It took exactly two days from the imperial palace to reach the western region of Edenbell.

But Sinclair knew very well. That no matter what it takes, he had to get to where Elaina was even a few minutes faster.

Because he was not unaware of how Hister tortures people, and how he breaks people.

It had already been a full day since he left the imperial palace with soldiers and guards in tow.

Sinclair rushed day and night like a madman without resting at all, and the soldiers and guards who clearly witnessed his desperation with their own eyes quietly followed behind him.

[Your Highness was right. A year ago, Grand Duke Lundberg purchased a castle in the western region under an alias.]

It wasn’t as if Sinclair had left the imperial palace without any prior investigation. As soon as he finished speculating that Hister would have gone to the western region, he immediately traced the whereabouts of Grand Duke Lundberg and Duke Rockford.

[As you know, Your Highness, during the time of the previous emperor, soldiers were temporarily stationed in the western region. Because of the war with the Rika Empire. It’s that very castle that was used at that time.]

That wasn’t particularly good news for Sinclair.

The castle that Grand Duke Lundberg had purchased under an alias was, as Schuler reported, a place where soldiers to be sent as reinforcements were stationed in case of unforeseen circumstances during the war with another empire.

Unfortunately, although the castle was quite old, it was damn near perfect for defense.

The castle walls were very high and solid, thoroughly prepared to block any sudden attacks by enemy forces at any time, and it was even situated by the Hilden River, so it could supply water without any shortage.

In other words, it was a castle that could be called almost a fortress without exaggeration.

Schuler, who was not unaware of that fact, made a very perplexed expression after finishing his report.

[Hister will try to protect himself as much as possible. He won’t come out of the castle until he gets what he wants.] [I know.] […What should we do? The situation is not good.]

Schuler was right. The situation was turning unfavorable for Sinclair, no matter who looked at it.

But…

[Hister is not the only one who knows that castle well.]

Sinclair had no intention of giving up at all.

[No matter how bad the situation is, nothing changes. I will definitely rescue Elaina and return to the imperial capital together.]

“…”

Sinclair, who had been mulling over his conversation with Schuler, put all his strength into the hand holding the reins.

And then he thought.

That the tearful image of Elaina he had seen at that time could not be the last.

It shouldn’t be the last.

It can’t be…

[I like you, Ren. The most in the world.]

Suddenly, what clearly brushed past his ears was, someday.

It was what Elly had said, looking at him with a bright face.

[Sinclair, I love you.]

Also, even the words Elaina had said after regaining consciousness from drinking the poisoned wine alternately shook Sinclair’s heart.

…Maybe from the moment you first told me your heart, I started considering you as my everything.

So even after abandoning her in the valley and running away, Sinclair could not help but wander endlessly.

Losing Elaina, who had been his only resting place and his everything, he trembled with loneliness endlessly like a long-standing ghost.

Losing her was no different from his own death to Sinclair.

‘This time, absolutely…’

I won’t run away and leave you.

No matter what happens, even if I have to give my life, definitely.

And once he gets Elaina back like that, he will tell her.

That he still loves her so much.

That his life without her is just a shell, with no reason or value to live.

And he will wait again. Until Elaina forgives him and accepts his heart.

Even if he has to wait a lifetime.

“…”

Sinclair, who was holding the reins, bit his lips with all his might, not knowing that blood was seeping out. Then, in order to reach Elaina even a little faster, he began to run even more crazily than before.

* * *

She seemed to have lost consciousness for a while due to Hister’s relentless beating.

“Ugh…”

The first thing Elaina did after opening her eyes with difficulty was let out a groan.

Perhaps because she had been beaten to death by the guard even before the furious Hister appeared, it was no exaggeration to say that her whole body was screaming in pain.

Her head kept ringing, and the pain in her broken ankle made her suffer even more than usual.

‘But this is not the time to be like this. I need to get my mind straight.’

So, Elaina looked around urgently, holding back the groans that kept trying to escape through her dry lips.

‘Where is this?’

The place she was in now was neither the underground prison where she had been trapped with Chez, nor the first-floor corridor where she had been beaten by Hister.

