He Who Covets the Abandoned Bride - Chapter 54

When the emperor was disgusted by Adrian’s decision to keep Layla in the Crown Prince’s palace, it was already known that Layla was the only slave within the imperial palace.

Because of that, there were many people who were repulsed just by seeing the heavy shackles on her hands and feet when she was out working.

Still, the story spread that she was a cherished slave of Adrian, so no one laid a hand on her.

Adrian’s eyes followed Layla, who could be seen through the window of his room. Worried that her hands might get injured while trimming the thorny garden trees, he walked around the room, trying not to lose sight of her as she moved.

Lilburn had been watching this for quite a long time, and finally losing patience, he called out to him.

“Your Highness.”

However, Adrian naturally changed the subject as if it flowed like water.

“She says she works in other palaces too. Tell Brian to keep an eye on her then.”

Brian was Adrian’s closest guard knight. But was it okay to keep having him follow Layla around? The emperor would be furious if he found out.

However, knowing Adrian wouldn’t care much about his father’s intentions, Lilburn gave a positive answer for now to get past the situation.

“…I understand. By the way, about the man named Cedric who was taken by Isabella Fitzroy.”

“Did you look into it?”

Adrian asked, still looking down at Layla working from behind the curtain.

“It seems the First Princess also used quite a bit of power in a short period of time during this conquest of Wessex. So she’s telling Cedric to attune, but he’s not listening.”

“I guess it couldn’t be solved with an artifact.”

“It seems so.”

Lilburn’s words ended there, but Adrian thought there would be more to the story. So when he held out his hand, Lilburn obediently handed over the report.

It detailed the torture Cedric was undergoing. Even just reading it, the stories were quite terrible, making Adrian frown.

To borrow the emperor’s expression, they were indeed barbaric acts.

And when he saw what was written at the end of the report, his face stiffened coldly.

Suspected to be experimenting to create an attuning artifact

“This last line…”

At Adrian’s murmur, Lilburn replied matter-of-factly.

“It seems to be referring to an artifact like ‘Tristan’.”

It was the kind of idea Isabella Fitzroy would come up with. Cedric was known as a powerful attuner, and sacrificing him could yield a top-tier artifact.

However, there was certainly a probability of manufacturing failure.

If such a thing were 100% possible, artifacts like Tristan would not be as rare as they are now.

Therefore, it was a behavior Adrian could not understand. It seemed stupid too.

“I guess ambition has blinded her.”

Moreover, she already had an attuning artifact in her hands. The one Adrian had originally intended to bring back.

“As a result, the King of Wessex ended up igniting the fire.”

“Should I thank him for creating a weakness?”

Adrian sarcastically remarked as he threw the report on the desk.

Adrian had also heard about the miserable death of the King of Wessex. It was a fitting end that showcased Isabella Fitzroy’s cruel nature.

Anyone else would have found it unfortunate. But not him.

If it weren’t for Layla, Wessex was a country he would have destroyed with his own hands long ago. But that foolish king made a political misjudgment and even reduced Layla to this state.

Moreover, the King of Wessex was the worst father to Layla. He not only hit her but also starved her when she didn’t follow his wishes, abusing her since childhood. He was the one who led the ridicule, calling her a useless child with no attuning ability.

Considering those points, he only regretted not being able to put an end to it himself.

‘More than that.’

Although he had told Layla he would look into it, it seemed difficult to convey the contents of this report as they were.

She was already a pitiful youngest child who was willing to crawl to Isabella, and if she saw what was here, she might try to escape from Harkin.

Adrian, now looking at Layla’s back as she left the garden, gave Lilburn a new order.

“Find out if we can have someone communicate with Cedric.”

As always, Lilburn looked particularly more troubled this time.

“Wouldn’t that be too risky? The First Princess is already very suspicious of spies.”

“It’s fine even if it’s just once or twice. …We should at least let Layla write a letter.”

