Chapter 44: Didn’t Hilna Teach You How to Apologize?
Paul, now in clean clothes, couldn’t escape the clutches of the obese noble. He was pinned against the wall, his face pressed against the cold stone.
If it were just one person, he might have been able to resist. But he was outnumbered, his arms held by two burly men.
“What are you doing? Let me go!”
Panic surged through him as he witnessed the shameless acts of the nobles and the women. His worldview shattered.
“Playing innocent, are we? As expected of a student from the Royal Magic Academy. So young and tender. Just my type.”
The obese noble groped Paul’s backside. “Not bad. Nice and plump. You seem so innocent. Don’t tell me you don’t know why His Highness paid so much for your services?”
“The contract didn’t mention anything like this! This is wrong!” Paul protested vehemently.
“You can resist if you want. But before you do, consider whether you’ll leave this hall alive. You’re just a commoner. Killing you wouldn’t even be a crime. We can enjoy you while you’re still warm.”
“I prefer them half-warm. Even if their heart is cold, their rectum is always warm.”
“You’re all sick! But I like it!”
Paul was on the verge of a breakdown as he listened to their depraved conversation.
He looked at Kailun, who was still sitting in the corner, hoping for a rescue. “Kailun… cough, cough, cough!”
A small blue pill was shoved into his mouth, silencing him. Within seconds, his mana flow was disrupted, and his body went limp.
He turned his head in horror, only to find the obese noble unbuttoning his pants. “You’re a talented mage from the academy, after all. We have to take precautions.”
Paul had lost his last resort.
…
[Paul’s hatred towards you has intensified due to your inaction. Favorability -5. Current favorability: -88.]
Kailun chuckled inwardly. Paul was too kind. He could cry.
He listened to the moans and gasps echoing through the hall, identifying his targets. Once he confirmed that they were all participating, he relaxed.
He wanted to conquer the Xiya Kingdom without sacrificing too many of his own forces. This required unconventional methods.
A storm was brewing. It would be foolish to waste his strength on internal conflicts.
The Divine Church had powerful connections. He wanted to avoid them if possible.
Satisfied with the evening’s entertainment, he gracefully rose from his seat, Vivian still in his arms. A few naked women attempted to approach him, but his cold gaze deterred them.
His path out of the hall was clear. Lodis and the Archbishop, preoccupied with their “activities,” didn’t even notice his departure.
They might suspect him after discovering they had been poisoned, but he had already prepared a scapegoat. Hilna would take the fall.
Roden and the carriage awaited him outside.
“Take us home.”
He instructed Roden, gently placing the still-unconscious Vivian inside the carriage.
Before stepping in himself, he double-checked with Roden. “The Silver Moon Knights will arrive near the Royal City tomorrow, correct?”
“Yes, Young Master. They’re less than a hundred miles away. If not for the need for secrecy, they could have arrived tonight.”
With the timing confirmed, Kailun decided to target Paul tomorrow, aiming to push his favorability to -100.
“Perfect timing. By the way, have you arranged the marriage proposal to Winnie’s family?”
“It’s been taken care of. If they refuse, assassins will pay them a visit until they agree. As for Paul’s father’s gambling debts, we’ve succeeded. As of ten minutes ago, he’s gone from earning two hundred gold coins to owing one thousand.”
Roden meticulously reported his progress. Under Kailun’s direction, a web was closing in on Paul.
“Excellent work, Roden. I’ll take Anna to meet her parents tomorrow and have Paul’s father sell her to me in front of him. I wonder how much that will decrease his favorability. If it’s not enough, I’ll have to target his childhood friend, Winnie.”
Roden, instead of being horrified by Kailun’s ruthless plan, felt a sense of pride. He had finally matured.
The old Kailun had been too naive and kind. Such a personality would have eventually led to his downfall.
Upon returning to the manor, Kailun carried Vivian to a room next to his and then headed to the dungeon, where Hilna’s deputy awaited him.
“Creak!”
He pushed open the heavy iron door, illuminating the dank space with magic lamps. He pulled up a chair and sat down outside the cell.
The deputy sat slumped against the moss-covered wall, her eyes filled with defiance.
Even if Kailun tortured her, she would never betray Hilna.
Her body, her dignity, she could sacrifice it all. As long as Hilna’s interests were protected, it was all worth it.
As she steeled herself for the inevitable torment, Kailun spoke. “I should thank you. If not for your help, taking down Lodis and the others wouldn’t have been so easy. You see, I had someone impersonate you and swap Hilna’s poison. Lodis and his companions are now suffering from my poison.”
The deputy’s eyes widened in horror. “You bastard! You’ll pay for this!”
“Don’t be so quick to curse me. You should be more concerned about the price Hilna will pay for your failure.”
Kailun leaned back in his chair, his legs crossed. “Allow me to paint you a picture. Imagine Hilna attempting to blackmail Lodis with the antidote, only to discover that it has no effect. What do you think will happen then?”
He left the rest to her imagination.
His words sent a chill down her spine. She had inadvertently dug a massive pit for her princess.
And now, trapped in this dungeon, she was powerless to fix it.
“What do you want?” She crawled towards the bars, her gaze cold and defiant.
“Watch your tone. If you’re not interested in talking, I’ll leave.”
He rested his chin on his hand, his voice bored. “Don’t test my patience. You have ten minutes.”
She lowered her head, her pride momentarily forgotten. “I apologize for my disrespect. Please command me as you see fit. But please don’t harm Her Highness. She only wants what’s best for the kingdom.”
No one, except Hilna, had ever forced her to bow her head.
“Hah!”
He scoffed at her mention of “what’s best for the kingdom.” “Didn’t Hilna teach you that you should expose your stomach when apologizing?”
The deputy: “？？?”
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