If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 86

Two large-built men stood guard in front of a door covered in gold leaf, which looked heavy at a glance.

She didn’t know what kind of place it was, but if she entered, it seemed impossible to escape on her own. The ceiling was high, making the windows on the first floor also positioned higher than her height.

It looked like the only way in and out was through the door, but opening such a door would be difficult, and breaking past the guards seemed realistically impossible.

Georgiana, who had been dragged along, suddenly stopped as if her feet were bound.

From now on, even taking a single step had to be done with caution.

She twisted her ankle with all her might, breaking the heel of her shoe. Then, pretending that it had come off because of that, she took off one shoe.

“Ah!”

At her small cry, the man walking a step ahead turned around.

“What is it?”

“I think I twisted my ankle.”

“Come on, what did you do to twist your ankle here?”

The man frowned as he glanced at the flat path, where not even a single pebble was in sight.

“My shoe heel broke, so my ankle twisted. Can you loosen the rope for a moment? I need to check my foot…”

“I can check that damn foot for you.”

Even after seeing the broken heel, the man did not easily let down his guard. To avoid his gaze as he tried to look down, she hid her foot behind her.

“Well… I need to lift my skirt… and check my stockings, but we’re on the street…”

Lowering her head as if embarrassed, the man coughed awkwardly and grumbled as he loosened the ropes binding her.

“Try any tricks, and I’ll sell you off to a worse place than this.”

“I won’t. I can’t even run because of my foot.”

At his words, Georgiana sat down with a dejected look, pretending to check her foot.

Since the commotion was happening near the entrance, she could feel the guards by the door watching them.

The more time she stalled, the worse the situation would become for her.

She took off the remaining shoe, going barefoot, and tightly gripped the shoe with the intact heel. In any case, the thin stockings were practically useless.

If she ran, it would certainly cause an uproar, but perhaps someone would step in to save her.

If there was even the slightest chance, she had to try. No—she had to escape, even if there was no chance at all.

She had done everything to survive—when she first left home, when she was trapped on an island while sailing, and when she was chased by officers in the New World.

If she had done nothing, she would still be locked up in that house, suffering humiliation in the ballet hall or some other dreadful place.

‘I’m the only one who can save myself.’

Georgiana clenched the shoe tightly and gritted her teeth.

“I can’t walk at all. Can you help me?”

Pretending to struggle to stand, she stumbled and sat back down.

“What the hell? If you’re defective like this, you won’t even be sold.”

Sighing deeply, the man bent down to support her shoulder. He wasn’t that tall, and his head lowered enough that she could see the top of it.

Taking that chance, Georgiana struck the center of his head hard with her shoe.

It was one of the vital points Bill had taught her.

After shooting lessons, Bill had taught her a few simple self-defense techniques and vital points that she could use. He was a man of even fewer words than she was, but his cautious nature made him reliable.

And just as expected, the vital point Bill had taught her was spot-on.

The man, who had been struck on the head with the shoe heel, stared up at her blankly before collapsing to his knees.

A vivid red stream of blood trickled from the middle of his broad forehead.

Georgiana’s eyes widened in shock—she hadn’t expected the shoe heel to be that powerful. She had only intended to knock him out.

“W-what the hell?!”

The man, just as stunned as she was, still managed to reach out toward her, seemingly regaining his senses despite his injury.

His blood-covered eyes glared at her, making him look like a demon.

For a moment, fear made her tremble. But then, beyond his terrifying face, she recalled the image of Willow, bleeding from a gunshot wound.

The violence, the verbal abuse, and all the other torments that had been inflicted upon her rushed back in waves.

The more she feared, the bigger these monsters would grow inside her.

Before that could happen, she had to destroy them with her own hands.

‘It’s not my fault. They’re the ones who made it this way.’

Georgiana swung the shoe again, striking the man’s head once more. This time, the blow landed slightly off-center from his crown, but the combined impact of both hits made his outstretched arm drop limply to his side.

His body tilted sideways before finally collapsing onto the ground.

Georgiana’s heart pounded as if it would burst.

It wasn’t exhilaration—it was relief. That man could do nothing to her anymore.

