Chapter 4. Wrath (10)
But why? No, how? How did he know about him, and how did he know he would be curious about that prostitute, and how did he know he would be watching a performance here… Did this actor know the location of that fellow when even he had missed it?
“…How did you know that?”
“What does that matter? Ah, so frustrating. Here, the address. No one lives around there. Seems like they deliberately chose such a place… They’ll run away immediately at just the sound of a carriage, so it would be good to move carefully.”
“Who told you?”
“I don’t know that either. It was a child I didn’t know.”
“A child you didn’t know?”
“While we were preparing the stage, some little kid came and gave me this along with money. Said you would pass by this place, and whether you called out or approached, to give you this address. Both that child and I are just running errands for money.”
As if his business was done, the actor went back toward the stage. Eckart also came out following him, but there was nothing more to tell him. Rather, he gave him looks as if he was bothersome and should leave, so he had no choice but to move his steps.
Something was strange. Before, gypsies had provided tips, and now an actor from a traveling troupe was telling him about a fugitive’s location.
There were more than one or two suspicious aspects, but his deliberation was short. However it happened, he had obtained the address, so he could just go catch them again.
Eckart, who had been about to go to the court to report as before, suddenly stopped his steps. It was because he recalled Lef’s voice complaining that word had leaked. He also remembered the judge who had hesitated, saying it was a place where nobles had villas. In the end, he turned his steps around.
Even before the day ended, officers gathered one by one. Because of Eckart’s secret orders, their gathering movements were also extremely cautious.
They swiftly headed toward the place where the escaped male prostitute was said to be. As the actor had said, it was a quiet place with mostly empty houses standing alone, so they tied their horses far away and walked directly.
“Whoever it is, he’s a bold one. To think of fleeing to this place.”
“He’s clever. He figured we wouldn’t come here again.”
“This… makes me even more annoyed.”
Eckart gestured for them to be quiet. Lef and the officers closed their mouths.
It wasn’t incomprehensible that they would think such things. The address written on the paper was one of the famous red-light districts they had been going in and out of for quite some time. Unlike other prostitutes who fled far away, these ones had actually hidden right under their noses.
Since they had captured most of the prostitutes listed on the roster, they would have thought there was no reason to come unless another report came in. All the more so because, as they had confirmed several times, those who had been here were either caught or had all fled, leaving only empty buildings. Both the words about being clever and being annoying were understandable.
As they moved while holding their breath, the surroundings gradually grew darker. The officers who had quietly approached surrounded the building. At Eckart’s chin gesture, the officers rushed toward the door. One officer who had been roughly kicking with his foot lost his balance and tumbled when the door opened weakly without resistance. Officers who staggered and barely managed to stop followed behind him.
Eckart felt something was strange and hurriedly stepped forward. Inside the building was dark, and except for the groaning of the fallen officer, it was extremely quiet. Just like the other empty buildings.
Realizing something was odd, Lef ran up the stairs. Eckart did the same. Upstairs, only the sound of burning logs was gentle. The crumpled blanket and teacup on the table clearly indicated that someone had been there until just a moment ago.
But now no one was there. So hasty was their escape that all belongings were left behind, with only the people having disappeared.
The officers searched through all the other rooms, but it was the same. They had missed them again. By a hair’s breadth. Lef’s fierce cursing was muttered low.
Eckart’s gaze fell on the iron chain lying long on the floor. At its end hung shackles with unlocked clasps.
***
The hand striking his cheek was fierce.
Each time it struck, he staggered, unable to overcome the force, but immediately straightened his body stiffly and endured. His lips had long since burst and his cheek had swollen bright red. The hand that had been cruelly driving him finally stopped.
The Grand Duke, breathing roughly in a disheveled state unlike himself, turned around and arranged his clothing.
“…Clean up everything outside as well.”
“Yes!”
The servant moved frantically without even thinking to wipe his bloodied mouth. The Grand Duke, who had been sweeping up his fallen hair, cast a cold glance at a man collapsed on the floor. The man, covered in dirt and blood from being kicked, was groaning with a pained expression.
Only his arms were intact. The Grand Duke looked at the clean hands, unlike the rest of his body, and spat out through gritted teeth.
“I’ll keep you alive until the painting is completed.”
