I Have No Intention Of Training The Male Leads - Chapter 21 Part 1

21. Epilogue, Happily Ever After

“…Damn it.”

A woman, dressed in a poorly fitted maid uniform, pressed herself against the wall, hiding from the knights rushing past.

“Have I been discovered already?”

The skin beneath her white collar and cuffs was covered in scrapes and bruises from the leather restraints. But she had no time to dwell on the pain, her nerves on high alert as she listened to the sound of receding footsteps.

At first glance, she appeared to be an ordinary palace servant. However, upon closer inspection, something seemed amiss. 

The uniform was far too large for her slender frame, the shoulders drooping, and the skirt, despite being tightly cinched, hung awkwardly around her waist. The hem, which should have reached her ankles, barely covered her shins. The maid’s cap perched precariously on her head, threatening to slip off at any moment.

“Please, just once. God, please help me, just this once.”

The woman, Eve, clasped her hands together and muttered a prayer, then strained her ears, listening for any sounds from beyond the wall. The commotion seemed to have moved further away, the murmuring voices now distant. Just as she was about to take a step forward—

“Shh.” 

A hand reached out from behind her. Someone grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back and covering her mouth. Eve stifled a scream, her heart pounding in her chest.

She could sense a faint presence approaching from the nearby hallway. The footsteps were so light, almost inaudible. Eve bit her tongue, waiting for the person to pass.

A moment later, the hand was removed from her face. She cautiously turned around to see who had helped her. 

“…Sir Knight.”

The right-hand man of the man tormenting her. The one who always stood beside him, witnessing her suffering. 

Eve’s face paled as recognition dawned on her. She couldn’t be captured, not like this. She bit her lip and grabbed his arm, pleading, “Please.”

Castel Wittelsbach understood what she was asking of him. As he met her gaze, those burning eyes filled with a desperate longing for freedom, he felt something rise in his throat.

Instead of giving voice to it, he removed the cloak draped over his arm and placed it over her shoulders. 

“It’s cold outside.”

Eve stared at him, slightly bewildered, as he clumsily tied the ribbon beneath her chin.

“…Follow me. The main gate is already blocked.”

“Damn it.” A crude curse slipped from Eve’s lips. She had thought she had at least ten more minutes.

Castel turned and walked away without waiting for her response. Eve lowered her head and followed closely behind him.

Having been discovered, she decided to trust him and follow his lead, stealing glances at his broad back as she pondered his reasons for helping her.

‘Maybe even he finds me pitiful.’

Eve’s expression hardened, and she quickly lowered her gaze.

The ash-gray haired knight was the devil’s loyal hound. He was the one who had chopped off her long hair, leaving it short and ragged, the one who had injured her knee.

But Eve was smart. She knew where to direct her anger. This man was merely a tool, a weapon wielded by the devil himself. One couldn’t blame the knife for the wound it inflicted.

Ignoring the tingling sensation in her legs, a result of the tense situation, she followed him. Castel seemed to possess an uncanny ability to choose paths devoid of people, moving silently, his footsteps barely audible.

Only the faint sound of Eve’s limping footsteps broke the silence. After what felt like an eternity, they reached a small side door leading outside, concealed within a storage room.

Just as Castel opened the door and stepped out—

“You haven’t changed, have you?”

A familiar voice sent shivers down Eve’s spine.

Castel also seemed taken aback by the unexpected arrival, hesitating slightly. He then stepped in front of Eve, shielding her, and addressed the newcomer.

“Your Majesty.”

‘Maybe, with his large build, he didn’t see me.’ Clinging to a sliver of hope, Eve slowly retreated, taking small steps backward.

“Eve. I told you, if you tried anything foolish again, I’d throw you to the dogs.”

Eve bit her lower lip hard. The scabbed skin split open, and blood trickled down her chin. 

“Castel, bring her to me.”

