Chapter 113
Cause and Effect (2)
She had been relieved simply to hear that she wouldn’t be executed…
But exile and forced labor?
What was she supposed to do now?
Penelope sat dazed in the courtroom for a long while before finally coming to her senses and returning to the viscount’s estate.
“Are you the mistress of this house?”
As she stepped inside, a group of men approached her. One of them spoke brusquely.
“Y–yes, that’s me…”
“I’ve come under imperial orders to confiscate all the property belonging to House Beanomann. Here is the decree. All right, men—start moving everything out!”
Confiscate all our property?
Penelope spread her arms wide in alarm, but the men ignored her and pushed past into the mansion.
“Wait! What could there possibly be to take from here?”
Despite her protests, the men gathered everything that might fetch a coin.
“This is outrageous! You’re casting me out of the Empire in the dead of winter with nothing? There must be some law against this!”
“Madam, by His Majesty’s mercy, you may keep your outer cloak. Someone will come for you within a week to escort you to the Empire’s border. And—take this.”
The man grabbed her wrist and clasped a metal bracelet around it.
“W–what is this?”
“It will be removed when you are officially expelled from the Empire. But if you try to leave the estate on your own… you may lose your hand along with it. Stay where you are. All right, men, withdraw!”
Once they were gone, Penelope collapsed to the floor, staring blankly at the stripped, echoing house.
It had never been particularly full, but now nothing remained—only a few threadbare blankets, a bed, and some old dresses.
And this strange bracelet around her wrist…
Just days ago, none of this had even been imaginable.
Is this really happening? Did they truly take everything?
Suddenly, Penelope sprang to her feet and hurried to Lucianne’s room. She opened a hidden drawer inside the wardrobe—inside lay a small jewel box.
They didn’t find this.
She held it close to her chest and walked into the sitting room.
With this, I could live comfortably abroad for a few years… but what about Luci?
Her chest tightened with worry for her daughter.
If I really have to leave the Empire, I must find a way to take Luci with me. I can’t abandon that fragile child to such a place!
No… I can’t just sit here. I have to find a way to save her.
Penelope sold several of the jewels at a pawnshop for cash and rushed toward the prison.
Though she hurried, by the time she reached the area, the sun had already set and the streets were cloaked in dusk. She quickened her pace, desperate to reach visiting hours.
As she neared the prison, two figures—a man and a woman—caught her attention. They were glancing about furtively as they slipped into an alley, like lovers sneaking away for an affair.
Penelope scowled in distaste as she passed, but then a snippet of their conversation reached her ears.
“Thank you so much. Thanks to you, my daughter was released.”
Released?
Penelope stopped dead and carefully peeked into the alley.
The woman was bowing repeatedly in gratitude, while the man replied with a smug expression.
“Well, for me it was no more trouble than drinking a cup of tea. Wait just a bit—your daughter will be out soon. Take her and go. Remember, stay out of the capital and hide. And if she’s caught again, she mustn’t mention my name.”
“Of course. We’ll leave the capital right away. And this is the payment you asked for—plus a little extra.”
The woman handed him two pouches of money and bowed again and again.
“Haha. A token of gratitude, then? I’ll gladly accept. Farewell.”
The man tucked the pouches into his coat and disappeared, leaving the woman anxiously waiting.
Moments later, a young girl hurried out from the prison gates.
“Mother!”
“My goodness, Mint, it’s really you! Come, let’s talk once we’re home.”
The woman quickly covered the girl’s face with her cloak and led her down the backstreets.
She… she just came out of prison?
I need to follow her.
Penelope trailed after them until they entered a modest house.
Knock, knock.
“Who’s there?”
After some hesitation, the door opened a crack. Afraid the woman might slam it shut, Penelope quickly wedged her foot in the doorway.
“Please—just a moment. I need to speak with you.”
“Who are you?”
The woman’s eyes darted nervously around.
“I overheard you and that man earlier. Did he… did he really get your daughter out of prison?”
“I–I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
As the woman tried to close the door, Penelope forced her way inside, voice trembling with desperation.
“Please, don’t misunderstand—I’m not here to accuse you. My… my daughter is in prison too. If I ask that man for help, could he free her? Please, I beg you—tell me how.”
