They say it’s been a day since I was kidnapped.

The rain kept falling.

The rain made noisy sounds as it fell on the waterproof robe soaked in oil, covering even my head.

I ran on the wet road, supported by Liam’s strong arm gripping my waist.

Though I was more than half carried by him, even without walking my breath became rough and my heart felt like it would burst.

Liam was solid.

He was unwavering like an old tree.

He gave me his robe and got soaked. He was so heated that steam rose from his body even without using his ability. While taking responsibility for me as well, Liam’s speed of movement did not decrease.

Knights joined one by one, then moved away to block Duke Bersi’s followers who were pursuing.

The situation was not good.

Of all things, it had to be rain.

It was an environment where Duke Bersi’s water ability could be fully utilized.

Yet he still hadn’t appeared.

“He was waiting.”

Liam stopped in his tracks.

My body lurched forward from the momentum, but he held me firmly.

He tensed up too. Liam’s muscles tightened as he watched the scene unfolding before his eyes.

The falling raindrops gathered and writhed like a snake, forming a mass. The rainwater blocked our way in the form of a giant snake.

Duke Bersi slowly descended to the ground, stepping on its head.

His ability had become even stronger due to the blessing I had given Duke Bersi. I pulled on Liam’s clothes to let him know.

“I gave Duke Bersi a blessing. His ability is stronger now.”

Liam didn’t blame me for doing something unnecessary. Duke Bersi marveled at his own power.

“My goodness, Princess Ormia. Can you see? Your blessing overflows in this body. Not even Prince Alian, no, not even His Majesty was like this!”

As Duke Bersi raised his arm, the snake behind him opened its mouth and fired a water projectile.

With a boom that split the air, an explosion occurred. The ground where the water projectile hit became a small clearing. Trees fell and the earth was gouged out.

Liam quickly embraced me, shielding me from the wind and leaves.

Perhaps surprised by the power of his own ability, Duke Bersi laughed loudly, “Ha ha!”

He showed madness.

He revealed the true nature he had been hiding while acting until now.

“To feel like this while using an ability! There’s still enormous power left! The princess is this country’s blessing! A gift bestowed by God to the Bersi ducal family!”

His glistening eyes turned towards me.

“Come here. You’re being deceived by that man, Princess. The Empire has no one with abilities. Who knows what they’ll do when they find out you have a blessing.”

Having tasted power, Duke Bersi desired me more greedily than when he received the blessing.

“I promise. I, Duke Bersi, will elevate you to the highest position. I will fulfill whatever you wish.”

“Freedom.”

There is only one thing I want.

The freedom to leave Glishia and die where I want.

“What I want is freedom.”

“You can enjoy it in Glishia. In this country that understands and will protect you better than anyone!”

“Protection, or rather imprisonment.”

For a moment I was so surprised I thought maybe Liam had also returned to the past like me.

Liam continued his sharp deduction.

“You kidnapped Princess Ormia who was officially invited, so you plan to say the Empire killed her externally.”

Duke Bersi’s smile deepened.

“And you’ll monopolize the princess for yourself.”

“Can your Empire say its intentions are any different? Aren’t you planning to use the princess to pressure the Wilboyers?”

“I used the Empire.”

Perhaps his confidence swelled from being full of blessing, but the duke became even more arrogant. He looked down at Liam with his chin raised.

“Return the princess and withdraw. I will specially cooperate with what the Empire wants. If you need the princess’s blessing, I will provide it.”

“The princess is not your possession.”

Suddenly Duke Bersi shot water arrows behind him.

The Empire’s knights who were approaching scattered quickly.

“Like rats!”

A battle broke out between the duke’s subordinates and the Empire’s knights.

Swords clashed and blood splattered. Though the Empire’s knights should be highly skilled, the situation was evenly matched.

Even while swinging their swords, their attacks faltered once in a while as if blocked by something.

Though they responded quickly, they gradually began to be pushed back.

“They’re using abilities.”

Liam provided the answer.

Though avoiding fatal blows, small wounds accumulated on the knights’ bodies.

Intoxicated by power, Duke Bersi used his ability without holding back. The duke’s subordinates gradually tightened their encirclement. Even when the knights tried to block, the ability interfered so their attacks didn’t land properly.

The pressure slowly closing in.

My flower can block abilities, but it was raining now. The situation was favorable for Duke Bersi. It would eventually lead to a war of attrition.

An effective method in this situation came to mind.

“Take me hostage.”

Liam’s eyes briefly glanced at me before turning to Duke Bersi. He didn’t even listen to what I said.

Liam’s body holding me gradually grew hotter. Liam intends to take action himself.

I pulled on his clothes to stop him.

“It’s raining.”

The fire ability cannot be fully exerted on a rainy day.

Moreover, this is Glishia.

If it becomes known that Liam of the heretic family has entered this land, it will become a diplomatic issue. No matter how intoxicated by the blessing, Duke Bersi was someone who kept power in reserve.

I wrapped my arms around Liam’s waist.

While he was startled and looked down at me, I pulled out the dagger from his waist. I held the sharp blade to my neck.

