If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 51

The pirates were given a suitable reward for their help. Though it wasn’t clear what they normally did, they had assisted in finding her, and with innocent expressions, they returned to their base. They didn’t seem like real pirates.

The two men, excluding Andy, were handed over to the officers patrolling the area around the dock. Before being taken away, Gilbert gave Georgiana a reassuring look. Regardless of how they framed it, kidnapping was a crime, and they would have to pay for it.

Before boarding the ship, Georgiana adjusted her attire once more. Rumors would undoubtedly spread about her kidnapping, but she didn’t want to add fuel to the fire by looking disheveled. Though it didn’t matter much to her personally, she didn’t want to cause any more trouble for Locke, who was in business.

Her dress and hat were covered in dust, but after shaking them off, they didn’t look too bad. She looked at her reflection in the rippling water and tried to console herself.

Crossing the bridge connected to the ship, Georgiana apologized to Locke and Henry.

“I’m sorry. This happened because I went out alone.”

“Georgiana, this isn’t your fault. The blame lies with the person who ordered it.”

“That’s right, miss. Why should the victim apologize? That’s not right.”

“Even so…”

As her sorrow deepened, someone suddenly rushed out from the ship and embraced her.

“Anna! I’m sorry!”

Sarah, her face stained with tears, buried her head in Georgiana’s chest.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because I let you go alone, and this happened.”

“What do you mean? I chose to go.”

“No, I should’ve stayed with you until the end. I’ll never let you go alone again.”

Seeing Sarah’s guilt-ridden face, Georgiana understood why Locke and Henry had told her not to apologize. It was not Sarah’s fault, and seeing her feel sorry made Georgiana’s heart heavy. Surely, that was how Locke and Henry felt as well.

Georgiana patted Sarah’s back, assuring her several times that she was fine.

“Is that the culprit who kidnapped Juliana?”

After her tears had dried, Sarah glared at Andy, who was tied up with rope. When Georgiana nodded, Sarah puffed up her cheeks and put her hands on her hips.

“I won’t let this slide. Sweet Juliana wouldn’t have done anything to the culprit.”

Sarah approached Andy, who flinched in surprise, and stomped on his foot with her shoe before returning to Georgiana’s side. Anthony, who was standing nearby, let out a small laugh but quickly shut his mouth under Locke’s cold gaze.

“By the way, why is the culprit on the ship? Are you taking him to the New World?” Anthony asked.

“No,” Henry quickly replied.

“Then why didn’t you hand him over to the authorities? Why bring him here?”

“He claimed that someone else ordered the kidnapping, and we intend to find out who that person is through him.”

“So it wasn’t just about the money—there was someone else behind it?” Sarah’s eyes widened at Henry’s words. Who could be so malicious as to do such a thing, especially to someone as gentle as Georgiana? Her expression said it all.

Georgiana refrained from suggesting any particular person as the culprit. It was best not to speak of uncertainties.

“It would be ideal to expose the culprit immediately, but since everyone has returned to their cabins, the banquet hall is empty. We have some time until the ship departs tomorrow morning after breakfast, so why not catch the culprit then?” Anthony suggested.

Everyone agreed with his suggestion. Waking the nobles now would likely result in little cooperation.

There was a room on the ship to confine culprits in case of unexpected incidents, and they decided to lock Andy there until morning. It was a windowless room, leaving no chance of escape.

Exhausted, Georgiana felt relieved that they wouldn’t be gathering everyone immediately and returned to her cabin. The moment she entered the familiar living room, her knees gave out.

“Georgiana!”

Locke quickly caught her as she collapsed. She tried to stand, but her legs were trembling, making it difficult for her to stay on her feet.

“I guess the tension finally released.”

“That’s understandable. After what you went through, it’s incredible that you remained composed until now.”

“It wasn’t that remarkable.”

At his excessive praise, Georgiana’s cheeks flushed red.

“No, it is. When I first met you, I thought you were a delicate person who didn’t know much. But the more I see, the more I realize how resilient you are. You also have excellent instincts.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Locke. I was able to stay calm because of the books you gave me.”

Georgiana reached out and hugged him tightly around the neck.

Though she didn’t know what the culprit’s intentions were, this experience had made her realize how much she treasured him. The moment he opened the warehouse door, Locke appeared to her as the only hope in a chaotic world. Although he had spoken harshly just once, she understood it was because of the urgency of the situation.

The more she got to know him, the more she was convinced that, despite his cold exterior, he was a good person. She still couldn’t harbor the desire to make him hers, as he was too extraordinary for her to touch. But before it was too late, she wanted to express her feelings, even if she was rejected.

“From start to finish, I’ve only ever received from you, and I don’t know how I’ll ever repay your kindness. Thank you for appearing in my life, and…”

Georgiana buried her head in his chest and confessed her true feelings.

“I like you, Locke.”

If she hadn’t returned tonight, she wouldn’t have been able to convey her feelings. Just being able to express them made her feel fulfilled.

She felt Locke’s body stiffen at her confession. Even his neck seemed to tense up, and after a moment, he replied in a subdued voice.

“Georgiana… I’m not a good person. I don’t know if I deserve those feelings. No, to be honest, I know I don’t deserve them.”

“No, Locke. Maybe not to others, but to me, you’re like a savior.”

“Georgiana… actually, I…”

He looked down at her, as if he had something to say, but then ran his hand roughly through his hair, swallowing his words.

Would a direct rejection have been better?

Seeing his conflicted expression made her heart ache. She had expected this, but reality hurt more than she thought it would.

Only now did she realize that telling herself she would be okay with rejection had been a lie.

Biting her lip, she tried not to cry in front of him.

“It’s… it’s okay. I didn’t say it expecting an answer. I just wanted you to know. I’m so tired, Locke. Could you take me to the bathroom? I want to wash up and sleep.”

Georgiana hurriedly spoke, trying not to feel miserable.

Left alone in the bathroom, she let her sobs flow with the running water. Though she let her tears go, her feelings for him remained, pooling in her heart.

***

The next morning, the captain said it would be impossible to conduct a large-scale search involving high-ranking nobles. So, Andy and Henry stood in a corner of the corridor, observing the people passing by.

After several rounds of “Is it this person?” and “I’m not sure, they’re all so pretty,” Henry was running out of patience. Just then, Isabella and Ruenda passed by with their maids.

Andy, who had been sniffing the air, pointed at Isabella.

“That’s her.”

Henry’s eyes widened at his words. The woman Andy had identified was none other than Senator Edmund’s daughter. Why would someone like her do such a thing? She had always been courteous, even taking care to be kind whenever she saw him.

“Are you sure? This time, you’re certain?”

“Yes! Even if I got the face wrong, I remember her scent. It was definitely her.”

Seeing Andy’s newfound confidence, Henry left him in the care of another sailor and rushed to Lockwood. By coincidence, Lockwood and Georgiana were just leaving the banquet hall. Noticing the somber atmosphere between the two, Henry resolved to catch the culprit as quickly as possible.

“We found the culprit.”

At his words, both Lockwood and Georgiana turned their gaze toward where Andy was standing. The kidnapper nodded, his face expressing his relief at being alive.

“Who is it?” Locke asked coldly, his voice like ice.

“It’s her,” Andy said, pointing directly at Isabella.