In the meantime, Marcus tore the bedsheet to prevent Anthony from shouting for help. Freed from the rope, Ines looked at Marcus.

“Are you okay?”

He nodded, his face dripping with cold sweat. After confirming that Anthony was completely bound, Ines examined Marcus’s wounds.

“It’s impossible to climb down from the second floor by burning the wall like this.”

Marcus, focusing on Ines’s injuries rather than his own, spoke. If it were not for Ines, who was less sensitive to pain than others, it would have been difficult for her to stand properly.

“I’m fine. I can walk without any problem.”

“Yes, with this condition, you should be able to go out to the balcony and move to the next room. Be careful of the gap between the balconies, though.”

Ines tilted her head curiously.

“Marcus?”

“It’s better for Her Highness to escape first.”

“What are you talking about?”

He answered calmly, examining Ines’s injuries rather than his own.

“As you heard.”

“I won’t do that.”

Finally, Marcus looked at Ines, who was filled with anger. His face showed frustration.

“Yes, I thought you would say that. But just a while ago, you said it like this. Don’t waste two lives on what could be one person’s life.”

If there was a commotion inside, people would rush into the room. Besides, due to his injuries, Marcus couldn’t move sideways.

So, it was better to prevent Ines from being traced as much as possible and die here. That’s how Marcus judged.

“Yes, I definitely said that.”
Ines stared into Marcus’s eyes and pulled the rope that bound Anthony tightly. Anthony rose from his seat.

“And when that moment comes, I will keep my promise.”

Anthony was still in pain, gasping for breath. As he moved his body, Ines firmly pulled the tied rope and decisively said,

“But it’s not that moment yet.”

Then, she handed him over to Marcus. Ines walked to the man Marcus had subdued without hesitation and pulled out his sword.

Feeling a shiver at the sensation of pulling a knife from a person’s body, her hands trembled, but there was nothing she wouldn’t do to save her own people. However, she didn’t forget to apply pressure to the fallen man’s waist to control the bleeding.

“What are you trying to do?”

“We will use the Crown Prince as bait to escape from this house.”

“But!”

“For now, this is the best way. I won’t entertain any other opinions.”

Marcus closed his eyes tightly. The pain in his chest was more overwhelming than the sharp wounds on his back.

He watched Ines, who was moving swiftly with her injured leg. She would never yield. It was the sight of the woman he loved, but at this moment, that sentiment was resented.

But there was no more time to waste.

“If so, I’ll take the path toward the warehouse.”

Ines nodded. Just getting out of this room was already a problem.

“Stick the knife to his neck and keep walking. I’ll look around from behind.”

Even as Ines spoke, she anxiously touched Marcus’s back. Although tears didn’t gush out, the back of his shirt continued to be damp with sweat.

Seeing this, Marcus shook his head as if to say not to worry.

“I am a knight and a legislator. I won’t die with just this much damage. It’s just that my body doesn’t respond well.”

“But we still need to stop the bleeding as soon as possible.”

“If you go to the warehouse, there should be a carriage I sneaked in. Escaping from here is the priority now.”

The two locked eyes and nodded. Anthony continued to move his body, but the motion seemed feeble as the knife was close to his neck.

As a warning, Ines whispered to him. If they couldn’t escape from here, she would definitely thrust the sword into his neck.

When the door opened, the guard standing at the door was surprised. Fortunately, there was only one person guarding the door. At first, he aimed his sword, but seeing the knife pressed against Anthony’s neck, he hesitated, flinching away from approaching.

As Marcus had said, the guard wasn’t too strict. Ines guarded against anyone rushing in from behind Marcus.

About ten men appeared here and there, but when Marcus pressed the knife to Anthony’s neck, they couldn’t approach anymore.

Feeling the threat to his life, Anthony desperately tilted his head, blocking their approach.