CHAPTER 69: WHY DID I SAY THAT?
John looked into Angela's teary eyes. he was thinking at a pace that threatened to give him a headache, trying to see a way out of this situation.
He couldn't see anything he could do to help her escape this place.
Sifting through Ethan's memories, John searched for how the prince used to handle Angela.
And he wasn't really surprised by what he found; he even expected it somewhat—Ethan hadn't treated her like absolute trash. He had insulted her publicly, mocked her devotion, and thrown her away the moment Princess Raven became a better political bargaining chip.
Angela was staring at him, inquisitively confused as to why he was silent.
"You're... being quiet," she whispered, her brow furrowing with sudden suspicion.
"Usually, you would have called me a clingy psycho by now. You would have told me to get my hands off you. Why aren't you yelling at me, Ethan?"
[Careful, minion,] Echo warned inside his head. [One wrong word and the consequences could be dire.]
John adjusted his posture slightly within his chains, letting out a weary sigh. He softened his eyes, regret finding its way to his face.
"Because I was an idiot, Angela."
Angela froze, her pupils widening at the words.
"W-What?"
"I didn't treat you the way you deserved," John continued, looking down as if burdened by a crushing guilt.
"Back in the capital, I took everything you gave me for granted. I pushed you away, I humiliated you, and I chased after a title and a princess who never gave a damn about me. I thought power was everything."
He raised his head, looking directly into her eyes with a face that made her heart flutter.
"Then I was abducted. Losing everything... almost dying... it changes a man, Angela. It taught me what actually matters. Sitting in this dark cell, I realized that the only person who ever truly loved me, the only one who stayed faithful despite how terribly I treated her... was you."
Angela stared at him, paralyzed. The aura around her flickered and died down, replaced by a tranquil silence.
For several long seconds, she didn't breathe- no, more like she couldn't breathe. Then, her lips began to quiver.
"Ethan..." she sobbed out.
She buried her face into his chest and began bawling her eyes out as years of suppressed grief, rejection, and bitter loneliness poured out of her. She clutched his tunic tightly, weeping like a child.
"You have no idea!" she cried, her voice muffled against his chest. "You have no idea how much it hurt when you left me for her! Everyone laughed at me! My mother called me useless! I hated you... I hated you so much, but I couldn't stop loving you!"
John simply endured it. He let her cry, wrapping his chained arms as far around her as the restraints allowed, patting her back gently.
[Damn,] Echo murmured, impressed with the performance. [You're a terrifyingly good actor, minion.]
Shut up, will you? This is serious.
Angela finally stopped sobbing, wiping her wet cheeks against his collar. She looked up at him, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
"I forgive you, my love," she whispered, kissing his jaw. "I'm so happy you finally see the truth. We don't have to worry about anything anymore. My mother's men captured The Walrus while you were unconscious. We're at House Crimson's private island stronghold. You're safe now."
"That's wonderful, Angela."
"What about the others on the ship?"
"Oh, the crew was actually the ones who brought you to me… but I gave them what they deserve," she said dismissively.
"And as for those two bitches you were traveling with—that Necromancer princess and her little beast girl—they're locked in the deep dungeon above us."
Angela stood up from his lap, smoothing down her fine dress. She wiped the lingering tears from her eyes and flashed him a mischievous grin.
"I was actually going to have them disposed of today, but since you're awake and you've finally come back to me..."
She walked over to the door, pulled out a bell, and called out into the corridor. A moment later, a tall and elderly butler dressed in elegant black robes stepped inside, bowing deeply.
"You called, Lady Angela?"
Think...
I don't have enough time to figure out these runes before she kills Lea and Raven. I have to stop her right now, but how?
"Tell the dungeon guards to prepare the execution of the two bitches," Angela ordered casually, her tone shifting from sweet to chillingly cold in a fraction of a second.
"Do it right now. I want them dead before sunset."
John's blood ran cold. Sunset?! That gives me no time!
Panic spread across his body. Before he could think of a better plan, the urgency of the timeline made his mouth move on its own.
"Wait," John blurted out, his voice sharp.
"Do you want to sleep together... and then watch the execution?"
Angela froze mid-stride.
The elderly butler stopped dead in his tracks, his head bowed.
Inside John's head, Echo went silent.
Angela slowly turned around, her eyes wide with a scary light. A flush of deep pink rose up her neck, and her tear-stained face lit up with joy.
"You... you want to...?" Angela stammered, her voice breathless.
"Yes," John said, forcing a warm, eager look into his eyes. "I've missed you, Angela. It's been so long. Why rush into a noisy execution right now when we could spend the rest of the day and night together... just the two of us?"
Angela let out an ecstatic squeal. She whirled around to the butler, waving her hand dismissively.
"Cancel it! Tell the dungeon guards the execution is delayed until tomorrow afternoon! Lock down the master suite and prepare a bath!"
"Understood, Lady Angela."
Why did I say that?
[I should just go back to sleep.]