There were indeed many ways to gain people.
Of course, the best method would be to share each other’s affection, come together with mutual intentions, and build a righteous and steadfast bond.
But life is as unpredictable as it is constant.
How could one expect to achieve everything they desire and live life to its fullest?
Just like me and Prince Oliver were stuck in that situation.
No matter how hard he tried or how sincerely he treated me, I would never become his subordinate.
The prince’s leash would never touch me.
So, he brought me another method. One that took much less time, was effective, and could instantly earn my false loyalty.
“It was actually by chance. The child named Sen was brought for execution by the Chokugen Faction, and the child named May was kidnapped because she seemed close to Elise.”
The prince’s low voice taunted me without much effort. My rising anger simmered down, and I could feel a weak dizziness as I tried to suppress it.
“I thought Rin and Ares might be connected to the culprit who killed Demeter’s nun. However, I saw the mark of God on them and brought them along.”
In the end, he insisted it was just a coincidence that everything lined up, but his attitude said otherwise.
The world revolves around him.
He was claiming it was fate, not coincidence.
“According to Elise, I’ve heard that you care quite a bit for the other kids. Initially, I was thinking of blackmailing you in the Academy, but I’m grateful you came to Batian like this.”
“……”
“Now, my lioness, you fierce beast that frolicked in the fields.”
He slowly reached out to me, wearing a confident smile.
“It’s time to put on the leash.”
“……One thing.”
I forced myself to speak, swallowing a feeling that was about to spill over.
“Let me see if those kids are safe.”
Upon hearing this, the prince nodded with an even more satisfied smile.
“Oh, of course. If you take my hand, I’ll guide you to those kids right away. However, I have to confirm one thing too.”
At his words, Pennycilla clapped her hands, and the door opened, revealing a rush of masked individuals.
They all wore the same white hoods, marking them unmistakably as official members of the Chokugen Faction.
“I want to see how fierce my lioness truly is.”
I anticipated he would immediately order a fight, but instead, he relaxed his crossed legs and summoned a man with a red mark on his hood.
“Where’s the Madame? I wanted to see her fight as well.”
‘The Madame?’
It was a name I had never heard before.
Some members of the Chokugen Faction frowned, perhaps feeling she was being treated too lightly, but the man replied coldly.
“The Madame is currently pursuing the culprit who assassinated the nun Demeter outside.”
“Huh, is that so? How unfortunate.”
The prince genuinely sounded disappointed, but the Chokugen members appeared quite offended, forcing their bodies to relax as if to retrieve their dignity.
They seemed disgruntled that the prince needed even this many people just to deal with me, and the presence of the Madame.
As the man attempted to return to his place with a gesture to leave, the prince casually added.
“If that boy wins here, Sen will be mine.”
“……Your Highness.”
The man, who had shown no reaction when the Madame was insulted, clearly exhibited his dissatisfaction as he turned his body.
“Sen was a traitor affiliated with our Chokugen Faction. Letting go of that child would be a great disgrace to the entire faction.”
“I’ll pay you more gold.”
“This is not a matter of gold or requests.”
Watching the Chokugen speak so confidently, I could see Oliver’s annoyed expression and Pennycilla draw her dagger, hidden in her thigh.
In a tense moment where emotions were barely held in check, I finally interjected.
“Let’s start, you bastards.”
Instantly, many gazes turned to me.
Emotion, which felt like it could burst out at any moment, kept my fingers perfectly still, but I could no longer hold back.
“I just need to win against you, right? Then you can take Sen as you please.”
“But even if you win, claiming ownership of Sen would be…!”
“Just once.”
I glared at the man, ready to tear him apart as a warning.
“If you ever bring up ownership again, you die. That child is not your property.”
“……”
A heavy tension filled the room.
Prince Oliver seemed entertained as he crossed his legs again, Pennycilla handed him a glass and prepared some wine, while the highest-ranked member of the Chokugen was deep in thought.
“Boss, let’s just do it. After all, if we win, it’s all over.”
“That’s right, we have ten of us here. Plus, we’re surrounding him.”
“Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”
Perhaps due to the overly defensive boss, the members’ frustrations seeped out.
“Okay, I get it.”
With a sigh, the boss drew out his dagger.
In the spacious room, ten elite assassins surrounded me, and a clear plink rang out as Oliver flicked his glass with his fingers.
The bastards charged at me.
“Ah…”
It felt as if the dam I had forcibly held back was cracking open.
