A Runaway’s Desperation

“Nothing is wrong?”

Just as Fren was about to press Vanessa further, sensing something off in her answer, Neferr snatched the glass container from her hand and gulped the water down.

Only after the pain in his throat eased did he wipe his lips and speak.

“I’ve admired the artwork enough. Time to say why I came. Fren, about that gemstone you asked me to find last time. I don’t think I’ll be able to get it this time either.”

“Why not?”

“An anonymous buyer is sweeping everything up. Doesn’t it ring any bells?”

“…….”

Fren stayed silent for a moment, then gave an order to Vanessa.

“Vanessa, rest in your room.”

“Thank you.”

Vanessa bowed politely and left the room.

She walked down the corridor filled with dynamic sculptures that looked ready to move at any moment, then descended the staircase with its golden railings—until she stopped halfway.

Unlike Vanessa, other slaves wearing thick leather collars were rushing frantically around the entrance.

Vanessa silenced her footsteps and approached.

“Did you find them?”

“No. Not a trace.”

“This is bad. We need to find them before the higher-ups notice.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah—!”

The slaves nearly dropped to the floor in fear, then relaxed when they recognized Vanessa’s face.

The man at the front scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“Oh, it’s you, Vanessa. I thought you were the head attendant.”

“Hey, look at this idiot.”

The woman beside him glared sharply.

“Why are you saying Vanessa-nim’s name so casually? Are you her friend?”

“What’re you talking about? Vanessa’s a s*ave just like us.”

“Still, Vanessa-nim is on a completely different level. She has Lord Fren’s favor.”

The woman confidently sought Vanessa’s agreement.

“Isn’t that right, Vanessa-nim?”

“No.”

Vanessa rejected it instantly.

“A s*ave is a s*ave under any circumstance. No need to show unnecessary respect.”

Her words were gentle, but her face—so cold and terrifyingly beautiful—made the slaves shrink back instinctively.

Especially the woman who tried to flatter her; she looked like her soul had left her body.

Ignoring the sudden silence, Vanessa asked:

“So why were you all running around like fools?”

“Well…”

None of them could meet her eyes, glancing anxiously at one another.

Vanessa asked again, this time strictly:

“I asked why.”

“A new s*ave ran away recently.”

A voice finally responded.

One of Vanessa’s eyebrows twitched.

“Angel escaped?”

“Yeah, I think that was the name.”

“What do we do, Vanessa? If the head attendant finds out, that kid will be beaten to death.”

Vanessa passed them and looked outside the entrance.

Guards were leisurely walking around the garden.

Fortunately, Helen had not yet made it past the grounds.

Vanessa pulled out a tie and bound her hair up.

“Return to the quarters for now. I’ll find the kid.”

“Isn’t it better to search together instead of alone…? Okay, we’ll go back.”

The slaves lowered their tails instantly beneath Vanessa’s gaze and hurried back.

Vanessa quickly sorted through Angel’s information in her head.

Angel had not been here long and didn’t know the terrain well, but she was small and fast.

And young—so her thoughts were painfully simple.

Her escape plan would also be simple.

Vanessa returned to the mansion and headed to the top floor.

Avoiding the eyes of attendants and guards positioned everywhere, she climbed onto the roof and crouched low, scanning the garden.

At this hour, the gardeners would be in the storage room counting supplies.

Common slaves working under the sun couldn’t be allowed to steal the Pronia family’s property.

Angel must have aimed for that window of opportunity.

Vanessa searched along the roofline, and finally spotted her.

Angel was crawling through the bushes, heading toward the outer wall.

Vanessa took a metal dart from her pocket and threw it.

—Whiiiiish!

As the dart sliced through the air, Vanessa leapt down toward a nearby tree.

Her slender fingers—ones that looked too weak to lift anything heavier than a spoon—gripped the branch tightly.

Climbing with practiced skill, Vanessa looked down at Angel.

Angel stared in horror at the dart embedded in her shoulder and forced an awkward smile.

“H-hi, Vanessa. Nice weather today, huh?”

Vanessa landed lightly, like a bird, and walked toward her.

Angel laughed nervously.

“Someone scribbled on the wall and I was just trying to erase it. Whoever did it is bold, right? I wonder how they’ll—”

Vanessa raised her arm.

