Tamed the Monster Prince - Chapter 2.2

Irena detected the male voices assessing the carriage that had just departed. She had opted for the correct decision. She shut her eyes firmly and leapt. Astonishingly, there was no outcry.

She had managed to evade the situation, but was uncertain if it was the right decision. She had merely postponed her demise. The possibility of a more severe and vicious punishment made her tremble.

She refused to succumb to her fate without a fight, gripping the sword she had refused to relinquish.

Recalling her grandmother, Annalisa’s, customary words of wisdom, she found herself reflecting on the past in her current stressful situation.

Staying alive is essential for survival. It is preferable to live, regardless of the manner in which one chooses to do so.

In this dire predicament, what steps can I take to ensure my survival?

The discoverer exclaimed upon finding her in the shrubbery.

Irena felt a sinking sensation in her chest as the men advanced towards her sequentially. She extended her arm and brandished a short blade.

“Don’t come any closer!”

She was aware of her seemingly comical appearance, armed with a single short sword and not attempting to intimidate the opposition.

The other party responded with a smile and a nod.

“We are pressed for time, let us expedite the process.”

The other travelers called upon her. Their hands were stained with blood, creating a crimson stream in the rain that washed away the evidence. It was a moment of remorse for her to have questioned her escort knight.

She felt a chill at the nape of her neck.

The man wielding the sword directed a warning to her, “Do not be too resentful.”

She shuddered and meekly inquired, “W-who commanded this?”  She dreaded the response, but the events had occurred too quickly.

She experienced a sudden sense of apprehension.

“That would be…”

She sensed that the man’s words were incomplete, and realized he was perishing. The blade he had brandished towards her was now stained with blood.

“….Eh?”

She experienced a sudden feeling of rigidity in her head. What had happened? It was a ghastly sight, the lines between reality and imagination becoming indistinguishable. The individual who had just attempted to take her life had a sword lodged in their torso and warm blood pouring out, discoloring the floor.

Abruptly, a severe bout of coughing arose. Thick mucus was expelled and an unpleasant odor permeated the area. Irena raised her head and noticed that all the observers had fallen. It was a harrowing sight.

“Ren…”

And then there he was.

“Ce, Cesar?”

Cesar swiftly approached her, her expression a mixture of surprise and bewilderment. He was supposed to be attending the banquet with Gioveneta at this point, so why was he present? But she was relieved, although not completely.

Are you here to assist me?

Suspicion crept up on her.

“…Why are you here?” she asked him.

Gioveneta asserted that Cesar had selected her. If he had been present to witness her final moments…

Cesar’s sword was stained with a vivid crimson hue, yet he remained wordless. It would have been preferable if he had articulated his thoughts.

Why was there no answer?

She had reached her threshold of tension and the sound of rain had begun to diminish. It wasn’t that the rain had ceased, but her ears felt as if she was submerged in water and her vision was obscured by a veil of darkness.

She was pulled into the depths of the darkness and plummeted downward, as the cold raindrops pelted her face. It had been raining that day as well.

The commencement of the journey began with their wedding.

***

It began to rain in the early hours of the morning. The maids preparing the bride for the wedding expressed concern that the weather was an ill omen.

Due to the discomfort in her ankles, she was unable to attend to the rain. It felt like a steel clamp was constricting her bones and flesh. This was a regular occurrence on rainy days and she found herself completely consumed by it. Surprisingly, she found a sense of relief from this familiar pain.

Despite being in a new and unfamiliar environment, she reminded herself that this was her own choice and that patience is key to achieving her desired outcome. She had no other option but to remain strong and determined.

She located the umbrella that had been concealed beneath her undergarments, and experienced the delicate and refreshing feel of the fabric beneath her fingertips.