I Was Hired by the Black-Minded Prince for My Life's Ransom - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 28. Search
“The password.”
Ah, the password?
‘Wait, wasn’t the servant supposed to be alone?’
I flinched at the unexpected turn.
I was about to open my mouth to say something.
[Shh, stay quiet.]
Yulian stepped forward.
His broad back blocked my view ahead.
He smiled with unhurried composure.
“How troublesome.”
“Without the password, I cannot let you through.”
“I see.”
Yulian’s smile deepened.
It was a beautiful smile, radiant as if a halo shone around him.
“I am Yulian Ozbalt.”
“…….”
“Though it may be presumptuous, I am the Third Prince of The Empire.”
Silence fell inside the door.
Panic was unmistakable.
The proof came as a faint clatter from beyond the door.
Yulian continued unhurried.
“During an inspection, I discovered a building that doesn’t match the documents.”
“…….”
“Supposedly a sealed warehouse, yet I heard signs of activity.”
His voice was soft.
But I could be certain of one thing.
Which is why their spines must have gone cold.
“I’ll just take a brief look and leave.”
“…….”
“Of course, you’re free to refuse.”
Yulian smiled benevolently.
It was a warmth like sunshine.
“Though I’ll have no choice but to put everything I’ve seen today in my report.”
The moment those words left his lips, something moved urgently inside the door.
Then, a moment later,
Click.
“Come in.”
The door swung open, and a rough man stepped into view.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, somewhere between youth and middle age.
His forearms were covered in chaotic tattoos, and a long scar ran across half his face.
‘…A pirate?’
Whatever he was, he was terrifying!
I reflexively seized the hem of Yulian’s robe.
Yulian glanced down at my hand gripping his sleeve, then smirked softly.
[Why not hide completely behind me?]
‘Is that… allowed?’
[By all means.]
Thank you so much….
Without hesitation, I ducked behind him, staying just half a step back.
Strangely, standing behind him felt like I would never die.
The man looked us over from head to toe.
His already fearsome face darkened further as he studied Yulian’s.
“…You’re really a prince?”
“Would you like to verify?”
Yulian smiled slightly.
“It might be easier to summon Baron Brennon’s knights instead.”
“Never mind.”
The man cut him off quickly.
He ground his teeth for a moment, then finally stepped aside.
“Just take a quick look and be on your way.”
“Thank you.”
Yulian remained unmoved, regardless of how roughly the man spoke.
He offered his thanks with courtesy, smiled gently, and walked inside—it was that very composure that struck me.
‘…That’s actually terrifying.’
Yet somehow his manner put me at ease.
There was something reassuring about it—the sense that this wasn’t even close to threatening him.
I crept forward and tugged at his sleeve, following him into the warehouse.
The interior was larger than I expected.
Old wooden crates and cargo draped in cloth.
The damp scent of the sea.
And an air that felt somehow musty and oppressive.
The man followed us openly, watching our every move.
“If you’re done, get out already.”
“There’s a second floor, isn’t there? Don’t be so impatient.”
Yulian climbed the stairs without hesitation.
The old wooden steps creaked beneath his weight.
My heart began to race, and I glanced nervously around.
‘I’m sure I saw something strange through the window earlier.’
A large maritime map, perhaps, with shipping routes traced across it.
But.
‘…It’s gone.’
The second floor was bare.
There wasn’t even a servant in sight.
A large sea chart still hung on the wall, but the complex markings that had covered it before were nearly all erased.
The table that had been piled high with documents was now clean.
Only faint dust marks remained where things had been hastily cleared away.
Yulian smiled and spoke quietly.
“What should we do?”
‘Hmm…’
Since this was just a warehouse, there weren’t many places to hide.
To be honest, it was painfully obvious.
My eyes met the servant’s between the double-door storage cabinet tucked in the corner.
“…….”
“…….”
The servant’s pupils trembled with anxiety.
It seemed like a plea—don’t tell, don’t notice, pretend you saw nothing.
What could possibly be worth protecting with such desperation?
“How much longer do you intend to keep staring like that?”
