Chapter 132: Find Yuria (2)  

From the portal emerged eight massive wolf-dogs. Once all the creatures had stepped out, Xavier pressed the button on the portal device. The black void closed, returning the space to its usual state.  

Startled, Rexton asked, 

“Your Grace, what are these creatures?”  

“The King of Moirai calls them the royal tracking hounds. They will track the scent of the saintess.”  

“Tracking hounds? Are they beastmen?”  

“They are. Don’t worry; they’ll remain in this form for now.”  

Rexton turned pale at his unbelievable response, unable to reply. Albert, his hands trembling, gripped the mono-circle tightly and asked loudly, 

“Master, I must have misunderstood, right? Surely you’re not planning to release these—uh, these beings into the Empire, are you?”  

“If necessary, I’ll release them into the imperial palace as well.”  

“What?”  

“Your Grace!”  

Despite their sharp reactions, Xavier remained unmoved.  

Using the beastman tracking hounds would be the most effective way to find Yuria.  

‘The Crown Prince is the most suspicious, but I need solid evidence—or at least a witness!’  

“These creatures are unmatched in exploration and search. Investigations that would take three days can be completed in one or two with their help. I brought them here for this reason, so objections will not be entertained.”  

With a serious expression, Xavier ordered Albert, 

“Albert, bring me the maid—Margaret’s belongings.”  

“Pardon? Yes, understood.”  

Albert retrieved Margaret’s travel bag, which he had kept in storage, and handed it to Xavier, who threw it in front of the tracking hounds.  

“Listen carefully, tracking hounds. Two of you will track the owner of this bag, who disappeared near the entrance of the capital. The rest of you will search the entire Empire to find Saintess Yuria. All responsibility lies with me, Xavier Auguste.”  

“Woof woof!”  

“Awoo!”  

Suddenly, howls echoed through the duke’s residence. The wolf-dogs began to shrink in size.  

Rexton, who had been watching them with wide eyes, quickly ran to the window and opened it.  

Through the open window, the eight tracking hounds leapt out one after another.  

As he waited for them to return, Xavier thought of only one thing.  

‘I must find Yuria. If no clue is found by morning, I’ll storm the imperial palace, twist the Crown Prince’s neck, and commit treason if I must.’  

＊  

“…I’m thirsty.”  

What time is it?  

I weakly looked around. The windows were covered with wooden panels, but faint light seeped through the gaps.  

The room was furnished with ordinary, small furniture. Only the bed I was lying on was disproportionately large and luxurious.  

Hearing faint birdsong, it seemed I’d been brought to a forest.  

If they’re going to imprison me, they could at least give me water! That damn Crown Prince. He’s like a box of 18-colored crayons.  

Arthur’s eerie voice, trying to persuade me, echoed in my mind.  

‘Come to me, Your Eminence.’  

‘If you don’t want it known throughout the Empire that Xavier is nothing more than a beast.’  

I had encountered an obstacle I hadn’t anticipated.  

The contract marriage could be dismissed as a mere photo, but how was I supposed to cover up Xavier being a beastman?  

“Is anyone there? Hey! I’m thirsty! Bring me some water!”  

But no answer came.  

“You trash who hits women!”  

Thinking no one was around, I shouted insults at the Crown Prince. Honestly, I hoped someone would hear me and come to save me.  

But it was all in vain. No one came, and my throat only grew drier.  

If that crazy Crown Prince came back, he might hit me again. Did he think that since my injuries healed quickly with holy power, there’d be no evidence of his abuse?  

I need to let Xavier know.  

But how?  

I curled my bound body on the bed and rolled over.  

“Ugh.”  

Falling to the floor hurt enough to make me groan, but I succeeded in getting off the bed.  

I crawled across the wooden floor and bumped into a table. The impact caused a small, empty glass vase on the table to fall to the floor with a clink.  

Twisting my body, I managed to pick up a shard of glass with my bound hands. Even this small act left me drenched in sweat.  

In movies, they make this look so easy. Why is it so hard for me?  

Giving up on cutting the rope binding my hands, I gripped the glass shard tightly.  

It stung sharply, but I desperately hoped the golden light seeping from my back would spread outward.  

‘Before the Crown Prince comes back, please, someone see this.’  

As I hoped, the radiant golden light extended beyond the small window frame and reached outside. I prayed Xavier would see the light and come find me.  

“Hmm. You’ve been using your head.”  

But my attempt was thwarted in less than ten minutes when Arthur arrived with lunch.  

“It’s useless. I’ve placed a barrier around this area. No one will approach, no matter what happens here, so spare yourself the effort.”  

Arthur pried open my clenched fingers one by one and snatched the glass shard, throwing it to the floor.  

“Oh, thanks to the saintess’s blood, the wound on my hand healed too.”  

“……”  

I didn’t even want to respond to his words and just glared at him.  

“You were thirsty, weren’t you? I brought some meat soup as well. I heard you like meat.”  

