Desperate Hostage: Back to the Dungeon
The sweet taste of apple filled my mouth.
But every time I swallowed, it felt like crunching on gritty sand.
Chomp, chomp.
I puffed out my cheeks like a hamster, working my jaw furiously.
Every time my mouth moved, Lilliana's gaze followed suit.
Her eyes were obsessive. Like a cat staring at a goldfish in a tank.
Why's the vibe like this?
A chill ran down my spine.
Where was that innocent, sweet country girl Lily I knew?
No, she still seemed pure, but not in the way I remembered.
How the hell did her personality twist like this?
I couldn't even guess.
No way it's because of me.
Maybe something happened with the crown prince?
Hmm.
No matter how I thought about it, it had to be Adrian's fault.
Who else was hanging around Lilliana besides that guy?
That crazy bastard Adrian.
What the fuck did you do to her?
Her whole personality changed.
Calm her down first. Don't provoke her.
Who knows when that fruit knife in her hand might plunge into me.
I gulped down the apple and forced my lips into a smile.
It felt like a spasm, but I smiled desperately.
"It's... really tasty. Must be because you peeled it for me, Lilliana."
"Really?"
At my single compliment, the heavy air in the room brightened in an instant.
"I'm so glad. I was worried it might not suit your taste...
Want more? I have pears too, and these things called aphrodisiac fruits!"
She picked up the fruit knife again in one hand and excitedly explained the fruits she'd brought, waving it around.
Every time the sun-glinted blade flashed, my heart clenched.
"No, I'm good. I'm full."
"Just one more piece..."
"Lilliana."
I grabbed her hand.
Not the one holding the knife, but the empty other one.
"I need to see Leoness."
In an instant.
Truly in the blink of an eye, Lilliana's expression cooled again.
She didn't pull away, but I felt tension grip the hand I held.
"...That woman again?"
"Listen. It's not because I want to see her..."
"Milady is too kind for your own good."
Lilliana cut me off sharply.
"I told you, that woman took you hostage and threatened to kill you. She's a vicious criminal.
She's locked up in the underground prison again. His Highness the Crown Prince even tightened security, so she couldn't dream of escaping."
There wasn't a shred of mercy in her voice.
Underground prison.
The ominous words triggered the status window to flicker before my eyes again.
In Life Force & Lifespan Sharing state, if one party dies, the other dies as well.
This is insane.
The status was plastered with death omens.
Exhaustion, lethargy, malnutrition.
Even one is a deadly debuff.
Three at once? She could die tomorrow and no one would bat an eye.
Persuasion won't work.
Looking at Lilliana now.
Bring up Leoness more, and who knows what happens.
Tell her the truth about the contract – if Leoness dies, I die too?
She might just use her saintess powers to break it and kill Leoness on the spot.
Current Lilliana? She'd do it in a heartbeat.
So, only one option left.
I bit my lip.
I didn't want to do this.
Really, I never wanted to do this to my favorite.
But.
Sorry, Lily. Really sorry. I have to survive too.
I relaxed my expression as naturally as possible.
"Haa... Fine."
I stopped resisting and slumped back against the bed.
"You're right, Lilliana. I got too worked up. My head hurts a bit..."
My sudden attitude shift made her eyes flicker.
Suspicion and relief mixed in her gaze.
"Really...?"
"Yeah. Thinking about it, you saved my life, and I didn't even consider your feelings. I was too much. Sorry."
Her face brightened again at my words.
"Ah, no! I was too harsh too, hehe..."
I put on the most pitiful, pitiable expression I could.
"More than that, Lilliana, I'm starving. Could you get me some fruit?"
"Ah, yes! Of course!"
Her face lit up brightly again.
The thought of betraying that smile tore at my heart.
While she turned to rummage in the fruit basket under the desk,
I mustered every ounce of strength to sit up.
And crept up behind her.
"Here, fruit..."
The moment she grabbed a piece and turned.
"Milady?"
Our eyes met.
Whoosh.
I wrapped my left arm around her neck.
A sweet lilac scent wafted from her as I pulled her close.
My heart pounded wildly.
In a good way and a bad way. Excitement from hugging Lilliana, guilt from what came next – my stomach churned.
Her body stiffened at the sudden skinship.
"M-Milady...?"
Her face flushed red.
"Sorry, I got dizzy trying to sit up... Can I just hold on like this a bit?"
"Y-Yes? Yes, yes! Of course! He, hehe... Milady..."
In that moment of her vulnerability,
My other hand groped the bedside table.
Reaching for the water bottle she'd set down briefly. Something blunt touched my fingers.
Sorry, Lily.
I gripped the glass bottle's handle tight,
squeezed my eyes shut to banish hesitation,
and smashed it precisely against her head.
-Crash!
A sharp impact.
Lilliana's eyes rolled back.
The fruit slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor.
-Thud.
Fruit chunks scattered everywhere. She was out cold in one hit.
"I'll apologize later."
She shouldn't be badly hurt. Saintesses are ridiculously tough. No blood from her head at all.
If persuasion fails, knock 'em out first.
She was this stubborn – no choice.
I caught her warm, limp body and panted roughly.
"Haa... haa..."
Even this much movement made my vision spin.
But no time to rest.
I tore the bedsheet with a rip and roughly bound her wrists.
Then dragged her off the bed to the floor.
Now what?
Guards outside the door, for sure.
Adrian and Esilla probably nearby.
Break through them to the prison in this wrecked body? Impossible.
Walking there myself? No way. Even opening the door alone is a chore.
So.
Make them take me.
Leoness held me hostage, right?
Then I'll do the same. Bigger and flashier.
I picked up the fallen fruit knife.
And pressed the blade to Lilliana's throat.
Not cutting, of course.
Blade facing outward.
Can't scratch Lilliana's skin.
But good enough to show others.
With my trembling finger, I pointed at the ceiling.
Need to draw attention.
Let them know I'm here.
Let the whole world know what villainess Bellize de Bellaph is doing.
"Bang."
-KABOOM!
A massive roar as the ceiling exploded.
The ornate chandelier crashed down in pieces, debris and thick dust storming the room.
The whole building shook.
This should do it.
I pulled Lilliana close again.
Beyond the crumbling wreckage, urgent footsteps approached.
-Bang!
The door burst open.
Through the dust cloud, the corridor guards drew swords and rushed in.
"What happened!"
Their movements froze stiff.
As the haze cleared, the scene was shocking.
"Don't come closer."
Bellize de Bellaph.
The academy's worst villainess, threatening Lilliana's life.
"One step, and I'll slit her throat."
"Bellize...!"
A familiar shout from the corridor's end.
"You dare... to Lilliana...!"
My fiancé, Adrian. "Repaying kindness with enmity! Do you know how hard Lilliana worked to heal you!"
I smirked brazenly.
"Dunno about that. I have one demand."
I shoved the unconscious Lilliana forward like a shield.
Her head lolled limply.
It'd be a ridiculous, insane demand,
but I had to do this to get back to prison.
I had the blank imperial edict anyway.
Plenty of cards to clean up this mess.
"Lock me back in prison."
To save Leoness.