The dragon carriage had been ravaged during the interrogation. It was in such a terrible state that it was unusable.
I stood with the group of girls by the roadside, waiting for a passing trader to rent a new one.
"Are you really not leaving?" I asked them.
"No," the leader of the group shook her head firmly. "We're not leaving."
"After all, we've caused you so much trouble. If we don't repay you properly, we'll never have peace of mind."
"And it's not just about gratitude," another girl whispered, shivering. "We are being watched. If we insist on leaving... we might really be turned into insects."
"That's right... turning into flies or maggots..."
Capella's threat had terrified them.
They now understood that the outside world was not safe. If they were reduced to insects and humiliated... the consequences were beyond human endurance. The only way to avoid such a terrible outcome was to stay by my side.
"I see," I nodded. "In that case, come back with me."
I looked at them with serious eyes.
"I promise you, you will absolutely not suffer any harm. I will protect you."
My confidence was genuine. I didn't fear Capella. My Lion's Heart domain could cover an entire city. If she tried to sneak in, I would know instantly.
"I believe you," the girl I had saved said softly.
Her face was still flushed from our earlier "inspection," but she met my gaze with courage.
"Thank you. I definitely won't let you down."
"Uh-huh."
She lowered her head shyly.
The other girls giggled, teasing her gently.
I smiled at them, then turned to look at Carol.
She had been watching from a distance, looking listless and defeated.
I walked towards her.
Noticing my approach, she forced herself to stand up straight, though her shoulders slumped.
"I'm sorry..."
She bowed deeply again. Her attitude was extremely sincere.
"So," I asked, crossing my arms. "Have you figured out a way to compensate me?"
"I... I will do everything I can to protect you and your wives."
"That's it? Is that all?"
My dissatisfaction was palpable.
Carol pursed her lips. She knew it wasn't enough. If she made a stupid mistake, she had to pay for it. But she couldn't imagine what else she could offer.
"Don't you have anything else to say?" I pressed. "If not... how about I propose the terms?"
Carol looked up. She didn't refute me. She waited for my judgment.
"It seems you have no objections."
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice.
"In that case... how about you become my toy?"
"Play!? Toy!?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"That's right. A toy."
I smirked cruelly.
"After all, you just let the 'toy' I prepared escape. As compensation, isn't it only natural that you take her place?"
Carol's expression shifted from disbelief to anger, and finally to silence.
"Can't you accept it?" I asked coldly.
"You should know... because of your impulsiveness, you let a Sin Archbishop escape. If she comes back for revenge one day, I have no guarantee that I can survive her schemes. I might be killed at any time."
I poked her chest plate.
"I might die because of you! My wives might die because of you!"
Carol flinched with every word.
"Faced with this situation... becoming my toy and bearing me a child—leaving behind a descendant for the man you condemned to death—isn't that a responsibility you should bear?"
"Or is it that, as a Knight, you can't even shoulder responsibility?"
My words cut deep. I could see her resolve crumbling.
Finally, she gritted her teeth.
Her hands moved to her armor straps.
She began to remove her equipment, piece by piece, right there on the roadside.
She compromised.
After a while, the last piece of armor fell to the grass. She stood in her underclothes, shivering slightly in the evening air.
"You're right," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"It's all my responsibility. I'm willing to accept your request. For you..."
She looked up, tears in her eyes.
"...to leave you a descendant."
The resolute girl looked like she was about to cry. She knew she had no right to, but the shame and regret were overwhelming.
"You compromised so easily," I noted, surprised by how well the guilt trip worked. "Have you already been with a man? If so, I—"
"NO! NEVER!"
She interrupted me instantly, her face flushing with indignation.
"The reason I agreed... is because you're right."
She clenched her fists.
"Even if I do everything in my power to protect you, I don't have complete confidence. Capella escaped from the Royal Palace itself. Even the strongest can be ambushed."
She looked me in the eye.
"If you are killed because of my mistake... then giving you an heir is the only way I can atone. It is my duty."
I sized her up.
She was beautiful. Extremely beautiful.
Seeing this proud, assertive knight reduced to a vulnerable, shivering mess... it awoke a dark urge in me.
I wanted to bully her. I wanted to make her cry until she begged for mercy.
"Good," I smiled. "Then let's begin your atonement."
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