For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 52
“Little lady, you’re back! What about dinner?”
I had been trying to slip up to the second floor quietly without a trace, but the innkeeper, Ford, bellowed so loudly that my shoulders flinched. His voice was so loud, it was like a bomb going off.
Thanks to him, all the patrons turned to look at me. I pulled my hood further down over my face and shook my head.
“I’m fine.”
I rushed up the stairs and stood in front of my room, fumbling to pull the key from my pocket. Then, I suddenly stopped.
“…”
I noticed signs that someone had been in my room. The thin piece of metal I had wedged into the door hinge before I left had been bent in the shape of the door.
I had a small habit. Whenever I left my room, I’d leave a mark on the door hinge, something only I would recognize. It was a habit I’d developed after the maids at the fief would sneak my sister Lavelier’s things into my room, leading me to be beaten senseless with a switch by her.
I glanced away from the metal and slowly surveyed the quiet hallway, dimly lit by a couple of candlesticks.
Who could it be?
Was it Kite’s people? Or just a petty thief?
I inserted the key into the hole and turned it slowly. With a clunk, the door creaked open.
Thump thump, I could hear the pounding of my heartbeat as I slowly stepped inside. I lit the lantern near the door, driving the darkness out of the room.
As the room filled with light, I saw the mess. My travel supplies, purchased at the market, were strewn across the floor, and the drawers and bed had been ransacked by an intruder’s hands.
At a glance, it didn’t seem like anything was missing. Perhaps because I had deliberately bought only cheap items at the market.
I stood frozen in the middle of the wrecked room, and it took me a moment to regain my senses.
“I need… to clean this up.”
Reporting this to the innkeeper or asking for help would be a foolish move. Someone like me, who had just come from the countryside, would attract enemies more easily than allies.
Besides, I was just a fifteen-year-old girl, so anyone would try to take advantage of me.
Some might say otherwise, but it’s never a bad idea to be cautious in this world.
I held my throbbing head as I approached the door. I hadn’t closed it, just in case.
Just as I reached for the handle to pull the door shut, a rough hand suddenly shot out and grabbed the door firmly.
“I was worried since you’re so skinny and refused to eat, so I thought I’d at least bring you some bread.”
The hand belonged to none other than Ford.
He shook his long beard as he laughed, and his friendly smile eased the tension in my shoulders, just a little.
“Ah, Mr. Ford. Thank you. I’ll enjoy—”
“What the hell is this! The room! It’s a mess…!”
Only then did Ford notice the state of the room behind me, and he exclaimed in shock, shoving his large body into the room.
As I stumbled from the force of his belly, the door slammed shut behind me.
At the same time, I heard the sound of a lock turning from outside.
I grabbed the doorknob and yanked hard, but it didn’t budge. The door wouldn’t open.
I turned to face Ford, who had entered the room. His kind, concerned expression from earlier was gone, replaced by a greedy gleam, much like the fat clinging to his stomach.
‘This bastard.’
So it was the innkeeper who had snuck into my room. That’s how he had been able to pick the lock so easily.
“Let me give you some advice, little lady. You shouldn’t trust people so easily. Especially those who are kind.”
“…”
“Think of it as a lesson, so don’t be too sad, alright?”
His voice grew lower, more threatening, as he spoke. I bit down on the soft flesh inside my cheek.
“You must not have parents, but life isn’t easy. Consider this a favor from me, giving you a heads-up. I’ll let you off with a small price.”
So, he finally showed his true colors.
At least the good news was that his only objective seemed to be money. If I handed over the cash without a fuss, I might be able to escape this situation.
“Give me all the money you have. This is your lesson on the world’s truth: money solves everything.”
“…”
“You should be grateful to have run into someone as nice as me.”
Chuckling, Ford reached out his hand. He had already rummaged through the room, so knowing there was no money here, he figured I must be carrying it on me.
I knew the safest course of action would be to hand over the money without provoking this greedy pig.
But was that really the best option?
Would he actually let me go after I gave him the money?
If I showed him I had money, it might provoke him even more.
As my mind raced, Ford’s hand reached closer, now within arm’s length.
“It’d be best not to lie about having no money.”
As I stared at his twisted grin, calculating how many gold coins I had in my possession, it was at that moment…
