Chapter 155
I smiled as he stepped outside in his disguise and lifted the visor.
"You clean up nicely."
He returned my smile, lowered the visor to conceal his face again, and took my hand. Together, we walked down the corridor.
Lucien was still standing where we had left him, with Fluff sitting near his feet.
The moment he spotted the guard walking beside me, his hand instinctively moved toward his sword.
Then the "guard" removed his helmet.
Lucien's expression changed instantly, the tension draining from his face as relief washed over him.
"...Rhaevan."
Fluff immediately trotted toward him and settled happily at his feet, just as he always did.
"Hey there," Rhaevan said, looking down at the little furball with a faint smile.
Lucien looked him over from head to toe before breaking into a grin.
"Brother, you look terrible."
"I wasn't exactly on a leisure trip, Prince," Rhaevan retorted with a smirk.
Lucien casually shrugged and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Good to have you back."
He then turned toward me.
"What took you both so long? I was beginning to reconsider my plan of standing guard and was seriously considering marching inside myself."
"Well..." I glanced at Rhaevan, who was now wearing an annoyingly pleased smile. "The general had to be dealt with appropriately."
Lucien raised an eyebrow, but before he could ask what I meant, his gaze dropped to the mark on my neck.
"What's that? Were you injured?"
I instinctively stepped back, my cheeks turning crimson as I tried to hide it.
"It's nothing."
"That doesn't look like nothing."
He stepped closer and reached out to inspect the mark, but Rhaevan caught his hand before he could touch me.
"Just don't."
The words were calm, but the warning in his voice was unmistakable.
His other arm slipped around my waist and pulled me firmly against his side.
Lucien stared at him for a moment before glancing at me.
Between my flushed face, the mark on my neck, and Rhaevan suddenly acting as though I were something he needed to guard with his life, the answer seemed to occur to him all at once.
His eyebrows shot up.
"Oh."
A slow, wicked grin spread across his face.
"You two...?"
Rhaevan didn't bother answering. He simply tightened his arm around my waist, pulled me closer, and pressed a casual kiss to my cheek before looking back at Lucien.
"Does that answer your question?"
Lucien blinked.
Then his grin widened.
"Well, well, well..." He looked between us, clearly delighted by his discovery. "What kind of expedition did Theo send you on?"
"Shut up, Lucien!" I exclaimed, my face burning. "We have a mission to accomplish. Move. Both of you."
I nudged them forward before Lucien could say anything else.
"I'm keeping quiet for now, but I expect the full story later," Lucien said playfully as the three of us headed back through the prison corridors, with Fluff trotting happily at our feet.
The first part of the rescue was over.
Now we just had to reach the kitchens...
...without anyone realizing that Varynthar's most important prisoner had just escaped.
---
The journey back to the kitchens was thankfully uneventful.
Rhaevan walked between Lucien and me, the stolen guard uniform concealing the worst of the marks left by his imprisonment. He moved steadily, but I could tell that every step cost him more than he was willing to admit.
Fluff trotted ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure we were still following.
When we reached the bustling kitchens, no one spared us a second glance. Servants hurried in every direction, cooks shouted over steaming pots, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air.
Perfect.
Chaos was an excellent disguise.
I nudged open the weathered storeroom door we had used earlier.
"Quick."
One by one, we slipped inside.
Miss Ann looked up the moment the door closed behind us.
For the first time since we'd entered Varynthar, her composed expression cracked.
"...You found him."
Master Benedict let out a long breath of relief.
"I was beginning to think we'd have to storm the prison."
Lucien smirked.
"I considered it. But then I didn't want to be the third wheel."
"Lucien!"
I shot him a glare.
Miss Ann and Benedict exchanged confused looks, while Rhaevan merely gave him an arrogant smile.
Lucien's grin widened.
I immediately tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Miss Ann, I need you to check on Rhaevan. He isn't in good shape."
Miss Ann nodded and approached him.
"You need to remove the vest. I need to see the extent of the damage."
Rhaevan nodded and leaned against the wall as he removed the borrowed helmet and armor.
The moment the armor came off, the room seemed to fall silent.
His face was noticeably paler than before, and the angry red marks around his wrists stood out starkly against his skin. Several deep slashes crossed his upper body, unmistakable evidence of the beatings he had endured.
My eyes burned.
I looked away.
I had seen him bruised before.
This was different.
These weren't the injuries of a battle he had chosen to fight. They were the marks left on someone who had been imprisoned, restrained, and deliberately broken.
Miss Ann guided him toward a nearby barrel.
"Sit."
Rhaevan obeyed without protest.
She knelt in front of him and placed her hands lightly over the bruises circling his wrists.
A soft golden light gathered around her fingers.
Slowly, the swollen skin began to fade, but the exhaustion etched across Rhaevan's face remained.
"The Solithium drained more than your magic," she said quietly. "You've been pushing your body far beyond its limits."
"I don't have time to rest."
"No," she agreed, continuing her work. "But you do have time to stay alive."
She reached for the herbal paste they had prepared earlier and carefully applied it to his wounds before wrapping fresh bandages around them.
Silence settled over the room.
Miss Ann's healing was working.
Rhaevan was safe for now.
Which meant there was only one person left.
I drew in a slow breath.
"We can't waste any more time. I have to find Lysenne."
Lucien pushed himself away from the wall.
"Very well. Let's go."
"I'll come too."
Rhaevan immediately started to rise.
Miss Ann placed a hand against his shoulder and pushed him firmly back onto the barrel.
"You're not going anywhere until I finish treating those wounds. And you will not disobey me."
Rhaevan stared at her.
He opened his mouth as though he intended to argue.
Miss Ann simply gave him a look.
Whatever he had been about to say died immediately.
She calmly continued wrapping his bandages.
Benedict suddenly became very interested in a completely empty corner of the room.
Rhaevan looked at me.
I could only shrug helplessly.
"She's scary as hell," Lucien whispered beside me.
I nodded solemnly.
"She really is."
"Well, that settles it," Lucien announced. "Cass and I will find Lysenne and bring her here."
He turned toward Rhaevan.
"Don't worry, brother. I'll keep her safe."
Rhaevan looked at him for a moment before nodding.
Then his gaze shifted toward me.
"Be careful. Come back soon."
The softness in his voice made something tighten in my chest.
"I will. You take care of yourself."
I smiled at him before turning away.
I adjusted the maid's apron, took one last look around the room, and reached for the doorknob.
"Come on, Lucien."
He stepped beside me.
"We have a princess to rescue."