Chapter 61

“60 million Vellon. The contract is limited to the Baroness and Your Ladyship, but thanks to your unexpected companion, the headcount has increased.”

Randolph revealed their contract details more easily than expected. He could afford to be relaxed, knowing that Aneta couldn’t do much in the current situation.

Aneta, rather than being provoked by his blatant words, calmed herself and spoke mockingly about the amount Randolph mentioned.

“Do you think that will be enough?”

“Since when did 60 million Vellon become ‘barely’ enough?”

Randolph reacted with disbelief at the notion that such a sum, which could comfortably support a family of four for at least five years, was considered ‘barely’ enough. But Aneta remained undeterred.

“You’ll soon see it as ‘barely’ enough. If you accept my proposal, I’m willing to pay you ten times that amount.”

Aneta offered this substantial sum purely to get out of the situation. She had no intention of actually paying such a large amount, but she presented the condition confidently.

“My terms are twofold. First, you release me, Serce, and Chris unharmed. Second, you confess who commissioned this job. Fulfill these two conditions, and I will pay the promised amount as soon as we return to the mansion.”

For the latter, she had her suspicions about who might be behind this. However, she couldn’t be certain if the suspect had the means to pay the amount mentioned.

“Aneta,” Serce called her name in a deliberately grave tone.

He had already understood her objective upon hearing her first condition. The frown he wore while seeming to oppose her offer was part of their act.

“We have no other choice, Serce. This is the only way.”

“…”

Aneta and Serce seamlessly played their parts, with Serce begrudgingly agreeing to her plan. The mercenaries whispered among themselves, surprised by the conditions Aneta proposed.

Six billion Vellon was a staggering amount, enough to buy a house for each of them on the outskirts of the capital.

Soon, an uncontainable sense of anticipation spread among the mercenaries. Six billion Vellon could fulfill their dreams. Someone even murmured this under their breath.

However, despite his subordinates’ excitement, Randolph made a different decision.

“No, I’ll have to decline.”

“I thought you said you’d do anything for the money. Why would you say no?”

“Something feels off. Remember that woman from the Marquis’s estate who tried to deceive Her Ladyship? What was her name? Ah, Mella. Who knows, maybe we’ll end up like her.”

Mella. At the mention of her name, Aneta remembered the woman who had claimed to be carrying Derek’s child.

Aneta had previously paid Mella a sum of money for a necklace, only to reclaim every penny through a lawsuit.

‘I didn’t think they’d know about that incident.’

Aneta barely managed to stifle the sigh that threatened to escape her parted lips. She knew denying any such intentions would be futile – they knew more than she had expected.

As the mention of Mella surfaced, the hopeful expressions of the subordinates hardened.

It seemed the incident was more well-known than anticipated, as they did not oppose Randolph’s decision.

“The negotiation is over for that reason. It seems you have no intention of coming quietly, so we have no choice but to use force, as I mentioned earlier.”

It was already too late to turn back. As soon as Randolph finished speaking, a heavy presence was felt behind them.

Aneta realized someone had blocked their escape route, not just at the entrance, but even the windows in the living room. She and Serce were trapped, like rats in a cage.

Thud, thud. The heavy footsteps approaching Aneta heightened her tension. The closer they got, the faster her heartbeat raced.

It was a dire situation.

“As I said, keep it light. Don’t act recklessly like that fellow over there and get yourself hurt.”

Randolph’s voice, sounding almost relaxed, broke through the tense standoff.

He gestured with his chin toward his fallen subordinate and leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

It was as if he was ready to enjoy an entertaining spectacle.

The mercenaries seemed to think subduing the two nobles would be a trivial task, as they holstered their weapons. That was when the attack began.

“Ugh!”

With words failing, physical confrontation became inevitable. Serce quickly activated his doppelganger ability, but it was enough to block the fists that flew at him with a murderous sound.

He could only create one doppelganger with his glorious power, and it took twice as much stamina to move both bodies simultaneously.

Thus, Serce was naturally only able to defend, unable to fight back.

A stifled groan escaped his mouth with each blow. He didn’t know how long he could hold out.

Aneta, as always, used her surroundings. She grabbed anything within reach, from the blanket draped over the sofa to a water bottle, cup, candlestick, and decorative frame, throwing them in a desperate bid to fend off the attackers.

The house quickly turned into a chaotic mess as thrown items clattered to the floor. She didn’t have the luxury of feeling sorry for Chris.

“Hah, hah.”