“Stop. That’s an order.”

“Rescue the princess!”

Duke Bersi laughed instead. He raised the corner of his mouth and ostentatiously ordered his subordinates.

The sharp sound of weapons grew fiercer.

Duke Bersi even made water into a whip and struck down the knights. The knights became busier trying to block the duke’s subordinates and the unpredictable ability.

Duke Bersi only regarded my action as a threat from a princess raised gently.

I stabbed above my heart with the dagger.

“Duke, stop! Kuh!”

“Princess Ormia!”

Liam grabbed my wrist.

I shifted the dagger to my other hand and aimed at my neck again. The sharp pain stinging my skin gave my body tension.

Hot blood flowed down my neck.

Duke Bersi, his smile gone, raised his hand.

“Stop.”

The sound of weapons ceased.

I glared at Duke Bersi.

Liam overlapped his hand on mine.

“I’ll do it. Let go.”

We can’t give Duke Bersi an opening.

“Princess, I’ll do it. Relax your hand.”

At his pleading voice, the strength left my hand.

He held my hand and moved the blade slightly away from my neck.

“Pull back your subordinates. We will depart for the Empire as planned.”

“You’ll take the princess hostage? You?”

“At least I’ll prevent the princess from harming herself. Don’t you see she looks ready to do anything?”

At Liam’s words, Duke Bersi’s gaze turned to me again.

He scanned my neck and shoulders.

If I can’t leave Glishia, my life has no meaning. Rather than being imprisoned again, I’d choose death myself.

While I had a staring contest with Duke Bersi, the knights secured an escape route. Liam pulled me back while wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

As we retreated, Duke Bersi took a step forward.

Liam grasped my hand but I hadn’t let go of the dagger. I pulled the dagger aimed at my neck closer.

“Stop.”

“Do you think you can leave Glishia?”

The soldiers watched us warily while looking to the duke. They didn’t stop us.

“The royal family is a blessing bestowed by God to those with abilities. A gift for the ability users. We are meant to be inseparable. Do you think you can fare well leaving Glishia, Princess?”

“At least anywhere would be better than Glishia.”

“Things will be different now.”

“The treatment changes depending on the situation, so it’s even less trustworthy.”

“Princess.”

“Rather than return, I’ll end it here.”

Duke Bersi’s mouth didn’t open.

I thought he would try to persuade me with honeyed words and arrogant speech, but the silence stretched on.

He was someone who didn’t hesitate to speak harshly and use violence.

He was looking at me with an unfamiliar gaze. I’ve seen that look from Duke Bersi before.

In my second life when I was captured by Duke Haiman.

Was it after overhearing that I would die at twenty-two with a heart full of scars? Duke Bersi, who entered the open cage, looked at me with those eyes for a while.

It happened in my third life too.

When the Empire’s invasion began and the unrest could be felt even in the tower. Duke Bersi visited one night.

I was lying down waiting for death.

Then too, Duke Bersi looked at me with those eyes.

There was an emotion and many thoughts I didn’t know in his gaze.

“One hundred.”

Duke Bersi smiled, holding up one finger. The unfamiliar look from earlier was gone and he had returned to his previous self.

“From now I’ll count to one hundred. Run as far as you can. When I finish counting, I’ll come to bring you back, Princess. Even if I have to cut off your arms and legs.”

“Go!”

Liam held me and started running.

The knights followed and the soldiers waited for Duke Bersi’s order.

Duke Bersi kept his promise.

“One.”

His not-so-loud voice clung to my ears.

“He’s someone who keeps his promises.”

“Two.”

The counting voice grew more distant.

“Three.”

I could no longer hear it.

Their figures were buried in darkness. The knights ran escorting us.

How long did we run? The rain lessened and when my body started shaking, Liam stopped. Even though I hadn’t run myself, I was out of breath.

No matter how much Duke Bersi keeps his promises, we need to escape quickly.

“Just stop the bleeding.”

With bandages provided by a knight, Liam wrapped them across my shoulder and chest. He pulled and tightened them firmly.

“Ah.”

“Bear with it.”

Liam’s voice was quite cold.

It wasn’t a sound made from pain, but belatedly the wound stung and ached.

After tying the knot, Liam examined my neck and wrapped the bandage around it about four times before I could stop him. He didn’t scold me, but he didn’t comfort me either.

He was angry at me with his silence.

As I turned my head to look around, the ten knights had been reduced to five. Hal wasn’t among them.

Because of me.

“If you don’t want to regret, don’t do it in the first place.”

“What?”

It was a low voice.

Perhaps talking to himself, Liam didn’t answer my question and picked me up.

“A little further and horses will be prepared.”

“Hold on tight. We’ll ride to the border.”

Liam’s neck was thick and solid. His body trained with muscle was hard, but it was hot so my shivering body calmed down.

Hmm, he adjusted his hold on me and moved his lips so only I could hear.

“I warned you.”

I gripped his clothes at his next words.

“I said you’d be in trouble if you carelessly hurt your body.”