Until today, I took pride in my ability to navigate through the various challenges and experiences that life had to offer.
However, finding myself in this particular situation was a unique and unfamiliar territory for me.
The reason behind my discomfort was the woman who was holding onto me tightly, fast asleep and breathing peacefully.
The mere realization that a member of the opposite sex was sharing the same bed with me sent shivers down my spine and caused my entire body to freeze in astonishment.
Throughout all the years of my existence, both in this lifetime and any previous ones,
I had never encountered a scenario where I had to share such intimacy with someone of the opposite sex, except for family members.
Given my history and experiences, I had resigned myself to the belief that I would never establish any meaningful connections with individuals of the opposite sex.
However, the unexpected presence of this woman in my life seemed to bring a breath of fresh air, like a sudden arrival of spring after a long and harsh winter.
‘But why, of all people, her…!’
Even though the atmosphere of the occasion was undeniably cheerful, my emotions were a mix of joy and unease.
In the grand scheme of things, I held the prestigious title of a knight in the empire, while Letia was celebrated as the hero of the kingdom.
Our dynamic mirrored that of a Romeo-and-Juliet scenario, a tale of forbidden love and strife.
Despite the romantic undertones, my lack of knowledge about Letia made it difficult to wholeheartedly embrace the happiness of the moment.
While some may speculate about a budding romance between us, the racing of my heart was more likely a result of tension and uncertainty rather than true love.
“Sigh…”
Confronted with the harsh truth of the situation, I was hit with a sudden wave of hopelessness.
It seemed as though the whole ordeal had come to a close, leaving me with nothing to show for it but a numb arm.
Despite feeling a sense of defeat, the overall emotions were not entirely negative.
In the end, the experience of having a woman peacefully asleep in my embrace was undeniably a novel and unique one.
‘I didn’t notice when she was awake, but her eyelashes are quite long.’
The countenance that I had previously perceived as stern and serious had now transformed into one that appeared soft and filled with youthfulness.
The moonlight danced off her silver locks, creating a shimmering effect that was captivating to behold.
A delicate hint of lavender lingered in the air, gently teasing my sense of smell.
I felt a strong urge to bury my nose in her hair and become enveloped in the soothing fragrance that surrounded her.
While lacking the courage to take further action, I found myself only able to observe her in the current state.
At this moment, my permission to act was restricted to simply watching her.
Any further steps into uncharted territory required a level of determination I wasn’t sure I possessed.
‘She’s so beautiful it makes me doubt she’s even the same species as me. But isn’t it said that nothing is harder to handle than the human heart? It’s only natural to be drawn to the beauty in front of you. If I weren’t one-armed, I might have brushed away the strand of hair clinging to her cheek.’
“Mmm…”
Abruptly, Letia moved away from me and rotated her body so that her back was facing me.
In that instant, a wave of panic swept over me, fearing that she had awoken from her slumber.
Thankfully, it soon became apparent that she had merely shifted positions due to feeling uncomfortable, alleviating my anxiety.
As I took deep breaths to steady my racing heart, I caught sight of a subtle glow emanating from a cluster of keys situated near Letia’s waist.
It became clear that the source of the faint light was indeed a bundle of keys.
Not only did she possess a collection of keys that could lock and unlock iron bars, but the reasons behind her having so many duplicates remained a mystery to me.
The sight of those keys was alluring and tempting.
Considering the abundance of keys in her possession, it seemed unlikely that she would even realize if one went missing.
Thoughts of taking just one began to occupy my mind.
A desire, akin to a serpent hissing and flicking its tongue, started to take root within me.
The allure of possessing one of those keys grew stronger.
The idea of holding onto a prison key for emergencies began to take shape in my mind, a comforting thought in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Gulp.
As I felt my heart race, I swallowed hard and clenched my teeth on the pillowcase.
With delicate precision, I gently raised the arm that Letia had placed over me and positioned the pillow underneath it for added comfort.
Slowly and cautiously, I eased her arm down, ensuring that her head was cradled by the softness of the pillow.
Inch by inch, I extricated my arm from beneath her without disturbing her peaceful slumber.
Eventually, I breathed a sigh of relief as my only arm regained its freedom once more.
