Page 175 of I Ran Away to Evil
Everything he had said was true, including the part where if one contracted party were to kill another, they would be subject to the [Bond Breaker] title for one years’ time. But there was an extra clause he hadnotmentioned. If a party member rejected the agreement early, they would also suffer the [Bond Breaker] title for the remaining duration of the contract.
If I didn’t know better, I would have been tempted to just say [No] and suffer the rebuff. It just reduced a person’s highest stat to ten.
But Ididknow better. This entire thing was a trap, and I was embarrassed for anyone who even thought it was going to work.
I looked down at the marquess, who’s satisfied smirk started to waver when I just smiled at him.
“Well?” He demanded, squeezing my hands harder than was polite. Not that it bothered me much.
“I would like to thank you for the dance, marquess.” I told him. “But I don’t think you will be hearing what you want to hear from me today.”
There was always another choice. And I chose to not select [Yes]or[No]. I could present my case before the council on the morrow and try to convince them that the contract should be null and void.
Now, if only my parents or the marquess did something stupid to help my case.
“I am sorry that it had to be this way.” The marquess paused our dance right beside the stage. I barely felt the blade cut into my finger where the marquess’s ring stabbed me. My [Resist Poison] perk was high, and I felt it working, but whatever hit me was strong enough to knock out a wyvern.
[You have beenParalyzed. Time until effect wears off 00:02:00]
I had several Paralysis antidotes in my storage ring. Unfortunately, it was hard to give myself a Paralysis antidote when I was already paralyzed … still, two minutes wasn’t so long.
The marquess tsked. “That should have lasted an hour. Ridiculous. I’ll need to speed up the timetable.” He made a motion with his hands above his head.
It must have been a signal, because an instant later a scream resounded around the hall.
The marquess wrapped an arm around my waist, lifting my stiff body and walking to the side of the stage. His words faked concern. “There, there, darling, let’s get you to a fainting couch.”
I decided it was time to poke my sleeping sword, who stirred. I debated just summoning her outright then and there … it was hard to hold a sword when you were paralyzed. I could wait and do it wherever we ended up when the paralysis wore off. In all my experiences being kidnapped as a princess, this one was the most ridiculous. If I wasn’t worried about Keith getting trapped talking to my parents all night, I would have been excited to see how they were going to get me out of the palace.
I know howIwould have done it.
We were through the musician’s entrance in seconds, where two men were waiting. One, wearing the clothing of a North Sumbrian attendant, activated a Rogue perk. All of my jewelry and valuables flew into his hand. His fist closed around my rings, earrings, and button necklace—and then he vanished with nearly everything I owned.
All except the storage ring Keith had gifted me, which had resisted the man’s attack.
[You have beenParalyzed. Time until effect wears off 00:01:17]
“Hurry up and throw her with the others!” The marquess shoved me off to a strong-looking young man in musician’s clothing holding a set of manacles. With his hands free, Chadwick pulled out a scroll and cast, “Activate: [Lesser Portal Door].”
That was actually a good idea, and I commended his decisions. Though that particular spell wouldn’t get us far enough to actually leave the palace itself, it could get us away from prying eyes.Well done marquess. Then I registered the other thing Chadwick had said.What others?My mind raced and something I should have noticed much sooner clicked into place. I raged.
[You have beenParalyzed. Time until effect wears off 00:00:46]
I stopped imagining what it would be like to punch the marquess in the face as a familiar set of manacles clicked over my wrists and carried me through the portal, leaving the marquess behind us.
I sent a silent apology to Keith. It was going to take a little more time to clean this up than I thought.
CHAPTER 108
Where Is Henrietta?
Keith
Keith reminded himself that everything was going to be alright. He might have repeated it in his mind three times already, but it bore repeating.
Henrietta was someone he respected, including her choice to get kidnapped. He assumed itwasa choice; evenhewould be hard-pressed to move her if she said no.
Chloe had come up behind him, ready to [Resurrect], but only as a last resort. She never would have offered if it wasn’t for Grand Duchess Calisto’s backing. Some nobles were …pickyabout resurrection. Unless it happened in a dungeon, many kingdoms in Valaria ruled that the second a person died, they were barred from inheriting. They were allowed to stay alive, but for all intents and purposes, they were legally dead.
