Chapter 63: Words Follow the Law

Celia walked to the table where the torture instruments were laid out.
She gently caressed them, as if stroking her own child, her eyes gleaming with obsession.
“Ina, Ina… what should I use to ‘reward’ you?”

She muttered to herself, picking up an object resembling a vise.
Judging by the marks on its jaws, it had seen plenty of use.
“Or… could you tell me what your empire’s purpose is?”
“If you speak up, maybe it’ll make you feel better~”

“Cough…”

Though utterly exhausted, Ina struggled to muster the magic power within her.
She used words to buy time.
“The empire’s purpose? I don’t understand what you’re talking about…”

Her words were honest.
She hadn’t even set foot in the Borus Empire yet.
How could she know its intentions?
What did this have to do with the empire anyway?
‘You can’t just assume I’m following the empire’s orders because I’m its Holy Maiden, right?’
‘That’s prejudice! In some countries, it’s a serious political blunder!’

“Hehe… As the Saint of the Empire’s Rebellious Church, would you really come here on your own if the empire didn’t send you?”

“…”

Ina wanted to retort that Celia was right, but…
Cynthia, a blood princess of the Kalmoz Empire, had forced her to come here.
‘So, if Cynthia is a noble of the Kalmoz Empire, does that mean I, who followed her to the capital, was sent by an empire?’
‘The Borus Empire, the Kalmoz Empire… they’re pretty much the same thing, right?’

“Do you need more time to think?”

Seeing Ina’s silence, Celia approached with the pliers in hand, a smile on her face.
She clicked the jaws near Ina’s ear, a subtle threat.

“Haa…”

Ina took a deep breath, turning her head with effort to meet Celia’s gaze.
A spark flickered in her eyes.
“If I tell you, will you let me go?”

“Hmm~? Maybe?”

Celia’s answer was vague, noncommittal.

But Ina wasn’t naive.
She knew even if she spilled everything, Celia wouldn’t release her.
Still, she could at least stall for time, right?
“Hmph… What if I told you the empire knows all about your plans?”

The empire knew nothing, of course.
Ina was just spinning tales to delay.
Whether Celia believed her… that was her problem.

“…Oh?”

As expected, Celia’s movements paused, and she let out a puzzled sound.
“Where did the empire learn of our plans?”

“Uh… from the south of the kingdom.”

Ina’s sense of direction was shaky at best.
She wouldn’t have accidentally wandered into the Kalmoz Empire otherwise.
She only knew she was in the north, so saying the empire was in the south shouldn’t be an issue…

“South? Are you joking?”

Unfortunately, Celia’s grasp of geography differed.
She burst out laughing at Ina’s words.
“The kingdom’s south borders the Kalmoz Empire! It’s a million miles from the Borus Empire!”
“You’re not saying you’re here on behalf of that demihuman nation, are you?!”

‘Huh?’

Ina froze, bewildered.
‘Is that how it works?’
‘Did I mess up again?!’
‘Ugh, I’m done for~’

In her heart, Ina wanted to slap herself.
Falling asleep in geography class was coming back to haunt her!
Now her lack of knowledge was making a fool of her!

But this wasn’t the time to dwell.
She had to bluff her way through.
“Hmph… Hmph! Believe it or not!”

Ina snorted coldly, her face shifting to a fake “believe it or don’t, get lost” expression.
She shot Celia a disdainful glance and added casually,
“Not only that, there’s a surprise waiting for you when the time comes!”

“Surprise?”

Celia hesitated, studying Ina’s expression.
From her words and demeanor, it didn’t seem… impossible?

Of course, Ina was making it all up.
But with her acting skills, her words carried a convincing weight.
As for the surprise?
Who knew?
Maybe the palace would inexplicably explode.
Like, someone accidentally blowing up the kitchen—hardly impossible, right?
Just a matter of probability.

Celia’s brow furrowed slightly, clearly shaken by Ina’s words.

Seizing the moment, Ina doubled down, adding fuel to the fire.
“Besides, your little schemes in the palace? They’ve long been exposed to the outside world!”
“No way, no way? You didn’t actually think you kept them secret, did you?”

Maybe it was her imagination, but Ina felt Celia’s gaze darken when she mentioned the “palace.”

“Tch… are you just making this up?”

Though shaken, Celia didn’t fully buy it.
She tried to bait Ina.
“If you don’t tell the truth…”

Bang, bang, bang!!!

Before Celia could finish, urgent knocks pounded the dungeon’s heavy door, cutting her off.

A monk-like figure appeared at the cell door’s small window, shouting inside:
“Ms. Celia! Emergency!”

“Damn it! Didn’t I say no one’s allowed to disturb me down here?!”
“What’s so urgent to make this racket?!”

“The Archbishop got word… a massive explosion just rocked the palace gardens!”
“The ground nearby collapsed! He needs you at the palace now!”

“What?!”

Celia’s pupils shrank as she stared at Ina in disbelief.
“Actually…?”

“…See? I told you…”

Ina flashed a gloating smirk, but inside, her heart was in chaos.
‘How could my random bluff be so spot-on?!’
‘Did the goddess herself intervene?!’

“Tch… I’ll deal with you when I’m back.”

Celia shot Ina a glance, set down the torture instruments, and hurried out of the dungeon.
Before leaving, she ordered the guards to watch Ina closely, then left in a rush.

Ina finally exhaled, her tense nerves easing.

“…But I still can’t channel my magic power. How do I escape?”

Feeling her body’s state, Ina sighed helplessly.
“Ah, if only Cynthia-chan were here with me right now.”

“Well…”

In the secret passage, Cynthia stood with arms crossed, staring speechlessly at the path ahead.
“What do I do now?”

She’d thought the passage was too narrow, so she used a magic crystal to blast it wider.
Who knew the shoddy construction would give way, collapsing the tunnel instantly?

It seemed the area above wasn’t exactly stable either.
Thankfully, Rustia’s ice magic created makeshift pillars, saving them from being buried.

“Ahem… Let’s head back for now…”

Prim covered her mouth and nose to avoid inhaling dust.
She didn’t blame Cynthia—after all, the passage was so tight they’d likely have gotten stuck otherwise.
The collapse was probably due to years of neglect.

Prim couldn’t complain; it was her own side’s fault.
She offered quiet advice:
“Remember the markings in the secret passage when we came?”
“Those should lead to other routes.”
“Let’s take another path.”