The price of daring to take a hostage in front of him was death. The thug’s head, now severed from his body, rolled into the shadows of the alley, disappearing into the darkness. Lina, hearing an unsettling sound from where the head had vanished, instinctively turned her head to look.
“I wouldn’t turn around if I were you,” Edwin cautioned, his voice firm but gentle.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Lina tightly closed her eyes, willing herself not to see anything more. She squeezed her eyes shut so tightly that the muscles around them stood out.
Edwin, noticing her fear, couldn’t help but smile inwardly. He made sure to make some noise as he approached her, not wanting to startle her any further.
“Come this way,” he said softly, pulling her closer to him, using his body to shield her from the gruesome sight behind him. “You can open your eyes now.”
But Lina didn’t budge. Her eyes remained tightly closed.
“It’s okay, really,” Edwin reassured her again, his tone almost teasing. “You can’t keep your eyes closed forever, can you?”
After a few more moments, and a couple of light-hearted jests from Edwin, Lina finally opened her eyes. Tears welled up in her violet irises, and her body trembled slightly, still reeling from the shock.
“And where did you get the courage to pull a stunt like that?” Edwin chided her lightly as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to her.
Lina took the handkerchief, gently dabbing at the tears that had pooled at the corners of her eyes. “But Sir Roxas, you told me to do something… to buy you some time.”
“I did?” Edwin asked, genuinely puzzled.
“Didn’t you?” Lina paused mid-dab, looking up at him in confusion. “You even signaled to me with your eyes.”
“That wasn’t a signal for you to act. It was more like a warning not to misunderstand,” Edwin explained, rubbing his forehead in disbelief at the mix-up.
“Oh.” Lina let out a small, embarrassed laugh.
“The one who should be surprised is me,” Edwin replied, his tone half-laughing, half-exasperated. Despite everything, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry. “You’ve probably never even held a practice sword, let alone a real one.”
Edwin continued, his tone more serious now, “Next time—if there is a next time—don’t try to be a hero. Just stay put until I handle it.”
It was pure luck that had kept her safe this time. If things had gone differently, it might not have been the thug lying dead on the ground, but Lina instead. No matter how skilled Edwin was, the thug could have hurt Lina faster than Edwin could stop him.
Edwin felt oddly unfamiliar with the softness he showed now. He had expected to be harsher, perhaps to scold her more severely, but found himself holding back.
“Yes, thank you… for saving me, Sir Roxas.” Lina nodded meekly, her voice soft.
Edwin turned his gaze away from her tear-filled eyes, feeling a strange sensation in his chest. As his long-winded scolding drew to a close, Lina seized the moment to change the subject.
“I’ll wash this handkerchief and return it to you,” she offered, her tone tentative.
Before Edwin could tell her she didn’t need to bother, Lina had already folded the handkerchief neatly and tucked it into her pocket.
“Sure,” he replied, nodding casually, his eyes still lingering on the delicate way she folded the fabric.
But soon, his attention shifted elsewhere, drawn by a nagging feeling, like an insect buzzing near his ear.
“Lina, close your eyes and hold out your hand,” Edwin instructed, guiding her to stand closer to him as they approached the bodies lying on the ground.
These men were the same thugs who had tried to rise and fight back, even with their injuries. Now, they were pretending to be unconscious, hoping to escape.
After making sure Lina was close and safe, Edwin raised his sword again. He was ready to execute them on the spot, knowing that robbery and attempted murder were crimes that demanded a heavy punishment.
Sensing the danger, the thugs who had been pretending to be unconscious quickly dropped to the ground, groveling.
“We didn’t recognize who you were, sir! Please, spare us!”
“Forgive us! We’ll go straight from here, just let us live!”
Edwin smiled coldly as he ignored their pleas. “If you valued your lives, you shouldn’t have committed the crime in the first place.”
His mercy was reserved for those who truly deserved it. Edwin’s sword sliced through the air, aiming for the throat of the nearest thug. The man squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the end.
“Wait!” Lina’s voice rang out suddenly, stopping Edwin in his tracks. His sword halted just inches from the man’s neck. Edwin, barely containing his frustration, turned to look at her.
“Are you really going to kill them?”
The violet eyes that were supposed to remain closed were wide open, filled with fear as they gazed at him. Edwin couldn’t help but feel a touch of injustice at her reaction.
“Attempted murder is a capital crime,” he explained coldly. “And if they were part of a criminal organization that planned it together, the punishment is the same for all.”
“But…” Lina hesitated, her gaze shifting between Edwin and the thugs, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “Maybe they weren’t really trying to kill me… Maybe they just wanted to use me to get away from you.”
Lina’s attempt to soften the severity of the situation was touching, even if Edwin found it misguided. She fidgeted nervously with her hands, clearly unsure of herself.
Edwin tried to smile, though it was more of a grimace. “Lina, you’re too kind-hearted for your own good.”
The thugs, sensing an opportunity, began pleading even more desperately. “Miss, please! We didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It was all a misunderstanding!”
Lina, already on the verge of compassion, seemed to waver even more. Edwin let out an exaggerated sigh, making sure Lina could hear it.
“It’s not that I want to let them go,” she mumbled, barely meeting Edwin’s eyes. “I just don’t think they deserve to die for this.”
In some ways, Lina’s insistence was brave, standing up to him like this. Edwin had rarely encountered someone who would argue so fervently against his decisions, especially after he became emperor.
Surprisingly, Edwin didn’t feel anger. Instead, the cold fury he’d felt moments before seemed to dissipate, as though Lina’s soft-heartedness had doused it.
“I didn’t realize you were such a devout person, Lina. Showing mercy even to those who would harm you,” he remarked, though there was a sharp edge to his voice.
Lina’s face fell slightly at his words. She hadn’t meant to upset him, and Edwin quickly softened his expression.
“But you can’t just let them off,” Edwin added, though his tone was less severe now. “They’re criminals.”
Lina nodded, accepting that much at least. She didn’t expect him to spare them entirely, but she hoped for some middle ground.
Edwin turned back to the thugs, his voice low enough that Lina couldn’t hear. “You’re lucky Lina here has a kind heart.”
The thugs, still cowering, could sense the danger had passed, but Edwin wasn’t finished. “But I’ll make sure you can’t commit any more crimes.”
With a swift movement, Edwin grabbed one of the thug’s wrists and severed the tendons, ensuring he’d never hold a weapon again.
“Don’t make a sound,” Edwin warned, a chilling smile on his lips.
The thugs, understanding this was the best mercy they’d receive, bit their tongues and endured the pain in silence.
Soon, they were led to the nearest guards, their crimes too great to ignore. The chaotic night was finally coming to an end.
