“What’s with this person? Why did you bring her back? Are you sure it’s fine for her to know about this place?”
Su Yao had just returned to the Dungeon room, only to be met with Chlorel’s classic three-question interrogation.
As for the person he brought back—needless to say, it was definitely Eveleel.
If this world were a color comic, then right now this Princess would surely look like a blank manuscript, her very “soul” drifting out from her mouth.
“Chlorel, help me find a place for her to rest first. There’s too much information to sort through, and I can’t explain it all at once.”
Letting Eveleel in on his secret probably wasn’t an issue. After all, they had signed a “Contract” between them.
He had already confirmed the effect of that black Scroll. Among those dozen or so “connected” people he’d sent back, some had tried to leak the secret.
But without exception, all of them were burned to death by a mysterious “Demon Flame” that appeared out of nowhere.
Witnesses had embellished the incident into an “Urban Legend,” and a little asking around in Moravia would easily uncover the story.
Who knows where Lilith found something so terrifying, leaving him unable to be even the least bit “black-hearted” as a boss…
But back on topic. Chlorel temporarily settled this Princess on the sofa in the room, then Su Yao took her to the Private Room where the two of them lived together.
“Latina should have already joined up with the Resistance Army led by the Southern Nobles. Right now, thanks to her, the Vichy Kingdom is at a disadvantage on the battlefield.”
Hearing this news, Chlorel was unsurprisingly quite pleased. She didn’t know why that “True Ancestor” hadn’t acted, but the tide of the situation was slowly shifting in their favor.
“There’s one more thing: the Grand Prince of the Vichy Royal Family, Valenrian Veshi, has come to Moravia. And he’s even gotten engaged to Hilvi.”
“Wait, is that true?”
Su Yao nodded, gesturing toward the door, and thinking of Eveleel’s condition, Chlorel immediately understood the authenticity of this news.
Then, the blond loli took out the Engagement Banquet Invitation from the Warehouse, and gave a brief recap of what had happened earlier in the Theater Box.
There was no need to elaborate on the animosity between the Princess and the Grand Prince of a hostile nation.
Su Yao would never hand over his business partner to the other side. Hilvi knew too much, so she could only stand with them.
“What about Hilvi? Did you see her?”
“Of course not. The Butler sent her back to the Lord’s Mansion. But when we went to fetch her again, that idiot prince had already taken her away.”
That wasn’t all. Su Yao had seen two new abnormal statuses on Hilvi’s panel.
One was “Magic Restriction”—an “old friend” by now. With that status, it was likely that the calm young woman now wore a Magic Restriction Collar around her neck.
The other was “Weakness.” He wasn’t sure how they did it, but this status deprived the target of fifty percent of their strength.
If Hilvi had agreed to the Engagement, there was no way she would have two Debuffs like this.
Su Yao had already figured out this clichéd plot: the depraved prince was smitten with the young woman’s beauty and business acumen, willing to use dirty, vile means to force her into marriage.
Hmph, to prevent the world’s destruction! To defend the world’s peace! Uphold love and justice… Sorry, wrong script.
Anyway, the beautiful girl definitely needed saving. But before that, there were many things to prepare…
—————
She’d been caught off guard. From the moment she heard the word “Engagement,” Hilvi lost her usual composure.
It seemed she despised the prince even more than she herself had imagined. Judging by the present situation, this “disgust” was fully justified.
Her vision was blocked by a piece of black leather. Something cold and metallic pressed around her neck, a bit heavy.
The Collar had deliberately been made a little too small, making it hard even to breathe.
Her calves felt cold and damp. It seemed she was in some building’s basement—or perhaps a Dungeon?
The symptoms of “Magic Disorder” hadn’t disappeared. Her body was still soft and powerless, but she should be able to stand up…
She failed. Not for lack of strength. The sensation of her calves pressed closely against the floor had already told her: her thighs and calves had been folded together and bound with something.
Was this humiliating posture meant to force her to kneel? Did they think that if she wouldn’t submit willingly, they’d just make her kneel by force? Disgusting.
At the very least, she should try to remove the blindfold…
No use. She couldn’t muster any strength, and both hands were chained behind her.
Any slight movement would tug at the Collar on her neck. There was no way she could break these shackles right now.
Fiancée? She was nothing but a captive. No, perhaps even less than that. Even criminal Slaves had the freedom to move.
“Awake, my dear Hilvi?”
A loathsome voice sounded by her ear, and her vision returned.
By the dim candlelight, she saw that handsome face again. But now, her feelings were no longer just disgust; hatred would be a better word.
“I went to your Auction, you know. Honestly, I was amazed. If you weren’t an Illegitimate Daughter, I’d have no problem making you my real wife. What a pity.”
The man struck his usual exaggerated pose, but his eyes were no longer serious—full of contempt and amusement… and perhaps a hint of desire.
“Dream on. I’d rather die than let you have your way! Even if you get the Chamber of Commerce, the suppliers won’t work with you. Everything you want—there’s no way I’ll give it to you!”
After her words, Hilvi’s breathing grew labored. The too-small Collar around her neck made it impossible to speak for long or move too violently.
Valenrian Veshi stepped up to her, and her face burned hotly, quickly followed by pain.
He’d finally shown his true colors as a bandit, even stripping off his clothes right in front of her.
“Prince, please refrain from this for now.”
A red-haired woman emerged from behind the Dungeon door, speaking up to stop the man just as he was about to commit violence.
“If you want to vent your desires, use me or another woman. But to ensure the Pharmaceutical takes effect, please don’t touch her yet.”
Pharmaceutical? Had this woman given her some kind of drug? Judging by her state, this was the culprit that left her powerless.
“Tch, got it. Bu’er, hurry and feed it to her. After seven days straight, it’ll work, right?”
“Yes, Prince.”
“You—what did you give me?”
No one answered. The woman called “Bu’er” walked over with a bowl of sticky “Food.”
“Miss Hilvi, please cooperate. This drug is to ensure your blood circulation. Of course, it also weakens your strength and will make you obey the Prince from now on.”
The girl turned her head away, tightly shutting her mouth. How could she possibly eat this stuff?
But “eating” wasn’t up to her. The woman pinched her nose, and when she could no longer hold her breath, she instinctively opened her mouth to breathe.
A device with a ring in the center was fitted onto her face.
The bowl of “medicine” was bitter and sour. After force-feeding, Hilvi coughed violently, realizing that even the right to choose what she ate had been taken from her.
The cell door closed with a clear sound. Six days remained—she would likely kneel here in despair until, at last, she became that man’s puppet.
“Princess Eveleel…”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.