It had truly been by a hair’s breadth. They had almost lost Ronen to the officers who came barging in. It was because of those stupid papal bastards who didn’t even know who was feeding them.
Just how had they discovered this place?
He had cut off most of the tails, so either they had followed the painter who had gone out to buy materials, or someone among those the Grand Duke had stationed outside to watch Ronen had informed on them—it was one of the two.
Since neither possibility was entirely impossible, as both a warning and venting, he had ruthlessly trampled the painter, and had ordered all the watchers to be cleaned up. He planned never to let the painter out again either. Finally, if he got rid of even the servant, no one would know about this place. They would no longer be able to find it.
When he opened the door and entered the room, Osian and Nelly, who had been huddled in the corner, cowered with terror written all over their faces. The Grand Duke paid no attention to those two. He simply walked forward looking only at Ronen lying on the bed. There were no shackles on his legs as he lay pitifully on his side.
They had come in such a hurry that they hadn’t been able to bring them… The Grand Duke’s teeth ground audibly. Even the time it took to find the key and unlock the shackles had been precarious. In preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, it seemed better not to put them on for the time being.
Unable to even bring blankets, all there was were a worn-out bed and thin, moldy cloth. The Grand Duke, who couldn’t even sit down and stood at a distance, looked down at Ronen. A white profile paralyzed with fear came into view.
Seeing that face, the Grand Duke, whose anger had subsided somewhat, curled up one corner of his mouth.
“You do seem to fear death.”
Yes. If he went out anyway, he would be executed. Even if he escaped, it would ultimately be death, and without even time to repent, it would be immediate burning at the stake—what fool would think of going out in such a situation?
“…That’s only natural, isn’t it? I will surely fall to hell.”
At the trembling voice, the Grand Duke smiled even more deeply. The bastards outside sniffing after Ronen’s scent were extremely unpleasant, but thanks to that, Ronen had completely given up the thought of escaping, so that much was satisfying beyond measure.
If he went out, he would die. If he died, he would fall to hell. But if he stayed by his side, he was safe. He could be guaranteed a safe life under his care forever.
“Right. A sinner like you would be better off dying even a little later. As slowly as possible, after repenting as much as possible and begging for forgiveness. The punishment of burning eternally would be incomparable to mere burning at the stake.”
“But… aren’t they still chasing me? I’m so anxious that I’ll eventually be caught. I’m scared.”
As if telling him to be even more anxious and scared, the Grand Duke slowly nodded. Ronen turned his body to look up at the Grand Duke. The light green eyes filled with terror were quite pleasing.
“If you listen well to my words, I’ll help you preserve that worthless life of yours a little longer.”
The Grand Duke grasped Ronen’s faintly trembling chin and lifted it. This was the arrogant and foolish Ronen who had not only dared to refuse his offer to keep him by his side and let him enjoy luxury, but had said he would rather sell his body.
So he had given him what he wanted. Wanting to see him beg on his own to please take him in, he had pushed him into even more humiliating and miserable situations. The reason he had deliberately not restrained the customers who tormented Ronen to an excessive degree, beyond just being willful, was for this.
Even doing that much, Ronen who had stiffly held his head high was now trembling before him. Pitifully, he was paralyzed with fear. Ronen, who had been unaffected by any threats, finally seemed to be caught in his hands.
The Grand Duke’s cold eyes deepened as if satisfied.
“I have… a request.”
“A request?”
“Previously, Lord Hakan said such a thing. That with just that… all the world’s worries would disappear in an instant, and you’d feel as if you’d suddenly come to paradise. Does such a thing really exist?”
The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed. What Hakan had spoken of would naturally refer to drugs.
He hadn’t never considered the method of getting him addicted to drugs, but he had long since abandoned the idea, thinking that the sight of him moving instinctively with his reason gone wouldn’t be particularly pleasant. However…
The Grand Duke, who had been pondering for a moment, tilted his head as if finding it interesting. His thumb slightly parted Ronen’s lips. Ronen intoxicated by drugs—it was indeed a sight he wanted to see at least once.
Since it was a rare happy day, such a request was nothing.
“…Fine. I’ll personally let you taste that ecstasy.”
Then he would have even less desire to leave paradise and walk into hell. The Grand Duke gave strict orders to the gatekeeper and got into the carriage.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