It was someone’s room, decorated too luxuriously and splendidly to be true despite the wartime situation.

“It seems you’ve regained some consciousness.”

At the suddenly familiar voice, Elaina flinched greatly and turned around.

Then, she saw Hister sitting in a chair with bandages wrapped around his arm.

As soon as their eyes met, Hister got up from his seat and began to walk towards Elaina, striding.

Startled, Elaina reflexively stepped back, but to no avail. With her back hitting the wall, she looked at Hister, who had already rushed up to her, trembling slightly.

“I’ve been thinking about this and that, a lot. While you were lazily sleeping.”

Hister said, looking down at Elaina with unusually sharp golden eyes.

“Unfortunately, you’re already quite blemished, but at least your life is not in danger, right?”

…What on earth is he trying to say by doing that? His threat to destroy her remaining leg and crush her limbs suddenly came to mind again, and Elaina flinched slightly.

“No matter how lowly a life is, there are many ways to use it.”

“…”

“So first, I chose the easiest one.”

The easiest one?

Elaina’s eyes, which had been glaring at Hister, narrowed slightly.

“Your legs may be crippled, but your face is pretty and your shortened hair seems to suit you quite well.”

…Hair?

Only then did Elaina raise her hand and felt her own head.

There was nothing to grab. Her long, jet-black hair that always reached her waist was cut haphazardly to her jawline.

“Do you know what the most painful way to make a person suffer is?”

Hister said with a sneer, smirking.

“It’s to slowly drive them to death.”

“You…”

“First the hair, then the fingers, and then the arms. If I cut off your body parts one by one like that and send them to Sinclair, aren’t you curious what expression he will make?”

“…”

“Among them, what I’m most curious about is what expression Sinclair will make when he receives the broken ankle that was ruined because of him.”

I’m really looking forward to that one thing. Hister said, laughing as if he was truly happy.

“And I thought you would want to know too, Elaina Aswald.”

“…What?”

“Whether that Sinclair will abandon everything and surrender to save you. Or whether he will eventually abandon you to protect the throne, don’t you want to know?”

Elaina did not give any answer. No, perhaps she could not.

[Help me, Ren! Don’t leave me behind!]

What suddenly flashed before her eyes was that valley. The back of Ren running away, leaving behind the young her whose foot was caught between large rocks.

…Am I really curious about how Sinclair will act, as Hister says?

So if Sinclair abandons everything and surrenders to save me.

If he does that, was I going to accept his sincerity and forgive him then?

Elaina bit her lip with a stiff face.

“You should bow your head to me and be grateful, Elaina. This is not only for my sake but also an excellent opportunity to confirm Sinclair’s true heart, don’t you think?”

…No.

No.

A strong wave rose in Elaina’s eyes as she faced Hister.

“Of course, you will have to suffer quite a bit in the process, but that can’t be helped…”

“I’ve always thought, Hister Butler.”

Before Hister could finish his words, Elaina quickly parted her lips.

“You are indeed a cowardly and despicable human being.”

Then, just as Hister had done, she glared at him with a face full of ridicule and continued.

“No matter how Sinclair acts, I won’t be swayed by your stupid words.”

“…What?”

“You were going to keep wielding me like this. Because nothing would be better for you than seeing me break down that way.”

Strength entered Elaina’s drooping hand.

“But you’re wrong.”

Soon, Elaina said in a very resolute voice.

“I have absolutely… no intention of being deceived by your tricks and testing Sinclair.”

It wasn’t a matter of whether she trusted Sinclair or not.

Even if one of her legs was ruined forever, and she was kidnapped by Hister with her life in immediate danger…

Elaina was still, as Sinclair had said, a person who shines.

So no matter what happened, she would never be shaken by the words or actions of others.

“An excellent opportunity?”

“…”

“Yes. This will indeed be an excellent opportunity. An excellent opportunity for Sinclair to get rid of you, and for you to fall endlessly.”

Having said that, Elaina glared at Hister with an unafraid face, and at the same time, Hister’s face hardened.