Chapter 88

Chapter 61 The Torturous Journey

Clack… clack…

Creak… creak…

All I could hear were the hooves of the wildebeest pounding and the faint sound of the wheels rolling over the snow.

I could still vaguely hear Varall humming a tuneless song outside. Inside the carriage, Edward and the golden-masked man were chatting idly.

I lay quietly on my seat, waiting for time to pass second by second.

How long has it been since we left the city? I didn’t know.

At first, I could still hear the footsteps of the masked men running around the wildebeest cart, but now they had all disappeared. The once somewhat soft seats were gradually hardening with the distance traveled, becoming as hard as stone.

My mood was getting worse.

It wasn’t because Edward said anything unpleasant. In fact, I no longer cared about what he said.

The reason my mood worsened was because of—pretending to be poisoned.

I thought it would be simple: just lie still. What’s so difficult about that?

But after a while, I realized I was too naive.

Lying in one place, motionless for hours… or even longer. I didn’t know when we would reach our destination and couldn’t ask them. Besides, I had to keep myself conscious, not fall asleep.

At least I was in the enemy’s hands; falling asleep meant completely surrendering to them… and my sleeping posture was very restless, so I would definitely move around.

I couldn’t move. Even the slightest curl of my fingers could be noticed by Edward and the golden-masked man, causing everything to fall apart.

If they couldn’t beat me, they would understand that Lafayette was the only way to save their lives, and they wouldn’t easily tell me where he was. This would make things very complicated.

I have never interrogated anyone before and didn’t know how to do it. Should I break their limbs? Or freeze half of their body? What if they just pass out?

But if I went too easy… Varall wouldn’t easily submit. If it came to psychological tactics, the golden-masked man was probably much better at it. The only one who might really pass out was Edward… maybe he really would.

There were too many uncontrollable factors, and it could drag on until the city guards exhausted Lafayette, and I wouldn’t know where he was.

So, unless absolutely necessary, I couldn’t take that risk. The best method was to lie still, not move. Let them think everything was under control until I saw Lafayette.

But this “lying still” was now causing me great distress. No, saying it was distressful wasn’t even appropriate; I was already suffering immensely.

Varall hadn’t placed me down carefully, and the bumpy journey made me unable to maintain a flat position. My right side was slightly unsupported, my right arm pressed against the carriage, shifting the weight entirely to my left side. At first, I didn’t feel much, but over time, half of my body started to feel numb from poor blood circulation.

My limbs were gradually stiffening, and the seat was digging painfully into my back.

After some time, I began to feel an itch in my calf, then on my face.

An itch on my forearm… on my hand… on my stomach… on my bottom… there was no part of my body that wasn’t itchy, even my hair was itching, almost driving me mad.

I struggled to keep my breathing steady, forcing myself not to think about these things, trying to focus on something positive.

For example, the cake shop in the Winter City, the sweet and delicious Ousmilu cake, and Lady’s Captain Gray, taking a bite…

No, saliva was about to flow out; think of something else.

For example, the birds roosting under the bridge of Shantel Castle, which I could often see from my room window. They flew in flocks across the sky, not knowing where they were going to find food…

One bird, two birds, so many birds… my room… the warm fireplace… that big, white, soft bed… zzz…zzz…

!!!

…Did I just fall asleep?

No, I can’t sleep… can’t sleep…

I forced my eyes open wider. But the drowsiness grew stronger with each passing moment, making my consciousness increasingly hazy. Several times, I felt like I had actually fallen asleep for a while.

“Mr. Langman, what if she gets thirsty or hungry later?”

…Now, I am indeed a bit hungry and thirsty. However, I dare not eat what you give me.

Maybe this time I didn’t get poisoned because I am… I am a monster from the Abyss.

, who isn’t a normal human, the anesthetic powder doesn’t have much effect on me, but I can’t guarantee that all toxins are ineffective against me.

“Your Highness, enduring for a bit won’t kill anyone. We haven’t eaten either, right?”

“…Alright… Should we give her some water to drink?”

“…I don’t have a waterskin.”

“I don’t either.”

“Then let’s discuss it when we get there. We’ll take some water from the city guard.”

“We have no choice… How did you mention water? Now I feel like drinking too.”

Please don’t bring up water in front of me!!

Because I need to pee a little…

Hmm… Just a little, it’s fine, just a little, nothing to worry about.

But this little bit quickly turned into more than just a little.

I stared wide-eyed at the carriage roof, feeling my lower abdomen swelling, my heart sinking deeper and deeper.

How long has it been since we started?

Three hours? Four hours? Or maybe five hours?

How much longer until we arrive…

Clunk—

Perhaps hitting a stone, the entire carriage jolted.

I…

My whole body trembled, then I tried hard to contract, feeling the flow of water in my abdomen slowly returning, a sense of security rising in my heart.

Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, the wheels rolled over another small pit, causing the carriage to jolt again.

Clunk—

With each jolt, strong vibrations came, and a tingling sensation immediately spread through my lower abdomen. The water that had returned was instantly rushing back.

!!!

I gasped for breath, tensing my body, concentrating all my strength in my legs.

I hold it!

My face gradually heated up, sweat even appeared on my forehead.

I can do this, it’s okay, I can do this.

I am a powerful knight of the Pope, there’s no reason for me to be defeated by one leak.

“Mr. Langman, does being under anesthesia make people suffer?”

“No.”

“But look at her face, something seems off…”

The golden-masked man looked at me for a while and said, “Your Highness, if I were her, I would also struggle with all my might at this moment.”

“That’s true…” Edward laughed, “Pepe, stop trying. You can’t move, save your energy. Why not sleep a bit?”

I sleep your sister.

Spit… No, wait.

Am I his sister?

Once again risking my dignity, I successfully stopped the flood, but I felt no relief. Because I knew what was coming next.

The chariot raced on.

As if deliberately opposing me, the journey became increasingly difficult, the carriage shaking violently. I had no energy left to think about anything; I could only focus on fighting the flow of water in my abdomen.

My lower abdomen was already hurting, the flow of water hitting the valve more frequently. What made it worse was that I couldn’t clench my legs.

Time passed slower and slower… Every second felt like an eternity.

I didn’t know how much longer I could hold it. Several times I wanted to give up, just flip these three people over and find a place to relieve myself.

But perhaps… we’re almost there?

After holding it for so long, if I gave up now, what would be the point of all that waiting?

Like a fool.

So I gritted my teeth and decided to hold on a bit longer.

To distract myself, I started imagining two Carloses, one black and one white, fighting in my mind. If the black one won, I would immediately release Frost World, freezing everything around me, then get up—

Wait a minute.

Could I freeze that spot directly…

While I was lost in thought, Varal outside whistled. At the sharp sound, cold sweat broke out on my body.

Immediately after, an unprecedented impact came from below.

I… I squeeze!

My whole body shivered, and by the time I realized it, there was a damp heat on my underwear.

My face darkened instantly.

Damn it, why did you whistle? This is worse than a father’s revenge.

Fortunately, it was just a little. But… Varal, you will die a terrible death.

Yet he kept whistling, sounding very cheerful.

Just as I felt I had reached my limit and couldn’t pretend anymore, the whistling stopped.

Then I heard Varal say the sweetest words in his life: “Hey, we’ve arrived.”