The Former Prince Who Lost Everything Becomes a Masked Strategist, Dominates from the Shadows, and Vows Revenge - Chapter 7.2

Alphonse.

Someday, Alphonse would come to save me.

Because we had made a promise.

A promise to support this kingdom together.

“Three months of torture, and yet… you still have that look in your eyes, Grace…!!”

Even as I lay sprawled on the ground, I glared up at Gaston, defiance burning in my gaze.

I could see the irritation flicker across his face.

He stepped inside the cell, drawing his sword from its sheath as he approached me.

“That look! I’ve always hated that look of yours! No matter the situation, your eyes are always focused on something far beyond me!! You never even spared me a glance! As if I was beneath your notice! Well, let me tell you something, Grace! You are a condemned criminal, known throughout the entire kingdom as the prince who killed his own father! Even if you managed to escape, there will never be a place for you in this world again! Your ideals are dead! Give in to despair, Grace!!!”

“…I will never despair. Because I… I made a promise to my mother, to my friends… that I would change this kingdom—this continent—for the better…!”

“How many times must I tell you?! You have no future, Grace! I’ve made sure of it—your path is closed forever!!!”

Gaston seized me by the throat and forced me to stand.

Then, without hesitation, he drove the tip of his sword—straight into my left eye.

The sheer agony tore a scream from my throat.

“GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

The pain was unbearable. It consumed everything. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.

With a sickening squelch, Gaston pulled the sword from my eye and tossed me to the ground like a discarded rag.

Then he laughed.

“Puhyahahahahaha!!! Look at you, Grace! What a pathetic sight!! Oh, right, you mentioned something about a friend earlier… I have some news for you.”

He grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head up to face him. A cruel smirk stretched across his lips.

“Alphonse, was it? He’s grown impressively skilled with the sword over these three months. So, I decided to make him one of my knights.”

“…What?”

“He accepted the position without hesitation. The knight of the next king—that’s who he is now. He’s completely forgotten about you, Grace. He’s moved on with his life. What a fine friend you had! And what a fine knight he’s become—for me. I should thank you for leaving such a valuable asset in my hands.”

“Alphonse… your knight…?”

“Oh, and one more thing. A very special secret—one that only you were never told.”

Gaston paused for a moment, savoring the tension.

Then, with a mocking grin, he spoke again.

“Aria… is my biological sister.”

“…What?”

“You were told that Aria was adopted from a distant royal relative, weren’t you? That was a lie. The truth is, she was a sickly infant—so weak that our mother decided to abandon her, fearing that she would infect me with her disease. The Queen, Cattleya, was furious when she found out. She took Aria in and raised her as her own daughter.”

“Aria… is your… sister…?”

“That’s right. Do you understand now, Grace? The royal family is already under the control of House Agrante. Lilliette is my fiancée. Alphonse is my knight. You have no place left in this world!!! Fuhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!”

Something inside me snapped.

I could hear it.

The sound of something breaking.

Bl00d trickled from my left eye as I stared up at Gaston.

When he saw my expression, his grin widened into something monstrous.

“Yes! That’s the look! That’s what I wanted to see!!! More! Show me more despair, Grace!!!”

——Where did I go wrong?

My fiancée.
My best friend.
My sister.

They had all betrayed me.

Had Gaston been right?

Would it have been better if I had never been born?

“Hahahaha! I’ll be back to torture you again! Look forward to it!”

After Gaston left, the monk tended to my left eye.

It was completely destroyed.

I had lost sight in it forever.

Alone in the darkness, I asked myself—

Where did I go wrong?

I no longer knew how much time had passed since I was thrown into this dungeon.

Perhaps Gaston had grown bored of torturing me—he hadn’t shown himself since that day.

My limbs had wasted away, and even standing on my own had become impossible.

Collapsed on the cold stone floor, I simply stared into the abyss.

What should I have done to avoid this fate?

I kept asking myself that question, over and over again.

“……”

“Lord Grace…”

At that moment.

The underground door creaked open, and light poured into the darkness.

The brightness, something I hadn’t seen in so long, was blinding—I couldn’t even look directly at it.

From within that light, a single woman stepped forward.

Through my blurred vision, I saw her unlock the cell with a key in her hand and walk toward me.

She gently lifted my frail body, and at that moment, a warm droplet fell onto my cheek.

“Lord Grace… I’m sorry for being late. I’ve come to take you home…!”

“That voice… Could it be… Hannah…? Why… are you… here…?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Even if the entire world turns against you, Hannah will always be on your side. My only master… is you.”

At those words, tears streamed down my face.