Ch. 102

Chapter 102

I was speechless. Even Rowell wore a serious expression. The slight upward curve of his lips had completely vanished, and his eyes were firm with resolve.

Stunned, I asked, “So, you called me all the way here just to look at me?”

“At first, I planned to kidnap you using Serina. If you were with me, Ardion would definitely come for you. I thought he’d fall for the bait easily.”

As expected, Rowell only ever intended to use me. Disgust welled up inside me, and I frowned deeply. 

Suddenly, Rowell’s voice rang clearly in my ears. “But now, my thoughts have changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you come to me, I’ll remove the magical drug.”

“…”

“What do you say? If you think about it, it’s a simple decision.”

I stood up abruptly. “No. I’ll find my own way to remove it.”

I quickly turned to leave.

Rowell’s low voice echoed behind me. “Do you really think you can?”

Slowly, I turned back and met his gaze.

He tilted his head slightly. “I’ve already killed them all.”

The way he looked at me sent a chill down my spine. I stared at him, my face stiff. I had already known he’d killed everyone involved with the drug, but hearing him say it aloud made my skin crawl.

At that moment, Derol squirmed in my pocket. I finally came to my senses and said, “I’m leaving.”

I turned towards the door. I heard slow, deliberate footsteps approaching. I quickly reached for the doorknob, but it rattled without opening. Then a voice came from behind me.

“You’re not getting away that easily.” Rowell grabbed my wrist in one swift motion.

I tried to shake him off, but he tightened his grip and pushed me against the wall.

He thrust his face close to mine. I tried to pull back, but there was nowhere to go. He stared at my lips for a moment, then locked eyes with me, his gaze glinting with danger.

“Your scent has been irritating me from earlier. It’s getting on my nerves.”

I hurriedly gathered my hands to cast a spell, but just as I reached towards him, he caught my wrist with a smirk. I tried to pull away with force but failed.

He said calmly, “Do you realize what happens if you use mana on me? The pain comes back to you. Especially if it’s an attack, it’ll bounce right back.”

“… What?”

Rowell pressed on my wrist as if to crush it. “Right here. I planted the drug.”

“…”

“Oh, don’t tell me you didn’t think I’d put it there?”

I knew. I just couldn’t bring myself to speak. What shocked me more was learning that if I used water magic, the effect would reflect onto me.

Still, I couldn’t just stand there. Even if I got hurt, I wanted to escape this place.

I gathered mana in my hands. Moisture began to form around them. I took a deep breath and raised my hands, but… 

There was a squeaking noise, and Derol suddenly jumped out of my pocket. With all his might, he leapt at Rowell’s chest.

Rowell winced and flung Derol aside. Derol hit the floor and slid across it. I rushed to Derol, but Rowell yanked me back by the wrist.

“Even if a hundred of those rats came at me, I’d still handle it. So stay still, unless you want to die.” His cold voice rang out.

I shook my arm violently, but he held on, tightening his grip until my wrist turned red and swollen.

“Shut up. I don’t care what you do. I won’t accept it, and I won’t look at you.”

“Oh? Now you’re finally saying what you mean.” Rowell smiled at me.

I gathered my hands and fired a burst of water magic at him. He was flung backward and crashed into a table.

At the same time, I felt a powerful blow in my abdomen. I gasped and clutched my stomach.

Rowell slowly rose to his feet and approached me with a faint smile. “I knew you wouldn’t obey, but I didn’t think you’d be this reckless.”

“…” I glared at him in silence.

Rowell knelt in front of me, bringing us eye to eye. “Well, you did break out of prison. I guess now you’re even using mana on yourself.”

I bent over, clutching my stomach. The pain made it hard to breathe, but Rowell didn’t seem hurt at all. Then he grabbed my chin and lifted it. I shook my head, but he only gripped harder.

I stared at him with loathing. His face still wore that same smile.

Madman.

Even now, he was smiling. I began to gather mana again. Rowell caught my hands before I could release it.

