A Hero Saves With Her Body - Chapter 93

Silvio woke up at the sound of knocking on the door. He groped habitually next to the bed. After confirming that Rosé was quietly asleep, he finally could breathe.

“Come in.”

Alfred entered the room with his eyes closed. He knew well how to not disturb the Duke’s mood.

“What’s the matter?”

“Today’s Monchen Gazette. You should take a look at it.”

Alfred sought permission and handed Silvio the newspaper delivered this morning.

It was a Monchen Gazette published by a newspaper company in Bistiman. Although there was usually a gap of about 10 days in information, it was faster than directly receiving Monchen’s newspaper, so Alfred often delivered it.

Silvio’s expression darkened rapidly as he scanned the front page. The newspaper crumpled in his hands as it lost its shape.

“The list for the Triumvirate Council.”

“They are issuing summons mainly to the free nobles. Most of them have expressed their intention to attend, but there was no response from Count Schaefer. He seems to be concerned about the issue of the passage of the Torren River.”

Silvio showed a hint of expectation. The Torren River was vital to the Schaefer family, whose main source of income was trade.

If he were to clash with the Emperor, he would suffer significant losses and would have to explore other options.

There wasn’t much time left until the Triumvirate Council. If it were difficult to gather all the free nobles, they might have to rally capitalists known as the Third Power.

“Was there no response from Ersetin?”

“No, today the staff arrived and confirmed the schedule. Would there be no changes for 2 p.m. on the 1st of next month?”

“No changes. Good.”

Ersetin was an emerging capitalist who started a railway business in five cities, including Monchen.

Apart from the road connecting Monchen and Katana, which could barely be called a thoroughfare and was halfway a failure, Silvio did not doubt that the railway would surpass the canal industry and become the primary means of transportation.

It was one of the industries the emperor didn’t like, so he was using the waterways as a pretext to manipulate the nobles.

That’s why Ersetin was having a hard time raising funds. It was a good opportunity for Silvio. By investing in him, he could establish an independent power.

Silvio, who casually tossed the newspaper, prepared to go out. Before meeting Ersetin, he needed to review his business plan once again.

“Shall I call the maid?”

Alfred asked. Silvio just skimmed Rosé’s n*ked body with his hand. Alfred knew his silence meant a negative response.

“Then I’ll lock the door until you return.”

Silvio issued a brief command as he left the room.

“Three days.”

Alfred, following him, nodded.

Just then, the maid responsible for the third-floor reception room returned. Alfred instructed her to confine and restrict access to the bedroom for three days and went down to the first floor.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Rosé, tossing and turning like a sick caterpillar, woke up from her sleep. The bedside was cold. When she opened her eyes, she found herself alone in the spacious room.

It was a familiar situation. When Silvio was furious to the core, he occasionally confined her here.

She stretched as she sat on the edge of the bed. The first rule for a happy confinement life was sufficient stretching.

She filled her stomach with biscuits on the bedside table. The second rule of confinement life. Since she might only drink water for a while, she made sure to fill her stomach when she could eat.

Next, finding something to pass the time… Oh, unexpectedly, a newspaper was lying on the floor. Rosé casually picked up the newspaper and checked the front page.

〈Breaking News〉 The First Princess lived as a man for 20 years shocking confession. Will she ascend to Crown Prince like this?

If it’s the First Princess… that cross-dressing man… no, isn’t it Ariel?

Sweat formed in Rosé’s hand while holding the newspaper. She nervously read through the article.

On the afternoon of the 18th, at a press conference held in the 2nd reception room of the palace, the First Princess officially announced her gender correction.

According to her statement, she underwent rapid physical changes from around age 1, in which her female body transformed into a male body. She explained that her absence from official ceremonies until now was due to her fear of the people’s prejudice.

To confirm her gender, Dr. Roe directly examined the body of the First Princess and ultimately confirmed her as male. As early as the 15th of next month, the First Princess is scheduled to officially become Crown Prince.

In a series of events, the emperor’s confidants informally revealed that the emperor intended to appoint her as Crown Prince instead of Crown Prince Manus.

“Crown Prince…”

Her mouth wouldn’t close. She knew Ariel was close to the emperor, but she didn’t expect him to be considered the Crown Prince over all the other princes.

No matter how healthy the current emperor is said to be, considering that he’s 79 years old, being the Crown Prince means he will soon ascend to Emperor.

Rosé imagined Ariel in a dazzling uniform with dazzling golden seals. Would it fit him? A year ago, Ariel didn’t have a masculine physique to wear such a uniform.

“Could he have changed in just one year…?”

“Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“Ah!”

Startled by Podrick’s sudden appearance, Rosé swung her arms. As a result, the newspaper flew far away, reaching the wardrobe.

