Sophia’s attention had been fixated on just how much reward she could squeeze out of the owner of this lavishly decorated carriage.
The gleam of gold coins clouded her vision, causing her to overlook Selim for a while, until this very moment, when she finally noticed that something was wrong with the other girl’s health.
Bathed in the light filtering into the carriage, Sophia squinted, carefully observing Selim’s current state.
Her long silver hair fluttered in the wind, pale red pupils shimmering with unshed tears, both hands gripping her dress tightly, looking every bit like a small animal about to be abandoned at any moment.
Of course, this frail appearance was all an act, Selim was far from helpless.
If she wanted to leave, even if she couldn’t walk, Selim still had her ‘money powers’ to kill all the Beasts and the guards, then return to her own manor.
But that would be meaningless.
People’s expectations are entirely different when it comes to a transaction versus a favor.
If she simply hired Sophia with money to escort her home, it would be nothing more than a business deal and Sophia would only think about whether the deal was worth it.
But if Sophia helped her out of kindness, then the Nightingale Effect might take hold—causing Sophia to feel more compassion for her.
All this groundwork was to make this “accidental” rescue appear as a transaction at first, only to twist it back into a favor, ultimately giving Sophia a sense of moral satisfaction.
Especially with Selim’s act of delicate helplessness, it struck a soft spot deep in Sophia’s heart, thoroughly extinguishing any thought of using violence.
A young lady with no supernatural powers, crippled legs, alone in a wilderness infested by Beasts—the ending was obvious.
Sophia could now guess that the so-called ‘payment upon returning home’ was nothing but a little trick from this lady, afraid of being abandoned.
As a demon hunter who still respected her Hunter’s Oath, Sophia wasn’t about to turn into a Beast for profit at any moment.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t feel annoyed by such petty tricks.
“ Tch.” Sophia deliberately furrowed her brows, putting on just the right amount of annoyance.
“So troublesome… Maybe I should just leave you here. Wouldn’t that be easier?”
“Or maybe, I should sell you for a good price?”
She’d already decided to escort Selim home for the reward, but couldn’t help teasing this little fox before her, wanting to see how she would plead.
“I know you won’t, right?”
Selim’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stretched her hands toward Sophia, her gaze full of hope.
That innocent, yearning look pierced Sophia’s conscience.
The innocence was faked, but that yearning in her heart was not.
Back when Selim played games, she’d always liked the character Sophia—too bad she could only admire the model through a screen.
Now that she had the chance for physical contact, she was actually looking forward to it.
Although, at first, it was because the other had the potential to become a powerful ally in the future.
But she was tempted by her body, wanting to make her hers.
She swore to herself on her own middle finger that she absolutely did not harbor such wicked thoughts… right?
“Tch.” Sophia grew more annoyed by Selim’s air of confidence, but suddenly thought of something, and a sly smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
“Did you see this coming?”
Before the words had even left her mouth, Sophia suddenly bent down, and in Selim’s eager gaze, wrapped her arms around her waist and lifted her up with a burst of strength.
Selim’s world flipped upside down in an instant—before she could cry out, she was slung firmly over Sophia’s shoulder.
Through her clothes, she could even feel the shape of Sophia’s leather pauldrons pressing into her stomach.
Sophia’s triumphant voice drifted up from below.
“A cheapskate only gets this treatment.”
She even bounced her shoulder on purpose.
There was no princess carry, only the indignity of being hauled around like a sack—Selim’s face went black.
In her heart, she already made a note of this humiliation, swearing that one day, Sophia would kneel before her and lick her toes in repentance.
Only then could Selim avenge today’s disgrace at Sophia’s hands.
Yet she didn’t get discouraged. Instead, she hugged Sophia as tightly as possible, and said, “Thank you. This is more than enough for me.”
“Hah, you’re stubborn.” Though it felt like punching a pillow, Sophia considered herself the winner for soothing her irritation.
She only wanted to tease Selim, not really carry her like this the whole way.
Such a thing would be detrimental to the reputation of a noble lady, unless no one saw it.
If anyone else witnessed it, they could even demand compensation from Sophia for this indignity.
She wasn’t about to forgo shiny gold coins for a moment’s satisfaction, nor was she the type to bully the weak.
With this in mind, Sophia shifted Selim to her back with one hand.
Once Selim’s arms wrapped around her shoulders and her trailing silver hair tickled her skin, Sophia finally asked, “So, Miss, which way is your home?”
Selim didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pressed her cheek gently against Sophia’s neck, twirling a strand of Sophia’s blue hair with her finger.
She moved her lips closer to Sophia’s ear, exhaling softly, and said, “You can call me Selim Nutrisk. That’s my name—remember it, okay?”
Sophia was about to tell her off for being so forward, but the surname in Selim’s words caught her attention.
“Nutrisk? Are you part of that Duke’s family?”
“You’re the Saint-rank powerhouse York Nutrisk’s illegitimate daughter?”
Selim’s hands only grew bolder as she replied, “Illegitimate daughter? No, as the only daughter, I’m the sole heir of the Nutrisk family.”
She silently added to herself—unless that cheap father decided to use her for alchemy materials.
The corpses around them still stank of blood. Feeling the ‘sickly’ Selim slumped on her back, Sophia commented, “What a coincidence. I’m actually the next Emperor of the Lionheart Empire.”
Knowing Sophia didn’t believe her, Selim wasn’t bothered. She simply said, “My home is the largest manor in the Rhine Territory.”
Her fingers, still twisting Sophia’s blue hair, pointed at a distant manor.
Following her gesture, Sophia saw a manor in the distance, now no bigger than a pigeon, and thought for a moment before saying, “I remember that place belongs to a lady Marquis—wait, no, it’s supposed to belong to a Regent Prince, isn’t it?”
“So, are you that prince’s secret lover?”
“Secret lover?” Selim’s fingers pinched Sophia’s chin in displeasure. “Why, can’t I look like a lady Marquis myself?”
“Ha!” Sophia laughed without restraint, her shoulders shaking, forcing Selim to hold on even tighter.
“Has the Marquis really fallen so far?”
“Well, whatever your identity, as long as you can pay when we get there, that’s all that matters.”
“Hmph.” Selim was a bit unhappy with Sophia’s attitude.
Sophia, how dare you mock your future master?
She decided to collect a little interest first.
She gave Sophia’s earlobe a quick lick with her tongue, making Sophia shudder so much that she nearly stumbled.
“Hey, you—!” Sophia glanced back but only saw Selim resting on her shoulder, eyes closed, pretending to be Sleeping Beauty.
“Little fox…” Sophia muttered, then, as if remembering something else, draped another layer of clothing over Selim and started walking in the direction she’d indicated.
The distant manor took shape in the dusk, while Selim, jostled on Sophia’s back, curled her lips in a silent smile.
The first step to changing her tragic fate had finally been taken.