Chapter 100
Her head was yanked back as rough fingers clutched a fistful of her hair. Just as she opened her mouth to scream with all her strength, a gloved hand slammed over it.
“Mmph-!”
She struggled desperately, but with her hair caught, breaking free was nearly impossible. A muffled sound slipped past her lips, yet not enough for anyone to notice.
“Quiet.”
The deep, chilling voice sent shivers down her spine. Those words only provoked her further, terror spreading through her body like wildfire, the fear that she might truly die here tonight.
Lynette struggled even harder. Her scalp burned where her hair was pulled, but she could not stop. Her muffled cry escaped in fragments, only to fade at once against his palm.
How long did it last? She had never fought so desperately in her life. It felt like both a fleeting moment and an eternity of torment.
Tears dampened the corners of her eyes. In the midst of her flailing, his grip slipped ever so slightly. Without thinking, Lynette sank her teeth into his hand with all her strength.
“Ugh!”
The man let out a sharp grunt of pain, then, enraged, struck her hard across the face.
“Ah!”
The cry tore from her as she crashed to the floor. He had struck her with such force that her head slammed against the ground with a heavy thud.
Her mind reeled, dazed, a dull ringing filling her ears. Gasping for air, she pushed against the floor and forced her lungs to give voice to a raw, piercing scream.
“Ahhh! Aahhh!”
But her ears were still ringing. She couldn’t even tell if she was truly screaming, or if any sound reached the air at all. Pain throbbed through her whole body.
The man slammed her head back down, pressing it brutally against the floor. The impact rattled her skull. Her nose stung, and she could barely breathe. Cold metal touched the nape of her neck, but she barely had the clarity left to notice it.
Once again, he seized her hair and wrenched her upright. Agony lanced through her scalp, as though every strand might be torn away.
He could have killed her outright, but instead he merely pressed the gleaming blade against her throat. Her pale skin split under its edge, a thin line of blood trickling down.
“Hhhk-”
This time, he did not bother to cover her mouth. Perhaps he knew escape was impossible. Even in her dizzy state, Lynette realized she had become a hostage.
Her body was spent from struggling. Her knees gave up, but the grip on her hair held her upright.
Barely seconds after her desperate scream, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the corridor.
“Lynette!”
Euphen’s voice cut through, thick with fear.
Was it because he feared losing the woman he cared for? Or because he feared losing his Guide? Even now, Lynette found herself wryly aware of such thoughts.
The door burst open with a violent crash. Euphen froze at the sight before him.
“Tch…”
The man in black let out an annoyed sound. Then he jerked her hair tighter, tilting her head back, and pressed the blade against her throat for all to see. No words were needed to convey his threat: Do not come any closer.
“She’s in danger, Your Highness.”
The knights rushed in a beat later, trying to push Euphen back, but he refused to move. Instead, they stepped forward to shield him.
“Drop your sword.”
“No, don’t- ahh!”
Her cry rang out as her head was yanked back sharply, the brutal force threatening to snap her neck. A groan of pain escaped her throat.
“She means nothing to you, does she? I’m the one you want dead.”
Euphen’s voice was harsh.
“So you really do care that much for her life.”
With her head wrenched back, Lynette couldn’t see Euphen’s face. But she heard it clearly, the clatter of a sword falling hard to the ground.
“Your Highness, no! Don’t- ugh!”
“Enough!”
“Tell your knights to leave as well.”
“…Leave.”
“Your Highness!”
“Leave!”
The knights raised their voices in protest, refusing to yield. The clash of bodies echoed as they struggled against his command, footsteps shuffling in chaos.
“No… please, no…”
Lynette whispered faintly, eyes shut tight. Because of her, Euphen was in danger… It was a nightmare come to life.
At last, he dismissed his guards. The heavy slam of the closing door rang out.
“Are you satisfied now?”
The grip in her hair loosened slightly. Forcing her eyes forward, Lynette saw the man standing there, alone with them.
Her fear only deepened. What if something truly happened now? Her lips trembled as she bit down hard.
As though savoring his advantage, the man in black spoke leisurely.
“Slowly now. Hands where I can see them.”
Euphen obeyed, lifting both palms into view, taking slow, deliberate steps forward.
“Stop.”
The tension in the room grew so thick it was suffocating. Euphen fixed his eyes on him with a dark, steady gaze.
The man gave a deep, mocking laugh. “So this is the beloved woman you’d risk your life for. You must value her very highly indeed.”
“…”
His lips curved in a small, cold smile. Raising his hand, he moved as if to plunge the blade into Lynette. In the blink of an eye, the weapon darted away from her, then back again.
“Your Highness!”
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