And if that route proved to be usable multiple times, it would be fine to devise a plan to bring down Isabella using Cedric.

He had publicly declared that he would bring down the Fitzroys within three years, so he had to keep his word.

At that moment, Maeve’s urgent voice was heard from outside.

“Your Highness!”

Instantly, the gazes of Lilburn and Adrian inside simultaneously turned there. Adrian responded to that urgent voice.

“Come in.”

The door swung open. It was rare for the calm-natured Maeve to act so hastily, so Lilburn, who was beside him, closed the door and asked first.

“What happened, Maeve?”

After catching her breath for a moment, Maeve bowed her head to Adrian and reported.

“The Fourth Prince is whipping Lady Layla.”

As soon as he heard that, Adrian’s violet eyes turned cold. He asked in a lowered voice.

“…For what reason?”

“He said a shadow brushed past him just now.”

Whip, whip!

Behind the palace where the princes other than the crown prince resided. The fierce sound of a whip echoed in the garden.

At that, the gazes of the other princes or servants peeked through the closed windows of the building.

There was already a great interest in the slave recently brought in from the Crown Prince’s palace, so everyone put aside their own work and came when a spectacle arose.

Layla was on her knees on the dirt floor, receiving a whipping from the Fourth Prince’s attendant, with their gazes focused on her.

The Fourth Prince stood in front of her, biting his lip and looking down at Layla with an expressionless face.

Whack!

Layla’s body bent and trembled as the whip struck her back with force once again. She was not allowed to moan, so blood flowed from her bitten lips.

And finally, with one last strike, the Fourth Prince raised his hand.

“Enough.”

Only then could Layla relax her body. Her face was completely wet with tears from enduring the terrible pain.

The clothes soaked with blood from about twenty lashes were stuck to her back.

The Fourth Prince looked at Layla’s state for a moment, then lifted her face with the tip of his foot. After taking in her ruined appearance, he clicked his tongue.

“You should have been careful with your behavior then, shouldn’t you?”

“I-I apologize.”

At Layla’s powerless voice, the Fourth Prince slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

He felt a bit compensated by venting his pent-up anger at Adrian, who acted like he was the best in the world.

Not only was the slave’s face a mess, but the whipped back would undoubtedly leave scars, so even after healing, it could ruin the taste of embracing her.

However, it had nothing to do with him, so the Fourth Prince tapped Layla’s cheek with his foot and pushed her to the side. Layla’s strength-drained body fell onto the dirt floor.

It was when Layla tried to raise her upper body again. The Fourth Prince grabbed her hair with a force stronger than the trembling arms she used to push herself up.

“Now that I think about it, you’re from a traitorous family but have no attuning ability, right?”

“…Yes.”

Layla obediently affirmed, knowing that if she didn’t answer, the whip would strike again, and the Fourth Prince continued his next question.

“Then why did my brother bring you? It’s strange.”

“……”

“You were the culprit who almost killed my brother, so is he trying to take revenge? As you know, His Highness has a good memory and is the type to have no blood or tears.”

Layla closed her eyes tightly. Because it pierced the part that hurt her the most.

Tears continued to flow down both cheeks. As if losing interest in that unsightly appearance, the Fourth Prince hardened his expression and finally let go of Layla.

“I’ll end it here this time, so don’t even think about daring to push that filthy body in front of me again. If such a thing happens one more time, I will tell His Majesty to send you to Cliffhill.”

At that, when Layla tried to get up from her spot and say she would keep it in mind, thank him for his grace, that’s when it happened.

“Well, should I say thank you for kindly educating the slave belonging to the Crown Prince’s palace on my behalf?”

A sarcastic voice was heard, and Layla, the Fourth Prince, and even the attendant holding the whip froze.

As Layla lifted her head with a start, the owner of the voice came into view.

It was Adrian.

Behind him, Lilburn, Brian, and the Crown Prince’s palace attendants could be seen standing in a line.