Angel flinched and squeezed her eyes shut.

But instead of hitting her, Vanessa pulled the dart from the wall.

Angel exhaled deeply.

“I thought you were going to hit me…”

She looked up again anxiously.

The sweet smile she once showed before the master was gone.

Vanessa’s face was expressionless—so emotionless it was impossible to tell what she was thinking—but the fact that she didn’t strike her suggested she wasn’t angry.

Angel gathered her courage.

“Vanessa… can’t you let me go?”

“…….”

“I don’t want to live as a s*ave forever. I’m going to escape and join the rebels. So—!”

Angel couldn’t finish.

Vanessa’s long leg cut through the air, barely missing Angel’s thigh and smashing into the wall behind her.

Angel collapsed to the ground in terror.

Vanessa crouched to meet her eyes and asked:

“Do you really think you can get out of here?”

“I could have—if you hadn’t stopped me!”

“This is the estate of the youngest elder ever produced by a prestigious family. You think they wouldn’t put up a magical barrier?”

Vanessa lifted her chin.

The barrier wasn’t visible from here, but she knew.

A mage had installed the barrier stones by hand along the wall.

If Vanessa hadn’t stopped her, Angel would have hit the barrier and fallen straight down.

Angel’s eyes shook as the truth hit her.

“No way! That level of high magic, across a mansion this big—?!”

“Why not? It’s nothing for the Pronia family. You wouldn’t know, since you served minor country nobles in the countryside before this. I’ll say this nicely one last time. Go back to the quarters. Everyone is looking for you.”

“No!”

Angel clung to defiance despite trembling.

“I have to escape! If I stay here I’ll turn weird like everyone else! I’ll join the rebels and—!”

Vanessa kicked the wall again, violently.

Angel snapped her mouth shut.

Vanessa’s voice turned cold.

“Since when did slaves like us get to make choices?”

“…….”

Her voice held no warmth.

Angel’s eyes filled with tears.

Vanessa continued:

“And say you join the rebels—what can you do? You’ll just die with the group.”

Hatred passed through Vanessa’s eyes.

“Humans don’t have a single advantage over the other races.”

“…….”

“So. You’re done talking, right? Final warning. Go back now. No one will notice if you hurry.”

The Pronia family treated slaves better than most thanks to Fren’s gentle nature, but attempts to escape were not forgiven.

Angel would likely be beaten mercilessly in the name of ‘retraining’ and then locked up without water.

And other slaves would also be beaten for failing to watch her.

It had nothing to do with Vanessa, who was favored by Fren—but she didn’t want to see the others suffer.

Especially Jenoise.

She would never watch Jenoise get beaten.

Thinking of Jenoise—who entered the mansion the same day she did—Vanessa turned away.

Angel was still crying.

Vanessa felt irritation prick at her.

“Still crying? I don’t get it. What are you crying for?”

“…I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

Angel slowly lifted her head.

Her round orange eyes filled with resentment and betrayal.

Her voice trembled.

“You’re human too. So why do you insult your own kind?”

Vanessa nodded calmly.

“Yes, I’m human. How could I not know that?”

She bent down and whispered into Angel’s ear.

“That’s exactly why I hate humans.”

“What do you—!”

“Let’s stop wasting time.”

Vanessa grabbed Angel by the collar and dragged her toward the quarters.

Dragging a struggling child without being seen was tiring, but Vanessa felt oddly relieved.

At least she could end this properly.

As soon as they reached the quarters, the slaves rushed out barefoot.

“Thank goodness, Vanessa! You found her!”

“You’re amazing as always!”

Vanessa handed Angel over and instructed them to keep watch for a while.

She was about to leave, then stopped and asked:

“Where’s Jenoise?”

“Probably in the kitchen peeling potatoes. Why? Want me to deliver a message?”

“…No. It’s fine. Just make sure no one talks about this.”

“Got it!”

Vanessa returned to her room in the mansion.

She changed into comfortable clothes and lay on her bed.

Angel’s tearful face flashed through her mind.

Vanessa’s expression twisted like crumpled paper.

She muttered:

“I really hate humans.”

She wished they’d all just disappear.

With that thought, Vanessa drifted into a short rest.