Chapter 4

'Please, come this way.'

The sound of boots echoed from beyond the corner. Please, come this way. If there are any witnesses, Winston won't be able to do anything dirty.

But the footsteps stopped just before the corner.

How can I get out of this? Sally's mind raced.

She had hidden a pistol under her skirt, but she couldn't shoot Winston. It would ruin over a year of her mission.

And if the hidden gun was discovered, she feared she might lose the letter as well.

As she gritted her teeth, the tip of his nose, which had been buried in her nape, traced her earlobe. He lazily whispered, rubbing his hot breath between her earlobe and cheek.

"Why are you so scared?"

You pervert, are you really asking?

With tears in her eyes, she tried to think of a way out when he suddenly took off his black glove. As his long fingers traced the seam of her side, Sally held her breath.

His fingers moved to the button on her protruding chest. Though they didn't touch her skin, the way he manipulated them was no different from playing with a woman's nipple.

You dirty pervert.

"...Captain?"

"Hmm?"

His hot breath tickled her ear again. Sally sniffed loudly, as if to be heard.

"I need the money. I have to pay for my mother's medical bills soon. If you want, I can do anything for you, Captain."

Winston seemed to have received a cold shower, quickly pulling away.

He is a man with severe OCD, especially when it comes to sex. Winston despises women who spread their legs for him more than anyone else.

Sally wiped away her tears and put on a trembling face. When she turned around, Winston was leaning against the opposite wall, opening his wallet. His face was clearly annoyed.

"Sally, you're a good girl. Don't say such dirty things to any man."

"...Didn't you say that being good is annoying?"

Sally took the wad of bills he offered, her eyes welling up. Winston looked taken aback. He opened his mouth as if to say something but only let out a faint sigh.

"Thank you, Captain."

While the predator was distracted, she needed to escape. Just as she was about to run away politely, her arm was grabbed.

"Don't misunderstand when I say you're annoying. I like you."

Is this a confession?

Sally froze.

"I like your courage, the way you don't flinch even when you see blood."

Oh, I see. She finally relaxed and looked at Winston. His straight lips curved into a gentle smile.

"Any other woman would have fainted by now. Even the men. You're more reliable than those new recruits who just throw up."

He must be talking about Fred.

"Today's pressure wasn't meant to be anything else. Don't be kind to those rats. They're cunning."

I know, I'm one of those cunning rats.

Sally didn't hide the smile on her lips. After all, that greedy pig of the royal family wouldn't understand the true meaning of her smile.

"I want you to stay... in the torture chamber."

All her nerves were on edge at his chilling words.

He wanted her to stay as a maid in the torture chamber. She had to. But the way he phrased it made it sound chilling.

It felt like he was asking her to become an organ in a monster that drains the life out of people.

Or else?

Does he want to put me in the torture chamber, chain me up, and pull out my fingernails? Without victims, the torture chamber is just an ordinary room, nothing more, nothing less.

Judging from his lack of awareness of her unease, he probably just meant for her to stay as a maid. But the chilling imagination wouldn't go away.

"If you get hurt and bleed even a drop..."

Winston suddenly stopped talking. The knuckles that had been gently caressing her cheek also stopped.

His clear eyes, which had been piercing, suddenly became vacant. His usually cold eyes seemed to quietly burn with a hot flame.

His hand, which had stopped, moved again. His fingertips felt especially hot against her cold lips.

Winston pressed and traced her soft flesh from one end to the other. During this, he bit his own lips, which had turned pale, so hard that blood seemed about to seep out.

The vampire of Camden.

Sally's face turned pale as she recalled the nickname that always followed Captain Leon Winston like a coat. What is this bloodthirsty man imagining about me? He might even want to bite my lips and drink my blood.

This is dangerous. This is fatally dangerous.

Sally smiled brightly and clasped her hands in prayer, making sure the bills in her hand were clearly visible.

Look closely. My blood is no different from that of other women, filled with the same base instincts.

"Thank you for your concern. Captain, you are truly kind and considerate. I want to work under you for a long time."

As she showered him with insincere praise, Winston's eyes returned to their usual sharpness. Sally felt relieved under his cold, sharp gaze.

She immediately turned and walked away. He didn't try to stop her until she reached the corner.

She let out a sigh of relief as she passed the soldiers guarding the door to the torture chamber. But soon, like Winston, she found herself biting her lip.

This rotten world. Sadly, it's not uncommon for maids to be violated by the men of the house.

But she had never heard of such things happening in the Winston household. The Winston brothers were known for not even glancing at women.

Captain Leon Winston, the eldest son, was a sadistic figure even in the royal family that trusted him, but he was famous for being polite and gentle to women. He never brought women, even revolutionaries, to the torture chamber.

Jerome, the second son, was more of a quiet scholar, unlike his military brother. While he shared the family's arrogant nature, he chased away women who showed private curiosity with esoteric discussions. He despised women who were empty-headed porcelain dolls more than anyone.

So, when she infiltrated the mansion as a maid, did she ever imagine that one of the brothers would make a move on her?

A spy should never be a nuisance or a target to the person they are spying on. Despite trying to be treated like furniture like other maids, he always liked her too much and disliked her too much.

Where did I go wrong?

Surprisingly, she found the answer in less than ten minutes.

***

'Late.'

Because of that pervert, she missed the time for the mail coach. Sally rushed to the mansion's main gate.

Just as she was about to run out of breath, the main gate came into view. Peter, the mailman, who had been chatting with the gatekeeper, peered through the narrow bars and smiled.

"You're a bit late today, Miss Bristol."

His seemingly kind smile was actually a nervous reprimand, which she understood. Time was of the essence.

"Yes, Captain... was looking for me..."

I wasn't out playing, you jerk.

Mentioning 'Captain' made Peter's eyes noticeably freeze. Sally smiled to show everything was fine and handed him the letter.

"Please take good care of it..."

"Sally."

Sally froze at the sudden voice. The soft engine of a luxury sedan rumbled behind her.

"I'll be going now."

Peter snatched the letter from Sally's hand and ran to the coach. As he fled, the sound of small pebbles being stepped on grew closer behind her. She turned around with a seemingly casual smile.

"Captain, are you going out? Dinner will be served soon."

"I have a prior engagement."

He was still in his officer's uniform.

'Not a private engagement, is it?'

What kind of heinous act is he going to commit? There was no one more dangerous than a smart and diligent enemy.

"I see. Mrs. Winston will be lonely. I hope you have a pleasant—"

"Stop the empty flattery."

He stepped closer. The distance between them was dangerously close again.

"Sally, there's something I've wanted to ask you every time I see you."