"Care to say that again, Private?"

The Devil seemed to relent, and crossed her arms.

But it didn't take a genius to know that she was angry.

No. Not just angry. She wanted to kill someone.

Most likely me.

That lookin her eyes made it seem like she didn't care who she killed, though.

Was she going to kill him, instead…

…

..

.

Do it then. Hurry up. Fight each other. I'll use that as my chance to escape.

Hurry up!

Have a falling out!

Come on!

Quickly, now!

I tried to make sure it wasn't shown in my expression, though.

I couldn't let her think that I was having ideas. Otherwise, I might be to crippled by the time I get that chance.

"... Yes, Commander." Though a bit slow to reply, the man nodded. "She is a prisoner, is she not?"

"Lord Maldan told us that she was to be brought to him, as quickly as possible, and in one piece."

"So?" She answered back, with her chin raised high. How I wish I could kick that, just like you did to me.

The moment that I get out of here…! The moment that I find myself free, THAT'S THE FIRST THING I'LL DO!

Mark my words!

Oh crap.

She noticed. She's glaring at me, now.

No!

Please!

No!

"Tsk… We're doing that right now, aren't we, Soldier? If you thought I was going to fail Maldan, then-"

"Lord Maldan told us that she was to be brought, as soon as possible. The stop at Bloodworm's Keep was one thing. But why do you insist that we wait for confirmation from Forts and Towns that detour from our main route to the capital?"

… what…?

I couldn't believe it.

The Devil looked quite annoyed too.

She wasn't done with tormenting me, is that it?!

This wench!

I tried to get out of the man's tight grip.

Not to escape.

No.

I'm done with that!

I want to tear this wench's eyes out!

THIS WENCH! THIS FUCKING DEVIL!

"Grrr.... GRRRRRAAAAAH!!!"

But, he was sturdy. While I was put into a position where I couldn't stand up properly, and was forced to keep staring at the top of the trees.

Thus, needing to strain my neck, just in order to see the wench's accursed face.

"You want to know why, Private…?"

I saw her approach, and almost immediately I shut up, and hid my face away from her l, curling up as much as I could.

I didn't want to turn away.

I wanted to face her, glaring hatefully…

But I was still weak.

I needed to be obedient for now.

"Heh…" I heard her laugh.

She was so close to me, just within arm's length. But the soldier wouldn't drag me away from her.

What are you doing! I wanted to tell at the man holding me in place.

Hurry up!

Before she-

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"To think it only took me that much, to make you fear me."

…

...

… what?

I don't…

I wanted to refute her! To try and bite her!

But I couldn't bring myself to look at her!

Not when she was this close!

"Well then, we've accomplished what I wanted to. So I guess there's no problem with returning to the original plan."

"Good call, Private Anthony." She slapped him on the shoulder, before I could finally hear her walk away. "It seems I've overestimated her."

"Oh. I'm putting you in charge of her, Private. Wouldn't want her to completely break apart, before she was brought to Maldan. Now, put her back in her cage, and make use of the chain around her neck. I'm sure the door has been broken already."

I was…

Silent.

I couldn't react.

I couldn't even gather the will to yell at her, as I stared at her receding figure.

I was…

I was scared.

No. I was frightened.

… of her.

My lips, my arms, my entire body was trembling.

"Yes, Commander."

What broke me out of my stupor, was him answering. Then, I felt his grip loosen around me.

But, my knees just buckled, and I slid down his body.

"...?!"

Luckily, he managed to catch me before I fell rump-first into the mud.

He was way too nice with me, it wasn't rea-?!

A loud ring echoed in my ears, and my vision blurred.

What had just…?

My cheek stung.

He backhanded me. His hand in the air, with his knuckles red.

"Get up. Prisoner."

He yanked me higher, dragged my legs across the ground, and forced me up my feet.

"Unless you'd rather that I throw you in. You'd walk of your own accord." He commanded, before pushing me forward.

... Oh.

Even you, huh…?

I barely managed to take two steps, before my knees buckled again, and I kneeled in the mud.

I was so incompetent…

I was so shocked…

Why…? Why in the world did I think that there was someone who would…

"Get up."

He yanked me back up again, set me upright, then shoved me forward for a second time.

One shaky step. Two…

Then three…

Four…

Five…

My knees buckled again.

"... nooo-?!"

But this time, I didn't fall into the mud.

His arm was around my chest, keeping me suspended.

"Did your legs already atrophy after such a short time?! Get up!"

I paused.

I didn't understand.

What was he doing with me?

"I guess you'd rather not eat and get dressed again, huh? Is that it, Prisoner?"

… no. Why would I want that...?

I stared at my cage, and there they were.

The bowl, and the change of clothes that he had brought with him. The water puddle had also drained out completely.

"...no…!"

I gasped, and pushed myself up, as hard as I could.

"... Who the hell… do you think you are… talking to… huh…?"

One step.

Two.

Three.

Hugging myself tightly, I endured the blistering wind, the cold mud and water which soiled me from the knees down, and my drenched hair.

Closer, and closer, and closer, I approached the cage, while exhaling white mist.

And finally, I reached it.

Desperately, I gripped the bars tightly, and barely kept myself upright.

But, I had a bright smile on my face.

I did it.

I succeeded!

"Good. Two weeks of being on your side didn't make you weak and lame, after all." I heard him say from behind me. Before I felt his hands in my waist.

I felt weightless, for what was probably the first time of life.

I was too tired to even yelp, but I was carried up, and made to sit upon the space of the cart, just outside my carriage door.

"You heard the Commander. You'll be under my care from now on. Which means you'll be keeping yourself clean, and your body in good shape. I have no plans of dealing with a cripple "

He continued, before taking off his jacket, and wrapped it around my back.

It was thick, wooly and warm.

"Be obedient like a good prisoner, and I'll treat you as well as possible."

It was the same words that the Devil told me. But this time, I just nodded meekly.

Then, I watched him take the rags I've hung out to dry, and used it to wipe my muddy legs clean.

"W-w-why…?" Even with the jacket. It was way too cold. "... are y-y-you doing this f-for me…?"

I had every reason to be suspicious. After all. What if this was just another ploy to further bring me down?

"Why…?" He asked back, staring up at me with that finely-chiseled, but youthful face. "... Let's just say that I am thankful for you, in some way. Would that be enough?"

No.

There's no way that would be enough.

But, I didn't press on.

Was it because I didn't want to irritate him?

Or was it because I didn't really care about his reasons, and I was just relieved he was helping me.

Maybe it was a mixture of both.

"Now. Do you need help changing? Or can you do it yourself?" He said, before taking the clothes from the side, and placed them on my lap.

"Unless you're fine with being naked for some reason."

"N-no…! Please…! I… I can handle it myself…" He seemed like he was just about to pull the clothes back, but I gripped onto them, as desperately as I could.

"I-if you could just…"

"Turn around? Not possible. I can't risk you trying another escape. Just change in front of me. If I was going to do anything to you, I would've done it already."

"... I…" '... am a noble, mind you!'

I was just about to answer him with an angry, pale-red face.

Like I probably would've done so, just a couple days ago.

But, now…?

"... Okay…" I nodded again, just as meekly.

"Thank you… very much…"

Even with my body being damaged as it is, I was still shy to have someone that was probably my age, staring down at me, as I changed.

So, I turned to the side, towards the cave entrance.

"..." I sighed in my mind and my shoulders slumped.

... I should've expected as much.

Over there, I saw three men staring at us. And it wasn't the friendly kind of gaze. Not that I expected them to have any such feelings for me.

But, they were much more hostile than the others.

It seems that even with the Devil now satisfied, it was still far from over.