I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 54

“Forget about hitting you—has the brother who only ever protected you ever used direct violence against you before yesterday?”

“…….”

Rahim was not stupid.

As is often the case with those who grow up being mistreated, he was intelligent and quick-witted. However, he was ignorant in specific areas. For instance, in matters regarding “relationships between men and women.” He did not understand the possessiveness, jealousy, and desire for monopoly that arise within them.

“When you sent your wife into Kazen’s bedroom a year ago, did he get this angry?”

“…….”

Seeing Rahim’s face wash over with despair, it seemed he was gradually being persuaded by Lenette’s logic. Lenette slowly turned toward him and spoke with a completely defenseless air.

“What does it matter how much you claim to care for your brother? You’re just a younger brother trying to send away the very woman he actually wants.”

“…….”

“Think carefully. Between you and me, which one do you think Kazen would actually throw away?”

She deliberately used the provocative word “throw away” to rattle him. And her tactic worked perfectly.

Unlike before, Rahim leaned forward with a grave expression. Supporting his forehead with both hands, he muttered,

“No… that’s impossible. My brother, over just one woman—”

“I told you, I’m not just ‘one woman.’”

“…….”

At that, Rahim scanned her from head to toe. His gaze asked what someone like a slave—especially a foreign slave with no power base—could possibly have to offer. Lenette clicked her tongue at him.

“And you say you’re helping your brother.”

Rahim’s brow contorted as he glared at her. Lenette spoke to him as if delivering a lecture.

“You don’t actually think that material things are the only form of ‘power,’ do you?”

“…Then what is?”

She let out a sigh of pity and shook her head.

“You still have a long way to go.”

Maintaining an aura of knowing the answer but refusing to share it, she shifted the subject.

“That brilliant brother of yours is someone who sees a much bigger picture than you can imagine.”

“……!”

Rahim, who was falling deeper and deeper for Lenette’s words, widened his eyes.

“A bigger picture…?”

Lenette couldn’t actually answer that question. After all, she had no idea if Kazen was painting any picture at all, big or small. She was just talking out of her ass.

“Don’t go running around acting on your own just because you want to be ‘helpful.’ Just follow your brother’s lead.”

“…….”

No answer came back. Lenette watched him quietly.

‘He won’t believe me completely.’

However, he had definitely been shaken. Furthermore, he would start agonizing over whether his methods were truly correct.

‘In the end, he’ll be so lost in thought that he won’t be able to do anything.’

As the saying goes, it’s only natural to shake someone’s heart even further at a time like this.

Lenette fidgeted slightly, acting as if her bound hands were uncomfortable. At that small sound, Rahim lifted his upper body slightly and looked at her.

“My arms hurt….”

She muttered as if to herself, testing to see how much Rahim had been persuaded. If Rahim cared about Lenette being in pain, it meant he believed the claim that “Lenette is an important woman to Kazen.”

“……Turn around.”

At Rahim’s command, she obediently turned her back to him. With a small sigh, he untied the rope that had been binding her wrists.

“They’ve turned red….”

It wasn’t a remark addressed to his “sister-in-law.” It was merely a stray thought that slipped out because something was weighing on his conscience.

Lenette shook out her arms and flexed her fingers.

“It’ll fade soon. It’s fine.”

At Lenette’s strangely amicable reaction, Rahim squeezed out his words tentatively.

“Does this mean… you’re willing to act as if this never happened?”

“If you do me a favor.”

Rahim held his breath and stared at her.

“…A favor?”

A subtle spark of interest flickered in his eyes.

‘As I thought, my guess was right.’

Should she be a bit more blunt about why Rahim tried to hook Sabia up with Kazen? Wanting to be helpful to his brother was merely the surface-level reason.

‘The real reason is that he’s terrified of being cast aside.’

There is no better way to secure one’s standing than playing matchmaker. Rahim wanted to firmly plant his presence in Kazen’s life through this marriage arrangement.

‘Dealing with this kind of person is surprisingly easy.’

You just have to throw them a bone—give them tasks that let them feel significant from time to time.

Lenette let out a long sigh and began her performance.

“Kazen must never find out that I asked this of you.”

Even deeper interest settled on Rahim’s face.

“If you keep the fact that you were brought here today a secret, I shall do the same.”

Even after receiving Rahim’s oath, Lenette bit her lip slightly as if hesitating.

Then, as if finally making up her mind, she let out a sharp breath.