“Podrick!”

Rosé hastily covered herself with a blanket. Podrick, a Pumong executive, was working here as a short-term butler under Sergi’s orders.

Although they said it was an executive level of protection, unless she was an idiot, she would know it meant surveillance.

“Confined by your lover again?”

“Podrick, how long have you been here!”

Podrick rolled his eyes, nonchalantly dodging Rosé’s fist.

“Yeah, so Brother told you to lay down a bit. Isn’t demonic energy enough for you?”

Oh! Rosé glared at Podrick with a shocked face. Six months ago, she was caught by Podrick absorbing demon essence at a Grade 1 barrier.

Since then, Sergi had also seen it and both mistakenly believed Rosé was a Hex Awakening who could absorb demon essence. Having a Hex that absorbs demon essence or something like that.

“It’s scary. Your lovers probably don’t know you’re doing naughty things at the barrier.”

“Why are you here! Podrick!”

Podrick casually walked to the wardrobe, picked out a dress suitable for Rosé, and threw it onto the bed.

Podrick, who infiltrated the place, was now accustomed to Silvio’s confinement. No wonder she was known among the butlers as the sleeping princess of the bed.

“I’m certain, Rosé. If you marry the Duke, you won’t see the sun. For a lifetime. No, forever.”

For a lifetime or forever. Rosé pretended not to hear and turned her back to put on her dress.

Anyway, there was no chance of marrying the Duke. What’s the use when the Emperor flatly opposes it.

Besides, the continent will be destroyed in a year and a half. Rosé planned to return to her Lululala¹T/N: a Korean onomatopoeic expression that conveys a feeling of happiness, excitement, or cheerfulness house before that.

“Just tell me the matter.”

“Oh, are you already dressed?”

Podrick confirmed Rosé’s appearance as he made a frame with his hands. The dark brown dress, which she wore six out of ten times, tightly fitted to Rosé’s body and shone elegantly.

As expected, regardless of what she wore on that body, it would become a luxurious dress worth millions of phondos.

“I can understand why my brother has a crush.”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Podrick pulled out a key from his pocket while flashing his characteristic mischievous smile.

The golden key, which only Silvio, Alfred, and one designated senior maid could carry, was the only tool that could open this door.

Proudly twirling the key chain, Podrick spoke.

“Headquarters at 8 o’clock today. It’s the Leader’s summons. A new co-worker has arrived, I think?”

“A new co-worker?”

Rosé’s eyebrow raised slightly. If Podrick called him a new co-worker, then he must be not just a guild rookie but a senior newcomer.

Although she heard that there would be no additional promotion for a while because the organization was being reorganized.

“He’s not a field worker but a researcher.”

“A researcher?”

“Do you remember that seven people almost died last time because of a broken weapon? That’s why Brother hired a researcher who can make special weapons from by-products. He’s quite famous and costs a lot of money. His daily wage is 200 phondos.”

200 phondos. Converted to the transmigration exchange rate, it was a whopping 140 million won. That means he has a monthly salary of over 500 million. And if calculated for a year, it exceeded 6 billion.

“Rosé, why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying, so stop it…”

In the past year, Rosé earned 480 sillas in Pumong. About 16 million won based on the transmigration exchange rate.

It was a matter of life and death, yet she didn’t even receive minimum wage. And now, suddenly appearing as a newcomer, and moreover, a guy who will surely work at the desk is said to have 60 billion.

“Hey, don’t cry. Brother will buy you drinks later.”

Rosé roughly pushed away Podrick’s hand on her shoulder and snatched the key from his hand.

Let’s see what kind of guy he is. If he can’t make weapons properly, I’ll make his life dangerously close by making him a field worker.

“Podrick, Invisibility Cloak.”

“It’s not an Invisibility Cloak, it’s Invisibility.”

Podrick took Rosé’s outstretched hand, muttering. At the same time, their figures disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Whoa.

“Oh, did the wind just blow?”

The gardener who was weeding asked his colleague with a puzzled expression. It was an event they would never experience in their lifetime, as two transparent figures passed by them swiftly.

* * *

Sergi glared at the wall clock with an unpleasant expression. It had been an hour since he stared at the clock without any movement.

Peon, who used to be a former military academy instructor, yawned heavily and asked him.

“Can’t we just start?”

“So late.”

A low-toned answer that sounded scary at night. They knew who he was talking about without even hearing it.

The Black Cloak.

Their leader was so anxious if the Black Cloak was even slightly late. It’s strange how they’re so vigilant at the dangerous border, yet act differently outside.

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  T/N: a Korean onomatopoeic expression that conveys a feeling of happiness, excitement, or cheerfulness