Though I’m a Homebody, I Found Myself in a Dark Captive Genre

[Tl Note:- sry for not uploading Yesterday was a little busy]

…..

People say that when someone starts acting out of character, it means their time is almost up. Or… that they’re planning to kill someone.

‘Th-the warden of the underground prison really did go on vacation, right?’

I shook my head weakly, trying to shake off the flood of anxious thoughts.

Just then, I heard the Grand Duke’s voice.

“I wanted to return the favor for your gift. Though, of course, this isn’t nearly enough.”

‘Hmm?’

As my prejudices peeled away, I finally noticed that he was wearing a rather gentle expression.

If he was talking about a gift, then he must have meant the blackout curtains.

I had secretly hoped he would like them, but I never expected to receive any sort of repayment. I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

Sitting a measured distance away, he looked straight at me.

“Is there anything you want?”

“If you have a wish, tell me.”

“Anything at all?”

“As long as it’s not asking me to let you leave this place.”

A familiar sense of déjà vu hit me.

I felt like I’d been asked a similar question by the Grand Duke before.

But instead of demanding something new this time, I decided to just be honest.

“I didn’t do it because I wanted anything in return.”

“So you’re saying you have no wish?”

“Yes. I mean, Your Grace has helped me a lot, too. Just think of this as a natural token of gratitude…”

As I rambled on, the Grand Duke’s expression grew increasingly strange.

As if he’d just heard something completely unexpected.

“I helped you?”

“Well, you provided me with food and shelter, didn’t force me into excessive labor, didn’t summon me to work during my free time…”

I trailed off as I listed off things I’d suffered in Salt, then met his gaze.

It was a little embarrassing, but for some reason, I felt like it was okay to be honest right now.

“So I just wanted to return the favor, that’s all. Even if it’s nothing much…”

But at that moment, the look in the Grand Duke’s eyes darkened.

“You must have a very generous heart, Princess.”

Thud.

As soon as I heard those words, I regretfully set down the peach tart I had been about to bite into.

“…Excuse me?”

“To think you’d extend such kindness to the person who kidnapped you.”

“…Oh.”

Right. I was kidnapped, wasn’t I?

Living so comfortably in the Grand Duchy had made me forget about it for a moment.

To be honest, life in the Salt Kingdom had been so miserable that this place felt like heaven in comparison.

Not to mention, as I had said, the Grand Duke neither forced me into excessive labor in exchange for room and board nor withheld my wages—my bank account was steadily growing.

‘What more could I ask for?’

Of course, I couldn’t exactly say that out loud.

I put on my most innocent and naïve expression and answered,

“What does it matter how things started? What’s important is building a good relationship from now on.”

That’s right. My plan was already set: escape from Salt and start fresh in the Blaile Grand Duchy.

The blackout curtains? Well… that was just a little flattery.

“A relationship to be built from now on, huh?”

For some reason, the Grand Duke’s voice remained cryptic, as if something about my answer was bothering him.

And then, to make matters worse, his piercing gaze locked onto me.

I’d felt this several times before, but whenever such a handsome man stared at me so intently, I had no idea what to do with my own gaze.

“Hmm.”

In the end, overwhelmed by the pressure, I subtly averted my eyes.

Then, his voice came again.

“In that case, let me ask you once more, for the sake of our future relationship. If you have a wish, speak.”

“Ugh.”

We had gone in circles just to return to the same point.

At this rate, I had to come up with something, even if I didn’t actually want anything.

But what if I couldn’t think of anything?

Normally, I would have racked my brain to come up with something, but seeing the Grand Duke suddenly being nice to me, combined with the serious mood, had completely wiped my mind blank.

“Princess.”

When he called me once again, pressing me for an answer—

I blurted out the first thought that popped into my head.

“I already mentioned this to Sir Liam, but… I’d like to hire a personal guard!”

My voice cracked slightly under the pressure, echoing loudly.

Then, a brief silence.

“…Ah.”

With a dry-sounding exhale, the Grand Duke tilted his head slightly.

“The one who helped you.”

“Oh! You heard about it?”

I had asked Liam for approval regarding the guard request, so it wasn’t surprising that the Grand Duke was aware.

Clearing my throat to hide my embarrassment, I nodded.

“When I lost my money pouch, it felt like my world was crumbling. But that person stepped up to help me first.”

The man who helped me in front of the Pascal Trading Company.

He introduced himself as “Ian.”

At first, I had assumed from his casual manner of speech that he was a noble, but he had clarified that he was actually a commoner.

Still, regardless of his background, he seemed like a decent person. He helped someone in need without expecting anything in return.

“This is the only thing that comes to mind right now. If it’s inconvenient…”

“I did hear that Liam is looking into his background, but bringing an unknown man into the Grand Duchy would be difficult.”

Ah, so that’s his concern.

That made sense, from his perspective.

But if he met Ian in person, he would probably change his mind.

“He’s someone I’m grateful to. He helped me selflessly…”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate hearing that. But from my perspective, I don’t quite understand.”

“Then why don’t you meet him?”

The Grand Duke’s face hardened.

Only then did I realize my mistake.

I had grown too comfortable with him after meeting him so often lately and had spoken too casually.

I had just asked a busy Grand Duke to meet a complete stranger… in a society with a rigid class system, no less!

“I, um…”

I quickly tried to retract my request.

“Please just forget I said anything. I must have gotten ahead of myself because I think it would be a waste to lose him.”

“…A waste?”

“Yes. He found my lost money pouch in a situation where I had no one else to rely on. He keeps crossing my mind.”

“……”

“He’s a rare ‘good Samaritan’ in these harsh times. The way he ran ahead to help me still lingers in my mind…”

I continued to shower Ian with praise, hoping the Grand Duke wouldn’t think poorly of him.

But then—

“Enough.”

He raised a hand, cutting me off.

“Huh?”

“That’s enough.”

His expression was stiff, as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.

“…But…”

“No, it’s fine. Since you insist… I’ll grant your request. He can be hired, and the Grand Duchy will cover the costs.”

It was an unexpected response, but I couldn’t read his expression at all.

‘Something feels off.’

It felt like I was missing something.

“You’re serious?”

“I am. …If he accepts.”

“Ah, thank you!”

Caught in a brief moment of hesitation, I suddenly remembered something and let out a gasp.

“Oh! May I ask for one more favor?”

“What is it?”

“I’d like to purchase Polleta leather regularly from the Grand Duchy.”

“It’s just discarded material anyway. You could simply take it.”

“No.”

Shaking my head firmly, I finally took a bite of the peach tart I had been resisting.

The crisp texture of the peach was unbelievably sweet, almost tear-jerkingly so.

“I want to buy it properly. But I’d like to select higher-quality ones compared to what I first received. That way, it would create jobs… and overall improve the economy of the Grand Duchy, wouldn’t it?”

This way, I wouldn’t feel burdened by the idea of relying solely on the Duke for my business.

Not to mention, the various jobs created in the process would be a major benefit.

Expanding the job market would naturally attract more people to settle in the Grand Duchy of Blayle, and in an era still stuck in medieval times, the most valuable resource—manpower—would lead to further territorial development…!

As I wrapped up my train of thought, I cautiously observed his reaction.

“That does make sense.”

Fortunately, when I looked up again, the Duke was smiling in an unreadable way.

“Hehe.”

There was a clear affirmation in his low, subdued voice.

Feeling pleased that I had secured his approval so easily, I unknowingly let out a goofy grin.

‘Then that’s the deal, sealed.’

With user satisfaction confirmed, the production process examined, and a stable supply secured…

Now, all that was left was marketing time.