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Chapter 7
Although she couldn’t understand everything that had been hurled at her, one thing was unmistakably clear—deep hatred and disgust. Madness lingered in those eyes that sincerely wished for her death.
That day, Ezra learned how to give up. No—rather, she learned how to not want anything anymore. And after this incident, the queen began visiting the stone tower under the pretext of “the princess’s education.”
Thus, at the very bottom of the stone tower, there was a dungeon. A prison built for a single person. They locked her there, starved her, and beat her. The only fortunate thing was that she was not dragged there without reason.
“Ugh…”
When had she lost consciousness? As her senses slowly returned, her entire body throbbed as if shattered into pieces. She couldn’t even move a finger. Her eyes were so swollen she couldn’t see her surroundings.
The cold stone floor pressed against her cheek, carrying the smell of blood. Probably from a nosebleed and blood from a split mouth. She groaned and tried to move—but collapsed again.
“She’s awake.”
As Ezra twitched weakly, one maid standing by the iron bars informed the other. The two pairs of eyes watched her for a moment, then scooped water from a wooden bucket.
“We should wake her properly. We don’t know when Her Majesty will arrive.”
One of them entered the cell and poured cold water over her head. A chill ran down her spine, making her shiver, but the maid simply turned away as if disgusted and locked the cell again.
The maids chatted and giggled idly, complaining about the king, saying there weren’t enough rewards. Their voices faded in and out—Ezra’s right ear was likely damaged from repeated blows, making sounds muffled.
“Honestly, she has no sense of her place. Why did she go there knowing the queen was present?”
“She’s stupid, so she gets beaten. If she just lived quietly without bothering the queen, wouldn’t it be better? Even we don’t like dealing with this.”
“But this time it really went too far. I never imagined Lady Matari would do something like this. She’s usually…”
“Wait. Quiet.”
Both women shut their mouths at once.
Someone was descending into the dungeon.
At first they thought it might be the queen, so they straightened instinctively—but the footsteps were too heavy for that.
Ezra squeezed her trembling fists, an old habit returning as her palms split again under her nails.
Then—
“P-Prince…?”
The maid who had poured the water called out, her voice shrill with shock.
The other maid hurriedly bowed.
“How did you find this place…? What brings you here?”
The prince’s expression was blank. His brows slowly furrowed, and his crimson eyes flashed like a beast’s—full of killing intent.
The maids scrambled behind him, retreating into a corner.
Hippolotes stood before the iron bars, staring down at the frail figure inside. Of course—she couldn’t even see his expression properly from that state.
He curled his lips slightly.
“Princess Ezra. What… happened here?”
There was no answer.
Her pale body was covered in whip marks and bruises. Even someone as indifferent to cruelty as him found himself frowning at the sight. The only thing more noticeable was her tightly clenched fist, trembling violently.
Fresh blood seeped from her palm where her nails had dug in again.
Hippolotes licked his red lips.
“Who did this to you?”
Still no answer.
Her silence, despite being conscious, irritated him slightly. Just as he was about to feign annoyance, a faint voice slipped into his ear.
“I’m… fine. Please… leave.”
“……”
“I don’t want you to see me like this, Prince.”
Her words slurred, breaking into sobs. As if trying to hide her wounds, she curled her body inward, but even that small movement seemed to hurt.
“Ezra.”
The moment he called her name—softly, almost gently—she broke.
Like a child finally allowed to cry, she let out a suppressed sob.
“I-I’m… so embarrassed…”
Her voice trembled as she begged him to leave again.
Hippolotes paused for a moment, then stepped closer.
Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous.
Everything was unfolding exactly as planned.
“Then at least let me treat you. Let me see your injuries. I’ll leave right after.”
At his words, the maids hurriedly brought water, cloth, and medicine.
“Open it.”
With a slight gesture, the lock was undone.
Hippolotes stepped inside the cell, knelt on the cold stone floor, and lifted her into his arms.
“No… please…”
Her naked body—now fully exposed—was trembling with shame. She turned her face away, trying to cover herself with weak arms that looked like they might snap at any moment.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
He watched them absentmindedly.
Strangely light.
Even lighter than a foal he once held.
And yet… warm.
Fragile, as if she might disappear if he held her too tightly.
For a moment, something unfamiliar flickered in him—but it quickly faded.
He wet a cloth and began wiping away the blood.
“Does it hurt?”
Her small face was covered in dried blood and bruises.
“…No.”
“Liar.”
“It’s true. Your touch is like a feather. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
He paused slightly.
She had been sobbing like a child just moments ago, and now she was speaking through split lips.
“If it hurts, endure it a little.”
Ezra slowly looked up at him.
Even in the pitch-black dungeon, he still shone.
Like the first light seen by a creature breaking out of an egg.
She had once thought—just looking was enough.
Even if that gaze was cold.
So it was fine.
As he applied ointment, she smiled foolishly through tears.
She never once said it hurt.
Only leaned closer into his arms.
And only later did he realize—
she always burrowed deeper when she was in pain.
Dusk settled over the palace.
By the window, Queen Mines stood watching the distant walls bathed in orange light. The maids around her trembled, unable to even blink under the suffocating fear.
“So not only did you let the prince discover the dungeon… you also let him realize I was behind it.”
“…We are unworthy, Your Majesty. P-please spare our lives…”
“Lives? You want your lives?”
Her lips twitched.
Then she burst into laughter.
A chilling, echoing laugh filled the room like something inhuman.
After a long moment, she calmed herself.
“So after failing so spectacularly… you’re begging for your pathetic little lives?”
She rose slowly.
“Tell me then. If you want to live—tell me who informed the prince.”
“We truly don’t know! It was our first time even seeing him properly!”
“He just appeared out of nowhere, we had no choice!”
Out of nowhere…
The queen’s expression darkened.
She turned toward the window.
The image of the dungeon flashed through her mind—the whip in her hand, the stone tower, and then—
the unexpected sight.
The prince.
Standing there.
Holding the limp body of a girl in his arms.
Queen Mines closed her eyes slowly.
