# Chapter 22
“Hee, hee!”
I woke up to a slight jolt.
It was dark inside, but from the sounds of the people outside, it seemed like daylight was beginning. It's been three days, or four, since I've been locked up here? I started to lose count.
“A girl sleeps well in a place like this!”
“Then take me to a better place.”
I mumbled and ate the dry wheat bread they gave me.
“Same bread every time. Is there no jam?”
“Be thankful we are feeding you.”
Right, there's no need to feed a hostage.
“We feed you so that your value as a commodity does not diminish.”
For this reason? I lost my appetite and put the bread aside.
“How long will I stay here?”
“The Blue Rose People will soon come to get you.”
Will I really be sold to slave traders?
I looked around, and the leader laughed sarcastically.
“Run if you can. Our men are surrounding the place.”
With this confidence, escape is impossible.
And Olivia's body is slow to run, I'll get caught like last time.
Maybe escaping during transportation is better.
“Sir, they have arrived!”
The door opened, and a middle-aged woman in a dark blue dress walked in, making the sound of her heels. Everything is blue: the dress, the bag, the nails.
“Oh, is this her?”
She grabbed my chin with her long fingers and turned my face.
“Rather nice.”
“Where's the money?”
Blackwood extended his hand, and the woman nodded. A foreigner with short hair took out a heavy envelope from her bag.
Blackwood immediately began counting the money, while the woman examined me.
“I heard that she is the First Prince’s mistress, but it seems that she has been abandoned?”
Why did the rumor spread that I was Edmund's mistress? The people in the palace know the truth.
“I am not related to His Highness!”
"truly?"
The woman laughed sarcastically and grabbed my hair violently.
Ah, my scalp!
“I heard about your achievements. This is why the Emperor has been praising the First Prince recently. But why did you choose to stay by his side? He is only a half-blood, he will never become Emperor.”
Her grip on my hair tightened as she spoke in a sorry tone.
Everyone says Edmund is smart but he's a half-blood, the empress's son but he's a mixed bag, so he won't become emperor.
“It will become.”
Sorry, but he is the hero of this novel! No matter how much the nobles support Lucid, Edmund will complete the challenges with Eclat's help!
“No, it's not.”
I looked at her and smiled as she held my hair.
“I will make him emperor. I am his assistant.”
I really want to make Edmund Emperor.
I know his efforts. Have you ever been late to work? He arrives early every day, reviews things, and never leaves on time. He doesn't deserve to be banned from the throne because of his mixed blood!
Boom—!
A crash sounded from outside.
"What is this?"
"Yes!"
This was followed by people screaming. With the noise, the woman's grip loosened.
Phew, I almost lost my hair.
“Small!!!”
The door opened violently, and Edmund entered with a bright light. For the first time, I saw that black could be this brilliant.
As if a halo was shining behind him.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Edmund grabbed my shoulders and examined me.
Maybe because of his aura, I realized how handsome he was from this distance.
“No, I'm fine.”
"Why are you crying? Does it hurt?"
“Haha, from joy.”
I had never felt such relief to see his face before.
“Huh.”
Edmund looked at me as if he couldn't believe it, then sighed.
He stood and scanned the room with his eyes. His gaze became harsher as he saw the dirty place, then he stopped at the faces of the criminals.
His gaze was so frightening that Blackwood and Blue Rose turned pale. Edmund approached, and their shoulders shrank, but he headed toward the entrance.
“Felix.”
"Yes."
“Kill them all.”
Felix calmly took out his sword, like a predator confident in his victory.
“Don't move!!!”
Suddenly, Blackwood pointed his gun at me.
“Do you want her dead?!”
“Oh my God, I said this wouldn't work.”
I waved my hand. Edmund will not give up his project for my life.
Edmund didn't show a reaction, but Felix's eyes widened.
“Your Highness, what do we do?”
Felix hesitated, so the leader approached me and stood behind me.
Tack—!
I heard the loading sound next to my ear, then felt cold metal on my temple.
Well, that's scary.
“If you don't want to see her head blow off, don't move!!!”
They won't stop for this. Am I going to die like this?
“Everyone, stop.”
"Yes?"
It wasn't Felix and his soldiers who responded, it was me.
Did I hear Edmund correctly?
But everyone stopped, so I heard right.
“Heh, heh, good.”
The leader pressed the gun harder. It will leave a mark, or I might die before that.
"What do you want?"
Blackwood stammered, as if he did not expect this, then said: “Because of you, my business is collapsing, so you must secure my future!”
“You want money?”
“Yes, money!!!”
The leader shouted excitedly.
“Give me 100,000 cranes!”
"crazy."
Edmund muttered. Exactly, crazy.
100,000 kroner? Even if I saved my salary for 83 years, I wouldn't collect it. And he wants it in exchange for my life? impossible.
I scoffed. Edmund would never agree.
“If I gave you 100,000 cranes, would you leave the little one?”
“Haha, of course!”
Edmund sighed and pointed at Felix. Felix approached, and Edmund whispered something to him. Felix left with a stiff expression.
“100,000 krona is a lot of money even for me.”
Edmund tried to sit up, but he saw the dust and stopped.
“You'll need to wait.”
"Good."
The leader turned the gun, and I felt relieved when he moved the gun away from my head.
“But you're still annoying, so you should die!!!”
He didn't forget the stereotypical villain line.
While Felix was absent? Did he plan that?
I rushed forward without thinking.
Bang—!
Bullet fragments fell to the ground, and my body fell backwards.
"Yes!"
“Catch him!”
I heard the leader drop the gun and run away, and Felix suddenly appeared.
“Small!!!”
I heard urgent screams and quick footsteps.
Am I really going to die?
The ceiling, filled with spider webs, seemed foggy. I felt a sticky liquid wet my back.
“Wake up!!!”
Edmund took off his coat and squeezed my shoulder.
“Doctor, get a doctor now!!!”
Someone answered and ran.
“Your Highness...”
I opened my mouth with difficulty. My voice sounded weak.
“Don't talk, keep your strength.”
“If I get out of here...let's go on a date.”
Give me your heart, I want to live.