Chapter 7

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: A Cozy Confinement

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The room had changed.

Before shoving me into this new one, Liam had warned me with a cold expression.

"You'll pay the price for lying to the Duke right in front of him."

Honestly, I was terrified. Scared out of my wits.

If he was speaking to me with that kind of edge, I couldn't even imagine what kind of hellish cell they were about to throw me into.

But the reality that hit me was delightfully off the mark.

"Do these people have no idea what a bad environment really is?"

Plop.

I flopped onto the plush mattress and rolled around blissfully.

There were iron bars on the window, and with the changed orientation, barely any light came in.

I'd been a little tense at first from the gloomy vibe, but after just one night, all my worries melted away.

'No morning light means I can sleep like a rock!'

Honestly, if I had to name one thing missing from this mansion, it was blackout curtains.

But now that was naturally solved, so I couldn't be more satisfied.

Of course, the terrifying word "price" wasn't entirely wrong—the room was a lot smaller. Just enough space for the bed, no room to wander.

But that wasn't a problem for me, since I could handle everything from the bed.

The simplified, bland meals were easy on my stomach and perfect for eating in bed, which made them even better.

'I've survived weeks on energy drinks and sandwiches while gaming 13 hours a day.'

Idiots.

They had no clue I was a homebody forged in the fires of hell.

10 billion to stay home for 10 years with no outside contact VS just living normally?

If I had to pick, I'd snatch the 10 billion and the 10 years of house arrest without a second thought.

By that logic, I was owed over 150 billion...

'This is just my vibe.'

I'd planned to hole up under the guise of punishment anyway, so this was even better than I'd hoped.

No one would bother me for a while.

"Ah, this is the life..."

They called this a prison, yet they changed the bed sheets every other day.

The soft scent of sun-dried linens lifted my mood right away.

I was burying my nose in the fluffy blanket, drifting off into a doze, when—

"It's Liam."

His voice came at the perfect moment.

'What now? Why?'

Grumbling inwardly, I didn't respond, so he asked again.

"May I come in?"

"Sure, go ahead."

I made a big show of being exhausted as I sat up on the bed.

Liam entered, pushing up his glasses with his middle finger again.

What was it about him? This nagging feeling he was flipping me off nonstop. Probably just my imagination...

"What do you want?"

"A message from the Duke."

"...A message?"

A faint flush of embarrassment crossed his usually stern face, but he brazenly continued.

"The Duke is honoring Princess April of the Salt Kingdom as an esteemed guest, providing luxurious accommodations under strict guard in his residence. Thus, he demands the appropriate compensation."

What?

Since when was kidnapping "honoring an esteemed guest"? Surveillance becoming "strict guard"?

And when did this perfect-for-me-but-nightmare-for-most confinement become "luxurious accommodations"?

I looked up at Liam without hiding my suspicion.

Anyway, details later—what did he want from me?

"Comp...ensation? What kind?"

"The dam construction in the duchy has been delayed."

"No way... You want me to jump in and help with the work as payment for this 'grand' hospitality?"

Liam shook his head with a baffled look at my question.

"No. The princess need only identify the cause of the delay and devise a solution."

"And... if it's too hard?"

"Then..."

He replied in that same businesslike tone.

"Your worst imaginings will come true."

I wasn't imagining anything specific right now, but I got the warning: something bad would happen.

I rubbed my temple with the most tired, world-weary expression imaginable.

'No escaping this anyway.'

Even if I denied it, the Duke would soon uncover that I'd been acting as Remeia's proxy.

Better to prove my worth as a useful slave and stay alive than hold out and die miserably.

If it was unavoidable, better to knock it out quick and rest.

Plus, I'd said it myself:

"I don't even expect you to send me back. Truth is, I'm a real hard worker. Just spare my life, and I'll slave away for free, grinding my bones to dust!"

Back then, I'd blurted it out in desperation to live...

And the Duke had actually listened. He didn't send me back and stuck me in this dark paradise instead.

Sigh, no helping it then.

"Got any related documents?"

"Right here. If needed, you could conduct an on-site inspection with guards..."

"Nah, pass."

I didn't want extra hassle, so I took the papers from Liam and started poring over them.

'Hmm.'

It was exactly as the Duke said: a dam nearly complete, but construction dragging endlessly.

These big projects usually mobilized locals, but the issue was late summer, right before harvest.

Any more delays could disrupt livelihoods and food production for the duchy.

"Before that, one more thing."

"What now?"

I asked without looking up from the text, and the reply came quick.

"The deadline is two weeks."

"What if I can't finish in time...?"

"You know without me saying. Your worst imaginings..."

"Got it."

I nodded readily.

What could I do? If he says jump, I jump. I was already numb to this brutal arm-twisting(?) labor.

At least they fed me and let me sleep while making me work.

I tried positive thinking and flipped to the next page.

The Duke had expected something special about April. Liam agreed.

Right after kidnapping her, the food import deal passed, and she'd made a basic mistake no one expected from Princess Remeia.

But that was it.

"That's not enough to judge April Salt."

So he'd thought of consulting her on the dam issue.

The solution was simple: throw in manpower to finish fast.

But where? Every territory in the empire was pre-harvest. Pulling extras? Impossible.

Hiring specialists? New contracts and travel would take too long—straight loss.

"No matter what, any fix will be imperfect."

During Liam's report after relaying to April, the Duke said calmly from his perch on the desk in the study.

"But just in case, I've arranged access to the existing budget."

"And if she comes up with a real solution?"

The Duke chuckled at Liam's question.

"That's why I'm bothering with this hassle—to see that slim chance. I'd welcome it."

"I still don't get it..."

"We can talk after it's done."

"...Understood."

Two weeks—that was the time given.

Liam figured she'd cough up a half-baked fix that cost them something.

That evening, as he worked in his office, a knight guarding her room approached. He still thought so then.

"Aide."

"What is it?"

"The guest requests you."

Liam headed straight to the princess's room.

'Giving up already?'

No miracle, no same-day fix. Natural question.

"What did you need?"

"Working this late?"

"The Duke's aide is always on standby."

"...Tough gig."

No tension from her, even after asking to wait till tomorrow since it was late—she'd come too quick.

"So, what is it? Don't tell me you're giving up..."

"No, send this for me, please."

As thoughts raced through his mind, April handed him a single thin letter.