Chapter 44
Just then, a desperate voice called out from a distance.
“Hey, don’t kill her!”
The warning was followed by the assassin’s grip loosening. Raylenne gasped for breath, trying to regain her composure. She realized that the one who had issued the warning was the other assassin, the one she had slashed in the thigh.
‘What’s going on here…?’
An assassin stopping another assassin—it didn’t make sense. The injured assassin limped towards them, dragging his foot.
“We were told absolutely not to kill her! Our mission is just…”
Just… what? Raylenne focused on the assassin’s words, but he stopped speaking. However, she didn’t need to hear the rest. The important thing was that their client had ordered them not to kill her.
In contrast, Haele didn’t seem to be one of the “don’t kill” targets, as the assassins had attacked him without hesitation. It was clear Haele wasn’t spared the same restriction.
‘In that case…’
Raylenne whispered urgently to Haele, “Haele, you need to get out of here and get help! I’ll hide in the forest and buy some time.”
“What? Wouldn’t it be better if we both escaped together…?”
Raylenne was surprised that Haele wasn’t running away immediately. She had thought his usual timidity would have him fleeing in an instant.
“No, it’s better if we split up and divert their attention.”
“But it would be safer if you went to get help, Lady Raylenne…”
Seeing Haele hesitate, Raylenne added, “They can’t kill me, but if they catch you, they might. So, you’re the one who needs to escape and bring help.”
Her sincerity seemed to reach him, and Haele reluctantly nodded. Exchanging glances, Raylenne and Haele ran in opposite directions—Raylenne into the forest, and Haele out of it.
As the two figures grew distant, the assassins quickly exchanged words.
“You follow the woman. Even if she runs, she’s still in the forest, so you’ll catch her soon.”
“Got it. Make sure you deal with that fat one. He’s a witness.”
With that, the assassins split up. One pursued Haele, while the injured one followed Raylenne into the forest. A dangerous game of hide and seek began.
* * *
Raylenne, having created some distance from the assassin, hid behind a large tree. She clenched her fists tightly.
‘Please, go somewhere else.’
Her prayer seemed answered when the footsteps following her stopped.
“You might as well give up; I’ll catch you anyway.”
The assassin’s voice, filled with frustration, seeped through the trees. No wonder—being ambushed by a woman must have been humiliating.
‘I’m glad I found the courage to slash him.’
The wound on his thigh seemed deep, as the assassin’s pace had slowed. Though trapped in the forest, Raylenne believed she had a chance to fight back now that there was only one assassin to deal with. His injury and her woodworking knife leveled the playing field somewhat.
‘Of course, it would be best if Haele could bring help quickly.’
Raylenne stayed hidden, her body tense. After a while, she could still hear the assassin searching the forest, trying to find her. Curious thoughts ran through her mind.
She was sure Helis had sent the assassin, but why not kill her? Was she to be kidnapped? The uncertainty made it no less dangerous. She had no idea what plans these rough men had.
What puzzled her more was the change in Helis’s approach. He had tried to kill her slowly and discreetly with Sana grass, and now he had escalated to sending assassins. What had changed? She hadn’t had any recent conflicts with Helis—in fact, he had been unusually polite to her lately.
‘Was that all a setup?’
A setup so he wouldn’t be suspected after this attack. That cunning bastard. Raylenne bit her lip.
Suddenly, the sound of rustling leaves grew closer. The assassin was nearing her hiding spot. The likelihood of being discovered was high.
Raylenne debated whether to stay hidden and hope for the best or attack first with her knife. Her decision was made for her.
“There you are.”
With the assassin spotting her, Raylenne had only one option left. She gripped the woodworking knife in her pocket, her expression determined.
* * *
Haele panted heavily, regretting not having exercised more. Despite sprinting with all his might, the sound of footsteps grew closer, filling him with dread. He was so out of breath that it felt like he could hardly continue running.
He had a strong premonition that he would soon be caught by the assassin if he kept running. ‘I need to hide somewhere and lose him,’ he thought. Haele scanned his surroundings for a hiding spot and saw the entrance to an underground prison ahead. ‘I’ll hide in the underground prison first. If the assassin finds me, I can sneak out the back door and go get help.’
Haele mustered all his remaining strength and darted toward the entrance of the underground prison.
“You fat pig! I’ve got you now!”
‘Ugh, I’m going to get caught…!’
Just as the assassin’s hand brushed his clothes, Haele bolted inside the underground prison and hurriedly locked the door behind him. The assassin banged on the door violently, causing it to rattle. The door seemed like it would burst open any moment.
