CHAPTER 89……………………………
The miners were rescued one after another.
Although there were some severely injured, thankfully, there were still no fatalities.
Finally, even the last miner who had been trapped in the deepest part of the mine was carried out on a stretcher and brought beyond the edge of the forest.
And the moment I saw him, I had to clench my fists to keep from reflexively covering my mouth in shock.
His face…
The final survivor’s face and body were covered in terrible burns.
His limbs were shredded and soaked with blood, as if he had been caught directly in the explosion.
It was a miracle he was even still breathing.
I spoke quietly to the knights nearby.
“Give him first aid immediately, then move him to the Grand Duke’s estate.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Whether it was because rumors had spread that I was to be married to the Grand Duke, or because they’d realized I was the Imperial Princess, the knights responded briskly and began to move.
But at that moment, the miner groaned in agony, as though he were about to die, and slowly raised a trembling hand.
“Ugh…”
He struggled to breathe.
Worried that these might be his last words, I quickly knelt beside him.
“Can you hear me?”
“Where… am I…”
His eyelids fluttered.
“You’re outside the mine now. Your injuries are severe, so don’t strain yourself to speak. Stay conscious.”
The miner looked around dazedly, as if trying to understand his situation.
Then he looked at me and asked,
“Th-that guy… is he safe…?”
“Who are you talking about?”
All the trapped miners had already been rescued.
Was there someone still left behind?
I focused on his faltering words.
“The young man… with brown hair, kind of scrawny… He said he was going to the restroom right before the explosion. Is… is he safe?”
And then I realized it was an unnecessary concern.
That bastard Archibald.
Part of me wanted to tell the miner that the one he was worried about was actually the culprit who caused this disaster, that he shouldn’t waste his concern.
But that would only make his condition worse.
Judging by his tone, he must have spoken to that man often.
There was no need to add to his pain now.
“He was the first one to escape. You don’t need to worry.”
Hearing that, tears welled in the miner’s eyes before his eyelids slowly drooped shut.
“Th-thank…”
“Get him moved, now!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The knights, sensing the urgency, quickly carried him into a makeshift tent.
I prayed he would survive.
Archibald’s actions were unforgivable—but more than that, if this had happened simply because I was here in the Grand Duchy, and someone lost their life because of it, I’d never forgive myself.
Archibald must be sneaking into the Grand Duke’s castle by now.
I should never have spared him before.
I should have broken his legs so he couldn’t move—or cut off his fingers so he couldn’t do anything foolish.
I went to find the Grand Duke, who was directing the scene.
His shoulders, seen from behind, looked much heavier than before.
Just from his back, I could feel the weight of his disappointment.
The mining project he’d placed such high hopes on had ended like this—it was understandable.
Though… there’s probably another reason too.
Lloyd’s words from earlier kept echoing in my mind.
“If you tell me what I did wrong, I’ll do my best to make amends.”
He should’ve controlled his expression better!
He could hide his emotions perfectly well in front of Gabriel and Mars, but somehow, never in front of Lloyd.
If it were something I could tell him the truth about, I would’ve done it long ago.
Because this is a story inside a book.
In the original, you adopted my daughter and drove her to her death in the name of revenge.
If Lloyd believed me, I’d seem like someone angry over something he never even did.
If he didn’t, I’d just look like a delusional madwoman.
My head throbbed painfully.
Anyway, the Grand Duke can wait. I need to check if Aslan’s safe first. There’s something I need to confirm with him.
I’d done enough pretending to be the Imperial Princess for one day.
I turned toward Lloyd, who stood wearing that suffocating mask.
“Your Grace.”
“…!”
He startled and turned around as if I’d appeared out of nowhere, though I hadn’t even tried to hide my presence.
Even with his mask on, I could tell his expression was worse than before—but I had no time for that.
“I think I should head back first. I’m worried about the children.”
“Ah, then…”
He was about to speak when—
“Master!”
A familiar figure came running from the distance.
That voice and that title—I knew it was one of mine.
As she came closer, I recognized her at once.
“Luisa?”
Before entering the Ancient Tree Forest, I had divided my people into two groups with different tasks.
Mary Jane’s team was to investigate Archibald.
Luisa’s team was to monitor Priscilla and protect Aslan.
If she was here now…
A chill ran through my fingertips.
“Aslan—where is he?”
“Sir Aslan…”
Luisa bowed her head deeply, shame flooding her face.
Even amid the surrounding chaos, her words were painfully clear.
I felt my chin lift on its own.
“Ha.”
“I failed to properly protect Sir Aslan while holding off Lady Priscilla. Please punish me.”
I could barely find the strength to lift my head.
“…Is Lady Ayla safe?”
“Yes, the young lady is unharmed.”
Apparently, Aslan had made a huge fuss, refusing to let anyone enter the annex except himself.
I’d told him so many times to stay quietly in his room before I left!
Anger flared at his disobedience—but my true fury was reserved for someone else.
That bastard Archibald… how dare he.
I’d been meaning to deal with him anyway.
Now that he was practically begging for death, I’d gladly oblige.
The icy feeling in my hands turned hot again.
I brushed past Lloyd.
“I’m going ahead, Your Grace.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Lloyd followed without hesitation.
“You will?”
“Aslan is my daughter too. If something’s happened to her, how could I sit still as her father?”
The Grand Duke was the type who would never abandon the field unless absolutely necessary…
It was suspicious, but I didn’t have time to argue.
I mounted the horse Luisa had brought.
“I’ll be riding fast.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
With that determined reply, we galloped toward the Grand Duke’s castle.
“Ugh…”
At that same moment, Archibald woke up in a cold underground cell.
The instant he sat up, his head rang painfully.
“Ahh, my head…”
He gingerly felt around but found no blood.
He must’ve hit his head when being thrown into the cell and passed out for a bit.
When he tried to sit upright, the world spun and he groaned, clutching his neck.
Medicine… medicine…
His hand found the locket around his neck.
Inside was a folded photo of Gabriel—and tucked inside that photo was a fine white powder.
It was the painkiller Gabriel had given him—meant to keep him from breaking under torture, if he were ever captured.
He knew all about medicine, but this one had been specially prepared by her.
His pockets had been emptied, so this was all he had.
Archibald poured the powder into his mouth in one go.
Leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, he felt the pain begin to fade.
Wow, that works fast.
He marveled.
I’ll have to ask Gabriel what kind of drug this is when I get back.
Even in a dungeon, Archibald could think like this because he trusted the woman he’d served for over ten years.
Having done anything and everything for Gabriel, she sometimes trusted him more than Mars himself.
Damn it. I never expected Lady Priscilla to be there.
Why was that old hag still living in her grown child’s house, anyway?
If he’d known she’d be there, he wouldn’t have acted so recklessly.
Still, it hadn’t been for nothing.
He’d learned that Minerva had a daughter.
He had to report that to Gabriel as soon as possible.
Now, how do I get out of here…
He looked around.
The walls were made of solid stone, and the iron bars were narrow and sturdy—no easy escape.
For now, survival came first.
As he began to think, the sound of heels clicking echoed through the corridor.
