Despite having taken a potent pill, Zachary’s harsh reaction indicated severe pain. Startled by his cry, I quickly approached and examined his neck.

“Hold on, it’s caught here. Try to relax a bit.”

The sight of his trembling body was pitiable, but the skin pinched by the chain around his neck looked even more painful. With his face contorted in agony, I gently slid my fingers between his skin and the chain, trying to ease it off.

“Just a moment. Stay calm.”

It wasn’t easy to hold down his writhing body.

Eventually, I had to embrace his face with one arm while seriously working my fingers to dislodge the chain.

It was tougher than I expected. Sweat beaded on my forehead in the short effort. I moved very slowly, carefully pushing the pinched skin out with my fingertips instead of yanking it abruptly. Initially struggling, Zachary gradually became still. As I pressed and pushed, thankfully, the skin was freed, but a new wound formed, which was distressing.

Oh, what should I do… It must hurt…

I hoped it wouldn’t leave a scar. If it did, especially because of me, I’d feel incredibly sorry.

His neck was red and inflamed, and the skin compressed by the chain was swollen. Seeing this, I sighed and gently rubbed the area. Just then, Zachary, whose face was close to my chest, suddenly spoke.

“Uh… there…”

At that moment, I realized our position was extremely awkward. In the urgency of the situation, we had ended up in an embrace.

Zachary, who was very averse to physical contact, wouldn’t have liked this. I quickly let go and stepped back. In front of me, Zachary, with his head bowed, finally spoke softly.

“…Please be careful.”

“I’m sorry.”

I immediately responded.

Zachary’s face was completely flushed. He glanced at me, and as soon as our eyes met, he again lowered his face to the ground.

“A lady who is not married… should not touch a man’s body like that.”

His comment about a lady not touching a man’s body left me utterly confused.

I stared at Zachary, puzzled. Zachary, having lost his words again, did not provide further explanation.

I was too bewildered to say anything.

Where is this unmarried lady he’s talking about… Where exactly…

Wait a minute.

“…Me?”

Even as I asked, I was filled with incredulity.

My hair covered my ears but was fairly short, and although I wasn’t fully grown… didn’t I seem quite far from being a lady?

I thought there might have been some misunderstanding, but Zachary, as if agreeing with my question, remained silent.

Under normal circumstances, I might have taken the time to explain in detail, but right now, eager to clear up the awkward misunderstanding, I blurted out a straightforward denial.

“No, that’s not it.”

“I don’t know what you’re denying, but in the Holy Empire, until the coming-of-age ceremony, it’s inappropriate for men and women to touch like this…”

“When did I ever touch you?”

In the midst of his pain and struggle, was he saying such things due to the effects of the medicine, or something else?

More importantly, I was at a loss for how to correct this misunderstanding.

I knew the Holy Empire had strict rules regarding interactions between men and women. In the original story, Zachary, after meeting the female protagonist, becomes aware of romance and spends several tumultuous nights. His conservative upbringing until adulthood seemed to have influenced this.

But how could helping him with the chain on his neck be construed as inappropriate touching? I did it for survival, just because it seemed painful. Despite my protest, Zachary looked slightly shocked and said to me.

“…Does this not count as touching?”

What did I even do…

I knew this wasn’t the time for such a conversation, but being faced with such an absurd misunderstanding, I couldn’t help but want to argue my point.

But my patience for this discussion had its limits.

‘I hear something.’

I heard a faint sound, like a door opening.

Simultaneously, Zachary’s head sharply turned towards the door. His reaction confirmed that what I heard was not an illusion.

“He’s here.”

We both understood who “he” was without specifying.

There was no more time to stay here. Although it would take some time for the duke to reach this place, every moment was crucial.

“Today’s visit must remain a secret.”

I hurriedly secured the lid on the water bottle and prepared to leave. Meanwhile, the sounds of doors opening, creaking and banging, continued. It was evident the duke was opening each of the six doors, making his way here.

If my presence here was discovered, it would be the end for both me and Zachary.

What would the duke do if he found out I had helped Zachary?

As I became increasingly frantic, I felt Zachary’s gaze on me.

His eyes looked so sorrowful, as if they might brim with tears at any moment. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but perhaps realizing he couldn’t stop me, he just looked at me with a forlorn expression.

I wished he would say something instead of just looking at me like that.

How could someone as gentle as him later become twisted and turn the world upside down? After a short sigh, I finally set down everything I was holding onto the floor.

“Listen carefully.”

I quickly approached him and grabbed his shoulders. Startled, he flinched but then fixed his eyes intently on my face.

“As long as you’re not affected by the brainwashing spells, you can’t escape from here.”

Seeing his clear, bright eyes, I was again convinced that Zachary was resistant to the sorcery.

Taking a small breath, I recalled the absurd plan that had been floating in my mind. It was a mess and not well thought out, something I had wanted to explain on a later visit, but I decided to blurt it out right then.

“Normally, by now, a person would have lost their will. But seeing that you’re still coherent enough to talk with me… it means you’re not easily affected by the spells.”

If my memory was correct, in the original story, he became a servant to the Serpentine for several years.

The duke I had observed so far was a person who never took even the slightest risk on uncertainties. That he used the prince of the empire, and as a servant in the original story, surely meant he ultimately succeeded in casting a spell on Zachary.

“And if the duke realizes this unusual resistance, it’s all over. He might have already noticed a bit. This seems like the last chance, that’s why I’m telling you this.”

Going forward, the duke will subject Zachary to more intense torture and sorcery. This will continue until Zachary is completely under the duke’s control, so this really is the last opportunity. The only chance for Zachary to deceive the duke while still in his right mind.

“I’ll help you get out of here.”

It meant that I still had an opportunity to get him out.

If Zachary becomes more deeply bound by stronger sorcery, I alone might not be able to help him escape. However, if he smartly pretends to be brainwashed, there might eventually be a possibility.

It was beneficial for both Zachary and me.

Perhaps Zachary could escape before his vengeance plunged the world into bloodshed, living the rest of his life safely, and I too could survive. This opportunity was too crucial to miss.

“…How?”

Zachary asked in a trembling voice after hearing my explanation.

“You have to pretend to be affected by the brainwashing spell.”

The sound of the third door opening echoed.

“You’ve been holding back from revealing any imperial secrets or your thoughts, right?”

Zachary nodded slightly.

The way to discern if someone is truly under the influence of a spell varies, but a fundamental method is to see how much they open up about their innermost thoughts. Typically, if someone spills even their most private matters as if enchanted, it’s a sign they’re under the spell.

“But now, you have to tell everything to the duke. Just as casually as commenting on the weather being nice.”

It seemed unlikely that Zachary, who had always been as steadfast as bamboo, would be able to play such a role. That unyielding nature was part of what made him the protagonist.

As expected, upon hearing my suggestion, suspicion clouded Zachary’s face.

“Of course, I don’t mean for you to foolishly spill everything. If he demands information, don’t resist firmly like before. Instead, play a bit dumb and give him something. Not the real secrets, just superficial information. And if he asks for something absurdly submissive, you have to go along with it.”

The sound of the third door closing echoed.

“In fact, most people would have already broken under these conditions. So even if your act is somewhat clumsy, the duke might believe you’ve finally succumbed to the spell. After revealing the information, you must continue playing dumb. Pretend to be ensnared by every spell he casts, as if you can no longer feel pain, sorrow, or any emotion.”

It won’t be easy. He might demand a piece of your flesh or a tooth, and you’d have to comply, pretending to be unaffected.

“Just a bit more cleverness, and…”

“You’ll find your opportunity.”