62. I’ll wait

Deon’s swordsmanship, enhanced by the blood he drank, was unstoppable.

With his fluid swordplay, the monsters fell. He cut them so cleanly that the severed parts couldn’t regenerate.

It was closer to a massacre or slaughter than a battle.

The situation was resolved incredibly quickly. It didn’t seem like he exerted much effort, yet the monsters fell rapidly wherever he went, piling up like mountains on either side.

His cloak was stained with the monsters’ green blood. Even the cloak, dyed a new color, and his tousled hair suited him well.

The crystal orb gleamed, capturing his every move.

After his final strike, he took a breath. As if it were a signal, the barrier slowly lifted.

Beyond the grass, the imperial guards were approaching.

“Your Highness, are you safe?”

A man who appeared to be their leader offered Deon water.

His beard was speckled with gray. He looked quite elderly.

The guards, wearing badges on their shoulders, passed Deon without stopping and approached me. They blocked my way as I tried to move towards Deon.

They grabbed my wrist roughly. Once they had my wrist, I couldn’t move.

“She has harmed a member of the royal family. Take that heinous woman away.”

There was no time to grasp the situation. I was surrounded by knights in an instant. The spears pointed at me were too sharp to resist.

Deon, who was drinking water, threw the bottle to the ground.

Then he blocked the soldier who was about to drag me away.

“Don’t touch her.”

“Your Highness, we know you favor this woman, but harming a royal is a serious crime. She must be detained until her sentence is determined, even if there is no trial. That is the royal family’s principle.”

Deon gripped his sword tightly. Dark red veins stood out on his forearm.

“The royal family’s principles seem to work strangely. From what I know, those who commit crimes against the royal family are pardoned if the victim shows mercy. And you waited until now, watching through the crystal orb? It’s as if you were waiting to arrest a criminal.”

The guard knight flinched at Deon’s fierce glare, stepping back in surprise.

“…I’m just following orders.”

“Really? Whose orders?”

“I received orders from the second prince.”

“It’s odd. Since the empire has no crown prince, everyone is on equal footing. So, is the second prince your superior over me?”

“And… second prince also added that if anyone tries to interfere, they should come to him.”

Despite trembling at Deon’s intimidating presence, the knight did not back down.

Deon’s jaw clenched in frustration at the prolonged argument.

“It’s just a lovers’ quarrel. Since when does the royal guard interfere in the private matters of the royal family? Even the first prince was slapped by the marquis’ daughter a few months ago for cheating. Was she punished too?”

“But, Your Highness.”

“I have already forgiven the lady. There are no criminals here.”

“Even so, I have nothing more to say. I am just a knight following my superior’s orders.”

Sparks flew. Sharp words were exchanged.

Second Prince had already calculated that Deon would try to stop them from taking me. It didn’t take long to understand the hidden intentions. They were going to take me no matter what.

I tugged at his sleeve.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not.”

He drew a firm line.

“I’ll wait. You promised to spare me even with a sword pointed at you. Surely you won’t be merciless towards me just because I harmed you.”

I smiled at him.

The guards wrapped ropes around my wrists.

The gun that was hanging on my belt fell. I tried to pick it up, but my arms were quickly restrained, preventing me from bending down.

“I’ll get you out before the day is over, so wait for me.”

He spoke calmly as I was being escorted away.

I nodded quietly.

* * *

Contrary to my expectation of a damp underground prison, the detention center was in a tower.

Perhaps it was because I had harmed a member of the royal family. Even the prison was not ordinary.

The cell, surrounded by stone walls, was filled with a chilling air.

I looked down at the ropes tied around my wrists.

They were tied tightly. Every time I moved, they rubbed against my skin.

“Even if you’re not used to it, please bear with it until the trial. I can’t bring you a chair despite the discomfort. The floor is cold, but you’ll have to endure it. I can’t bring you a blanket either. Please sit on the straw spread out on the floor…”

The knight who locked the cell door explained slowly, treating me with the caution one would show to a noble lady.

He must have thought I was making demands by standing instead of sitting.

I plopped down near the door.

“It’s fine. You don’t need to explain. I’m used to it. I’ve been imprisoned many times.”

“…Excuse me?”

