The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 120: Remember This Feeling of Death
Watching Henwell smile calmly, unwavering as he slowly and deliberately drives the dagger into his abdomen, Catherine truly begins to feel fear. If Henwell chooses to harm himself, it indeed makes sense. Even if the kingdom's top officials know the truth, they would have to publicly commend Henwell for protecting the princess. The cooperation between the two nations isn't something that can be undone by a few unexpected incidents.
The duchy wouldn't let Henwell die; they would undoubtedly go to great lengths to protect him. Otherwise, who would dare to serve the duchy in the future, or trust its reputation? The kingdom cannot act against him either, as that would confirm that the princess attempted to assassinate a key figure of an allied nation. Not only did she fail, but she also ended up dead—what a colossal joke that would be!
As for whether Henwell lives or dies afterward, that's up to fate. The most crucial point is that by then, Catherine would be long gone. With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Catherine angrily shouts, "Enough! What do you want?"
Henwell withdraws the dagger, which is already an inch deep in his abdomen. "I told you, I don't want anything. I'm just warning you, Your Highness, to stop your schemes and consider other avenues. Perhaps focus on taking out a few of your brothers! Or maybe poison your father! Whatever you choose, it has nothing to do with us. My task is simply to accompany Arius and ensure he safely marries."
Princess Catherine remains silent for a moment. "I won't target Arius anymore."
Henwell grins broadly. "That's more like it!"
Henwell nudges his horse forward, approaching Catherine, and takes a moment to study the beautiful yet dangerous woman. Noticing his gaze, Catherine giggles, raising her chin and pushing out her impressive chest.
Henwell tilts his head, observing her for a while, then suddenly reaches out to touch her cheek. His bloodstained hand leaves a vivid red mark on her pale skin, giving her an oddly enchanting appearance. Feeling the roughness of Henwell's hand, Catherine's breath quickens.
Without warning, Henwell's hand moves down, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her off her horse. Holding her by the throat with one hand, he quietly watches her. Catherine struggles to breathe, slapping at Henwell's arm, but it feels like her neck is caught in a vice. His arm is as solid as steel, impervious to her scratching or stabbing.
As oxygen deprivation saps her strength, panic finally sets in. Is he really going to kill her? Why?! He had just said they were done with this matter. What would he do after killing her? How would he explain it to the kingdom? Why the sudden urge to end her life?
Just as Catherine's face begins to turn a sickly shade of blue, Henwell releases his grip. She falls to the ground, gasping desperately for air.
After a series of violent coughs from the princess, Henwell leans down from his horse, speaking gently to Catherine below.
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"Remember that feeling just now! That's the sensation of being on the brink of death. Terrifying, isn't it? That's the taste of death! If you ever think of doing something bad to us again, especially me, make sure to recall this feeling. People can make a mistake once. You, with your noble birth and beautiful appearance, are getting an extra chance. Make sure you cherish it!"
Just as Catherine is about to lash out with a retort, she looks up and sees Henwell's cold gaze, shadowed against the sunlight. It inexplicably makes her curl up, as if facing a ferocious beast.
Suddenly, Henwell smiles again, reaching out to scoop the princess up onto his horse. "If we're going to act, let's do it right! In your current disheveled state, people will believe you're innocent!"
Amidst Catherine's screams and curses, Henwell lays her across the saddle, laughing heartily as he spurs the horse into a gallop.
When Henwell and Catherine finally reach Prince Addison and his entourage, Henwell tumbles off the horse, cradling Catherine to ensure she lands safely. He hits the ground with his back, shielding the princess from any harm. The guards rush over immediately. Henwell is bleeding from the mouth, with bloodstains on his chest and abdomen. Princess Catherine, her clothes smeared with dirt and her hair disheveled, stares blankly, still dazed from the fall.
With great effort, Henwell manages to speak, "Assassins! Protect the princess, get her out of here!" At his words, the guards draw their swords, forming a protective formation, and launch a signal flare into the sky. Soon, the nobles participating in the spring hunt gather at the scene.
Arius, seeing Henwell's condition, rushes over. "What happened? What's going on with Henwell?" The royal guards block his way, causing Arius's expression to darken. His hand moves to his sword. "That's my knight. You have no right to detain him!"
When the guards still refuse to let him pass, Arius draws his sword halfway from its scabbard. Robin and the others, following closely behind, do the same. Prince Addison intervenes, "What are you doing? Arius is our esteemed guest. How can you treat him like this? Let him through!"
Despite his words, only Arius is allowed to approach. Seeing Henwell covered in blood, Arius hurries forward, kneeling to take Henwell's hand. "What happened? Where did the assassins come from?" As Henwell struggles to breathe, someone nearby explains the situation. Meanwhile, Princess Catherine sobs quietly, partly an act, but also genuinely distressed.
Feeling Henwell gently squeeze his hand twice, Arius pauses, quickly understanding the signal. He insists on taking Henwell away, preventing the royal guards from further contact with him. After a short while, a large contingent of royal cavalry arrives. They escort all the noble youths out and lock down the entire hunting ground.
In the evening, Arius visits Henwell, who is lying on the bed. As Henwell tries to sit up, Arius quickly steps forward, "What are you doing? You're seriously injured! You can't just get up like that." He gives Henwell a knowing wink as he speaks.
After chatting for a while, they ask the servants to leave the room. Arius starts the conversation, "How are your injuries?"
Henwell replies, "They're nothing serious! It's all an act. There were assassins ambushed in the valley. I wanted to find you to warn you to stay away from that area, but Princess Catherine held me back, preventing me from reaching you. So, I had to probe the assassins' strength myself."
Arius quickly catches on, "Was it arranged by Princess Catherine?"
"Yes! She chose the location for the spring hunt, and those assassins are her people. This isn't her first assassination attempt, either. On the way here with the envoy, I intercepted a group of assassins sent by the princess. From them, I learned they were trained by Catherine."
Arius furrows his brow, pacing the room for a while. "Do you know why she's doing this?"
Henwell shakes his head, though he knows the reason, he chooses not to reveal it.
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Chapter 120: Remember This Feeling of Death
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