“There is a faction trying to slander and undermine Kazen. I need you to investigate them.”

Rahim’s demeanor shifted instantly into something sharp and alert.

“A faction trying to undermine him? Are you saying there’s someone trying to kill my brother?”

“I don’t know if their goal goes as far as Kazen’s death. But they are definitely, intentionally ruining Kazen and everything around him.”

“Is this because of the assassins?”

“That is one piece of evidence, yes.”

“Which means… there is something else threatening my brother besides the assassins.”

“Correct. Until recently, even Kazen hadn’t noticed it.”

At the confident tone in Lenette’s voice, a fire ignited in Rahim’s eyes.

“Which bastards dare to target my brother?”

‘As expected. He may be crazy, but his loyalty to Kazen is the real deal.’

If that was the case, things would resolve easily.

Lenette looked at Rahim with a serious gaze and spoke.

“The Sarman Merchant Guild.”

Bringing up the Sarman Merchant Guild was something she had discussed with Kazen last night.

“So, how are you going to persuade Rahim?”

“Your brother might just want to stay connected to you. By introducing a wife to you, he might be trying to maintain his sense of presence in your life.”

“…That’s not an impossible theory.”

“I’m going to exploit that.”

“How?”

“I’ll instill in him a sense of mission to protect you and a sense of satisfaction that he is doing something for your sake—at the same time.”

And she would do it by tossing him the “Sarman” bait.

“The Sarman Merchant Guild?”

“Yes.”

“You’re telling me a mere merchant guild is threatening my brother?”

“That’s right.”

Lenette told Rahim the facts she had recently discovered regarding the Sarman Merchant Guild. Just as she had expected, Rahim reacted instantly.

“Ha! These sons of b—!”

He stood up abruptly, seething with rage.

“Calm down for a moment.”

“How can I be calm?! Those pigs who care for nothing but stuffing their own bellies are looking down on my brother and pulling this sh—!”

Vulgarities flowed smoothly from a face that looked as though it would never utter a single harsh word. Despite his outburst, Lenette was certain.

‘Rahim’s twisted adoration and loyalty will be incredibly useful, as long as I keep them pointed in the right direction.’

By the way, he had called them “pigs.” Lenette narrowed her eyes.

‘I heard Sabia’s family runs a large merchant guild.’

The Kasabi Merchant Guild, wasn’t it? Unlike Sarman, who used his own name for his guild, her family had been merchants for generations. They didn’t deal in as many diverse items as Sarman, but they were large enough that people said all the Empire’s agricultural products flowed through them.

‘I hope he doesn’t view the Kasabi Merchant Guild negatively as well.’

That would be a bit problematic. The task she was about to give him absolutely required the cooperation of Sabia’s family.

‘No. Perhaps his reaction isn’t because of Sabia’s family but because of his own maternal relatives.’

After all, his maternal grandfather was a slave trader who had abandoned Rahim, not caring whether he lived or died.

Lenette calmed him down for the time being.

“Emotional outbursts won’t help. Why do you think Kazen and I are keeping quiet?”

“But—!”

“Don’t forget: Kazen doesn’t need a cheerleader who’s just loud. He needs more than that.”

At her words, Rahim, who had been raging, froze in his tracks. Lenette stood up, approached him, and whispered in a soothing, persuasive tone.

“He needs an ‘ally’ who can move quietly beneath the surface to support him.”

“…An ally?”

“That’s right. An ally. Do you know why Kazen insisted on coming here to Ashuran?”

A faint flicker of anticipation began to glow in Rahim’s eyes.

“You said it was because of the assassins.”

“That’s true, but there’s a bigger reason.”

“A bigger reason….”

“Yes. After I nearly fell victim to an assassin, Kazen felt a sense of crisis. And he thought of the only person he knew he could truly count on to be on his side.”

It was a total lie.

In reality, Kazen had been reluctant to come precisely because he wanted to avoid Rahim. However, unaware of this, Rahim was swept up in Lenette’s honeyed words, his heart swelling with emotion.

“Really……?”

“Yes. Everyone—from the villagers to the people around us now—perceives Sarman as a ‘good man.’ I tried to vaguely hint at his wrongdoings, but… everyone just reacts by saying he’s not that kind of person.”

Lenette dropped her gaze as if the situation were lamentable and difficult to navigate.

“That’s why investigating Sarman isn’t easy.”

Rahim grabbed Lenette’s hand, his voice urgent.

“What do I need to do? Just say the word.”