CHAPTER 53: BENEATH THE CINDERS

While Leonard had the two guards enter the room to check on the result, he turned to Curtis and ordered. "Bring Mirelle over here and see if she could do anything to resolve the situation."

"Lady Mirelle?" Startled, Curtis seemed hesitant to bring someone like her into the scene.

"If you hadn’t barged in all of a sudden, then maybe there wouldn’t have been an explosion." Leonard narrowed his eyes.

He then warned sternly, "I’m not pursuing the earlier action now because this isn’t the right time. Cross my bottom line again and you can return to Spencer’s side."

"I understand, Crown Prince." Curtis swiftly bowed his head and left in haste to retrieve Mirelle. Having heard the stern warning, he didn’t dare to test his luck further.

As Curtis left in a rush, Leonard turned his attention back to the prisoner’s room.

’Hopefully, those strands of mana I sent could alter the impact.’ He clenched his fist secretly, his eyes staring at the smokey-dust-filled room.

What Curtis failed to notice was that he also sensed something was amiss with the woman. Hence, he hurriedly sent a few strands of mana in hopes of scattering or dissipating whatever was happening to her.

Unfortunately, Curtis’ hasty action in carrying him away to leave the scene caused him to be unable to send more.

Although dissatisfied, he also knew Curtis meant well.

Therefore, he didn’t plan on lashing out at him. But if he didn’t do anything and stayed silent, then Curtis might think it was alright to repeat such action in the future.

Sometime later, one of the guards returned with a grim expression.

"Reporting to the Crown Prince. The woman is alive but there’s an abnormal strand of mana blocking us from approaching closer to inspect her actual condition." The guard knelt on one knee and relayed what he saw.

Nodding, Leonard pretended to be clueless as well and said, "Have your other comrade leave the room as well. Secure the premises and forbid anyone from entering unless authorized by me."

"Yes, Crown Prince!" The guard nodded, went to the room, retrieved his comrade, and proceeded to secure the premises.

As they scattered across, Leonard glanced around his surroundings.

’Finally alone for a moment.’ He thought and stepped inside the charred room.

Looking at the charcoal-like room which was supposedly clean a few minutes ago, he realized how fast things could change in an instant.

At the far end of the room, lay a body that was nearly burnt to a crisp. They were still chained up to the wall, showing the durability of the chains and the cuffs.

Moreover, he could sense a small but potent sign of life, with strands of mana surrounding the vital points. Although the assassin was still breathing, it was clear that she could no longer speak or move.

"I haven’t finished the discussion, so you’re not allowed to die yet." Leonard calmly took a few steps forward and said.

"I know you can’t reply, but your heartbeat is still beating. If the explosion was triggered by you in your free will, then keep the heartbeat normal. But if it’s not, then hasten the heartbeat as a response."

He refused to believe the woman wanted to seek death when they were trying their best to escape and survive after falling into his traps.

Leonard waited a few moments for a response. He approached the woman, perked his ears up, and calmly listened to her heartbeat.

Sure enough, the heartbeat was gradually increasing. To confirm that she was indeed communicating properly, he proceeded with his next words.

"Return your heartbeat to normal if you despise me."

A few seconds later, the heartbeat gradually slowed down and returned to normal pace.

"Very well." Leonard nodded and no longer bothered to question further. He already got what he wanted.

Whoever was behind this assassination was clearly someone with lots of influence and resources. They were also a very cruel and ruthless type who would eliminate the assassin later on.

Sometime later, Mirelle arrived with the guidance of Curtis.

"Where is she?" Mirelle asked in an agitated tone. "How could you allow such an incident to occur!"

Her eyes glared fiercely at Leonard, almost as if she was blaming him for the circumstance.

"First of all, you don’t get to demand an answer from me." Leonard wasn’t appreciative of her attitude.

"Secondly, I invited you here to see if you can heal the assassin because of external factors. The next time you use such a tone to me, then I will have you deported from the Valdoria Continent."

Silent, Mirelle realized she had stepped out of line and failed to treat Leonard as the crown prince.

However, she found it difficult to apologize to him when he had essentially isolated her and beckoned for her when things went south.

"Alright, stay stubborn." Leonard nodded his head and shifted his attention to Curtis. "I’ve tried to save her remaining life sign, but someone is unappreciative and disrespectful. Since that’s the case, then give the assassin a painful end."

"Yes, Crown Prince," Curtis answered right away. He had long been waiting to execute the assassin to eliminate possible danger.

"No, wait!" Having realized Leonard was not a soft type, Mirelle hurriedly extended her hand and rushed toward the door.

She stood in front of it and pleaded, "I was rude, Crown Prince. Please forgive my tone and attitude."

"She doesn’t have many chances to live anyway." Leonard calmly said.

"She’s sustaining right now because of the mana strand, but I reckon the enemy would trigger another explosion soon when they discover she’s still breathing."

"I will do my best to eradicate the hidden threat." Mirelle bowed her head and understood why she was called over.

As someone who specialized in defenses and healing, this was her forte. But to ensure that she would remain humble and understand her position, Leonard needed to remind her who was the one in charge and in control of the situation.

It was him, and not her!