A laugh escaped at his stunned expression.

The knight, who had his mouth open, regained his composure and cleared his throat.

“You are remarkably composed even in this situation. I suppose that’s why you are with His Highness.”

“You speak as if you know me well.”

“Being a noble… it’s hard not to know. I heard about you from my wife.”

“What did she say?”

I waited for his response, feeling a bit tense.

“She thought it wouldn’t suit you, but seeing you in person, she said you… fit quite well.”

I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or a mockery. A snort of laughter slipped out.

“Will there be a trial?”

I recalled the argument in the forest. They said I’d be detained until my sentence was decided.

“Yes. Normally, if the involved royal shows leniency, you’re easily released, but for some reason…”

He hesitated.

I could guess without him telling me. It was probably a move by one of the royal family members vying for the throne.

Does Second Prince still think I’m Deon’s mistress?

No. Considering today’s events, he might have realized something.

Seeing the crystal orb activated, it was clear he was trying to test Deon’s limits, seeing how far his strength could go without the drug.

He was finding ways to break Deon from every angle, seeking definite proof to push him off the throne.

Regardless of whether I am his mistress or not, Deon will come to save me. Perhaps even more desperately than if I were truly his mistress.

I just had to hold out for one day, as he said.

Woo woo…

“But why is there such a strange sound since earlier…?”

As our conversation paused, strange noises echoed in the tower. It had been intermittently audible for a while. The sound grated on my nerves.

The noise bounced off the rounded walls and spread in all directions, making it hard to determine its source.

“Are there any other prisoners besides me?”

Given that this tower was meant for political prisoners, there were few cells with iron bars.

However, there might be prisoners on other floors. The thought that it could be the cries of someone being tortured sent chills down my spine.

“Is torture conducted here?”

“You are the only prisoner here, my lady. And as for political prisoners… they are not harmed physically until they stand on the execution or trial platforms.”

“It doesn’t feel like I’m alone.”

The sound came again, piercing sharply through the air.

“Are you talking about the wind?”

He responded, now sounding irritated. He must think noble ladies are troublesome and picky.

“We can’t stop the wind, my lady. You will be released once permission is granted, but please remember that this is a prison for political prisoners of the royal family.”

“No, it’s not the wind.”

I strained to listen. The sound I didn’t want to hear continued.

“I hear an animal.”

“Ah, you must mean the wolves.”

Wolves. My body froze.

“…Why are there wolves in the prison?”

“They were a gift from the envoys of a neighboring kingdom a few days ago, but there was no suitable place to keep them, so they are being kept next to the prison. They are rare black wolves.”

Wolves…

Memories flooded back. I thought I had forgotten the memories of the cave when I left the north.

The delayed trauma washed over me in an instant. Fear pressed down on me, making it hard to move.

I shivered. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

I felt cold.

This is early summer. I knew it couldn’t be, but I saw swirling snow and charred tree branches.

This is a prison. I knew it, but the image of the wolf staring at me from the cave entrance lingered.

“Where are they?”

“Excuse me?”

“Which direction are they?”

I asked the questioning guard again.

It was a strange question, even to me. But it was important.

“Don’t worry. The management is not so lax as to let them harm a prisoner. The doors are securely locked. Both their cage and this one.”

He rattled the iron door. The

clanking of metal was heard.

Still, I couldn’t feel reassured.

“I asked which direction they are.”

He frowned.

He seemed to be gauging whether I, like many fragile noble ladies, had lost my mind due to shock.

“They are far away, in the opposite direction.”

Reluctantly, the knight pointed diagonally across.

I backed away. I walked to the opposite corner he pointed to and curled up. Trying to put as much distance as possible between me and them.

The spot I huddled in was closer to the window, letting the wind seep in.

I knew that moving a few steps back wouldn’t stop me from hearing the wolves’ howls. It was a foolish act, but I had to move.

Woo woo…

The howl came again.

I buried my head in my knees. My fingertips trembled.

Why did they have to keep the envoy’s gift in the tower?

Covering my eyes and ears only made the smell of animal dung, fur, and other filth more vivid.

No matter what I did, the presence of the wolves was unmistakable. I couldn’t erase their presence.