Chapter 229
Life is such a fragile thing...
One little mistake and it's over.
It's sad to see how little people value human life, but I knew that all along.
That's why I always tried to be careful and not let my guard down...
But never did I think that my own son would betray me, or that my husband would just watch and laugh at my downfall.
At this point, my fate is sealed... So, if I have to go, I'll make sure to take you all with me...
* * *
Right now, the torturer keeps questioning me and taunting me with threats like.
"Even if you call yourself the Black Rose, you're just a plain old woman... and I'll make you remember that."
"Ukuku!"
That's quite a threat...
But honestly, after a lifetime of enduring torture, I've become used to it. Being on the receiving end of it is really all there is to it.
Besides I have 'Pain Nullifier'.
I'm afraid they can't make me scream.
But I'll make sure to show these people just how powerful the Black Rose truly is.
However, my son and husband are both pathetic excuses for human beings.
They're blinded by their own twisted sense of justice... which makes them fools... but more than that, even though they're willing to kill and torture others, they refuse to see the consequences of their actions. It's unbearable.
If they want to make me suffer, they should at least come here... and scream abuse at me... They're so pathetic that they can't even do that. It seems they've been taught the wrong thing. If that's the case, they should have been taught about the 'Rose hearts'. Unfortunately, they couldn't even become the lowest red rose.
And now, I can hear a lot of suffering voices coming from the corridor. I gave my son and husband a slow-acting poison to ensure their death. But I don't forget to pray for those who were caught up in it. Although my eyes have been gouged out, my ears still work, and I can hear my husband and son's voices. It seems that my purpose has been achieved, and this family has reached its end. The man who tortured me before also drank water and died. And I was prepared to be raped... but perhaps because I'm the lord's wife or because I'm old, I wasn't violated. Overall, I'll give it a passing grade of 50 points.
Anyway, it was probably not a fun torture since there was no moaning or groaning.
* * *
I can't see anything, but it seems that I've been put in a cage.
I have no arms or legs, my body is in tatters, so I will probably be disposed of like this.
Anyway, it's been a boring life...
Looking back now, it was a boring life, marrying a man I didn't like and being killed by my own child I had nurtured.
I'm not afraid to die... but this is unacceptable.
A miserable way to die... I don't want this. So...
'Help me.'
I don't mind the pain... I don't care about dying...
But Black Rose should not die so miserably.
'Help... I don't want to die.'
'Help...'
As I tried to call a help, I hear a sound of cloth rubbing together... I don't understand what's happening, but I can hear people talking.
"What, you looking on your own?"
"I'm sorry."
"What, aren't you the young master who just came to my place earlier... you must saw something unpleasant...? It's disgusting, right...?"
"Uh... This person..."
"A discarded slave... Well, I was entrusted with the disposal for various reasons... I intend to let her die like this..."
"With such a terrible condition, why don't you... kill her?"
"I am a slave trader... Children might not understand it... Those who work in this business are forbidden to kill slaves... And I can't help her in this condition... So I intend to let her die like this... ... I'll tell you this, I did not do this to her... I got a discount on other slaves by taking this guy in... Her condition was there from the beginning."
It seems someone has been peeping into my cage...
I see, soon I, will be finished...
"This person is a slave, right? So she is worth selling, right? How much is she?"
"Young master, she is a discarded slave, equivalent to trash. You were looking for a housework slave, right? You look like a nice young master, but if you were influenced by compassion, you should stop now. She will probably die within a few days."
"But what if I still want her?"
"I am a slave merchant, so if you want her, I will give her a price. She is only worth around one gold coin (about 100,000 yen) in the royal capital. Plus, the cost of carving the slave's emblem and two wage coins will be added, making it three gold coins for that person's price. I'm sorry, but I can't give you her health because she's dying. If that's okay with you, I'll sell her."
"I'll buy her... In return, please make it quick."
"You really want to buy her...? Okay, I don't care if something happened."
I can't believe... why would someone buy me now... I'm just trash.
I'm too weak to even die easily... not even good for practicing torture.
