Chapter 283

Chapter 283

I no longer wanted to open my eyes. Countless times, I had witnessed Kaichen attempting to save me, only to watch him die before my eyes, and it drained me of the will to shed tears.

Could this be a dream? Could my anxiety conjure up such a vivid nightmare?

Ironically, my initial doubts stemmed from a desire to avoid witnessing Kaichen’s death in my dreams, even though I knew it was just a dream.

I knew it was a dream, yet it was excruciating to endure.

I cried, wailed, resented, and cursed, but nothing ever changed.

Kaichen always stood before me, vowing to protect me and reassuring me not to worry.

Stop.

Stop saving me.

Stop.

I’m not worth saving.

Please, please, Master.

During this desperate plea for relief, I finally woke up from the nightmare, more terrifying than anything I could imagine. It was as though my mind, sinking into that abyss, was forcibly pulled back to reality.

“Ugh… Cough! Ugh…!”

As repulsive as it was, I vomited everything I could onto the ground. Judging by the sight before me, I may have even vomited blood. I lacked the strength to lift a finger.

I believed I had drifted into sleep due to the cold, but it seemed that something had been done to my body. This was probably why I had such a grotesque dream.

The first things I faintly saw through my blurred vision were gruesome torture devices.

‘Ah… How horrifying.’

In my previous life, I had indulged in all sorts of manga, novels, animations, and movies, regardless of the genre. I didn’t have any particular aversions, except for one – gore.

The lines were blurry. I’d watched some zombie movies, but I felt that real horror was an entirely different beast.

The sight of gruesome murderers and torture devices that made your skin crawl was something I couldn’t stomach. I’d much prefer a horror story with ghosts any day. While my stomach wasn’t easily turned, I had always loathed such brutality.

So, my memories from the last hundred years may be what I find horrifying.

Seeing numerous torture devices in front of me made me consider that my taste in genres might be responsible for this.

I wonder if I’m completely sane in my current state.

“Have you had a good dream?”

An elegant tone and a dignified voice. It was Princess Exchetra, known for her grace and poise.

I raised my gaze, which had been fixed on the grim devices. Only then did my hazy vision clear, revealing Exchetra seated on a chair with crossed legs.

“…Thanks to you, yes.”

I had screamed and cried in my dream, leaving my voice hoarse.

I steadied my trembling hands on the floor and stood up. Metal grates enclosed the room, but I could lean my back against them and sit down properly to face Exchetra.

Exchetra remained silent, watching me until I adjusted my posture. Her unwavering gaze made me uneasy.

“Ugh…”

Getting up and sitting against my back shouldn’t be this difficult. I let out a quiet sigh and raised my head.

“You’re quite resilient, aren’t you?” Exchetra commented.

“It doesn’t look intimidating.”

“You even maintain courtesy in this situation.”

“Because you’re a princess.”

Since everyone had brought me here, openly showcasing me to all, they probably wouldn’t kill me. Just that fact alone allowed me to relax a little.

I was okay with whatever happened as long as Kaichen didn’t die. I couldn’t allow that horrifying dream to become a reality.

Feeling the throbbing pain in my dry throat, I swallowed hard.

“If the opportunity arises, I’d like to have a calm conversation.”

“I have no intention of casually chatting with Your Highness.”

“Hmm? I’m not so sure.” Exchetra chuckled softly and rested her elbow on her elegantly crossed knees, her hand supporting her chin.

Every move she made exuded elegance to the point of absurdity. Even in this grim and dark place, she didn’t let her guard down.

“You must have many questions, right?”

She taunted me, and I bit my lip.

I wanted to inquire about her secrets, the extent of her knowledge of this world, and her accomplices, but she wouldn’t spill everything just because I asked.

“I suppose you won’t tell me?”

“How about you start first?”

“… It seems you’re not going to reveal anything.”

“I keep my promises. Even if it’s a pact made with a mere worm.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her lips curled. With her beautiful face, she looked enticing when she smiled that way.

“How about it? I might reveal something very valuable.”

I suddenly recalled the story of Eve, who couldn’t resist the serpent’s temptation to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Although I wasn’t religious, it was a story that appeared frequently in various media, making it rare for people not to know it.

Eve fell for Satan’s trick. Faced with Satan’s seductive words, how much did Eve agonize?