Chapter 242


    “I am in a very bad mood today, Cain. Do you want to see me rece two people in a day?”


    “I have something to show you.”


    Despite Gueuze’s words, Cain dared to continue speaking. When Gueuze stopped walking, Cain bowed deeply.


    “Rud failed to do his job properly, but there were circumstances.”


    “If others found out, you should have handled it properly.”


    “I brought those who discovered us instead.”


    “…I clearly instructed you to choose those for kidnapping who wouldn’t cause trouble.”


    Crown Prince Gueuze looked down at him coldly. He had ordered them to quickly stage an ident and kill anyone if they were discovered. But kidnapping instead of killing? Crown Prince Gueuze was on the verge of madness with subordinates who couldn’t handle their tasks properly.


    As Gueuze raised his finger to issue a new order, Cain hurriedly continued.“It’s two women. Your Highness will definitely like them.”


    * * *


    Carynne finished sorting her thoughts.


    She had to do what she could. There was no possibility of getting out of here. And this time, she would die again. But it was fine. Even if it was a pity, she could start over. Raymond would be depressed, but this wouldn’t be the end. And besides, Carynne’s goal in this life was to be friends with Ise.


    “Ise, hey. Wake up.”


    “……”


    Ise couldn’t regain consciousness easily.


    But she had to wake her up. Knowing where they were, Carynne had to talk to Ise before <i>he</i> arrived. Carynne raised her hand high. Would this be okay? There was no other way since Ise wouldn’t wake up. Carynne called once more.


    “Ise.”


    “……”


    <i>Smack—!</i>


    Carynne pped Ise’s cheek. The crisp sound echoed through the room. Carynne felt a bit relieved.


    But this wasn’t for revenge—it was to wake her up. Carynne reminded herself of this as she raised her hand again. She had to wake her up. Ise groaned but couldn’t open her eyes properly.


    <i>Smack—!</i>


    “Ow! It hurts! W-What’s going on!”


    “Wake up.”


    Ise grabbed her cheeks and stared in disbelief at Carynne.


    “…Carynne?”


    “Yes. Get a grip now.”


    “You hit me?”


    “Yes.”


    Ise gaped in astonishment but quickly got up before Carynne could raise her hand again.


    “You crazy… How could you…”


    “Look behind you.”


    “Why did you hit me!”


    “To wake you up. Try to understand where we are.”


    It took a long time to manage the reeling Ise. She almost fainted again. Carynne had to p Ise several more times to keep her eyes from rolling back. Ise trembled violently.


    “W-Where are we…”


    Carynne grabbed the crying Ise. Crying wouldn’t help here.


    “Don’t cry, listen carefully. We’ve been kidnapped, and unless some extraordinary miracle happens, we’ll probably die here. I acknowledge that the chances of survival are low. Do you understand?”


    <i>“…Hiic.”</i>


    “But I’m going to try to find a way to survive.”


    Ise, still trembling, nodded.


    “First, pretend to faint again. I’ll try to negotiate with the owner of this room, and if an opportunity arises, run away. And if…”


    Should she tell Ise about Raymond? Should she tell him toe and save them? Carynne thought for a moment but shook her head. It seemed better for both of them to quicklymit suicide rather than wait for rescue.


    No, it’s fine. Let the people of this life live. She and Raymond can quickly start over.


    “If you seed in escaping, live well. And if my fatheres looking for me, just tell him I went missing. Can you do that?”


    “What about you, Carynne?”


    “I won’t be able to get out.”


    Carynne shook her head. She wasn’t even sure she could safely get Ise out. This room was Crown Prince Gueuze’s domain. His people would be nearby. Still, there might be a way. For example, sending Ise out while staying behind herself.


    Alone, she could die quickly. Hoping that Raymond woulde to rescue her was less efficient than sticking her head in the firece and quickly moving on to the next life.


    Then, she heard footsteps in the distance. There wasn’t much time. Someone wasing.


    “…Ise. What were you going to say then?”


    “What?”


    “Weren’t you trying to tell me something?”


    “Well…”


    At that moment, a voice came from outside the door.


    <i>“Your Highness will definitely like them.”</i>


    It was toote.


    Damn. Carynne pushed Ise’s head into the sofa.


    “Pretend to be unconscious and stay quiet. Don’t open your eyes.”


    <i>Clunk—</i>


    The heavy door opened. Carynne swallowed hard as she watched it.


    She felt a sense of déjà vu. She remembered when Raymond walked through that door. Of course, it wasn’t him beyond the door now—just one of her mother’s failed bookmarks.


    A middle-aged man.


    The true wielder of power in this country. Her mother’s former lover. A madman.


    Crown Prince Gueuze looked down at Carynne with an unreadable expression.


    “…What kind of scene is this? They aren’t even tied up?”


    “I-I apologize.”


    “This is ridiculous. Tie them up immediately.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    The man tied up Carynne and Ise’s hands and feet. Ise, with her eyes closed, trembled slightly, but luckily no one seemed to notice because Carynne kept talking.


    “Do you really have to tie me up?”


    “I hate hassle.”


    Crown Prince Gueuze enjoyed seeing people crying, fainting, or screaming in his room. Sometimes, there were even those whoughed maniacally. Anyone who entered this room never left alive. The hanging corpses in the dark room made that obvious to anyone.


    But the red-haired woman in front of him was sitting calmly, looking up at him in a rxed manner. Crown Prince Gueuze tilted his head and asked Cain.


    “Did you buy this woman?”


    That seemed the only conclusion. Had they paid a hefty sum and brought her with an exnation? But Cain shook his head.


    “No. She witnessed it, so we had no choice.”


    “This is just my nature, Your Highness.”


    <i>“…Ha.”</i>


    Crown Prince Gueuze looked down at Cain beside him. A woman who knew who he was—a noble. Cain’s face turned pale. He had made a grave mistake in kidnapping. Cain almost envied the already dead Rud.


    The crown prince disliked targets that could cause trouble. He knew how to separate his hobbies from his public duties. But unfortunately. Cain gritted his teeth.


    He should have just let the women go. Even if they had reported finding those corpses, it would have ended there.


    “Please let thedy beside me go. I have something to tell Your Highness.”


    Crown Prince Gueuze raised an eyebrow.


    “You have guts, knowing who I am.”


    “I’m not going to get out anyway. Are you perhaps afraid of me?”


    It was a provocation that felt almost trivial, but Crown Prince Gueuze signaled his subordinate to leave. The man left, bowing, but that didn’t mean there was an opportunity.


    “Let me tell you, there are dozens outside the door.”


    “Yes, and this is a dungeon.”


    “Were you conscious when you were dragged in?”


    “No. I’ve been here in a previous life, Your Highness.”


    “…That’s not a very amusing joke.”


    Crown Prince Gueuze turned away from Carynne and walked to the wall. He inserted a key into the furniture next to the firece. From it, he took out several rtively small hooks and knives. Carynne realized that the gap between the past and the present prince wasrger than she had thought.


    ‘It’s definitely different from before.’