Chapter 272
Chapter 272
In any case, this situation was an inescapable trap. The decision to send Asta alone was a glaring indication that a trap had been set. So, it seemed wisest to comply obediently. Struggling would only lead to an unsightly and perilous outcome.
Even Prince Julius couldn’t deter Asta from coming to me, so there was no reason to believe a mere Countess could. As it had come to this, I found myself somewhat relieved that Kaichen wasn’t at my side. If he were here, he wouldn’t have merely stood by and allowed me to be dragged away in such a manner.
I pondered if he might have erected a barrier to prevent Asta from entering the mansion in the first place. If not, perhaps he would obstruct any potential escape routes.
Asta calmly observed me trailing behind him and then opened the carriage door.
Suddenly, I recalled the information about Lamia’s demise in this very carriage after she entered it. There was no guarantee that a similar fate wouldn’t befall me. I hesitated for a moment but came to the realization that there was no way back while standing on this bridge with no retreat.
‘She truly is a formidable individual.’
I sighed while Asta remained expressionless, merely clutching the carriage door. As I got in, I heard the door closed with a solid click.
I glanced at Asta, who had joined me inside the carriage. His beauty rivaled that of Walter. Other people would surely stare at him in admiration. As I silently observed him, sitting with an air of poise and composure, I couldn’t help but think he exuded an aura reminiscent of Exetra.
Not in terms of appearance but in his demeanor.
“You bear a striking resemblance to the Princess.”
“……”
“Has anyone ever told you that?”
“……”
“Do you not wish to talk with me?”
“……”
“Hmm. Is this a trap?”
As I blurted out whatever came to mind in response to his silence, he shifted his gaze toward me. Thanks to that, our eyes finally locked.
“You know this is a trap, and yet you’re going along with it?”
His voice was smooth and pleasing to the ear. It was so soft and melodious that I couldn’t help but think he could be a voice actor. It sounded pretty different from how it was outside compared to within the confines of the enclosed carriage.
“There’s no way out, and you’ve prepared thoroughly, haven’t you? On the Princess’s orders?”
I chuckled, lifting the corner of my mouth, and Asta still met my inquiry with his unyielding expression.
“If there’s no escape, why follow along, even knowing it’s a trap? If there’s no way out, you should seek one. Correct?”
Asta turned his gaze away without uttering a word. His distant stare seemed to fixate on empty space. He slowly blinked his long eyelashes.
“If there’s no way out, she’ll create one.”
“…What?”
“She knows it’s a trap, but instead of obediently following along, she’ll forge her path.”
“Oh.”
“That’s the distinction between you and her.”
It felt like an answer signaling me to refrain from further conversation.
“I just asked about your thoughts.”
I blinked and asked again, but Asta continued with his vacant gaze, diverting his eyes from me.
“You don’t require my thoughts.”
Asta said this and remained silent. I, too, had no intention of speaking with him any further. He provided an entirely different response, almost as if he were a spokesperson for Exetra.
She would fashion a route where none existed.
She would never tread a path that was obviously a trap.
I couldn’t even muster a response to what felt like a taunting gesture.
It was like gazing upon a black-and-white chessboard. Similar to Lamia, who was bound and helpless, akin to one of the chess pieces, I felt like I was one of Asta’s pawns.
No, it was certain. I was a pawn in Princess Exchetra’s game. But whether I would be employed and discarded like Lamia, or be something else – something more significant like a bishop or knight, remained uncertain.
It appeared that Princess Exchetra was conveying to me that I held no greater importance.
It was unjust, and my pride hurt, but I reasoned it might be entirely plausible from Exchetra’s perspective, particularly when she has a potent dark mage and a knowledgeable transmigrator by her side.
‘How pitiful.’
I gently closed my eyes. Once again, my head throbbed, and the unpleasant ringing in my ears returned. Pressing my eyes shut as if to stifle the throbbing, I resolved not to waste any more time on this apparent trap.
Even if the piece was a pawn, its movements could determine victory or defeat, and in chess, bishops, and knights bore distinct values depending on the circumstance.
Perhaps, I might be the rook, the second most potent piece after the queen, or even the queen herself, poised to declare checkmate.
I contemplated how to utilize the trap into which I had willingly ventured, all the while calmly recalling the memories that surfaced.
In doing so, I peered out of the carriage. Naturally, the carriage wasn’t en route to the palace but to some other destination.
Since it was a trap that they hadn’t bothered to conceal from the outset, there was no need for them to veil their destination either.
I needed to focus on not becoming the first casualty rather than pondering how to manipulate them.
—
The place we arrived at was a rundown house.
After entering what appeared to be an ordinary home, we proceeded down a passage leading underground.
To think that such a vast space existed beneath Huelin.
Was this Princess Exchetra’s secret hideout?
Upon reaching a certain room, even though I had cautioned them earlier not to lay a hand on me, they forcibly thrust me into a cell enclosed by metal bars.