Castel didn’t move. Eve could sense his inner turmoil, his conflicting emotions. She clenched and unclenched her fists a few times before pushing him aside.

Despite her weak push, he yielded, stepping away from her path. With a cold expression, she walked towards Edward.

His honey-blond hair shimmered in the winter sunlight. The man, with his beautiful face, like a fairy from an old painting, smiled gently. However, the warmth of his smile was contradicted by the cold glares of the knights standing behind him, their swords glinting menacingly.

“My, my. My lady has become quite bold.”

Edward reached out and stroked her cheek. Eve flinched, disgust contorting her features, as if a repulsive snake was slithering across her skin.

His long, slender fingers trailed down her cheek, tracing the pale skin of her neck, which hadn’t seen the sun in what felt like forever. His hand reached the loosely tied knot of her cloak, resting below her collarbone.

He chuckled softly and tugged at the ribbon.

“Showing off something you received from another man, right in front of me.”

His fingers slipped beneath the collar of her cloak. With a slight tug, the fabric slid off her shoulders.

The biting wind, which had been blocked by the winter cloak, lashed at her exposed skin, but Edward seemed unconcerned by the cold she must be feeling.

“Were you that desperate to escape?”

“…..”

“Alright. Then, I shall make a proposition to my beloved.”

Edward beckoned with his hand. One of the knights standing behind him stepped forward and, as if anticipating the order, carefully placed a short dagger in his outstretched hand.

Edward drew the dagger from its sheath and, with a gentle smile, placed the handle in her hand.

“I do not keep disobedient dogs.”

“What… What are you…”

“Stab Castel in the stomach with this. Hard. If you pierce him with this blade, I will let you go.”

“What? No!”

“I said, stab him with this knife.” 

‘Don’t you want to be free?’ Edward’s voice, sweet and alluring, whispered in her ear.

Eve’s mind went blank, then she snapped back to reality and turned to look at Castel. The knight was staring at her with an unreadable expression, his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions she couldn’t decipher.

“Oh, but… I can’t…”

“Why? Can’t you do it? So, you’ve grown fond of my cage, haven’t you? As promised, I’ll introduce you to some new friends today. I’ve acquired a rather large hound recently.”

He wasn’t joking. Edward always kept his word, especially when it involved her suffering.

Eve’s hand, clutching the dagger, trembled violently. Edward grasped her shoulder, turning her to face him, and whispered in her ear, his hand resting on her shoulder, “Just once. If you can pierce him with this blade, I will set you free. I promise.”

He gave her a gentle push. Eve stumbled forward, taking a few hesitant steps towards Castel.

The knight, his eyes still a deep, stormy gray, watched her approach, his expression unreadable.

Castel could sense the turmoil within her, the storm of emotions raging behind her eyes. Her gaze, which had been flickering with uncertainty, finally settled on him, her decision made.

Eve, dragging her injured leg slightly, walked towards him with determined steps. As she closed the distance between them, Castel, observing her trembling hands and the intense gaze that refused to waver, chuckled inwardly.

“…You’ll hurt yourself if you hold it like that.”

He reached out and adjusted her grip on the dagger, guiding her fingers into a proper hold. He then ran his hand across his stomach, stopping at a particular spot, and said:

“It’ll be easier if you aim for the areas without bones.”

Eve’s gaze followed his hand, observing the spot he was pointing at. Castel, as if his usual taciturn nature was a lie, continued speaking:

“It’s not an area with vital organs. My Lady… no, you’re not a Lady anymore. You’re not strong enough to kill me, even if you stab me with all your might.”

 “…Thank you.”

Edward watched with amusement, as if observing an entertaining play, the bizarre scene unfolding before him—the knight offering his own stomach to be stabbed, kindly pointing out the ideal spot, and the woman expressing gratitude as she assessed the location for her attack.

Eve took a deep breath, her face hardening as she stared at the spot Castel had indicated. She gritted her teeth and, with a swift, forceful motion, plunged the dagger into his stomach.