Sold And Sealed

"You want me to spy for you?" she asked with a gasp.

"There is nothing free in this world. You need your freedom, I need eyes and a brain. It is just a matter of favors of give and take."

She felt like a fly that realized too late that she was trapped in the web of the spider until she had no way to get her freedom.

At least, her uncle was vocal about his thoughts and ambitions. The man standing in front of her was too dangerous as you could never be clear about his intentions.

Even in this condition, he had a charming smile on his face and a cool temper. Just like the carnivorous plants that had a cool and attractive scent which brought its prey closer to it and then it destroyed them and their prey did not realize it until the end.

"And you call yourself.."

"It should not matter to you what I call myself, my lady. What should matter to you is time slipping out of your hands." he laughed carefreely, with his eyes glinting in the dark that made her swallow. "You should feel lucky that I am in a mood to do pity."

 "How fortunate for me," she said, full of sarcasm. "What exactly do I need to do?" there was no way that she would lead her future to an uncertain promise.

She would discuss his plan and her part in it before signing up for it.

He chuckled, a nod with a look of appreciation but she only felt insulted or mocked instead of feeling pride.

"Your uncle met all the nobles and a few underground people. Though they did think you are a nuisance, they never took you as a threat.

So, they are not that careful of what they should speak. I want you to check the office of your uncle and hear him talking.

I did not need all the information but anything when you hear the name of my parents and the word Grettonwood. So, are you in?"

His eyes bore whole into her and she sighed. What choices she had, she was already too deep to run away.

"Yes, but it would be you who will find a way to get that information from me."

With that her fate was sold.

She didn't know how but he had managed to take her out from the third passage she never knew existed.

His carriage was already waiting for them near the dark alley.

As they sat on the warm seat, she finally realized how cold she was. Her shivering had no end.

He closed his eyes and rested. But then his eyes fell over her sorry condition when she shivered.

The daughter of the famous marquis! She should be living like a princess since she is of the highest noble in the empire with no princess around. But look at her.

"Would you have really married that old servant?" Penny who was staring out of the window while rubbing her cold body was not expecting him to talk to her.

She licked her dry lips to make them feel better. But did not reply when he looked away.

He had expected her to not talk to him since she did not trust him and only looked at him as a threat.

But she was too tired to think of more traps, she leaned on the warm chair and closed her eyes for a second.

"Of course." she locked herself with the harsh words, "do you think i have come this far to only joke with a sixty year old man?"

"You would have married a sixty year old man?" He was startled by her frankness and boldness. She was too different from the woman he knew, he had seen.

Completely changing his definition of a woman but she just scoffed.

"It was not a marriage out of love but a way to get my inheritance. Why would I marry a man that would live for ages and leech me off. I would always prefer a man that would die the moment they would marry me." she ran a hand in her hair with a lethargic look on her face when a pin fell from her hair as she ran a hand in them.

He caught it. The diamond sparkling brightly in the dim light. For some reason, he felt that she was more free than he was yet she was bound. What a parody.

He had heard so much that she is so meek that he had never thought she would be so different when he would meet her for the first time. But did she know?

"Do you have any idea that your marriage was already decided by your father when you were born?"

"..." the words startled her, she had never heard about it. Then how could he know?

She looked at him with confusion but curiosity too.

"Who was the man?"

He opened his mouth and then closed it with a shake of his head, his eyes finally looking away from her face that was more illuminated than the diamond in his hands despite her conditions.

"Forget it! Even if I tell you, you are not going to believe it."

"..."