I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The cloth must have been soaked in a sedative, for Cesar’s eyes fluttered before rolling back. His movements slowed, then ceased altogether.
“…Oh.”
As I watched, horrified, the knights, with practiced indifference, removed the cloth.
They lifted Cesar’s limp body, secured him to a chair, and bound him again with chains. A knight, wiping sweat from his brow, addressed me. “I suggest you don’t touch the muzzle or the chains.”
“If you wish to keep your fingers.” He handed me a small bottle—the sedative they’d used.
“For Your Highness’s safety.”
He instructed me to throw it at Cesar’s face if anything happened. Looking thoroughly shaken, they hurried out of the dining hall.
As soon as they left, servants began setting the table. Everyone moved except for me and the still-unconscious Cesar.
“What is this…?”
I looked pleadingly at the servants, but they avoided my gaze, quickly filling the table with food before exiting. The door clicked shut, leaving us alone again. They had brought food, presumably for us to dine together, but…
“What now?”
How could he eat with a muzzle? The answer became clear when I noticed the food placed before Cesar: bite-sized pieces of meat and a pair of tongs. Not cutlery, but tongs. The purpose was obvious.
“This is…unbelievable.”
I shook my head, disgusted. Did no one here intend to treat him with a shred of human decency? I was utterly alone, adrift at sea, yet I couldn’t just stand by.
“Excuse me…”
I decided to try waking Cesar. This was the second time. Perhaps he’d been drugged last night as well. He remained unresponsive.
“Ugh.” I sighed, staring at his face. Bruises and scrapes marred his cheek.
“Oh my god.”
These hadn’t been there this morning. They were fresh, starkly visible.
“This is insane…”
I felt dizzy, nauseous. Recalling the knights’ rough handling, the cause was clear. They had done this.
“How could they…?”
Cursed or not, he was royalty. He deserved basic respect. They had treated him like an animal, or worse. A wave of anger and grief washed over me. I knew what it felt like to be treated this way.
“…Ah… Uh…”
He stirred, a pained groan escaping his lips. I gently touched his shoulder. He flinched, startled, then thrashed.
“Uh…uhhh…”
I should have been frightened, but I wasn’t. His ragged breaths rasped through the muzzle.
“…Cesar.”
I softly spoke his name. Someone had to. He gasped.
“…Ah…”
Our eyes met. Looking into them, I felt a pang of empathy. He had understood me last night. Perhaps he would again. Slowly, cautiously, I reached out.
“I’m going to take this off.”
I was afraid, undeniably. His eyes, no longer gentle, burned with hostility. That wary, defensive expression sent a shiver down my spine.
But it wasn’t right. No one deserved to be treated this way. I touched the muzzle’s clasp.
He flinched, the chains rattling.
Click.
The lock sprang open. The muzzle loosened, and Cesar shook his head like a dog freed from its restraints. It had been so tight it had left marks.
“Ugh…” He bared his teeth, a low growl rumbling in his chest. But I remembered the warmth, the calmness in his eyes from last night. He was terrified. I spoke his name again.