‘…Oh no. Was it that obvious?’
“Come over here.”
I hurried toward him.
Then I whispered what I was really thinking.
‘I don’t think now is the right time.’
“Why do you say that?”
I glanced around the space.
The hastily cleared table, the red shipping route marks not quite erased, scraps of paper scattered on the floor… and the servant inside the cabinet, barely able to breathe.
‘…This looks like something the Baron doesn’t know about.’
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have reacted so violently when you mentioned reporting to the Baron.
Their wariness of us made sense too.
They must have assumed we were on the Baron’s side.
I spoke in barely a whisper.
‘If we drag them out now, they’ll refuse to say anything at all, won’t they?’
“So we let them go for now?”
‘Yes. I think it would be better to investigate separately.’
Yulian looked down at me quietly.
His eyes seemed to be assessing me.
Then he let out a soft laugh.
“Generally foolish, but moments like this remind me you can be quite competent.”
‘…Is that a compliment?’
That’s a compliment.
I don’t think so.
Yulian turned with a brilliant smile.
“There’s really nothing remarkable here.”
His gaze moved slowly around the interior.
And naturally settled on the storage cabinet.
“Though there’s nothing particularly suspicious…”
……
“Everyone has something they’d prefer to keep hidden.”
He spoke in a languid tone.
“I’ll pretend I saw nothing today.”
Wait—was he saying that for the Servant’s benefit?
The storage cabinet seemed to flinch slightly.
Then the Rough Man beside him suddenly scowled.
“If you’re done sightseeing, get out.”
Right, he was here too.
At the sound of his rough voice—the kind that could grab you by the collar and throw you out on a whim—I flinched and edged closer to Yulian.
Yulian, of course, remained perfectly composed throughout.
“Forgive the intrusion.”
He turned away without hesitation, and I hurried along behind him.
Click.
The moment the warehouse door shut behind us, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.
“Phew… that was terrifying.”
“You’re frightened, yet you keep trying to cause trouble.”
“At the time, I thought the Servant was being abused… hehe.”
Honestly, when I saw those shackles, I thought something terrible must be happening.
Just knowing it wasn’t gave me some small measure of relief.
Though it still looked dangerous, mind you…
“…What about that rough-looking man? He looked like a complete criminal.”
“He likely is one.”
“Really?”
My eyes went wide.
Hoping for more explanation, I looked at him, but he simply walked out of the alley with an easy laugh.
The street again, bustling with festival preparations.
I could hear people laughing, yet somehow the oppressive air of that alley still clung to my skin.
“You know something about this, don’t you?”
“Perhaps.”
“You’re not going to tell me, are you!”
“That’s correct.”
It was essentially as good as admitting he knew something.
Ugh.
My shoulders sagged.
“You have far too many secrets.”
“Does that displease you?”
“…That’s a low trick, asking like that.”
As I mumbled, he laughed softly.
“Why? Can’t you say you dislike me?”
Ugh.
I squinted without thinking.
Platinum hair dancing in the sea breeze.
His profile gleaming in the sunlight.
…How could I say I dislike him when he smiles like that?
The light somehow dazzled me, so I looked away abruptly.
And then.
“Oh?”
A familiar silhouette appeared across the plaza.
Baron Brennon’s Daughter. She was passing through the crowd with an expression entirely different from moments before.
The way she smiled elegantly and exchanged pleasantries with merchants was the very picture of a perfect nobly-born lady.
“…She plays her part well.”
The words escaped me unbidden, and Yulian laughed.
“That’s simply the nature of the nobility, after all.”
“And Your Highness?”
“Of course.”
Fair enough—no one could match him when it came to performance.
Just then, Baron Brennon’s Daughter’s gaze shifted to us.
“Ah.”
Her expression froze for an instant.
In the same breath, her eyes darted between us and the alley stretching out behind us.
I flinched without thinking.
‘Did she catch on?’
That we’d been near the warehouse?
The young woman quickly composed herself and approached with a bow.
“Good day, Your Highness. What a pleasure to meet you in a place like this.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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