Chapter 10

I possessed the daughter of a runaway side heroine - Chapter 10 (10/171)

The place he took me was none other than the stable. He led a horse over and said to me,

"Get on."

"......"

I stared blankly at the enormous black horse that looked more like a bull. Climbing up there alone seemed as difficult as climbing Everest.

Seeing my bewildered expression, he seemed to realize the problem after a moment's thought.

The Duke got on the horse first and then extended his hand to me.

I hesitantly reached out, and he pulled me up, wrapping his arm around my waist to lift me up in one swift motion.

In an instant, I was seated in front of the Duke. Sitting high on the horse, it felt as if the whole world was at my feet.

He gently kicked the horse's flank, and it started walking slowly. After passing through the city gates, it gradually picked up speed.

At first, it was a bit scary, but I soon got used to riding. The wind brushing against my cheeks was refreshing, and his body, which was warm despite his cold face, was comforting.

Distracted by the scenery, I soon began to ponder the essential question.

Where are we going now? Why did he suddenly take me out on a horse?

As I racked my brain, I began to entertain ominous thoughts.

Surely, he doesn't intend to abandon me because I'm in the way?

"Where are we going now?"

When he didn't answer, I became even more anxious. Just as I started to seriously consider the possibility of being kidnapped, we arrived at a bustling street with shops.

Only then did I finally feel relieved. If he intended to abandon me, he would have taken me to a deserted place, not here.

However, the looks we were getting from the people around us were far from ordinary. Women who recognized the Duke of Iskars were shouting in excitement.

It was understandable, given that the Duke of Iskars was currently an attractive, unmarried man and a savior who had come to help the people here. Their reactions, as if they were seeing a celebrity, were quite understandable.

But to look like they were falling in love was a bit much.

I glared at a woman who was gazing at the Duke with a dreamy expression.

My mother is still alive, so where do you get off?

As I was thinking this, he suddenly stopped the horse.

We were in front of a small shop. Glancing at it, I saw it was a store selling various supplies, mainly writing tools, paper, and art supplies.

"Welcome, Your Highness, Duke of Iskars!"

The shop owner, recognizing the Duke, rushed out as if rolling. The Duke dismounted first and then helped me down.

I thought he might be buying a quill pen or something, so I followed him into the shop.

"Show me the tools needed for drawing."

When I opened my eyes wide and looked at him, the Duke said to me,

"You seemed to like drawing. If there's anything you want, pick it out."

I knew he had seen my drawings before, but I hadn't expected him to remember and come to buy art supplies.

"Do you need anything?"

I was momentarily dazed but snapped back to reality with his question.

"No, no! I do, I mean, I need a lot!"

This was my chance to get things from my dad. I shouldn't turn it down!

I started grabbing all sorts of colored pencils, watercolors, and fancy brushes made of sable fur that I had wanted to buy but couldn't afford.

"Is this Your Highness's son? He looks just like you, Your Highness!"

The shop owner, trying to sell more, flattered us. The Duke replied calmly,

"Not a son, a daughter."

The owner looked flustered but, being a seasoned merchant, smoothly responded,

"Oh, I see. I thought your beauty was extraordinary. You must grow up to be a beautiful young lady who will make many men cry!"

The counter was soon piled high with the items I had chosen. They looked expensive, but the Duke, being rich, didn't seem to care at all.

He even left a generous tip, making the shop owner's mouth drop open. He loaded the items onto the horse himself and bowed deeply.

"Thank you! Please take care!"

As we left the shop, the Duke suddenly said something unexpected.

"Your grandfather also liked drawing. It seems that talent has been passed down to you."

This was a fact I had never known. The previous Duke was a minor character in the original story, and there were no detailed settings about him in the book.

"He used to draw my mother and me when he had time."

The Duke's face looked a bit melancholic as he said this.

Perhaps the previous Duke was a good father to his son. That might be why the Duke couldn't give up on his revenge.

"Let's go."

Just as he was about to head to where the horse was, a man approached from behind. Seeing him suddenly draw a sword, I shouted,

"Behind, behind!"

Before I finished, the Duke turned and swung his sword. It happened in the blink of an eye.

"Ugh!"

The man fell, spewing blood.

The Duke, as if sensing something, suddenly picked me up under his arm and started running.

"Ah!"

I was carried like a sack of potatoes, my vision jostling. The terrifying scene behind the Duke was clearly visible.

It seemed they had been waiting for us to come out. Many men with swords were chasing us.

What kind of crazy plot twist is this!

"Ah! Behind, behind!"

I screamed frantically, but it wasn't just behind. The Duke, holding me with one arm, had to fend off assassins coming from all directions.

With me as a burden, he chose to evade rather than fight each one. He pushed a man's sword away and ran into a narrow alley.

"Get him!"

The alley was so narrow that only one adult could fit. The multiple branches in the alley created a gap in the men's pursuit.

The alley was filled with dirty refuse. There was a pile of discarded chairs and tables, and the Duke threw me into it.

"Ouch!"

Before I could complain about the pain, he grabbed my shoulder and said quickly,

"I'll come back for you soon. Stay here and hide."

I nodded. I instinctively knew he was not running away alone but separating me from the assassins.

So, the only thing I could do in this situation was to hide well and not be found.

Just before he left, I called out,

"Be careful! Don't get hurt!"

He looked at me with slightly widened eyes and patted my head, as if to say not to worry.

"Over there!"

Voices of men echoed from the other end of the alley. The Duke ran in the opposite direction, and I crouched low to the ground.

Hearing the sound of many footsteps rushing by, I thought to myself,

Who attacked us? The Castoria royal family? The Ram Empire? Or one of the nobles who harbors a grudge against the Duke?

The Duke had many enemies due to his usually prickly personality, so I couldn't guess who was behind this.

Was there a scene in the original story where the Duke was attacked by bandits? I don't remember seeing it. Of course, it's possible this part was omitted to focus on the main characters' story.

As I was thinking this, I heard footsteps approaching. They weren't the same as the earlier group; it sounded like two people walking slowly.

The footsteps stopped, and a voice rang out.

"Don't harm the Duke's life. Just injure him enough to make him unable to move for a few days."

Surprisingly, it was a young boy's voice.

The man responded with a "Yes," and the sound of his quick footsteps gradually faded away.

After a long while, with no other sounds, I cautiously raised my head to look ahead.

A child stood in the alley with his back to me, wearing a black cloak and hood that covered his head. As I had guessed, he looked to be about seven or eight years old.

For such a young child to be the one who ordered the attack was shocking.