Obsession... What's That? I Just Wish Someone Would Help Me Escape - Chapter 111
I’d heard the Princess of Queens Everett entered the country for her engagement to the Crown Prince, but she’d never appeared in society.
Well, the revolution had started almost immediately after, so it was more like she never got the chance.
Still, for a royal of a former vassal state—now a federation—to end up as one of the lowest-ranked prisoners…
Then again, even Prince Enrique ended up in prison too.
Number 48 bit her lip and glared at them.
“I thought your face looked familiar. Weren’t you a low-ranking knight under the Imperial family? Everyone falls, you know. Whether you climb back up or wallow in the muck is up to you. You threw away a knight’s honor and chose to become trash?”
The prisoner gripping my collar raked his eyes over her with a sneer.
“And who the hell are you to lecture anyone? Sure, back then we’d have bowed and said ‘yes, yes, whatever you say, Princess.’ But things are different now. You’re the one rolling in filth now.”
The ideals she touted had long since lost their shine.
Royal blood dragged through the dirt was nothing but the butt of every joke, it was mockery and easy prey.
She might end up worse off than me.
I let out a heavy sigh and waved her off.
“Hey, El Niño. Don’t butt in. Go on your merry way.”
The sooner you go, the sooner I can show you how strong I am and what life is really like!
“My name is Eliza. Even if I’m humiliated like this, the noble spirit of the Duelern royal family—to never ignore someone in need—remains.”
So you’re gonna risk your life with me too?
An optimistic princess.
That might work in a romance or fairy tale, but in a dark prison drama? It’s the fastest route to getting killed.
She had a pretty heart, sure. But sticking to someone like me, bottom of the barrel, would only drag her into worse.
I spoke coldly.
“This isn’t a storybook. There’s no knight coming to save us. The knights are the ones beating us down! Just get lost!”
“Don’t say such awful things. Look, I showed up to be your knight, didn’t I? And you saved me once too. So never give up hope! And don’t forget—someone out there is thinking of you!”
…She’s seriously lost in her own positivity.
One of the thugs, who’d been watching with a sneer, grabbed her by the hair.
“Well, well, Princess. How does it feel to be manhandled by someone you wouldn’t have even looked at before?”
“No, I would’ve talked to you. I’m a fair person. Though, dating a guy who looks like an ugly rock like you would be… yeah, not great. But I wouldn’t discriminate when it comes to conversation—”
“Sh-Shut up! All you 40s do is talk yourselves into a beating!”
Clutched in a brute’s hand, she looked to me and shouted.
“Number 49! Even if it’s two-on-two, we can’t beat the 10s! I don’t wanna die!”
Poor deployment, no countermeasure.
A royal knight-ranked thug from the 10s… Actually, I was a bit intrigued.
I stared blankly at hopeful Eliza, then coughed and asked the prisoners:
“Hey, what are your abilities?”
The two men straightened up with confident smirks.
“My power is ultrasonic waves that can slice through matter!”
“Heh. Mine’s stealth and speed, perfect for assassination. Wanna see?”
Dolphin and ninja confirmed.
That ninja skill might come in handy…
Especially for stealing from other prisoners.
I’d love to provoke them into an attack and steal their powers without karmic penalty.
If I just tweak Eliza’s memory with an illusion later…
“I can set people on fire.”
A low voice cut in suddenly. Startled, the ninja dropped Eliza.
* * *
“Prisoner Number 1…?”
Even the thug gripping my collar looked like his eyes might pop out.
Strolling over with one hand stuffed in his pocket, clad in blue prisoner slacks like it was a fashion choice, was the ultimate delinquent—Johann. He tilted his chin up.
“What’re you doing over there? Skipping dinner?”
Dolphin stammered nervously.
“J-Just teaching some manners to these rude kids…”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
