The Villainess Enjoys Her Seventh Life as a Free-Spirited Bride (hostage) in a Former Enemy Country
Chapter 37.1: Can’t Even Be Called A Lock

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The lock inside the door has been broken and she had checked it before Theodore’s arrival.

Because of that, the door, which should have been easy to open from inside, could only be unlocked from the outside to get out.

But Rishe knew.

Maybe it’s around here…

She knelt in front of the door and found a tiny hole – A hole that existed when the inner lock was broken.

It was something that only a thin pin could manage to get through, and could be unlocked in case of emergency.

Most people wasn’t aware of the hole’s existence because they rarely got the chance to use it, but Rishe was a skilled help in her former life.

While inserting the golden pins in, Rishe contrived her subsequent steps.

Then thought of the two people who chose a confinement place where she could easily escape.

I have to thank Elise and the knight for this. And for betraying His Highness Theodore, who is said to be well-liked in the favelas.

It was only a few days ago that Rishe realized a possibility.

The time she had received a letter from Theodore, tricking her into believing that it was from Arnold.

That letter was placed in Rishe’s room.

Even though it was inserted through the gap under the door, it was a feat that was impossible without entering the detached castle.

And currently, no one went in or out of the detached castle other than Rishe, her handmaidens and her knight guards.

Although outsiders weren’t officially banned from entering the grounds, any unrelated person walking in would still be noticed.

Even at present, when maid servants were all over the place, cleaning and maintaining the detached castle.

It would be difficult for a completely unrelated person to enter without being seen.

Rishe investigated noncomitantly, and concluded that an outsider sneaking into the palace was unlikely.

Even the entry and exit of Arnold, the Crown Prince, was gossiped about by the maid servants, as was the case the other day. But, there were no witnesses at all.

That being the case, then it was more likely that the letter was brought in by either a maid or a knight guard.

It was also possible that Theodore left the letter with an irrelevant maid.

However, he left an envelope stamped with the Imperial Family’s seal in Rishe’s room. That was exactly the kind of rumor that would keep the rumor mill churning.

Then, the idea that someone among the maids or knights siding with Theodore’s plan was plausible.

She didn’t want to probe further, but there was a good chance that Theodore would try something next.

So, while making a sample of the nail polish to present to the Aria Trading Company, Rishe began looking into the handmaidens.

Especially since the new maids were girls that Arnold had gathered around the city for her.

Their backgrounds were rigorously vetted and seemed to have been thoroughly scrubbed, including the absence of any criminals in the family, but one maid had a strange history.

That was Elise.

The new maids were all from poor families. However, Elise was the only one who came from an extremely poor district considered a favela.

When she looked at the letter of recommendation, she saw the name of a church close to the favela.

There was nothing strange about a poor girl being recruited by a church that has a charitable ministry.

But then, why was Elise the only one from the slums?

It was just a minor snag that she felt.

However, since there was no proof, a conclusion had to be drawn.

Elise was a sweet girl. If she was being forced to do something like espionage, she also wanted to free her.

Thus, when she was feeling unwell, she took the opportunity and ordered the knight to call Elise.

She was going to talk to her if she made any move in that direction.

But when Elise rushed into the reception room, she looked like she was on the verge of tears and said, “Please don’t worry, Rishe-sama. No matter what happens, I will definitely protect you. Definitely…”

She was trembling all over. There was no doubt she was ready to betray her “client.”

What was even more surprising was that the other knight left behind spoke up, following Elise’s lead.

“Rishe-sama, I’ll help you too. I was deeply moved by the measures you mentioned earlier to save the favelas. With Elise, I will take the responsibility of getting you to a doctor.”

“…”

Rishe recalled in her muddled state.

He was the knight who was previously attacked by bandits on their way to the country and was paralyzed by the numbing poison.

Arnold said after she detoxified him that he was from the favelas and had become a knight through hard work.

“Elise, we’ll receive whatever punishment we deserve. Let’s help, Rishe-sama.”

“I know. Rishe-sama, please wait for me. I’ll…”

“No, do me a favor.” Rishe said, cutting off their determination.

“If you’ve been ordered by His Highness Theodore, I want you to feign obedience.”

“Wha…?”

“Rishe-sama, how did you know that?”

Looking at their stunned faces, the truth that Rishe wanted to confirm was all too clear.

“Can you tell me what His Highness Theodore’s instructions are, Elise?”

“To abduct you somewhere when we get a chance. And I was also told that you must not be harmed.”

While Rishe was caught off guard that such an order was attached, Elise bowed deeply.

“I’m really sorry, Rishe-sama. I will accept any punishment and scolding.”

“Rishe-sama, aside from myself, Elise is innocent. She is in a poor situation in the shanty town and couldn’t disobey His Highness Theodore’s orders.”

The knight, Kamil, spoke with a pained expression on his face.

“His Highness Theodore has been providing personal support to the favelas. The residents of that quarter will do anything for His Highness. If someone disobeys his order, he’ll be shunned by the entire clan and persecuted even within the small neighborhood. Elise couldn’t escape.”

“Kamil, we’re on the same page.”