Missing Cinderella

“This is unusual.” Taylor, Tartan Guild’s guild master, said with a surprised expression. “How did such an important person come all this way….” 

Taylor looked at Siella as if she was looking at a strange creature. Although it was true that she felt uncomfortable by her gaze, she didn’t avert her eyes and as she observed her. 

“Usually, a lot of nobles will go over there at Illumina.” 

Siella quietly nodded her head at Taylor’s words. Siella was, in fact, thinking of going to the Illumina Guild. That was her first plan. 

The Illumina Guild was the largest and oldest guild based in the Duchy. It was a famous guild that someone like Siella, who had been living at the Duke’s mansion for several years, knew about it. 

However, Janet’s goodwill lingered in her head the whole time while she was on her way to the Illumina Guild. Even the cautious voice of the bank’s security personnel that approached her and carefully tried to help her when she was in a state of panic. Eventually, Siella turned around and came to this place. 

“Do you need help with something, by any chance? If so, please tell me exactly what it is about….” 

This guild must be a good place if it has connections with such kind people. The guild master’s indifferent attitude once she noticed that she was a noble was understandable, considering that she must have enough confidence in her skills. 

Roughly finishing her observation, the guild master’s red-painted lips opened and asked her, “So, your business here is?” 

Siella responded right away, “I need someone I can entrust my safety with.” 

“You mean you need a bodyguard.” 

“Yes.” 

“Hmm, but a bodyguard has many uses, right?” 

Taylor shrugged her shoulders as she listed that there is an extra charge for guarding business establishments such as groups of merchants and shops. Siella gently touched the teacup in front of her with her head lowered before opening her mouth again. 

“I am in a situation where my life is being threatened by someone for a long time.” 

At those words, Taylor’s expression, who had been sitting with her legs crossed the whole time, changed seriously all of a sudden. 

“Is that someone a higher noble than you?” 

“No, that’s not it.” Siella smiled and said, “He’s my stepbrother.” 

“…” 

“I haven’t been able to go out for the past few years because of that man, let alone leave the house myself. Because I was so scared.”

At that moment, Taylor paused. Siella slowly raised her head in wonder when there was no reply for a while. When their eyes met, Siella saw Taylor gritting her teeth before stiffly lifting the corners of her mouth. 

“You know what,” the long scar on Taylor’s right cheek moved, “Among all of the places I knew well, I know of a guild that secretly handles contract killings.” 

“What?” 

“I mean, I can let them know if you need it… something like that.” Taylor changed the subject with an awkward laugh. “Ahem, anyway, I just thought of a few suitable people for the job….” 

Taylor opened the drawer with a big movement and took out a wad of paper from inside, then put it on the table. 

“I especially recommend these three among them.” Siella slowly studied the portraits Taylor had laid out in front of her. “These two are twins.” Taylor said as she pointed to the two portraits one after another with her index finger. “They looked really similar in that they seemed like one person, right? Both of them are very good at handling swords.” 

The people Taylor recommended were all women. She didn’t even know about my whole situation and yet she recommended these people? Siella was simply amazed. 

After careful observation, Siella opened her mouth. “About the terms of the contract….” 

“Until the day you’re sure that you’re no longer threatened.” Taylor spoke even before Siella could finish her words. “You can use them as much as you want. I can’t give you a lot of discounts, but I will get enough remuneration.” 

Taylor raised the corners of her mouth and added while patting the scar on her cheek, “It reminds me of the old days when I see people like you…. The scar here is throbbing.”

(T/N: I love Taylor already. [he looks up grinning like a devil, it’s youuu~!])

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Siella went out of the Tartan Guild with the twins she hired under the recommendation of the guild master. The sisters both had impressive red hair, and they looked so similar with one another that it was hard to tell them apart with the naked eye. 

Lena had her long hair in a ponytail, while Nina had short-bobbed hair until her jawline. After a brief introduction with the two, they left together with Siella and headed straight to the carriage waiting at the coach house. 

