Chapter 45: Take the Blame
Was there really such a thing as apologizing by exposing one’s stomach?
Or was this just another one of those noble’s quirks?
Shirley, the young knight, suspected it was the latter.
As a prisoner, she had to try, even if Kailun was deceiving her.
The fact that the poison had been swapped meant this incident couldn’t be concealed. The women from the Loya Ballroom would need the antidote.
If they didn’t receive it, they would be the first to expose Hilna, unraveling her entire plan.
Shirley had carried the antidote with her. According to the original plan, she would distribute it to the women individually the next morning.
But now, the plan had failed, and Kailun held all the cards.
She had heard rumors about the Grand Duke’s son being incompetent, and she had believed them. But now, facing him directly, she realized how terrifying he truly was.
He was manipulating everyone, and even now, she couldn’t decipher his true motives.
With trembling hands, she removed the black robe that concealed her tall and slender figure, followed by her light armor.
Finally, she endured the humiliation of slowly lifting her shirt, exposing her toned stomach, the result of years of rigorous training, to Kailun’s gaze.
Under the bright light, her smooth skin, defined abs, and even the contorned lines of her navel were clearly visible.
Satisfied with her obedience, Kailun rose from his chair and crouched before her, his hand reaching through the bars to stroke her hair. “I like obedient women. You’re doing well.”
Shirley gritted her teeth, enduring the humiliation.
As if to further test her compliance, he gestured towards her paused hands. “Keep lifting. We’re just getting started.”
“…Alright.”
She obeyed, stopping only when the top of her bra was visible.
“Very good. I’ve seen your determination. So, I’m going to give you a chance.”
He placed a small bottle outside the bars. “The poison I swapped is a complex concoction. It will cause muscle spasms and numbness starting tomorrow. The pain will intensify each day until it becomes unbearable. Here are thirty doses of the antidote.”
“That’s not enough! Thirty doses aren’t enough for everyone!” Shirley looked up at him.
Kailun narrowed his eyes. “Are you bargaining with me?”
She quickly averted her gaze, intimidated by his aura. “No, sir…”
He placed the antidote a meter away from the bars and then poked her navel with his finger, his hand lingering on her waist.
After a moment of enjoyment, he stood up. “I’ll have someone release you tomorrow morning. Until then, rest well. I’ll even turn off the lights for you.”
He extinguished the magic lamps, plunging the dungeon into darkness.
“Clang!”
The iron door slammed shut. He was gone.
She didn’t dare to ask any further questions, fearing the answers would only deepen her despair.
Kailun was a true devil…
His actions were illogical, his every move a carefully concealed trap, waiting for her to fall into it.
She lowered her shirt, her gaze fixed on the sliver of moonlight streaming through a ventilation shaft. Her waist itched unbearably, as if ants were crawling on her skin. She desperately wanted to wash herself clean.
“Ugh…”
She reached for the antidote bottle, but her fingers fell short by an inch.
“That bastard did this on purpose!”
She gritted her teeth. When it came to being infuriating, Kailun was unmatched.
…
“Ah, I’m such a kind soul. Capturing her and then setting her free.”
Kailun sighed dramatically as he walked back to his room.
The medicine he had given Shirley was indeed an antidote, but only a partial one.
It would only delay the poison’s effects. Once it wore off, the symptoms would intensify, lasting for one or two days.
He wasn’t giving Hilna the antidote out of kindness. He simply wanted to ensure she took the blame.
“Still admiring the moon at this hour?”
He entered his bedroom and found Anna standing by the window, gazing at the moonlit sky.
She wore a thin, translucent nightgown that clung to her curves. Her hair cascaded down her back, swaying gently in the breeze. As she turned to face him, the moonlight illuminated her profile, giving her an ethereal glow.
She almost seemed… holy.
This unexpected purity ignited a destructive urge within him. His instincts screamed for him to defile her.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to enjoy the view.”
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her voice devoid of emotion.
He strode towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You should be punished for not warming my bed as instructed. But before that, I have some good news.”
“What is it?”
He grinned mischievously. “I’m taking you home tomorrow. You’ll get to see your family. Aren’t you grateful?”
She stared at him, confused by his sudden kindness.
If he simply wanted her body, there was no need to say such things.
She was his slave, powerless to resist his desires.
“Thank you.”
She offered a reluctant thanks, hoping to avoid further torment.
“Then get on your knees by the window.”
He closed the window, forcing her to kneel before it.
Fresh from the banquet, his heart was restless.
If he didn’t find an outlet for his desires, he might erupt.
Anna knelt before the transparent glass, her ample bosom pressed against the cool surface, her gaze fixed on the moon and clouds.
As if instinctively, she arched her back, offering herself to the moonlight.
The moment his hands touched her, he knew she was wearing nothing beneath her thin nightgown.
He removed her meager defenses and began his punishment, a night of relentless plowing.
…
Meanwhile, Hilna tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep.
Her trusted deputy hadn’t returned, and no one knew what had happened.
She had received reports about Lodis’s banquet. It was proceeding as planned, and her targets had been poisoned.
However, Kailun’s behavior was strange. He had spent the entire evening drinking alone, never participating in the “festivities.”
Recent events flashed through her mind, painting a clearer picture of Kailun’s transformation.
“Something’s wrong with Kailun!”
She sat up abruptly, her heart pounding, her chest heaving. A terrifying thought took root in her mind.
“I can’t wait any longer. If Shirley doesn’t return by morning, I’ll surround Kailun’s manor with my troops. The charge will be… kidnapping Princess Vivian!”
Her eyes hardened with resolve.
Character:
Shirley
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