“……”  

“Heh, you’ll give up soon enough. You’ll become mine, the Beast Kingdom will fall, and Xavier will die.”  

Still bound, I lay sprawled on the floor, grinding my teeth.  

“You’re insane.”  

“You’re the one who made me this way. You and those beastmen.”  

Arthur smiled faintly as he looked down at me.  

“……”  

Even in this dire moment, Goddess Maha remained silent.  

She said she could intervene three times a day!  

At this rate, Arthur’s desired bad ending might become reality.  

I was scared now.  

Arthur forcibly lifted me up. Struggling only made my wrists and ankles ache more.  

“Now, open wide.”  

This lunatic. Did he really think I could eat in this situation?  

As he grabbed my chin, trying to force the soup into my mouth—  

Bang!  

The door, which I thought no one would ever open, suddenly burst open.  

And an entirely unexpected figure appeared.  

“Arthur, what on earth are you doing?!”  

Emperor Charles, improperly dressed, stood at the door, gripping the handle and trembling.  

“Y-Your Majesty? How did you…?”  

Arthur turned pale, dropping the spoon in his hand. At the same time, imperial guards stormed in.  

They dragged in several mercenary-looking men, bound and forced to kneel, followed by Count Willem, who was tied up and thrown to the floor.  

And then, I saw the person I had been longing to see the most.  

Behind them stood Xavier.  

“Xavier!”  

“Yuria!”  

Without hesitation, Xavier rushed forward from behind the Emperor.  

“Move, before I kill you.”  

Arthur froze like prey before a lion.  

“Consider yourself lucky to be the Crown Prince.”  

Xavier grabbed Arthur’s arms, pried them off me, and threw him against the wall.  

“Ugh!”  

Arthur slid to the floor, his face pale as he screamed, 

“Ahhh, Xavier! Father? Are you just going to stand there and watch this treason?!”  

But the Crown Prince’s plea only fueled the Emperor’s anger.  

“Silence! As the heir to the Empire, you kidnapped the saintess and the Duchess of Auguste, and even conspired against the King of Moirai!”  

Xavier gently lifted me from the floor and placed me on the bed. Borrowing a dagger from a guard, he cut the ropes binding my hands and feet.  

“Xavier, why did it take you so long? I was so scared.”  

“Yuria, I’m so sorry. Thank you for staying safe.”  

Xavier wrapped his arms around me protectively, his fingers trembling as he stroked my back.  

“Get your hands off my saintess, Xavier!”  

Arthur, still not coming to his senses, yelled at us from the floor.  

“To think you still haven’t learned.”  

The Emperor, his face filled with anguish, gave a firm order.  

“Captain of the Guard, arrest the Crown Prince and confine him to his chambers. Post guards outside until further notice.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty!”  

“Y-Your Majesty! No, Father! If you just listen to me, you’ll understand!”  

As the captain approached to restrain Arthur, Xavier gently touched my face, then swiftly approached the Emperor.  

“I believe I’ve won, Your Majesty?”  

Xavier’s lips curled into a wicked smile.  

“I am ashamed. It is all my fault for being so lacking.”  

The Emperor lowered his head, his face pale.  

“I had hoped the Duke’s words were false, but to think the Crown Prince of the Empire would kidnap and assault the saintess and Duchess…!”  

Just three punches, then. Leaving those words behind, the Emperor completely removed himself from the scene.

At that moment, a sharp gleam flashed in Xavier’s teal eyes, and his fist, like a piercing spear, drove straight into Arthur’s face.

“Guh-heok!”

With those words, the Emperor left the room entirely.  

At that moment, Xavier’s teal eyes gleamed, and his fist shot forward like a spear, landing squarely on Arthur’s face.  

“Ugh!”  

“You heard him, right? Just three punches.”  

Xavier mercilessly delivered two more blows to the Crown Prince’s face. I mimicked his movements in the air, throwing a light jab, a hook, and an uppercut.  

Arthur, now a bloody mess, was bound and dragged away by the guards along with the other prisoners.  

As I massaged my sore wrists, I noticed someone standing near the wall, hidden behind the imperial guards.  

“Rosetta?”  

Dressed in a robe, Rosetta stood there, a deep scar etched on her cheek that hadn’t been there before.  

Why was Rosetta here? And why hadn’t she followed the Crown Prince as he was taken away?  

Xavier, who had approached me, explained, 

“The Crown Princess informed us you were here.”  

“Really?”  

I stared at her in disbelief.  

“If it weren’t for Her Highness, we would have arrived much later. Are you alright, Yuria?”  

“I’m a little tired.”  

“A blanket!”  

The captain of the guard, who had stayed behind to assist us, brought a blanket. Xavier wrapped it around me and held me close.  

“Just hold on a little longer. We’re going home now.”  

“Yes, let’s go home.”  

Still cradled in Xavier’s arms, I left that dreadful room. From the outside, the detached palace resembled a matchbox, with small rooms cramped together in a tightly packed building.

Rosetta quietly followed behind us.