Chapter 20: Coward's Wish

Alissa took out an elixir from her dress, and fed it to him.

Kendrick drank the elixir without a problem. Soon enough, his body started reshaping its broken joint, and the limbs that he had lost regenerated by itself in a glimpse of an eye.

It was like everything that happened was just a dream. His stamina returned to a great shape, however the torture remains and haunts his head.

Alissa decided to play with him, and grant him his wish.

"What kind of game are you talking about, dear brother~~?"

Deep inside, she was dead curious about her brother's scheming. His eyes that seemed to have lost all its hope, gleamed a glimpse of light that seemed to be brimming with will to survive. Her pride just couldn't accept it after breaking him so many times.

In order for her to be fully satisfied, she had to break him… Completely!

Alissa licked her lips as she smiled in excitement.

Kendrick felt the cold run up to his spine, he was sweating like a madman somehow.

Kendrick wasn't really sure if his plan would work, but he could only risk it. It was his only way to survive.

After finally making up his mind to commence his plan, Kendrick opened his mouth to speak, his eyes glaring at her like a tiger ready to pounce at her at any moment.

"Play hide and seek with me."

Alissa stared at him with strange eyes but yet still chose to be played with his game. A wide smile appeared on her beautiful face, which made her look like a really creepy psychopath.

"And how do you plan on escaping from that chair alone?"

Kendrick forced a smile and tried to convince her.

"Ah-hehe! Let me go, and we play hide and seek, and I'll tell you the rules."

"How can I make sure you won't fight back and escape if I let you go~~?"

"Oh please, I know you can knock me up on your own… So, are you going to allow it or not..?"

Alissa thought about it for so long, before finally agreeing to it.

"Alright, it'll be a piece of cake to catch you anyways~"

Alissa removed his cuffs from his arms and legs, without a problem. As Kendrick stated, he didn't try to run or struggle. Instead, a large smile lifted up on his face.

Alissa could already tell he was planning something big, but due to her arrogance and power, she was too confident that he wouldn't be able to escape her that much. She didn't know though, that one mistake of hers would be the one to bring her to her incoming demise…

Now that's everything on set… It was time for the game.

"Now that I've let you go, tell me your rules now and we'll play it~~"

Kendrick's no longer shaking unlike before, he seemed to have braced his resolve as he started telling her the rules with brimming eyes.

"You can use anything to chase after me, there's no rules over it, except, no other people involved in chasing me…"

He can't afford the risk of other parties helping out and breaking his plan… And if she did do so…

"... If you ask help from others, I'll kill myself. That way, I wouldn't be the only one going down to hell, I'm bringing the whole household with me."

It comes to the point he has to use threatening now. Although he has no plan on using the death strategy in the first place, it's the only way he could ensure his survival.

Alissa seemed to be bitter about it as she started biting her lips. It now became a problem since she has to do everything on her own. That being said, it's not much of a problem for her in reality, because she has other plans on chasing him down.

And in the worst case, if he does kill himself, their heads would be rolling in the ground, since the Majesty's suspicion would be placed over them. Even if they run to other Kingdoms, there's no way they can assure their survival.

"Alright, alright. I'll play your game, dear brother~ What if I catch you though, what would there be for us~~?"

Kendrick swallowed the dried saliva stuck on his throat and finally answered her question with cold sweats hanging on his forehead.

"I'll cooperate and won't complain. I'll do my best to not be suspicious of his Majesty. Ain't that a great deal..?"

It is such a great deal…

Alissa bit her lips even more as her interested gaze turned into a glare. It feels like she's dancing right on his hand, but she has no other choice but to be played. It was her only way out of this.

The only reason her father instructed her to leave him alone today is, so his mind wouldn't be too broken, and he wouldn't slip or die in the audience of the Majesty…

It was her choice to give him one last wish too, so there's no way to refuse. Alissa now regretted giving him a chance.

"How should we play it?"

There was only seriousness on her face now. She's no longer concerned about the game and stuff. Her only goal is to catch him and end everything in a swift manner.

"Turn behind and count until 30, when the count is over, you can chase me till the end of the world."

"If it's only counting that much, I can extend it for you~~"

Alissa mocked him at his own game. Although it seemed to be a very long count, for her, it wouldn't be a problem since she has plans to chase after him. It'll be over immediately, she's confident over it.

Though, that arrogance would be the one to lead her to her demise. Kendrick rejected her offer without hesitation.

"No, 30 seconds would suffice."

He already planned out everything in his head. Kendrick recalled the memories of his when he was playing the otome game. There was a run where Dan Alastair fell in love with the main character of the game and used to tell her stories of his childhood. Although it was a glimpse of memory, there's no way he could be wrong.

Dan Alastair from the game stated that, in the 2nd floor, inside the piano room, he once dug a hole when he was young which he used to escape the surveillance each time and leave the manor, to be out of the world. Although it wasn't fully detailed, Dan Alastair said he hid the hole using a big decorational tree.

It means, it was the only way out of the manor without using the entrance. It's his only shot.

And Kendrick is willing to risk the opportunity.

Alissa turned her back and finally started counting.

"30… 29…"

And as the timer goes off, Kendrick exited the torture chamber in a swift.