The sound of the assassin striking the door forcefully was soon followed by the sound of the door handle being tampered with, confirming Haele’s worst fear. The assassin was focusing on breaking the door lock. Pale with fear, Haele rushed deeper into the prison.
His head swiveled around, scanning the cells. They were all made of iron bars, making them see-through. Suddenly, a suitable hiding place came to Haele’s mind: Aiden’s cell. The only cell made of solid walls, Aiden’s cell was not visible from the outside.
‘Aiden is scary, but…’
Those dark pupils of his felt like facing a shark in deep waters. It was why Haele had always been reluctant to enter that cell. But he quickly reconsidered. ‘If someone as fragile as Raylenne can go in and out of Aiden’s cell, then so can I.’
He didn’t have any other options at this point. The door would soon be broken and opened. ‘Alright.’ Resolute, Haele grabbed the key and ran towards Aiden’s cell.
The sound of unfamiliar footsteps echoed in the underground prison, indicating that the assassin had broken through and entered. With trembling hands, Haele unlocked Aiden’s cell door, carefully closing it behind him without making a sound. Once inside the fortress-like cell, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Whew…”
But as he turned his head, he was met with Aiden’s dark pupils staring directly at him.
“Aaah… mmph!”
“Quiet.”
Aiden clamped his hand over Haele’s mouth. Haele, his face flushed with surprise, nodded slightly.
“How many are chasing you?”
Haele held up one finger. Aiden leaned down and whispered quietly, his voice low and commanding.
“If you want to live, do exactly as I say.”
The pressure in his voice left no room for disobedience.
“Go to the door, open it again, and lure the pursuer inside my range.”
Haele’s eyes widened. ‘After all the trouble I went through to hide, you want me to face the assassin again?’ He shook his head vehemently, but Aiden’s piercing gaze made him realize disobeying might mean death.
The assassin’s footsteps grew closer.
“Go now.”
Aiden shoved Haele towards the door with a strong push. Haele stumbled to the door. The assassin seemed to have heard the noise, as the footsteps stopped.
Haele felt like crying. But crying wouldn’t change anything. It might be better to do as Aiden instructed. He was worried, though. The plan seemed to involve luring the armed assassin into the cell, where Aiden was unarmed. Could Aiden really handle the situation?
Doubt clouding his mind, Haele opened the cell door.
Creak, slam!
The sudden movement startled the assassin, who hesitated. But the mission was not over. Haele had to lure the assassin inside as Aiden instructed.
“I- I’m here, you idiot!”
With a clumsy taunt, Haele hurried back inside the cell. Aiden pressed himself against the wall, remaining silent.
The assassin, not expecting anyone else to be inside, walked into the cell leisurely.
“After all that running, you finally gave up, huh?”
Haele backed away, glancing at Aiden for help, but Aiden remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the assassin.
The assassin drew his sword and advanced towards Haele. The sharp blade glinted menacingly as it pointed at Haele’s neck.
“Got you at last, you fat pig.”
Haele looked at Aiden with a tearful expression, but Aiden still did not move. ‘Even though I haven’t treated him well, how could he betray me like this…’ Haele was full of resentment when suddenly—
Clang.
With the sound of chains, Aiden moved swiftly like the wind.
“Why were you with that woman…? Aagh!”
In an instant, Aiden had wrapped his arm around the assassin’s neck from behind. The surprised assassin struggled, but as Aiden applied more pressure with his elbow, the assassin’s movements slowed and then stopped altogether.
With a final spasm, the assassin’s body went limp, and Aiden let it fall to the floor.
Thud. Haele, still processing what had happened, blinked dumbly.
“Get a grip.”
Haele turned his head at the sound of Aiden’s cold voice, as if doused with icy water.
“Where is Lady Raylenne?”
The mention of Raylenne’s name snapped Haele back to his senses.
“Oh, right…! We need to save Lady Raylenne… But we need to get help first…”
As Haele started to panic, Aiden punched the wall beside him, sending a gust of air across Haele’s face.
“I told you to get a grip.”
Haele swallowed hard at Aiden’s fierce gaze.
“Tell me clearly. Where is Lady Raylenne now?”
“She’s in the forest… behind the underground prison…”
“Is someone chasing her?”
“Yes… That’s why I need to get help…”
As Haele started to move, Aiden grabbed his shoulder.
“There’s no need.”
“What…?”
Aiden cracked his knuckles.
“I’ll go.”
