The ship that had suddenly anchored swayed so violently it seemed as if it would capsize. The sound of light objects rolling and heavy objects shaking could be heard.

However, Layla, whose entire body was bound and unable to move, had no idea how to deal with the sudden situation.

In the first place, even if she struggled a little, the ropes binding her body would not come loose, so she could only tremble in the darkness.

But at that moment, a creaking sound pierced her ears. It was followed by a short command from a man in a cold voice.

“Find her.”

And the resounding footsteps clearly belonged to those descending into the ship’s cargo hold. And it wasn’t just one or two people.

Layla, who thought she might be dragged somewhere, tried to move her body a little, but of course, there was nowhere for her to retreat.

Something hard was right behind her back. The sides were the same. As she was trembling, light leaked into her vision, which was covered with a black cloth, as if someone had brought a lamp close.

“Found her!”

At the voice of someone shouting, Layla felt her heart pounding. Because it was the voice of someone familiar to her.

‘Lilburn…?’

The moment she thought that, the gag in Layla’s mouth and the cloth covering her eyes fell away. As her vision cleared, the bright light of the lamp momentarily dazzled her eyes, but Layla saw clearly.

Lilburn’s face in front of her, and behind him, a large number of knights, with Bryan mixed among them.

Finally, walking in the center…

A man with silver hair and violet eyes.

Layla’s heart, which had been pounding with anxiety until just now, this time fell heavily as if it would stop.

Thump.

Thump.

As if a giant was trampling on her heart.

Although the man appeared among the armed knights as the only one in a suit, his tall stature and unique muscular, well-balanced physique made him look like a giant compared to any of them.

He slowly descends the stairs with long, thick, yet smooth legs. The small creaking sound of the old steps, matching his footsteps, reminded Layla that this unfamiliar and strange situation unfolding before her eyes was by no means a fantasy.

About ten steps.

That was the distance between him, who had stopped for a moment, and Layla.

His bright and always smiling appearance from childhood was gone, and he had suddenly appeared as a full-grown adult, looking down at her with cool violet eyes.

A sharp nose and jawline, sleek lips, thick eyebrows, and firm-looking skin without excess flesh, even the slightly darkened color of his flesh.

It was difficult to find similarities with his previous appearance, but the man in front of her was definitely him.

“Adrian…?”

The crown prince of Hankin, Adrian Pinter Raines.

At the name that flowed from Layla’s mouth, Adrian showed no reaction. However, the moment she saw his hand tucked into his pants, Layla naturally understood.

That he was Viscount Millay.

“H-how.”

Adrian moved his feet again from where he had paused for a moment. As he approached step by step, Lilburn stood up and stepped aside.

“…You kept your promise at the last minute.”

Layla could only look at Adrian, who was muttering like that, with eyes full of confusion.

Finally, when he approached Layla and knelt on one knee, all the knights around lowered their gazes as if bowing.

Only Layla faced him.

Adrian’s large hand touched Layla’s face. As if afraid to touch, with an extremely careful touch.

However, as his body heat touched her, Layla began to tremble.

“Millay…?”

When she called out the false name from the past, Adrian’s eyes darkened.

“I’m sorry for being so late, Princess Wessex.”

“…Why.”

“Shall we make a third deal? Since it’s unfavorable to me again this time, I hope you’ll agree.”

Before Layla could react, Adrian looked at her as if asking if she was ready to listen.

No matter what this situation was about, there was no way Layla in her current state had the right to refuse.

As she waited quietly, Adrian recited Layla’s future treatment.

“I will take the princess to Hankin to escape Isabella’s influence. And I will try to save your brothers and sisters as much as possible. In return…”

Taking her to Hankin… And saving her family.

There could be nothing more desperate for Layla right now.

However, she didn’t know why the man in front of her was making this offer to her. He called it a deal, but as he said, it was a condition that was unfavorable to Adrian.

He didn’t even have the obligation to do this.