Before losing consciousness, the man squeezed out the last of his strength and shouted, “Catch that slave girl. I’ll give you half her price as a reward!”

At his words, the people who had been pretending not to pay attention suddenly changed their expressions.

Georgiana felt the atmosphere around her sharpen like that of a hunter closing in on its prey, and she shuddered.

Without a moment to catch her breath, she turned and ran back the way she had come.

‘The carriage I came in is at the end of the road. I just need to steal it and return to the plantation!’

She didn’t know the way, but as long as she escaped this place, she could find a way to return.

Feeling the presence of those now chasing her, Georgiana ran with all her might.

She had been chased by Willow countless times, so at least she was confident in her running.

Even when men with guns joined the chase, she did not look back once as she sprinted toward the carriage.

Even a moment of hesitation would trap her in this hell forever, like a woman bound in a myth.

Huff. Huff.

Her feet bled from the effort, but she finally reached the carriage.

“What kind of slave girl runs this fast?”

Had they already caught up?

A slim man with a gun tucked into his waistband was right behind her.

Dodging his grasp, Georgiana climbed onto the driver’s seat and grabbed the whip left on the chair.

“Is this wench insane?”

As the man flinched to avoid the whip, she took the chance to strike the horse’s flank.

She had never properly learned horseback riding.

In the Empire, she had rarely even taken a carriage, always walking to save money.

It was only after arriving in the New World and traveling in Jerry’s carriage that she had occasionally been allowed to hold the reins over smooth roads, learning a little by observation.

So, she wasn’t even sure if the horse would start running as she intended.

“Please, I beg you.”

As if her desperate plea had reached it, the horse stomped its hooves and galloped forward.

Bang.

Even at the sound of a warning gunshot, she did not hesitate and struck the horse again with the whip.

The streets of hell and the demons chasing her grew smaller and smaller behind her.

But she couldn’t relax yet. Someone among them would surely mount a horse and pursue her. She didn’t know how much half her price was worth, but it was certainly a fortune to them.

The carriage was heavy, making it easy for mounted pursuers to catch up.

Georgiana barely managed to clamber onto the horse’s back. It was tame enough that it didn’t resist when she mounted, but she could feel its powerful movement through her whole body.

To keep from falling, she wrapped one hand tightly around the reins, practically binding herself to them, and with the other hand, she rummaged through a bag strapped to the saddle.

‘Uncle Jerry said drivers usually keep a spare knife here.’

Pushing aside the clutter, she found a small dagger. She cut the connection between the carriage and the horse.

With a loud crash, the carriage detached and tumbled down the road.

Her entire body was drenched in sweat.

Wiping her sweaty palms on her clothes, she spurred the horse on, riding faster and faster.

Several people and a few carriages passed by her, but they only appeared as blurry streaks of light through her wind-blurred vision.

She had no idea where she was headed.

Since she had been transported by carriage after being dragged from the warehouse, she hadn’t been able to memorize the route.

Whether because no destination had been specified or because the guide was unreliable, the horse soon began running wildly in its own direction.

The path led deeper and deeper into the forest.

The road narrowed, and each time the horse leaped over a rock or tree root, her body jolted violently.

Georgiana clung desperately to the horse’s back, nearly lying flat against it.

She knew she should pull the reins and slow down, but at that moment, simply not falling off was her priority.

Her exhausted arms were losing their strength.

Just then, a voice calling her name rang in her ears.

“Leona!”

The sound of hooves approaching from behind grew louder.

Tensing up, she feared it was one of her pursuers. But when she turned her head, her eyes widened in shock.

A man, just as desperate as she was, was riding a large black horse alongside her, panting heavily. His neatly combed brown hair was now drenched in sweat, and his hat had disappeared.

“Mr. Rivern?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“How did you—?”

“I was tracking your movements and saw you riding into the forest, so I followed.”

As she wondered how he had found her, Georgiana suddenly remembered the letter she had entrusted to Angela.

She had given it to the girl to deliver to Raymond in case the head maid tried to harm her.

It seemed Angela had faithfully carried out her request.

“We don’t have time to talk. Stop your horse now. There’s a ravine up ahead—you must stop before you reach it.”

At his urgent warning, Georgiana’s face turned pale.