ITETD 102

~Chapter 102~

Regiana twisted her wrist as she looked at Prenia.

“Want to have a match?”

It looked as though if Prenia so much as nodded her head, Regiana would leap at her immediately.

“……”

No—rather, it seemed Regiana was hoping she would nod.

From her perspective, it would be much easier to just kill Prenia here and bury everything with it. Then there would be nothing more to worry about.

‘Don’t make me laugh.’

Prenia clenched her teeth.

There was no reason to do as Regiana wanted. She would survive, as long as she could, and one day make Regiana regret the choice to spare her.

“…I’ll pass.”

When she shook her head, Regiana smacked her lips in disappointment, as though looking at a dessert she couldn’t eat. Prenia’s pride shattered all over again.

“It would’ve been fun.”

Prenia didn’t even bother replying. Not worth it.

Adrian had been watching quietly this whole time, saying nothing. Since coming down here, he hadn’t even glanced at Prenia. And since he ignored her, she returned the favor.

Finally, Regiana turned her gaze toward him, as if just remembering the prince’s presence.

“And Your Highness?”

“Rena, there’s no need,” Calix Hertorio stopped her.

Adrian, treated like nothing more than a stray dog, simply raised his palm and shook his head.

“Ah, I’ll decline too.”

He wore that slippery smile of his, politely refusing.

‘How I hate him.’

Prenia made no attempt to hide her disgust. Even now, he was pretending to be calm, pretending he was in control.

‘Coward.’

Regiana Troxia must have thought the same thing. But she only smiled brightly, as if nothing was wrong.

“Shame. This was the perfect chance to test our strength.”

Everyone here knew she wasn’t joking.

Perhaps realizing he wasn’t about to be attacked, Adrian finally spoke.

“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”

He seemed desperate to escape this place.

‘Pathetic.’

Prenia couldn’t stop a small laugh from escaping.

The Duke began to open his mouth, but—

“……Pfft.”

A sudden laugh echoed through the chamber. All eyes turned toward the sound.

Prenia didn’t even try to hide it. If anything, she laughed louder, as though determined to make her point.

“Hahahaha!”

She clutched her stomach, doubling over with exaggerated laughter.

The sound echoed unnaturally in the tense silence, almost eerie. Tears formed in her eyes as she laughed, her flushed face lifting toward Adrian’s stunned expression.

The sight of him was too much.

He had always acted proud, superior—but the moment he had the chance, he tucked his tail and fled.

Adrian’s face froze. He knew she was mocking him.

Still, Prenia couldn’t stop.

“Pffft… Hahaha…!”

Only after laughing until her body hurt did she finally calm down.

She wiped her eyes, then spoke sweetly with mock concern.

“Her Majesty is badly injured. You’d better hurry to her side.”

“……”

Her voice didn’t match her expression at all.

“Even though I once served in the palace, seeing Her Majesty like this truly breaks my heart.”

She giggled as she spoke. Adrian said nothing, only glared at her coldly.

Prenia met his glare without flinching, lifting her chin high. If he tried to strike her, she was ready. In fact—she almost hoped he would.

But Adrian’s resolve crumbled. He realized there was nothing to gain from fighting her here. His lips, which had been about to spit curses, closed firmly.

Expressionless, he turned.

“Duke, I’ll see you in the capital.”

Prenia’s face cracked at last.

‘That’s it? You’re just leaving?’

For a fleeting moment, she wished Calix would stop him—but the Duke merely nodded politely.

“I pray for Her Majesty’s recovery.”

“…Thank you,” Adrian replied stiffly. He didn’t look thankful at all.

And with that, he left without hesitation, climbing the stairs without a single glance back.

Prenia stared at the top of the stairway, stunned.

‘Is it really over like this?’

She felt as though she’d been stabbed in the back. Not betrayed—they had no trust between them to begin with—but discarded all the same. And that stung her pride most of all.

She wasn’t angry. Just… hollow.

After all, she’d never expected much from Adrian. She had even planned to strike him herself, if the timing allowed. That timing, it seemed, had slipped away.

And still—her insides burned.

Calix’s cool voice cut in.

“You were abandoned.”

Abandoned? By who? Prenia sneered.

“Not really. We were never close enough for betrayal.”

“He left you here alone. If that’s not abandonment, what is?”

“We’re just going separate ways.”

“……”

“What, do you feel sorry for me now?”

“As if.”

His sharp reply left no room for doubt. Prenia only pressed her lips together.

The prince was gone. But her business here was not finished.

The Emperor had fallen—that goal was complete. But the second half remained.

She lifted her head and met Regiana Troxia’s eyes.

She jerked her chin.

“Now, shall we have our talk?”

“Sever the dragon’s bond—you said you would.”

Prenia’s voice cut through the silence.

I nodded without hesitation.

“Yes. I said that.”

“Then go ahead. Do it.”

Unspoken, but clear: The sooner you die, the sooner I take the dragon.

She seemed certain I would fail.

“I wanted you to die before even coming down here…”

Calix’s throat bobbed. I reached for his hand, gently patting it. A reminder not to let her words shake him.

“…But since you didn’t, I’ll just have to wait for you to sever the bond yourself.”

“Ah, so whether I succeed or fail—you get the dragon either way?”

And if I failed, she’d get rid of Calix too.

Prenia’s lips curled into a crooked smile.

Seeing it, Regiana’s irritation boiled.

She had no plans to kill Prenia today.

‘That would only make things easier for the prince.’

Adrian had left Prenia here for a reason. The fewer people who knew the truth, the better. If Regiana killed her, she’d be doing Adrian a favor.

So, she’d let her live—for now. Let Adrian keep looking over his shoulder in fear.

But Prenia’s smug attitude—waiting for her death, daring to threaten Calix—was infuriating.

A little earlier, she had openly taunted Regiana, asking if she wanted to rip out her own heart.

“You knew severing the bond would kill you. And yet you gave me the ring. Did you want to die from the start?”

The words stabbed deep. Instinctively, Regiana looked at Calix.

He stayed silent. But who could say what was going through his mind?