I grabbed the collar of the first one charging from behind and flipped him forward.
Thanks to that, the two rushing from the front fell back, but already, others were coming from the sides.
I immediately reeled back, grabbing the wrists of the ones holding the daggers and yanked them towards me with force.
Shlunk.
Simultaneously came the sound of flesh being crushed as the daggers dug in. Unable to withstand my strength, they pierced each other’s chests, blood pouring out and soaking the red carpet further.
The assassins remained silent.
However, that situation screamed a multitude of things.
Anger directed at me.
The shame of struggling in such circumstances.
The fear that they might actually lose.
Feeling all that deep within, I continued to impassively take down the rushing members.
Cleaning the room would be more fun than this.
My face swelled, I was spitting blood, and bones were breaking.
I made sure not to kill them entirely to avoid further complications.
Crack.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
I grabbed the last-standing man known as the boss by the neck and twisted his arm.
He seemed accustomed to pain and let out not a single sound, but that only irked me more.
I pressed down harder on his neck and charged forward, intending to pin him against the wall, but…
Was he realizing that I wouldn’t just slam him into the wall?
The glass shattered, and fragments scattered.
The curtain that had been covering the room was torn away, allowing the sunlight to stream in from outside where it had only been softly illuminated.
Crack.
“AAAAAH!”
“A-a person fell!”
With the boss falling out the window, the outside stirred with commotion, but I didn’t bother looking down.
Clap clap clap!
Rough applause was showered upon me.
It was a humble, pitiful cheer compared to the grand stages I had performed on before, but to Prince Oliver, it was like the highest praise.
“Excellent! Excellent! Fierce beast! My lioness! When my day on the throne arrives, you shall roar by my side!”
“Enough, show me the kids.”
“Ah! Then! Of course!”
At the prince’s words, Pennycilla took out heavy iron handcuffs from a bag on the bed as if she had been waiting.
“Extend your hand.”
Seeing that she deemed it necessary to prepare in advance, fearing I might pull some surprise action during our meeting.
With my emotions still boiling from my outburst against the Chokugen, I knew I had no choice but to offer my hands. The iron cuffs quickly restrained my wrists.
“Go on. Since it’s a reunion, Pennycilla, please step back accordingly.”
“Understood.”
Leaving behind a satisfied Prince Oliver sipping wine, we headed down to the hotel’s basement.
I assumed we were going to a different location, but the basement had guest rooms just like the upper levels.
However, instead of luxurious wooden doors, we faced rough iron bars and an empty room devoid of cheap furniture.
“Is this a prison?”
“This was remodeled from an old holding facility. It has close ties with the royal family.”
Pennycilla provided me only the minimal information.
Following her footsteps down the echoing underground, I continued to follow.
“We’ve placed you in the largest cell for ease of communication, rather than scattering you in several. You should find it convenient to talk.”
“Shut up.”
If I listened to her any longer, I felt I might explode, but she was quite the assertive woman.
“And from now on, be careful with your words before His Highness. I’ll teach you the basic manners and etiquette you should observe when addressing him.”
“You b*tch….”
I barely managed to hold back a curse.
It would provide me with no gain to irritate her here.
“Alright, it’s over there.”
Pennycilla pointed towards the largest cell, but…
“……”
There were none of my friends to be seen, who looked starved or exhausted. I could faintly sense that someone had been there, yet they were gone now.
“Huh?”
Pennycilla’s expression contorted, as if she too couldn’t comprehend the situation.
“Wait, this can’t be right.”
She hurriedly tried to report to the prince but couldn’t. A punch to her abdomen bent her over, and she rolled to the floor of the prison.
“Ugh…”
Taking a heavy breath.
I began smashing the iron bars with my hands, trying to break the cuffs.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The cuffs were tough, but a few older bars crumbled under the force.
Crack.
All bindings that had bound the lion were snapped.
“I’ll tell you clearly.”
I announced towards a writhing and pained Pennycilla.
“Don’t do anything.”
While I had only slightly loosened the dam during the fight with the Chokugen, I was still suppressing the intense emotions within.
Just as the cuffs binding my wrists crumbled to the ground, the multitude of chains of patience inside me shattered into dust.
“Don’t you dare run away.”
“That’s pointless.”
“Don’t shed tears.”
That too was pointless.
“Don’t kneel, beg for your life, or hide your body.”
No desperate struggle would prove effective.
“Even a pinch of mercy from me has slipped past you today.”
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