The Countess's Body Has Disappeared - Chapter 5

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

Chapter 5
She stood out unmistakably. It was because she sat alone, apart from the rest, beside the door.
She was a woman with shoulders distinctly broad and a sturdy frame—unusual enough to catch the eye. The way she sat cross-legged gave her an oddly masculine air.
Her long blonde hair hung in complete disarray, obscuring her face entirely. The black satin dress wrapped tightly around her form—as though determined never to expose a single inch of skin—made her seem all the more alien in that place.
Had she been abducted from the party? Or perhaps I’ve taken a blow to the head and I’m seeing things that aren’t there.
“That person over there—”
As Cecilia pointed toward the woman by the door and asked, the woman who had grabbed her wrist earlier shook her head.
“I asked her if she was all right several times over, but she wouldn’t answer. I think she can’t hear.”
She can’t hear?
Concern stirred in her chest, and Cecilia studied the woman by the door more closely. For a moment, through the tangled blonde strands, their eyes seemed to meet—but the woman lowered her head so quickly that Cecilia couldn’t be certain.
The others remained huddled in the corners, trembling with fear.
As cold sweat dried upon her skin, a chill rising from the floor pierced her like an awl. Wrapping her arms around her torso, Cecilia began to pace the secret room, pounding on the walls with her fists.
“What are you doing?”
The oldest-looking woman seized her wrist urgently, trying to restrain her.
Fear gleamed in her eyes as she glanced toward the firmly shut door. But Cecilia wrenched her hand free and spoke with resolve.
“We have to get out of here somehow. We can’t just be sold off like this.”
I have to handle this myself. No one’s coming to save me.
Davion’s face flickered through her mind, but she shook her head to dispel it. That man was dead to her now.
In Lismiere Lordship, a woman with white hair was not common. Cecilia knew all too well her own value as a desirable commodity.
Which was precisely why her original appearance must never be restored. Her hands moved faster as they traced the secret room’s contours.
She suspected that in such an old building, there would be gaps somewhere—but the walls proved perfectly sealed. The boards over the window were too sturdy to tear away with bare hands.
So, there was no way out except through the door.
Finally, as Cecilia began stamping her feet, all the women shrieked in terror.
“Don’t! Those men won’t hesitate to kill. You could take a bullet!”
It was the same woman who had grabbed her wrist moments before. She checked the holes scattered across the ceiling once more, and internally, Cecilia countered her warning.
No—they won’t even have time to pull the trigger.
A pair of small points of light descended from above the ceiling, making a distinct whooshing sound.
“I don’t know! Figure it out yourself!”
As heavy, vicious footsteps thundered outside, the woman finally abandoned her attempts at persuasion and hurried into the darkness to hide.
Cecilia pressed her back urgently against the wall by the door. She felt the gaze of the blonde woman crouching there looking up at her.
Remarkably, the woman showed no fear whatsoever—she watched as though she were being entertained by something fascinating.
Soon after, the door swung open with a sickening creak.
“Well, well—how are my cute little puppies doing?”
A nauseating stench, a mixture of countless foul odors, wafted in—and Cecilia, forgetting her hiding place entirely, retched.
The thug holding the gun, who had been chuckling moments before, suddenly stiffened as he realized Cecilia’s absence.
“Wait. One’s missing.”
He tucked the gun into his waistband and drew a pocket knife. He grabbed a woman’s hair and wrenched her toward him, pressing the blade against her cheek.
“Where’s the white-haired one?”
A scream tore from her throat, and Cecilia clamped her hand over her own mouth.
“Where is she, damn it?”
Then, from above the ceiling, a long shadow descended like a rope. As the thug’s hand reached for his gun again, Cecilia shoved the door open violently.
Bang.
Nagi.
“What the—?!”
The thug spun around in shock.
Between Cecilia and the thug, a serpent coiled, her golden eyes blazing as she fixed him with an unwavering stare.
Bite.
Nagi unhinged her jaws and swallowed the man’s head whole.
Along with his scream.
* * *
Animals possessed certain unmistakable traits.
With the exception of dogs, they fundamentally distrusted humans—they were far more inclined toward wariness and fear.
Those with young were especially careful to avoid human notice. Yet once they opened their hearts, they loved and remained loyal unto death, regardless of who the other might be.
Years earlier, when Ruby was still a hatchling crow. Cecilia had climbed a tree and saved him from the fangs of a snake.
But what of that serpent she had thrown into the stream that day?
What had become of that snake?
You’re mean!
That night, after rescuing the young crow and falling asleep. In the dead of night, Cecilia jolted awake at a strange voice.
A serpent with white and black stripes lay coiled upon her chest, huffing indignantly. The snake glared at the startled Cecilia, then reared its fangs and hissed.
You made me hungry! Look at this—I’m hurt! It hurts! It hurts, I’m telling you!
The more an animal converses with humans, the more knowledge it accumulates and the sharper it becomes. Conversely, animals that have never spoken with humans lack linguistic ability and cannot even construct lengthy sentences. This is especially true of solitary creatures.
“Ow!”
From the voice, it was a young female. Perhaps only four months old since she’d come into the world.
When Cecilia propped herself up on her elbows and raised her torso, the viper showed her flank.
Whether from being thrown into the stream and striking rocks, blood seeped from the gash along her side.
Oh. Cecilia grimaced, cold sweat beading on her brow.
“I’m sorry. I was just thinking I had to save the babies and—look, I’ll apply medicine, alright? Don’t be angry with me.”
“Food. Give me food. I’m hungry. Tomorrow I’ll eat a human!”
“No, no—we can’t have that.”
Cecilia rose and descended the stairs, the viper hissing softly in her wake. She reached a modest kitchen, rummaged through a basket on the counter for some time, then looked down at the viper and asked carefully.
“Do you eat fish, by any chance?”
Unfortunately, she was a vegetarian who ate only eggs and fish, so there was no meat the snake would enjoy.
* * *
The venom raced through microscopic vessels, spreading swiftly.
The stranger’s body collapsed silently onto the floorboards. Nagi waited until he lost consciousness, then slowly unwound her coils from around his head.
“Well done, Nagi.”
“What of that crow you call Ruby?”
“Outside.”
Nagi listened to Ruby’s calls, then let out a knowing hiss and slithered smoothly into Cecilia’s skirts. She usually coiled herself around Cecilia’s left leg, hiding from view.
Cecilia knew well how potent Venom was. The man whose body had trembled sporadically mere seconds before was now as still as a corpse.
She didn’t want to check if he was still breathing. Cecilia knelt where she stood and stretched her arm as far as it would reach, retrieving the gun that lay on the floor.
The gun was loaded.
‘Someone really meant to use this….’
As she examined the weapon and looked up, the women huddled in the corner flinched and clung to one another. The way they looked at her—as though she were some terrible monster—turned her mouth bitter.
Nagi poked her head from beneath the skirts and snorted.
“Humans!”
“We need to go. I have to find out how many are outside.”
Just then, a rat scurried along the wall’s edge with quick, purposeful steps.
Cecilia felt along her waist and let out a frustrated groan.
The pocket where she’d kept the Bread Pouch was empty. It seemed her belongings had been taken when she was abducted.
‘Then I have no choice….’
She knew it was rude, but no better option came to mind. Blocking the rat’s path with her shoe, Cecilia spoke to it directly.
“Hey there. Do you happen to know how many humans are in this building?”

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