Chapter 173 Julie's Struggle
Julie POV
I kept running and running until I ran out of breath. I didn't know where to go or who to trust with how I got betrayed by every single person, I thought was decent before seeing their true colours.
"What happened to you, sister? Brother? What should I do?" I would have probably cried if I had tears right now but after all that weeping, I had nothing to waste.
While I was walking wearing a jacket so that others won't recognise me, I decided to lodge at a tavern. I had some money in my pocket but not enough to survive like a commoner in my whole life
As soon as I entered the building, I couldn't help but close my nose at how alcoholic and sweaty the scent of the room is. I approached the front desk where a muscular man was sitting with a bored look.
"Can I get a room?" It was a simple question, I didn't want to reveal many things so I tried my best to keep my face hidden.
"Young lady, it will be 3 silver for one night," After observing for a little while, he muttered with a crooked smile on his face.
"3 silvers! That's an absurd amount for a single night," It was true, I didn't have any knowledge about the people around me but that didn't mean I was ignorant enough to not know about the prices of the kingdom.
"Well, you can take it or leave it, I didn't force you or anything," His voice was arrogant because he knew he had nothing to fear right now since all the nobles and guards were busy with their own work.
'This is the farthest lodge from the castle and the most convenient place, letting this go would be such a waste'
I thought with a difficult face.
Just the thought of spending three silver coins in a room which might be a maximum of one silver coin was absurd no matter how you look at it, but I had no choice so I decided to go with this charade.
"I'll take that room," As soon as I said that and handed over the money out of my pocket, which only had less than 40 silver coins, he left the key on the table with an arrogant look.
I saw some unsavoury people looking at me which was quite uncomfortable because of my experience with men in the castle, but I didn't want to make a scene and expose my identity so I quickly took the key and went back to my room.
"Phew! That was hard," Lying on the bed, I wanted to close my eyes and go back to dreamlands but I knew sleeping in a place like this all alone was inviting more problems.
"What do I do now? if my uncle is there, he might help me, he's the only person I can believe now," I was worried about him.
Since he was a noble, I was pretty sure he must have faced some fights with commoners.
"I hope he is safe," While thinking about all this, I was reminded of the person, I met in the meeting room.
"That handsome boy! I feel bad for him, because of how corrupt our nobles are, he got injured, I hope he's okay," While thinking about everything that happened until now, I quickly changed my clothes to a more simple one.
I couldn't even finish reading up as suddenly I heard a knocking on my door which sounded quite strange.
"Who is it?" With a rough tone trying to pretend that I wasn't scared, I questioned hoping it wasn't some problem.
I heard another female voice opposite the side of the door which relieved me a quite bit, but I had no intention of opening that door.
"You forget this key for the bathroom, I came here to hand it over," It wasn't a respectful voice.
I was conflicted about whether to open the door or not, but she kept knocking on the door until I had no choice because I didn't want others' attention on me.
"What do you want-" I couldn't even finish my words, as suddenly two men broke into my room with knives in their hands.
"Hello, young lady, would you mind if we ain't here for a bit?" Entering my room without permission, they quickly sat and closed the door.
"Young lady, why are you here all alone? Are you running away or something? Did your parents do something?" One of the muscular-looking thugs questioned with his creepy smile.
"I'm just a traveller, please leave my room," I was shaking in fear. This was the third time I experienced something like this but still, I couldn't get used to how they look at me like I'm some kind of prey to them.
'Is this what commoner girls experience everyday'
I couldn't even imagine someone experiencing something like this daily.
"Young lady, why don't you show us a good time, don't worry others won't interfere, and you look quite rich, if you give us your money pouch we might even let you go," Throwing his knife up and down, one of the thugs said in a threatening voice.
I honestly didn't know what to do. At this point, I knew I won't be able to stay as the pure princess anymore but at the same time, the idea of doing it with these men felt responsive to me but giving them my last money was out of the question.
My only option was to run because if I hand them over my money, I might as well die. After all, I knew, without money, I would have to sell everything I have including my own body.
"Ok! But please don't hurt me," I decided to play along with them and as soon as I get a chance run away but suddenly their heads got pierced by something which looked like throwing knives which gave me goosebumps of how familiar it felt.
"Princess, is this best you can do? You were about to sell your body right?" It was a familiar female sound, which I won't forget my entire life.
"You! that assassin leader, "Unconsciously, I shouted without even my knowledge of how surprised I was.