“Stop. You’ll end up killing yourself.”

“Why are you fine?”

He paused, still holding my hand, and looked at me with a strange expression. “Good question. Why am I fine?”

Rowell looked at me with a sickly gaze, his eyes lifeless, devoid of warmth.

I tried to inch back using my thighs. But he pinned me against the wall with his leg. I struggled, but his strength overwhelmed me.

Suddenly, Rowell’s lips came towards mine. I turned my head, but he seized my chin again and forced my face towards him.

I spat in his face. He slowly closed his eyes… then opened them again.

“Get lost, you lunatic.” I ground out.

He let out a soft chuckle. “At least you know me well.”

Then he lunged forward as if he wanted to kiss me again. I jerked my head away, but he forced my face back with renewed strength. Just as his lips were about to touch mine…

A loud crash rang out.

Shards flew everywhere. I turned my head in shock. The door beside us had been blown apart.

Ardion stood there, exhaling sharply, mana glowing around him. His eyes… I'd never seen them like that before.

His gaze shifted from Rowell to me. Without hesitation, he walked straight towards Rowell and seized him by the throat.

Chaos erupted as knights swarmed the room and surrounded us, swords drawn.

I managed to get to my feet and grabbed Ardion’s leg. His eyes turned towards me.

“Ardion, let’s just go.”

His hand trembled. His eyes, bloodshot, glistened with unshed tears as he looked at me.

I shook my head. Now wasn’t the time. If anything, Rowell was provoking us, playing a game we couldn’t afford to fall for. The way the knights came flooding in made it clear. He had planned this all along.

Mana flared brighter around Ardion. I locked eyes with him and shook my head again.

“Ardion.”

After I called his name with effort, Ardion finally let go. The knights still held their swords up, tension thick in the air. Ardion silently lifted me into his arms. I leaned against his chest, breathing heavily.

The mana I’d used—only I seemed to suffer from it. Rowell didn’t appear hurt at all.

Why? Could it be that Rowell had no mana at all?

“Move.” Ardion’s voice rang out.

The knights closed in, weapons drawn, blocking our path. The knight captain glanced at Rowell, who slowly stood and gave a subtle nod. Only then did the knights begin to part.

Ardion rushed out of the place as I clutched my stomach. He looked at my face, his voice tight with worry. “Laila, are you okay? Hang in there.”

His anxious tone made me worry in turn.

Wasn’t it hard for him to carry me while moving this fast?

Even in this ridiculous moment, I groaned quietly, cursing Rowell in my mind.

As soon as we reached the room, Ardion gently laid me on the bed and grasped my hand. “Laila, a healer is on the way.”

He nervously fidgeted with my hand and knelt beside the bed. I looked at him as I exhaled slowly. Even while meeting my gaze, Ardion bit his lips, his eyes filling with tears.

“Ardion.”

He brought my hand to his face and whispered through trembling lips, “I’m sorry, Laila. Why am I always too late for you? I kept saying I’d protect you, but when it really mattered…”

“You didn’t know. It’s okay.”

He gripped my hand tighter and lowered his head. “It hurts when you say it’s okay.”

Tears fell onto my hand. He slowly lifted his head, his green eyes brimming. I had never seen Ardion cry like this. It broke my heart. I looked at him with a solemn expression.

“I’m sorry, Laila.”

Even as he apologized, he held my hand tighter. When I flinched slightly, he loosened his grip, but his warmth lingered.

“Still, I can’t let you go. Do you know what it took for me to have you?” Ardion pressed his lips to the back of my hand, gazing at me. Although tears flowed from his eyes, his gaze never wavered.

There was an obsession in it. His heart still burned for me, fiercely, unrelentingly.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

Ardion still didn’t move away. He kept holding my hand.

Upon seeing Ardion, the healer who rushed in cleared his throat softly and bowed. “Your Highness, I’m sorry, but… could you step aside for a moment?”

With great difficulty, Ardion rose, his hand slowly letting go of mine.

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