The anguish in Penelope’s eyes made the woman hesitate. With a weary sigh, she opened the door wider.
“Fine. Come in, quickly.”
Inside, the same young girl bowed politely to Penelope.
“Sit here,” the woman offered.
“Thank you. I’m sorry to intrude, but I overheard enough to know that man helped your daughter. Is that true?”
“Well… yes and no.”
“Please, I’m begging you. I just want to save my child. You know what that feels like.”
The woman lowered her voice, glancing around nervously.
“To be honest, I don’t even know exactly who he is. My daughter accidentally killed someone and was sentenced to exile. When I went to visit her, I met that man by chance. He said he could get her out… for a price. It was a lot of money, but better than losing her forever.”
Her gaze softened as she continued.
“My husband died years ago—it’s just the two of us. Anyway, I paid him, and as you saw, my daughter walked free. But once they notice she’s gone, there’ll be a warrant. We’ll have to flee the capital at once.”
So it’s really possible…
Penelope’s heart began to race. The weight crushing her chest seemed to lift.
“How can I find that man? How much does he charge?”
The woman tilted her head slightly.
“It depends on the crime. He decides the amount after hearing the sentence. You can find him at the Paradise Club. Ask for someone called Jackal.”
“J–Jackal?”
“Yes. Mention your business when he comes out. Now, please, go—and don’t come back.”
Penelope thanked her profusely and left.
The Paradise Club wasn’t hard to find.
“Who are you here for?”
“I’m… looking for someone named Jackal.”
“Jackal? Huh, lots of people been asking for that guy lately. Wait here.”
A moment later, a man appeared, smirking.
“So someone came looking for me? What’s this, not a lovely young miss but… well, I don’t mind older women either.”
Penelope clenched her jaw at his sleazy tone, forcing herself to smile for Lucianne’s sake.
“I… actually saw you earlier near the prison—”
Jackal swiftly covered her mouth and glanced around.
“Hey, lady. You came to ask for my help, didn’t you? If yes, nod.”
She nodded quickly.
“Good. Listen carefully. I don’t have time to talk now. You look like a commoner, but I’ll hear your request tomorrow. There’s a café downtown called Suprine. Be there by two in the afternoon. Got it? See you then.”
He kissed the back of her hand before walking away. Penelope grimaced, scrubbing the spot on her hand against her dress as she left the club.
***
“So your daughter didn’t kill anyone herself, but she ordered a killing? That’s what the trial said?”
“T–that’s…”
“If you want her out, you’ll have to tell me the truth. That’s the only way I can help.”
The next day at Suprine Café, Jackal lounged lazily across from Penelope, speaking to her as if to a servant. Rage boiled in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm.
“She was sentenced to thirty years of hard labor in the Auxtpia mines.”
Jackal’s smirk faded. He straightened abruptly and lowered his voice.
“The Auxtpia mines? That place is for the worst scum alive. Hardly any women there at all. Just who is your daughter—some kind of serial killer?”
“Wh–what nonsense! My daughter is nothing like that! She’s sweet, gentle, kind… This is all because of that woman—”
That wretched Mer!
Penelope clasped Jackal’s hand in desperation.
“Please. I’ll pay you generously.”
She placed one of her money pouches on the table.
“Well, well. How could I refuse such sincerity? Don’t worry—I’ll bring your daughter back to you.”
“R–really?”
Jackal peeked into the pouch, then looked around and spoke quietly.
“There’s just one small problem.”
“What problem?”
“You see, maybe you’ve heard—depending on the crime, the price varies. But for special cases like yours, payment must be made up front. The heavier the charge, the more guards must be bribed. So…”
“U–up front?”
He wants more money?
When she hesitated, Jackal took a sip of tea and rose.
“I don’t deal without trust. If you don’t believe me, it’s better we end this here.”
“No—wait! I believe you!”
Terrified he’d walk away, Penelope hurriedly took out the rest of her pouches and placed them on the table.
“Ahh… this should be enough.”
“Truly?”
Jackal smiled, clearly satisfied, and tucked the money away.
“Three nights from now, eight o’clock, at the same place we first met. I’ll bring your daughter then.”
“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”
“Haha, you can save your gratitude until you see her. Farewell for now.”
Penelope bowed over and over as Jackal walked away.
