If You Conquer Me - Chapter 2
If only she could kick that beautiful face, crush it into pieces underfoot, if only she could create that scene with her own hands…
Would this suffocating heart finally feel at ease?
“Give me your sword.”
At that moment, the knight tried to take her sword away. But even though she could barely stand on her own, the woman refused to release the cheap iron sword she clung to.
“What’s this? What are you doing?”
The knight looked down at her, confused.
“Ah.”
At the same time, Hugo’s expression shifted as if he had realized something.
“Did I promise to grant freedom to the victor?”
“…”
“But it seems… you want something else more than freedom, don’t you?”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his red eyes as he gazed at her.
That voice, which almost sounded gentle…
It makes me sick.
The woman sprang forward like an angry leopard.
Bang!
“Oohh?”
In an instant, the knight lost his grip on her, staring at her back with a dumbfounded expression. At the same time, the knight shouted in horror.
“Get her!”
“Protect the Grand Duke!”
“Crazy, what is this…!”
Shouts filled the air, drowning out all else. But the woman’s gaze was fixed solely on Hugo. Even though her body had no strength left, she gritted her teeth and forced her legs to move.
Now’s the time.
Her heart pounded wildly.
It felt as if the distance could be covered in just ten quick steps. To close this gap, the woman was willing to risk her life.
This was the moment she had been waiting for—she was determined to show that arrogant man just how dangerous a trapped rat could be when cornered.
She had endured, waited, and suffered all for this. To plunge a blade into the neck of that horrendous man. To take revenge for her crushed homeland!
The distance between her and Hugo closed in an instant. She gritted her teeth so hard that her lips bled, and she raised her sword high. The last image of Hugo that remained in her mind…
“Ah, this approach is rather interesting.”
He smiled, as if genuinely entertained, twisting the corner of his mouth. It was clear from his attitude that her attack posed no threat to him.
Damn it!
She felt her insides twist in disgust at that smile. The woman swung her sword with all her strength. But,
Clang! In an instant, her blade was blocked. Hugo had drawn his sword and deflected hers with a swift motion. The emptiness in her hand felt unbearable.
Clatter! The woman stared helplessly at the sword lying on the ground before her arm dropped, exhausted.
Ah, so this is it.
She had no strength left to take even one more step. Her pride was the only thing holding her up, but she was teetering on the verge of collapse. She felt like she might lose consciousness the moment she was touched.
Hugo stood and reached out, grabbing a handful of her disheveled hair.
“Ugh!”
She swallowed a groan.
Beneath the brown, blood-soaked hair, the original color—a deep, dark blue reminiscent of a night sky—began to faintly show. It seemed she had dyed her hair to hide it. Hugo, observing closely, muttered,
“Interesting.”
“…”
Even as her hair was tugged, and her body was too exhausted to even twitch, her fierce spirit remained undiminished. Hugo met her blazing blue eyes with a sly curve to his gaze.
“Hello, princess.”
“…”
“Ah, but since Ascanior is no more, I suppose you’re the former princess now.”
There was a sudden stillness, like cold water had been thrown over everything.
The woman bared her teeth and glared at him.
For a moment.
“Heh…”
A hollow laugh escaped her lips. She had known the moment she was captured, her identity would be revealed—it was only a matter of time.
But to think he’d recognize me so quickly…
She wanted to drive her sword straight into that damned man’s chest, if only for a single moment…
