Unfortunately, Hister did not visit the room Elaina was confined in again until that night had passed.

Her whole body, battered by the beating, was screaming in pain, and her heart was torn to shreds, causing her tremendous agony, but Elaina did not sleep a wink.

‘As expected, there’s nothing here.’

Standing in the middle of the room, Elaina checked her surroundings once more with her swollen eyes.

However, there was nothing she could obtain. She had searched here and there countless times throughout the night, but nothing particularly helpful had appeared.

The only path leading outside was the single door Hister had exited through. There was a spacious balcony separately prepared, but jumping from this height was no different from literally throwing away one’s own life.

She had considered connecting curtains or blankets, but the castle walls were too steep and high for that.

“Hah…”

Feeling a deep despair, Elaina finally sank to the floor powerlessly.

‘As Hister said… is Sinclair really coming?’

[I wonder if you want to know whether that Sinclair will abandon everything and surrender to save you. Or if he will eventually abandon you to protect the throne.]

Suddenly, what flashed through her mind were the words Hister had spat out yesterday, trying to drive a dagger into her heart.

[You should bow your head to me and be grateful, Elaina. This is for my sake as well, but at the same time, wouldn’t it be a golden opportunity to confirm Sinclair’s true feelings?]

Hister was wrong.

Elaina hoped Sinclair would not risk his life and come here for someone like her.

[In my opinion, even if it means throwing away his own life, Sinclair will come here to save you. And he will die miserably by my hand, and you will shed tears of blood and regret it. Because I told you everything!]

So even if the end was a miserable death she would face alone, it didn’t matter.

…Of course, you, my dear, would be greatly hurt. Just as you had been suffering alone without my knowledge.

But she no longer wanted to consume Sinclair’s life. She didn’t want to hurt him. That had already been more than enough.

“If I had known this would happen…”

If she had known then that those sharp words might be the last she would say to him, she wouldn’t have done that.

She would have told you while looking into your eyes.

Not to be sorry to me anymore.

That it wasn’t your fault.

And that she was so very sorry for not appreciating your sincerity…

But it was already far too late. Elaina smiled bitterly as she gazed at the ring on her ring finger.

[Even if we suddenly part, as long as you have this ring, I will be able to recognize you. I can return to you. I promise. No matter how much you’ve changed. Or wherever you are, it doesn’t matter at all…]

Then, pondering the words Ren had once said, she thought to herself.

Just this once, please let Sinclair not make the same choice.

Let him not be in danger because of her.

“…”

Sitting silently with tears streaming down, Elaina stared at the ring Ren had given her for a long time.

Then, after a considerable amount of time had passed, she slowly rose from her spot.

‘If there’s no hole to escape through, I need to at least find something that can be used as a weapon. If there isn’t any, I’ll have to make one.’

Regardless, Hister would surely continue to come see her.

In other words, that also meant each time, an opportunity for Elaina to attack Hister would arise.

And in the worst case.

For example, if a situation truly arose where Sinclair was put in danger using her life as leverage…

Then, it could be used for a purpose other than harming Hister.

“…”

Pacing around the room and examining here and there, Elaina soon stood still.

What captured her gaze was a vase sitting on an ornately decorated side table.

She pondered for a moment, then moved with a limping gait towards the bed. Then, dragging the thick blanket with her hand, she placed it on the floor.

And lifting the large vase high, she threw it with all her might.

Crack.

With a dull sound, the vase shattered into pieces in an instant. Elaina bent her knees, reached out her hand, and picked up a shard that was the sharpest and of a size that could be hidden in her bosom.

‘This should be enough.’

Hiding the shard between her clothes, Elaina gathered the remaining shards that were dirtying the blanket. And to prevent Hister from discovering them, she carefully hid them under the bed and returned the blanket to its original place.

And at that very moment, the sound of someone’s presence was heard beyond the firmly closed door.

“…”

Elaina stared ahead with a highly tense face, and soon Hister opened the door and entered the bedroom.

…Strangely, he seemed to be in an extremely good mood today.

“Your husband has nearly arrived at the castle.”

And as if Elaina’s ominous premonition had been perfectly fulfilled, Hister smirked and parted his lips.

“It’s something to be grateful for. Isn’t that right, Elaina?”

Hister, who had suddenly closed in on Elaina, tapped her cheek with his palm and said:

“You should be happy. You should even shed tears of joy. You shouldn’t be making this kind of face.”

Elaina did not answer at all. She merely glared at Hister with all her might with her blue eyes filled with anger.

“There are very special devices in this castle. Do you happen to know?”

Then, he began to pour out stories Elaina hadn’t even asked about in a very delighted voice.

“There were reasons why Lundberg and Rockford had prepared this castle in case of unforeseen circumstances. This place is extremely suitable for defense.”

“…”

“For example, starting from the structure of the castle gates.”

…Structure?

“The path entering through the castle gates from the outside is very narrow, but on the contrary, the path going out from the inside is wide open in all directions. So that those charging in can be killed without much difficulty at any time.”

But having been dragged in blindfolded, there was no way for Elaina to know such things. She looked at Hister with puzzled eyes, and Hister continued.

“That’s not all. The devices that were too old to function properly due to the passage of time since their construction have all been repaired, and the collapsed ones have been rebuilt. With great effort.”

Hister laughed as if pleased.

“The moment they pass through the castle gates, the archers who were hiding and waiting on the newly built stone walls right next to it will simultaneously fire arrows. Do you know what that means? It means your husband and the soldiers he brought will all die pierced by arrows the moment they set foot in this castle. Like hedgehogs.”

Elaina’s face instantly turned pale.

“And as you know, Sinclair is the type to charge straight ahead anytime, anywhere. It was no different on the battlefield. This time will be the same. I intend to personally open the castle gates for him. How could I not do at least that much for my one and only precious elder brother? Especially for your sake, all the more so.”

Hister, who had been grinning until now, suddenly erased his smile and grabbed Elaina’s collar roughly.

“No matter how remarkable Sinclair may be, this will be the end.”

“…”

“But I’m still not sure. Whether it will be more fun to kill you in front of Sinclair, or to kill Sinclair in front of you.”

A distinct madness was oozing from Hister’s golden eyes. Thus, Elaina could easily realize.

…That obtaining even a measly piece of a vase was an extremely wise choice.

‘Now…’

Then wouldn’t now be the most opportune moment?

Whether foolishly or because he was confident Elaina could no longer cause any more trouble, Hister had not brought a single common soldier with him.

Would there be another chance like this in the future? No, it seemed unlikely.

Elaina swallowed her saliva without Hister noticing, and carefully began to fumble her bosom with a faintly trembling white hand.

…However, her attempt ended in vain.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, the soldiers from the imperial palace have arrived!”

Because with someone’s loud voice, the closed door abruptly swung open.

It was none other than Hister’s knight, Liam.

“They are currently lined up and waiting in front of the castle. However…”

“Your husband has finally come.”

Hister firmly grabbed Elaina’s hair without giving her a chance to escape, and dragging her like a dog, he began walking towards the balcony in an instant.

“Your Highness, wait a moment…!”

Liam’s following words were ignored.

Elaina struggled with all her might, but to no avail. She was already standing in front of the wide open balcony. Together with Hister, who was still laughing loudly as if extremely delighted at this very moment.

At that moment when Elaina, soaked in despair, was about to tightly close her eyes,

“What is this…”

Unlike just before, Hister’s voice, which had turned cold, settled in her ears.

“What in the world is going on, Liam!”

Elaina reflexively opened her eyes wide.

Hister was glaring ahead with an extremely stiff expression.

Soon, Elaina’s gaze also followed Hister’s.