I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
‘Maybe my escape has only angered them further, guaranteeing a more brutal end.’ The thought sent chills down my spine. But I refused to die passively. I huddled deeper into the undergrowth, holding my breath. I drew the dagger I always kept close.
A memory surfaced, oddly fitting for this desperate situation. It was my mother, Annalisa, and her constant refrain: ‘Survive. The one who survives is the strongest.’ She’d told me never to give up, that any life was better than none, that clinging to life, no matter how, was victory.
Foolish woman. She was going to succumb to the plague anyway. Annalisa, even on her last day, urged me to live. But in this hopeless situation, what could I possibly do?
Then, the assassin who spotted me yelled, “There, in the bushes!”
My heart plummeted. One by one, they approached. I thrust out my hand, brandishing the small dagger. “Stay back!” At the same time, I couldn’t help but think how ridiculous I must look. This tiny blade wouldn’t even scratch them.
As expected, one of them sneered. “We don’t have time. Finish her!” another assassin urged, their hands stained with blood. The rain washed the crimson down, creating rivers of red. I felt a pang of guilt for ever doubting my knight’s loyalty.
A cold touch grazed my throat. “Don’t hold it against me,” the one with the sword said. I swallowed my sobs and asked in a trembling voice, “Wh-who ordered this?” I had to know who orchestrated this, yet I was terrified to hear the answer.
‘What if it’s your name?’
“That’s—” He didn’t finish. Everything happened so fast. A sickening gurgle echoed. Instinctively, I knew it was the sound of death. A long blade protruded from the mouth of the man who’d held me at swordpoint. Blood dripped.
“…What?” My mind went numb. What just happened? The horrific scene felt surreal. The man who was about to kill me now had a sword through him, warm blood spilling onto the ground. The metallic stench made me gag. Bile rose in my throat, and I retched. When I finally looked up, gasping for breath, all the assassins lay dead, a gruesome tableau.
“Ren…”
And there you were.
“Ca-Caesar?”
He strode toward me. Shock and confusion widened my eyes. He should be at the victory banquet with Giovinetta. Why was he here? My tense body relaxed slightly.
‘Did he come to save me? Or…’ Doubt gnawed at me.
“…Why are you here?” I asked. Giovinetta said he chose her.
‘What if he came to witness my end? To personally eliminate his only blemish…’ The blood on Caesar’s sword was a chilling crimson.
“…,” he remained silent.
‘I wish he would say something. Why won’t he answer?’
Dizziness swept over me. My body, strung tight for so long, finally gave way. The rain softened. Not that it had stopped. My ears felt submerged, my vision dimmed by a dark veil.
Then, I collapsed, as if pulled into a deep darkness. Cold raindrops kissed my cheeks.
‘It rained that day too. The day it all began… our wedding.’
***
‘A bride who marries in the rain sheds many tears, they say.’
Rain poured since morning. The maids adorning my face with pearl powder whispered about the ill-omened weather. I ignored their taunts, distracted by the stabbing pain in my ankle. It always flared up in this damp, rainy weather.
My attention was entirely consumed by the pain. The familiar ache brought a strange sense of comfort. However, the solitude of the room was unsettling. Though, what bride would feel at ease on her wedding night? Not even a rake married a dozen times could be comfortable with this.
‘Patience is a virtue. There is no reward without endurance.’ I repeated this mantra, trying to convince myself. It was the only way to cope.
Holding my breath, I felt for the dagger hidden beneath my undergarments. The cool metal pressed against my skin through the thin fabric.
