“You know, Miss. I trust our Leader. Even if the whole world says it’s so, if our Leader says it isn’t, then it’s absolutely not.”

She calmly put the ointment and stick on the floor when she had done her job.

“You’re a good subordinate.”

“Thank you.  I hope our Leader thinks so too.”

Then she took a strangely twisted knife out of her pocket and started spinning it calmly between her fingers.

I think it was close to being a talent. The movements became more pronounced, perhaps due to the ominous and dreary aura that fluttered during the day.

“But, you know what? I can’t trust the Leader this time. It shouldn’t be you. You’re not worth it. What if his whereabouts are discovered for nothing?”

She suddenly changed her stance and the knife, which she had been spinning cheerfully in her hand, stood upright.

“Anyway, it’s good that you really can’t use magic. And you’re also weak, so it will be easier.”

And then, the blade rushed straight to my side and she hit my head. Even though it happened in an instant, I saw it vividly like it was happening in slow motion. She twisted her hand wide and pulled out the knife.

I reflexively grabbed the area with my hands, rolling up my shoulders. Because it was so sudden, I didn’t feel any pain.

“… You. Right now…”

Celina’s voice trembled.

“I was thinking of torturing you, but I’ll finish it once and for all, considering the affection we shared in such a short time. Honestly, I feel sorry for you.”

Red Tail’s mouth spread in a smile.

“Above all, if you say you are in pain with that incredibly pretty face, I will be heartbroken as well.”

It wasn’t enough that she was a crazy kidnapper, but now she was also a crazy stabbing bitch. What bad luck.

I closed my eyes tightly when I saw the knife rushing to my neck.

I wondered if I was finally getting out of here, but strangely enough, that didn’t seem to be the case. After a frightening silence, I opened my eyes carefully.

The woman who had just clearly stabbed me with a knife was now lying near one of the windows, bleeding from her nose. It looked like someone had thrown her.

I don’t know why, but her face was pale. Her legs twitched occasionally as if she was having a seizure, but seeing that there was black foam in her mouth, she seemed to have passed out.

What was that?  What happened?

I pressed the stab wound with my hands as my breathing became shallower and more spaced out. This was the least I could do in the present situation.

I could feel thousands of sharp ice cubes churning and crushing deep inside my body. It was a terrible pain.

“Ah. This sucks.”

I bent down and groaned, trying to ease the pain, and then fell from the chair. The impact of my body hitting the hard floor made me gasp unconsciously.

A burning sensation spread from the depths of my stomach, as if it were on fire. The crow by the window cawed loudly.

Wow, it hurt so badly. I blinked, my eyes half out of focus. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see the world clearly.

The margin of the dark red blood that gushed out of my body and pooled on the floor was unclear and blurry, as if it had been roughly erased with an eraser. Celina’s limp, white arms and fingers were pathetically thin.

… I suddenly felt very sleepy.

“Are you alright?”

As I was about to close my eyes, Zeno’s subtle voice pulled me into consciousness. Of course, that question did not ease the pain. Rather, it just annoyed me.

Is this damn bastard trying to piss me off right now? Is he kidding me?

“Will… I… be fine?”

I barely answered, weeping. Zeno uttered a barely audible curse before getting on his knees and wrapping his arms around my torso to lift me up.

Even the process of adding a simple movement to the affected side was extremely painful. I groaned and bit my lips tightly.

“What… are… you… doing… right now?”

Breathing heavily in his arms, I argued a beat too late.

“Don’t say anything.”

Zeno immediately shoved something hard and cold into my mouth.

“It’s both a painkiller and a styptic, so drink it quickly.”

“…”

I was exhausted and had no energy to rebel anyway. I drank all the liquid inside, matching the angle at which he tipped the bottle. It tasted a little bitter.

“Idiot. There’s a reason why you shouldn’t touch her.”

He held me in his arms. My eye level suddenly went up.

“Daughter of the Archmage. You’ll be fine if you get treatment quickly. Do you understand?”

This is crazy. How many times have I been in this weak position? Where is the real princess that should be held in his arms right now, and why am I here?

“So please don’t die.”

Zeno’s voice sounded hazy like a dream. Sleep rushed in.

“… Hey. Didn’t I clearly say I didn’t want to be in pain…”

I tried to overcome my increasingly heavy eyelids by any means, but it was impossible. I had no choice but to conform to the current situation and close my eyes.

However, it was very unfair to leave the dream in this way, so I succeeded in squeezing the last of my strength through the gaps of consciousness and gripping his collar.

This is all because of you. Die.

I was going to say that at the last moment, but I don’t know how it turned out.