I Became The Villain’s Master - Chapter 3.1

With her relaxed and friendly attitude suggesting that any wish would be fine, I quickly stated what I wanted.

“Take me to Raphasli train station. I need money, food, and a cloak too.”

“Alright. Is that all?”

She won’t ask twice.

At Violet’s added words, I nodded lightly.

That was all I needed for now.

Even if I had more luggage, I wouldn’t be able to carry it all anyway.

Violet left saying she’d see me later and quickly disappeared.

After being led by the knights and locked in prison, Rory was sent here not long after.

As I was getting bored, one of the knights threw us a large piece of bread.

To think that I, once a law-abiding citizen, would end up in prison.

The damp air, cold walls, and floor, the suffocating smell of death.

It was quite an unpleasant experience, but it was bearable as I enjoyed watching the cuteness of Rory sleeping soundly.

His lips, protruded like a duck’s bill, as if dreaming of something.

His cheeks were round and rosy like a squirrel with an acorn in its mouth.

Every time I look at him, I feel this is what personified lovability would look like.

When he finally opened his eyes, I felt mischievous and wanted to tease him.

“They say we’ll become crow food tonight.”

At my words, his pouting lips, as if trying hard not to cry, looked even more adorable and endearing than I expected. I thought about teasing him more but stopped when I heard how fast the heart of the child hugging me was beating.

***

“Come out quickly, Lady Hauser.”

Violet handed us cloaks and small bags.

We put on the black cloaks, pulling the hoods down low, and Rory shouldered the bag.

Violet took us up the stairs and led us out of the prison.

There was no one guarding the prison, and we could see an open manhole cover nearby.

“When you go down, facing the ladder, take the right path. Then at the two-way fork, go left, at the three-way fork, go straight, then left again, and after that just keep going straight. I put a map in the bag, but I’m not sure if you’ll be able to read it, so just memorize this. Anyway, you’ll hear the sound of trains as you go.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a shortcut. Get in.”

“Through here…?”

Wasn’t she going to take us by carriage?

I didn’t expect her to tell a child who struggles with stairs to go through the sewers.

I looked at Violet with a sulky face, but she spoke firmly.

“I’ve been in there once before, and it’s safe. Did you memorize it all?”

Right, left, straight, left, straight ahead.

I quickly nodded.

I wondered what business a Marquis’s daughter could have had in the sewers, but I was in no position to judge.

Violet turned to Rory and handed him a lamp.

“And you. I hope you take good care of your lady.”

“Yes. I will definitely protect my lady.”

Rory answered bravely, despite being scared just moments ago.

Violet looked at Rory with a subtle gaze, then gave me a meaningful look.

It was as if I could hear her asking, ‘There’s something about him too, right? He’s not really a slave, is he?’

I nodded lightly.

It was really time to go now.

“Let’s go, Rory.”

I tightened my cloak and pointed to the manhole.

Rory, holding the lamp, hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’ll go down first,” and put the lamp in his mouth.

Then he climbed down the ladder first.

I followed him into the manhole and looked up to whisper to Violet.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you too.”

With those words, the manhole cover closed.

A strong floral scent wafted through the holes in the cover.

The meticulous Violet was spraying perfume around to mask our scent.

What an extraordinary child…

I cautiously descended, relying on the sensation in my hands and feet.

‘Why is it so deep?’

It felt like there was no end, no matter how far I went down.

“My lady. Please be careful coming down.”

Rory had already reached the bottom and was holding the lamp up, looking at me.

“Ah!”

“My lady!”

As I was looking down and moving my feet, I accidentally slipped.

I should have been more careful because of the moisture!

I closed my eyes tightly and gripped hard with my hands.

“Ugh.”

Barely hanging onto the ladder, I flailed my legs, trying to find footing.

My hands and shoulders tingled.

My shin, which had hit something as I slipped, felt bruised and painful.

“Ouch.”

This shouldn’t happen so soon.

If I get injured here, with no one to help…

When I finally reached the end of the ladder, two small hands caught me and set me down on the ground.

Rory picked up the lamp he had placed on the floor and shone it on me.

“Are you hurt?”

Seeing his pained expression, as if he was the one hurting, I smiled and shook my head.

Our escape would be discovered soon, and we couldn’t waste any more time here.

Besides, compared to what Rory had endured from those ruffians, this was nothing.

Rory’s forehead, back, waist, and thighs still bore unhealed bruises and scratches.

“I’m fine. Let’s go, Rory.”

I took Rory’s hand and pulled him towards the right path.

Drip. Drip.

The sound of water dropping, our feet splashing on the damp path, and our tense breathing seemed unusually loud. We could also hear the gentle flow of water.

The lamp, not very bright and only illuminating a short distance, lit up the forked path.

Left, straight, left, straight ahead.

“Rory. Let’s rest for a moment.”

We had walked for too long. I tightened my cloak and sat down briefly to rest.

The bag Violet gave us contained bread and milk for immediate consumption, along with dried fruits and jerky.

Rory tore off a large piece of bread, handed it to me, and asked.

“By the way… where are we going now?”

Rory seemed to have finally realized something was amiss.

For a noble like me to be escaping through sewers in this state.

What a contradictory situation.

“It doesn’t seem like we’re going back to the Hauser family…”

“Mm. We’re not going to the desert.”

I said firmly while stuffing bread into my mouth.

The sudden energy expenditure had made me very hungry.

Seeing me eat only dry bread, Rory offered me some milk.

“We’re running away now.”

“What?”

Rory’s eyes grew even rounder.

I took a gulp of milk, smiled brightly, and said.

“It’s liberation, Rory. You’ll be safe now. We should have done this earlier.”

“Liberation?”

He tilted his head, furrowing his brows as if he couldn’t understand.

I just smiled once and focused on eating bread.