I'm an old woman too without arms and legs, so I won't be able to do 'uni~uni~'.
* * *
It's amazing.
This person, who buy me, is as fast as if I were riding a horse.
But instead of running, I feel as if I'm being carried.
After a while, we suddenly stopped and I heard voices arguing.
"Dear guest, I don't want any trouble..." someone began.
"Don't worry," the person, who buy me, interrupted, "I bought her as a slave, so there's no problem. Here are the documents."
"But what if she dies?" the first person asked, worried.
"I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, it's just a small fee please, just take it," the person, who buy me, silent for a moment, but then replied with a sympathetic tone.
"If that's what you say, then there's no helping it.... okay, fine," the first person relented.
"Thank you."
The way we're going up the stairs... it sounds like I was being carried to an inn or something...
It's a good thing I'm not in a slaver's house where I'm going to die.
* * *
Huff... I haven't felt a bed in a long time...
But wait, he wanted to use me...? No way...
It's impossible... unless it's an orc, a normal person wouldn't hold a filthy woman like me. But as I thought so...
"Partial heal."
I see. This person is capable of using healing magic...
However... it's impossible. Even with a top-tier healer, they couldn't heal my current state.
Perhaps prolonging my life would be difficult as well.
"My name is Serena. I don't want to do this, but please listen carefully."
Is this person going to do something?
I'm not sure what he want, but I nodded in appreciation for providing me with a proper place to die.
"I have a way to save you... but it's not something I can use lightly," he says, his voice serious. "I know it's not fair at a time like this, but I like you... and I won't say we are getting married or anything, so would you go out with me?"
There's a way to save me in my current state... that is absurd... and marriage? A lover? A relationship... have I lost my mind?
My face is burned, my limbs are gone, my body is falling apart... and to top it off, even if I ever get better... I'm already at an age where it's not surprising to be called "old lady".
Perhaps ten years ago, I was once considered beautiful... but that was a long time ago.
Has torture made me crazy?
"Why... when you see me in this state... you say you want to marry me..."
I can't imagine anyone being that foolish.
"I think you're the most beautiful woman here..." he replied, his tone genuine and without hesitation.
It seems he's not a person.
"Well… I can't see you, so I don't know what kind of person you are... but if you want to go out with me after seeing me in this state... then yes... Though I don't know what kind of a monster you are, but I wouldn't mind marrying you because I don't like ambiguity."
If he likes me in this state, then I must be sincere.
No matter how tattered I may be, I still have the pride of a black rose.
Even if the other party is not a human, this is not the price for a "relationship".
Marriage is not enough.
"I'm only 12 years old, so maybe an engagement would be better."
"You're still a child…? Well, that's fine... I don't know what you like about me, this ugly thing... But if you can save my life despite this ugly appearance of mine... then I will marry you, even if you're a devil."
If he wants to take me as his wife... he could be as ugly as a monster.
And if he says I'm beautiful now I must be.
However, saving my life is still the payment for my services.
I lived a life without love... so if he loves me... then maybe it's better still.
"Thank you... and sorry for asking too much. Perfect Heal," he said with humble and sincere.
The ultimate healing magic...? Because it's a holy attribute, he's not a demon... Moreover, the magic is said to have been used by the legendary Saint Cecilia in ancient times... but I don't think there's anyone who can use it now... among the saints... And it's only be learned by the chosen ones after hard work.
So, this person is not supposed to be a demon or devil.
As I thought that, my broken body is regenerating one by one...
And then I hear a voice...
"Beautiful..."
I turn my head toward the source and what I see is...
A boy who was not human in a different sense... rather, a beautiful young man like an angel looking at me.
Maybe this is a dream.
The real me is dying...
And if this is a dream... then I want to answer.
"It's nice to meet you, danna-sama... I am Fleur of the Black Rose, and I will pledge my loyalty and love to you as a rose for your kindness… Eh, you're really a child?"
"My name is Serena... Nice to meet you, Fleur-san."
"You're lying... I thought I'd sold my soul to the devil... but you're more like an angel."
It's impossible for something like this to happen... because the world is always harsh and cruel...
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