As the confrontation dragged on, Aneta’s breath grew more ragged. The sharp pain in her wrist had numbed.

She reached behind her, feeling like she was on top of a dresser. She flung another book with her numbed wrist, but the mercenaries easily dodged it. For some reason, they refrained from attacking all at once.

Though this worked in Aneta and Serce’s favor, it was suspicious.Captain Randolph observed the situation silently. Contrary to his initial expectations, Aneta and Serce were managing to evade the attacks.

However, that could only last for so long.

‘There’s nothing left to throw.’

Aneta’s anxious gaze darted around the room. As she clenched her fists, her broken nails left white and red marks on her palms.

Attempting to match strength with the mercenaries was impossible. Aneta was painfully aware of her limitations in such situations.

‘At this rate, we’ll be captured for sure.’

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared. Aneta felt her mouth go dry as she bit her lip. At that moment, a faint trace of light flickered in the corner of her anxious eyes.

As if mesmerized, Aneta turned her gaze toward the source of the light. It was a small mirror standing opposite her.

‘Did this house always have such a mirror?’

Although the thought crossed her mind, Aneta quickly refocused. There was no time to dwell on memories. The only thing that mattered was figuring out a way to survive.

Even knowing it was a losing battle, Aneta refused to give up. She couldn’t allow herself to be taken without a fight.

‘There’s nothing worse than all three of us being taken by them, and whoever it is, one of us has to get out of here and tell others about this situation.’

It has to be Serce, Aneta thought as she glared at the mercenaries waiting for their chance to take her down. He wasn’t one of their targets and was only caught up in this mess because he had followed her.

Even if it meant spilling blood, Aneta was determined to get Serce out. She braced for action, knowing Serce would be horrified if he knew what she planned.

“This isn’t going to change anything, so why don’t you stop wasting your energy and give up now?”

“No way, I have no intention of doing that.”

Even if it was a desperate last stand, Aneta made her refusal clear between ragged breaths. She took a step to the right as if to fool the mercenaries blocking her path.

Luckily, the mercenaries moved to block her path, as she intended. Using this distraction, Aneta took advantage of the opening to veer to the left.

If Aneta had one physical advantage over the mercenaries, it was her agility. By the time they realized their mistake, Aneta was already in front of the mirror.

“That’s not the right way! ”

“You go back over there! ”

Seeing the mercenaries rushing toward her, Aneta reached for the mirror. But she was not strong enough to lift it, swing it, or throw it.

Still, there was no way out. Aneta pulled the full-length mirror out of its corner and shoved it forward, toppling it toward the approaching mercenaries.

Crash!

The mirror shattered with a deafening noise, sending sparkling shards flying in all directions.

Aneta, shielded by her billowing skirt, managed to avoid injury, but the mercenaries had to retreat to protect themselves from the falling mirror and its shards.

In the brief respite, Aneta scanned the broken pieces. She spotted the longest shard and, without hesitation, picked it up.

“What on earth…! ”

Randolph and the mercenaries were the ones taken aback by Aneta’s sudden move. They had expected her to break down in tears over the smallest scratch, but her actions were completely unpredictable.

“I can’t give up, but I know. If we continue like this, we’ll surely end up in your hands.”

Aneta’s grip tightened around the shard, the white of her palm quickly turning red. The sharp edge bit into her skin, and the sensation was stark and undeniable.

Drop by drop, crimson blood dripped from her fingertips, staining the dry floor beneath her.

The burning sensation from the torn flesh spread, but Aneta didn’t let go of her makeshift weapon.

“So, I’m going to try something different this time.”

Instead of dropping it, she raised the sharp edge to her neck.

“Aneta, what are you doing!”

Serce’s belated shout was filled with anger, but his words didn’t seem to reach her. Aneta’s unwavering gaze locked onto Randolph, who held the decision-making power.

“Let’s make it just me. Let Serce go since he’s not related to your mission.”

“You’re proposing a trade with your own life this time?”

“Yes. Surely you won’t refuse this trade, will you? If something happens to me, the 60 million Vellon you were promised will vanish as well.”

The mercenaries’ goal was to take Aneta alive, not kill her. If they intended to kill her, they wouldn’t be wasting time like this.

Aneta aimed to exploit that fact. By putting her own life on the line, she hoped to secure Serce’s release, even if it meant leaving the whereabouts of Chris unknown.

But things were not destined to go her way. Randolph, raising his thick eyebrows, uncrossed his arms.

“Sorry, but I must decline this trade too. We have a hostage of our own.”