“Hmm, escorting a pretty Lady is fun.” 

“Do you think the Lady spent her money just for your fun?” 

“Don’t you ruin my fun saying words like that.” 

“Shh, Nina.” 

Nina and Lena constantly quarreled as they followed Siella, who was walking in front of them. Listening to their banters, Siella looked behind with a gentle smile. 

“Please call me Siella instead of Lady.” 

“Then you can also talk comfortably to us, Siella.” 

“Yes, talk to us comfortably.” 

“Uh… well, alright.” 

Siella nodded her head and the sisters smiled broadly. Soon after, they arrived at the coach house and looked for the coachman, who quickly showed up. 

“Ah, yes, I will get the carriage right away. But the people behind you….” 

“They will come with me as well.” 

The coachman looked surprised when he suddenly saw the two people Siella had brought, but he didn’t say anything in particular. It wasn’t his business after all. Once Siella brings them to the mansion and something happens, Siella will take care of it, not him. 

The coachman just drove the carriage. Even when Siella asked him to stop in front of a building, he didn’t say anything and just stopped the carriage. After Siella paid for a week’s stay at the lodging, she left her luggage inside the room. 

“You don’t have to worry about anything here. See you in two days, Siella.” 

“Please do so.” 

Lena was to stay in the lodging and watch over Siella’s luggage. After Siella deposited her money she got from the bank with Lena, she and Nina walked out of the building and climbed back into the carriage. 

As the sky turned red with the setting sun, the carriage stopped in front of the huge front door of the Duke’s mansion. Siella glanced out the window as she did when she left the mansion, thinking that she might be able to enter the mansion only after passing through the trivial checkpoint. 

However, it was the butler Dennis who came to their carriage and not the gatekeeper at the gate. He threw open the door without permission and thrust his upper body into the carriage. 

“Where did you go that you’re only back now?” 

Dennis glared at Siella with a furious face as he questioned her. 

“What did you do outside that you’re out until this late….” 

“What is this?” 

“Ouch!” 

Everything happened even before Siella pulled herself back to avoid Dennis’ face, who had come right in front of her. Nina stepped forward and grabbed Dennis by the collar as she stood up. 

(T/N: Strangle him, please, Nina [scoffed])

“Wh, what is the meaning of this…!” 

“I should be the one asking you, you distorted potato-looking b*st*rd.” 

“Wh… what?” 

“Move out of the way.” 

Nina threw Dennis away and quickly got off the carriage. She glanced and sneered as she watched Dennis tumble across the floor. She then grinned at Siella, who was blinking her eyes in bewilderment. 

“You’re really a Lady.” 

Fweeet, whistling, Nina turned around to the huge mansion and reached out one of her arms to Siella. 

“Milady, escort.” 

“…” 

Blankly blinking her eyes, Siella came back to her senses, took Nina’s hand and got off the carriage. The knights standing guard at the main gate were looking in their direction with flustered faces. 

In the meantime, Dennis, who was helped up by the gatekeeper, approached them with an agitated face. 

“You, who are you?” 

Nina didn’t care at all about Dennis finger-pointing and looked at Siella to see if she was hurt anywhere. 

“Hah! Who are you, acting recklessly like this?!” 

Dennis’ voice resonated in the area that became more agitated at Nina’s attitude of ignoring him. Dennis shouted at the knights around him. 

“What are you doing? Catch that b*tch right away! Hurry!” 

Not knowing what to do and just looking at each other, the knights couldn’t win against Dennis’ irritation and started approaching Nina, who was also in a bad mood. It was at that moment. 

“What is this commotion?”

Eschert approached them with a frown perhaps because of the loud commotion. About a step behind him, Camellia was walking along. 

(T/N: The two of you can peacefully get lost, you’re not needed. [shows the way out] Please take the distorted potato-looking b*st*rd with you.)