Rather, it would make sense if he brought her family, who had fallen into slavery in Fitzroy, and made her serve them.

Just like when he showed her puzzling kindness with Millay’s face.

She was anxious because she didn’t know his purpose this time either. But Layla had no choice but to turn over the card he offered.

“…Is there something I have to do?”

He might present an absurd condition.

He might ask her to do something she couldn’t, or it might be on the condition that she becomes his slave.

Even so, if it was now, Layla was more than willing to grab the lifeline he was throwing her.

Because the most likely person who could face Isabella Fitzroy was none other than Adrian Raines.

That meant he was her last hope.

“Abandon the Wessex name.”

Layla answered immediately.

“I’ll abandon it.”

Without a moment’s hesitation.

Abandoning the Wessex name meant becoming a slave of Hankin instead of Fitzroy.

Her situation wouldn’t change anyway.

But didn’t he say he would bestow mercy that Isabella wouldn’t? That he would save her family.

Even if it turned out to be a lie and she was betrayed later, it was okay.

There was nowhere lower to fall from here, so there was no reason to hesitate at all.

However, Adrian’s eyes wavered upon hearing the answer.

Why was he dissatisfied when he made the offer and she readily accepted it? His lips pressed into a straight line.

Layla lowered her eyes and avoided his gaze, not knowing what else he would add. Then the hand that had touched her face fell away.

She saw his feet turning as he stood up.

Adrian turned to his knights and spoke in a loud voice.

“Seize all the goods on this ship. Including that woman. We will seek understanding from King Ottilie later and provide adequate compensation.”

That woman.

It was a term reflecting Layla’s situation, where she could no longer be called a princess or Wessex. Layla bit her lip hard.

Soon, the voice of Lilburn, who reacted first to Adrian’s command, was heard.

“Shall we destroy the ship?”

“Burn it.”

Then Adrian suddenly turned to Bryan, who was standing at the forefront of the knights. As soon as his gaze fell on him, Bryan lowered his head as if ashamed.

Adrian gave an order in a greatly subdued voice.

“Bring her out yourself.”

“…I will obey your command.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Bryan walked up to Layla.

He, who probably never dreamed that the situation would turn out like this even last night, showed an agitated expression as he looked at her.

Layla also knew that Bryan had gradually begun to feel sorry for her during their time running away together. And that he had truly tried his best to protect her.

So he might feel responsible for this situation.

Just by seeing him lower his head in front of Adrian just now, she could deduce that fact.

Feeling unnecessarily apologetic, Layla said something meaningless.

“You weren’t just a simple banneret knight, Sir Bryan…”

He seemed to be in a position of guarding closely as a personal knight of the Hankin crown prince. He might even be the commander of the royal guard.

Bryan didn’t say much and grabbed Layla’s arm to lift her up. And when her ear came close, he whispered softly.

“Please endure a little.”

“…”

Was there anything that could be resolved by enduring?

Layla was in a position where she had to rely on Adrian’s inexplicable favor, not knowing why he had appeared before her again.

And as a person from a family that had betrayed the Hankin royal family long ago.

Thus, led by Bryan, Layla stood again at the bow of the ship that was about to be burned.

The port of Ottilie, where the sea breeze was strong, was crowded with people gathered like clouds.

It was understandable. The princess of Wessex, who was destined to become a slave of Fitzroy, was now boarding a Hankin ship. If it wasn’t their own business, there could be no more enjoyable spectacle than this.

Turning her head, she saw a huge warship anchored nearby. The snow-white sails were emblazoned with the coat of arms of the Hankin royal family.

Thus, by the direct order of Crown Prince Raines, who was personally present in Ottilie, all the goods on the Fitzroy ship were transferred there, and Layla also came to occupy a corner of the dark cargo hold.

As if foretelling the fierce battle between Hankin and Fitzroy, one small Fitzroy ship burned down and soon sank under the sea.