind blew from somewhere.

“Argh!”

A metallic sound that could burst eardrums pierced my ears.

The man who had stabbed me fell forward, clutching his bleeding neck.

After writhing like a crushed insect, the man soon went limp.

The one who appeared with the wind was Nikolai.

“I made you wait. I’m sorry, Elizabeth.”

His pleasant baritone voice melted my frozen body.

Even with his pale face distorted by guilt, Nikolai was beautiful.

His deeply furrowed brows and slightly trembling eyes were like a painting.

“Your Majesty…”

It hadn’t even been half a day since we parted.

Yet Nikolai’s cheeks were gaunt and dark shadows had spread under his eyes.

‘How shocked must you have been. How worried you must have been…’

Nikolai must have chased after the kidnappers in a half-crazed state.

He would have ridden a horse and wielded a sword himself.

Hot droplets of blood dripped from Nikolai’s sword.

Were they all dead?

I curled up my cold body.

Nikolai threw away the Emperor’s sacred sword.

Then he embraced me with both arms.

“Elizabeth…”

It was a careful gesture, as if catching a glass doll falling from the sky.

I buried my face in his chest.

A familiar scent tickled my nose.

Thanks to that, I could slowly return to reality.

I shook off my fear and erased my anxiety.

I even forgot the pain of being stabbed.

Even after experiencing kidnapping, threats, and death in succession, a faint smile spread across my lips.

It was a miracle that only Nikolai could create.

“Thank you for saving me, Your Majesty.”

“I was too late.”

“You came at the right time.”

“Are you hurt badly?”

“Just a slight scratch.”

“Scratch? Where?!”

Nikolai’s voice suddenly flipped.

Should I not have told him?

It seems he won’t let those who hurt me live.