Chapter 29: Sorry

Liang silently followed Gahalad’s back.

He had just felt that Elvie was really about to make a move—could it be that she actually knew his mother?

For a moment, he found himself doubting life.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Gahalad, who was walking ahead, suddenly spoke.

“Afraid.”

Liang looked down at his tightly handcuffed hands and answered casually.

His current appearance quickly drew the attention of onlookers, but the main reason was the man in front of him—Gahalad.

A criminal personally escorted by this Judgement Knight must be an extremely dangerous person.

Yet no one would have guessed that Liang was just an ordinary teenager with absolutely no magical power.

“Why did you stop Elvie just now? If she had made a move, I might not have been able to hold her back.” Gahalad seemed curious about Liang.

Liang glanced half-heartedly at a passerby nearby and said, “If you two fight, the situation will only escalate. Then I wouldn’t be innocent anymore; I’d be labeled heretic. Since I’m clean, why should I start a fight? Besides, I trust the Knight Order will give me a fair answer.”

Gahalad looked deeply at Liang, surprised that this boy was not only good-looking but also quite clever.

Liang’s answer was very smooth, placing himself completely in the position of an innocent person cooperating with the investigation.

A person who is completely innocent naturally wouldn’t fear being investigated, and this behavior often lowers the other party’s guard.

More importantly, Sylph was still in the room, and Liang didn’t think that if things escalated, Elvie could safely lead them out of the capital.

The Royal Guard Knight Order was stationed near the Royal Palace.

Soon after, Liang was handed over by Gahalad to another knight and taken underground.

The underground facility was very deep.

Liang walked down the stairs for five or six minutes, winding around before finally arriving at the dungeon.

A damp, decaying smell hit him immediately.

Liang instinctively wanted to cover his nose, but with his hands tightly cuffed, it was inconvenient.

He was taken to an empty cell.

The knight who brought him took out an iron collar and roughly fastened it around Liang’s neck.

“What is this?”

Liang touched the collar on his neck, wincing slightly.

There was a crystal embedded in the center.

It looked like a magical device, but he didn’t feel anything from it.

The knight didn’t answer but turned and left, closing the cell door.

From start to finish, he hadn’t spoken a single word to Liang, mechanically carrying out his task.

“Where did they find such an idiot who doesn’t even know what a magic suppressant is?”

A hoarse, mocking voice came from the next cell.

Magic suppressant?

Liang’s expression became strange.

But he… didn’t have any magic.

Liang closed his eyes and tried to manipulate the stray magical elements in the air.

A gentle breeze blew in the enclosed basement.

It really worked.

He opened his eyes, a little surprised.

At least if things went wrong, this could be his trump card.

Feeling a little reassured, he began to examine his cell.

The room was very clean. Apart from the concrete floor, there was only a bed.

Liang confirmed the bed was ordinary before relaxing and lying down.

But not long after, the cell door was pushed open.

Gahalad entered, his face weathered and solemn, then stepped aside to reveal the black-haired woman behind him.

“Miss…?”

Liang never expected the first visitor would be Vesilia.

Vesilia frowned, looking around the cell’s surroundings, then looked at Gahalad with dissatisfaction.

“He lives here?”

Gahalad’s expression stiffened.

“Our dungeons are all like this.”

“Don’t you know he’s one of mine?”

Vesilia’s face turned cold.

The proud aura of the noble lady was on full display.

Gahalad looked a little troubled.

He glanced at Liang on the bed.

Who would have thought this guy was connected to the daughter of Duke Howard?

Wasn’t he just a pure pretty boy?

“But now he’s involved with the Heretic God. Miss Vesilia, if you want to protect him, you need to think carefully.”

Gahalad gestured toward Liang.

“He’s only a suspect.”

Liang spoke up to correct him.

“Fine, suspect or not.”

Gahalad’s face darkened.

“Are you kidding me? He’s a normal person with no magic at all, and you say he’s involved with the Heretic God?”

Vesilia crossed her arms, her gaze sharp.

“He’s only a suspect. You know the Empire has zero tolerance for heresy. We won’t let any chance slip by.”

Gahalad’s tone was helpless.

He really hated dealing with these noble ladies.

These nobles acted arbitrarily in the capital, never following any rules.

What troubled him more was that he couldn’t use force against them.

“Miss, I’m fine here. This place isn’t bad.”

Liang looked at the imposing Vesilia and spoke softly.

“I’m no longer your… person. You don’t have to help me like this.”

He didn’t know why she came to help him, but he didn’t want to cause her trouble.

Liang felt he had already repaid everything he owed Vesilia over the years; he didn’t want to owe her again.

And the reason he wasn’t worried was that he was the one being sacrificed.

Even if they found the magic pattern inside him, he was just a victim.

Hearing Liang’s words, Vesilia froze.

Her heart ached strangely, like a childhood memory of rushing to buy her favorite doll only to be told someone else had bought it.

A sour feeling slowly spread from her chest.

Vesilia clearly felt Liang’s distancing, but she couldn’t accept it!

In her eyes, Liang belonged to her.

He was her possession—just sulking and running away from home.

So she pretended not to hear Liang’s words and instead frowned at the collar on his neck.

“This collar is really ugly. I want to change it.”

Gahalad was about to stop her but was blocked by Vesilia’s words.

“He’s just an ordinary person. The suppressant is useless. I’ll change the collar and leave. I won’t make things difficult for you.”

Hearing this, Gahalad sighed and handed the collar key to Vesilia, shrugging.

“Suit yourself.”

Liang watched as the noble lady pulled out an exquisite collar from her bosom.

It also had a crystal, but it was shaped like a bone.

Quite fitting for the twisted taste Liang associated with Vesilia.

Liang had no right to resist and could only watch the woman’s finger hook the collar closer.

In a daze, he recalled being forced to play humiliating games with Vesilia back in the room.

While lost in thought, a faint scent of rose filled the air, making him dizzy.

Then the collar on his neck loosened and fell to the ground.

Vesilia’s cool, delicate fingers gently brushed the red mark on Liang’s neck, sending chills down his spine.

“Don’t move.”

Her soft voice sounded beside his ear.

Then Liang felt a cold object wrap around his neck.

With a “click,” the new collar was fastened.

“There’s a protective enchantment on this collar.”

Vesilia whispered near his ear.

Liang stared blankly as the two stood close.

Vesilia’s gaze was as cold as ever, but her fingertips still lingered on the collar.

“Don’t overthink it. This is just what a master should do for their former dog. Or you can think of it as a trade.”

Her cool voice sounded again in his ear.

It sounded like, “I don’t want a dog, but I won’t let just anyone bully it.”

Typical noble lady attitude.

Liang’s feelings were complicated, but by that logic, he still owed her a favor.

Even if it was a favor she forced on him.

“Miss… what do you want me to do?”

Hearing Liang’s question, Vesilia smiled. She knew he hated owing favors.

She lifted Liang’s chin and said, “I have only one request. If you ever face a choice, you can only choose me.”

Vesilia didn’t think Liang would refuse.

After all, he had agreed to her excessive demands before. But she seemed to have forgotten one thing.

Listening to Vesilia’s firm words, Liang froze—not because of the strange request, but because he felt he had heard this before…

And he had just promised someone else.

If it were before, he might have agreed, but now he was no longer a substitute. He thought he should follow the principle of first come, first served.

So Liang’s face showed conflict, and he slowly said, “Sorry, Miss.”

“I can’t agree to that request. Could you ask for something else?”

Then he saw Vesilia’s expression freeze, her pupils filled with disbelief.