The sensation of blood flowing back into my arm caused a lingering tingling feeling, but the urgency of the situation left no room for hesitation.
It wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary for Letia to awaken suddenly and catch me in the act.
With caution, I approached Letia’s delicate waist, ensuring that my movements were silent to avoid any detection.
Silently and skillfully, I was able to take the bundle of keys from Letia without making a noise.
“Phew…”
I felt a sudden rush of anxiety as I struggled to prevent the keys from making any noise as they jostled in my hand.
After a few tense moments, I finally managed to silence them.
With that stressful task behind me, I could now look forward to enjoying my well-deserved reward.
The moment I pulled a key from the bundle—
“Can you take responsibility for this?”
“Ah!”
Letia’s sudden warning almost made me scream.
At what moment had she awakened?
The thrill in my mind dissipated, leaving behind a wave of pure panic that felt like a blinding light obliterating everything in its path.
What would be the best way for me to clarify this situation?
Is it better to come clean and offer a heartfelt apology?
With my thoughts swirling in a frantic whirlwind on how to approach and resolve the matter,
Letia stayed motionless, her back still turned away from me.
I wondered if it was just sleep-talking, but that hope was short-lived.
“I’m asking if you’re prepared to take responsibility for your actions.”
“Uh…”
“If you are, then you can take it. If that’s your decision, I’ll respect it.”
“Thank you…”
The shame I felt was overwhelming, weighing down on me like a heavy burden, making it impossible for me to even raise my head.
From the moment I arrived at the imposing mansion,
Letia had extended nothing but kindness towards me.
Despite our turbulent history where I once stood as her adversary, she chose to treat me with respect and compassion, a gesture rooted in a long-forgotten bond we once shared.
However, my intentions were far from noble.
While Letia showered me with care, I was secretly plotting my escape back to the empire, seeking any chance to leave this place behind.
In an act of betrayal, I betrayed the trust and generosity Letia had shown me by taking the key she entrusted to me.
It was a cruel betrayal of her goodwill and turned a blind eye to the compassion she had extended towards me.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of shame and remorse for my actions, realizing that even stray dogs knew how to show gratitude, while I, in my desire to escape, had chosen to repay Letia’s kindness with treachery.
“I’m sorry.”
Unable to bear the shame, I apologized, but no response came.
Only the sound of Letia’s steady breathing filled the room.
Consumed by guilt, I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gaze and instead, I turned my back on her, sinking down onto the ground.
The night dragged on in a weighty and oppressive atmosphere, making every minute feel like an eternity.
As five days slipped by, the memory of that night continued to haunt me, growing heavier with each passing moment.
Despite the days that had gone by, Letia had not visited the prison even once since our last encounter, leaving me to grapple with my remorse alone.
In addition to no longer adding sleeping agents to my meals, it seemed that Letia had also stopped the practice altogether, as the feeling of heaviness I experienced each morning had completely vanished.
Despite the relief I felt from this change, there was a new sensation of emptiness that crept in.
It became clear to me that I had developed a strong attachment to Letia within a short period of time.
The realization that I already missed her after only three days made me consider the possibility that it would be wiser to end our relationship now.
Reflecting on how easily I had grown fond of her,
I couldn’t help but wonder if spending more time with Letia and becoming even closer would have jeopardized my original goal of returning home.
“Ugh! Why is the weather so gloomy even in broad daylight?”
“It’s because the sky’s full of clouds. It’ll probably stay dark until tonight.”
“Looks like we’ll be patrolling with lanterns all night.”
“Perfect weather for assassins to make their move. Even if we’re far from the frontlines, we still need to be prepared since we’re in wartime.”
The sound of servants talking outside the prison walls drifted to my ears, signaling that the moment to make my escape had finally arrived.
With the dark clouds obscuring the moonlight, it was clear that there wouldn’t be a more ideal time for me to slip away unnoticed.
Adding to my fortune, Letia, the guard who would have surely thwarted my plans, had left on a reconnaissance mission.
Not wanting to risk being caught by her, I made the decision that tonight would be the night of my daring escape.
Despite the increased security patrols within the mansion, I remained undeterred as I prepared to make my move.
Thanks to the detailed conversations I had with Sherry,