The Amber Knight Swears His Love on the Saintess’s Left Hand - Chapter 19

She woke to the sound of gnawing.

When Lynette opened her eyes, she found Nicola right in front of her, chewing on a rope. Her hands were tied in front of her body, and she seemed to be struggling valiantly to bite through the fibers.

In cases like this, tying hands behind the back is far more effective, Lynette thought. It seemed their kidnapper was an amateur.

While they had been waiting at the headquarters, tea had been brought to them.

The two of them had shared it to calm their nerves, and her memory became hazy immediately afterward.

Something had been put in that tea. That meant the culprit was someone who had been inside the Knights’ headquarters.

As Lynette processed this, only one face came to mind.

“Nicola.”

At her whisper, Nicola who had been engrossed in her gnawing widened her eyes.

“Ly—”

Lynette quickly covered Nicola’s mouth before she could shout. As she did, she realized that she herself wasn’t tied up at all.

She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. She offered a smile to the nodding Nicola and surveyed her surroundings.

It was a fine room, that much was clear. The cabinets and small tables against the wall were made of walnut, and a canopy bed sat in the corner.

The heavy door was locked. When she pulled back the thick curtains of the solitary window, she saw a magnificent tree stretching its branches right up to the glass. They were about three stories up. If it was just Lynette, she could easily use the skills from her tomboy days to escape.

“Nicola, do you like climbing trees?”

As she asked, Lynette reached for Nicola’s bonds.

She tried to dig her nails into the knot to pry it open, but the rope was so stiff that her nail began to split.

“You mustn’t, Lady Lynette! Your hands!”

“It’s fine. Nails grow back.”

“But it must hurt!”

“I can’t feel it. So, it’s alright.”

“That’s a lie. Lord Quill told me so himself.”

Lynette’s hands stopped.

“Lord Quill… said what about me?”

“He said that Lady Lynette definitely understands pain and ticklishness. But since you don’t seem to care enough about your own well-being, he asked me, Nicola, to look out for you.”

She was stunned. To think he had been showing such concern behind her back.

She had assumed Quill Langbart wouldn’t give a second thought to a fiancée who had essentially forced herself upon him.

And then, she was surprised by the fact that she was surprised.

I still have the capacity to feel surprise?

The movement in her heart receded like an ebbing tide. Perhaps the lingering effects of the drug were why the tide felt slower than usual.

She resumed untying the rope and smiled at Nicola.

“I have to get this off so we can get out, don’t I? Otherwise, I’ll only worry Lord Quill more.”

After several tugs, the knot finally loosened. By the time the rope fell away, blood was seeping from around Lynette’s fingernails.

Nicola pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it into Lynette’s hand. Accepting it gratefully to stem the bleeding, Lynette stood up.

The window wasn’t locked. An oversight born from the assumption that a “Saint” would never attempt something so unrefined. Their captor likely thought she was a lady of great delicacy.

Lynette gripped a branch and pulled. It was thick and sturdy, with very little give.

“It’s possible. Nicola, you go first.”

“Leave it to me! I’ll go bring help!”

With plenty of spirit, Nicola lunged for the branch. From her tone, she clearly didn’t realize Lynette intended to escape the same way.

It was a bit precarious, but Nicola reached the trunk and began her slow descent. Just as Lynette reached for the branch, judging it safe to follow…

“What are you doing?! Stop, My Lady Saint!”

Lynette was grabbed from behind and pulled back, falling onto the floor with a thud. She felt the sensation of landing right on top of someone. Looking down at the panicked face beneath her…

“…Lord Claussen. What is the meaning of this?”

“That is my line! To think you would try to throw yourself away because you’re so distressed by this engagement!”

For three seconds, Lynette was speechless. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“It’s alright, My Lady. Just break the Pledge Lock immediately. I won’t let that man say a word against you. Our house is of higher standing.”

This habit of flaunting his Marquis status was something she had heard from Marius countless times during their journey. He had even tried to lure her with his rank before.

She knew Marius was infatuated with the concept of the Saint. But…

“Let us make a pledge together. This room was prepared specifically for you, My Lady.”

She hadn’t realized his delusion had reached such a fever pitch.

“Lord Claussen. As I told you before, I was the one who desired this engagement.”

“Yes, yes. You were threatened by the Royal Family, no doubt. It’s exactly as Earl Ceryes feared.”

Lynette realized then that words were useless. This man was far too easy to manipulate, and her uncle had clearly finished molding him into a convenient tool. This was not a situation she could talk her way out of.

In this moment, she felt grateful for her own heart—void of agitation or grief. While inching toward the window, she listened to Marius’s monologue, waiting for an opening.

“I noticed it, you know. The way your smiles were always directed at me.”

He didn’t realize they were mere social pleasantries?

“Out of the entire guard, you always spoke to me first.”

Because you were the captain.

“When the journey ended and my duty was over, you held my hand.”

I shook hands with everyone.

“Stop living in a dream,” she snapped.

She grabbed the tablecloth and flung it at Marius. In the confusion, she put a foot on the windowsill and reached for the branch.

But then, her long silver hair was grabbed and yanked back.

“Ow!”

“Forgive my rudeness!”

She was dragged back into the room and pinned in Marius’s arms.

“Unite me!”

“I cannot. My Lady, you are too honorable. You think you need that man’s permission to break the pledge, don’t you?”

She was shoved down onto the bed. Marius grabbed Lynette’s left hand and reached for the sword at his waist.

“I shall assist you. Cut the lock, right now.”

“I will not.”

“Then I shall liberate you with my own hands. You needn’t feel any guilt over such a cheap bauble.”

The tip of his sword hooked into the Pledge Lock. Lynette reflexively shielded the bracelet with her right hand.

Marius’s blade scratched across the back of her hand.

Just as she grimaced at the sharp sting…

Marius let out a pathetic “Hegh!” and was sent flying across the room.