"Move."
Darius's voice came cold behind her.
Josselyn did not answer. She only walked faster, trying to match the long strides of the soldiers escorting her.
"Faster," one of them urged.
Josselyn nearly stumbled. With her hands bound, it was hard to keep her balance.
"I can walk on my own," she shot back, pulling her arm free from the rough grip.
"No," Darius cut in without turning. "You can't be trusted."
Josselyn clenched her jaw. A dull ache spread through her chest as she looked at the Captain of the Knights who had spoken warmly with her not long ago, now treating her with cold detachment.
The corridor they passed grew quieter. Torchlight became sparse, the air damp and cold. Fear began to creep into Josselyn's heart.
"…Where are you taking me?" she asked, more quietly this time. No one answered.
After a long, suffocating silence, they stopped in front of a large iron door. Josselyn's heart dropped.
'They wouldn't lock me in here, would they?'
The thought alone made her shiver as she imagined the space beyond the heavy door.
This can't be any better than the attic at Uncle Edmund's house.
Her thoughts grew louder in her head.
One of the soldiers unlocked the door, the metal clanking heavily.
"Inside." Someone shoved her roughly as the door opened.
"I said I can…"
When Josselyn turned to protest, the iron door slammed shut with a deafening bang.
"Hey…!"
The lock clicked. Then silence.
Josselyn stood there for a few seconds, staring at the door as if expecting someone to open it again.
"…Great," she muttered. "Just great."
A dry laugh slipped from her lips.
She turned slowly. Before her stretched a dark, cold room.
Her hands began to feel along the stone wall until she found a faint light from a single torch in the corner.
Josselyn let out a long breath.
"So this is the reward for saving the Crown Prince…" she whispered, sliding down against the wall beneath the torch.
"I didn't even get to finish everything, Mother."
Her breath caught. The thought of her late parents tightened her chest.
"…and I'm going to die here."
She closed her eyes, holding back the tremor spreading through her body.
"Damn it…" She hugged her knees. "This is all Uncle Edmund's fault."
Not long after, footsteps approached. Josselyn lifted her head immediately.
The sound of the lock turning. Then the creak of the iron door opening. Light from outside poured in, casting a tall silhouette at the threshold.
She knew that silhouette.
"…Your Highness."
No answer.
Killian stepped inside. The door closed behind him.
One person already made the small room feel suffocating. Now with Killian's presence, the tension became unbearable.
Josselyn stood slowly. Her hands trembled, but she tried to hide it.
Killian stopped a few steps away. His gaze pierced into Josselyn's hazel-green eyes.
"…You ran," he said at last.
His tone was flat. Without emotion.
Josselyn instinctively touched her throat, which suddenly felt dry.
"I just…"
"Why?"
Why what? What do you expect me to say? Would my answer even change your decision?
She wanted to scream those questions, but they died at the tip of her tongue.
Killian stepped closer.
"You owe me a lot of explanations, Josselyn," he growled.
Josselyn swallowed hard. She drew in a deep breath, gathering what little courage she had.
"I know I made a mistake, Your Highness," she said quickly.
Silence followed. Killian's eyes searched her, as if trying to uncover the truth.
"Did my words sound like a joke to you?" he continued quietly. "And now you even used my name in front of the King. You really are offering up your life."
"I…"
"I allowed you to hear our discussion, not to spread it like this. Especially not in my name."
Another step. The distance between them shrank. Josselyn stepped back instinctively until her back hit the wall.
"I didn't reveal the details," she replied quickly. "I only…"
Killian let out a short laugh.
"You think that makes it better? Do you even know who you are? You think you get to make decisions in this palace?"
In the next second, his hand shot out and seized her throat.
"Hngh!"
Josselyn's vision blurred instantly. The air around her seemed to vanish.
"If I hadn't caught you, you were planning to hide after causing chaos? Like your mother?" Killian's teeth clenched tightly.
"…I just… wanted to save you," she choked.
Josselyn clawed at his wrist, her nails digging into his skin without mercy.
It was useless. Killian's battle-trained body did not react to her scratches.
Killian smiled faintly.
"You're the one who needs saving," he said quietly. "Give me a reasonable answer."
Josselyn's face turned pale. Her grip on his collar loosened.
Damn. My chest feels so hot. At this rate, I might really die.
"My uncle… owes a great debt to Duke Corven…" she said in resignation.
She had played her last card. If that still could not save her, she would fall to her knees before God and beg for another life.
Her vision blurred. Her lungs burned. And yet Killian pressed her harder against the wall.
"If that's nonsense, I won't grant you an easy death."
His grip tightened, then suddenly released.
Josselyn collapsed forward, coughing violently. Air rushed into her lungs like a storm forcing them back to life.
Before she could steady her breathing, Killian stomped his foot impatiently.
"Answer." His voice fell cold over her. "How much does he owe to offer up his daughter?"
"I… don't know the exact amount," Josselyn said between breaths. "But Duke Corven once drove him out in rage. Somehow… Uncle Edmund managed to persuade him again."
Josselyn lifted her head, waiting for a reaction.
Killian remained standing, watching her without expression.
A few seconds passed. Long enough to make her breathing falter again.
"Fine." He crouched in front of her.
His hand reached for her chin slowly.
"I despise traitors. None of them survive in my hands. Do you understand?" he hissed.
Josselyn, still struggling to breathe, frowned at him sharply before finally nodding.
"I can't let you roam the palace until you prove your words are true."
Killian gripped her jaw roughly. Their faces were now only inches apart.
"If I find out again that you can't control your tongue…"
He paused. His gaze lowered slowly to her lips.
"What do you think I should do?"
Her breath caught in her chest, as if she were being asked to choose the best way to die.
Josselyn shook her head quickly.
"Don't…" Her voice was barely audible.
Killian smiled faintly, savoring the fearful tremor in her voice.
And then, he slid his finger in.
"Listen. I'll take it."
Josselyn froze as Killian's fingers pinned her tongue and pulled it out.
"In a way you could never imagine. Do you understand?"
Without realizing it, Josselyn nodded stiffly.
Killian did not release her immediately.
Instead, he studied her face longer. His gaze dropped slowly to her trembling lips.
"Strange," he murmured. "You still dare to look at me even when your life is in my hands."
In the next instant, he grabbed the back of her neck. He devoured her tongue, sucking harshly until her body trembled in pain. It did not stop there. He bit down hard, forcing Josselyn to shove herself back against the wall.
Her tongue went numb. A salty, metallic taste filled her mouth, spilling from the corner of her lips.
Tears gathered in her eyes. In front of her, the man only smirked, his teeth stained with the same liquid.
Killian licked the trace of blood from his lower lip.
"I didn't know a traitor's child had blood this sweet."
His gaze was not only cold. It was degrading.
Josselyn's hands clenched. She wiped the blood from her lips roughly.
Her gaze lifted again. Something inside her sparked, spreading rapidly through her body.
You bastard.
But this time it was not just anger. Something else crept in, a suffocating sense of defeat.