Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 76

As Mila and Emmett took down each of the attackers with ease, a small smile played on Mila's lips. These men were far too easy to defeat, which made her suspect that they weren't part of the Mana Hunters. 'These people are just ordinary men,' she thought, observing how they lacked the telltale signs of using mana stones or any other special abilities. No beasts, no magic—nothing to suggest they were anything more than hired muscle.

Leo joined them shortly after, his eyes constantly flicking to Mila as he fought off the attackers. She noticed his protective gaze and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'He still worries too much. I'm almost an adult, for heaven's sake,' she thought, though she knew Leo's protectiveness stemmed from his deep affection for her. Ever since her rebirth, Leo had always treated her like the little sister he cherished, and that care hadn't faded even as she grew older.

"That's all of them," Emmett said, surveying the scene. They had subdued every last one of the attackers without the help of their beasts, a fact that reassured him they weren't dealing with anyone too dangerous. The relief in his voice was evident, but Mila's sharp eyes caught something—a lone survivor attempting to flee.

Without hesitation, Mila threw her sword, the blade slicing through the air and impaling the man's leg, pinning him to the hard ground. The man screamed in agony, clutching his wounded leg as blood pooled beneath him. 'He won't be walking anytime soon,' Mila thought, her breath steady despite the chaos around her. She knew she had likely crippled him, but that didn't concern her. He had tried to escape, and now he would face the consequences.

"Aaahhhhh!!!!" The man's cries echoed through the night as he writhed on the ground, his leg immobile.

"Look who we have here," Mila said with a cold smile, approaching the injured man. Emmett and Leo followed, their expressions stern as they closed in on the would-be escapee. Mila crouched down, her eyes locking onto the man's. "Tell us, what did you want with the Mireraweth Heart?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with a threatening undertone. She drew a dagger and pressed it to his throat, making it clear that she expected an answer.

"The Mireraweth Heart?!" Leo echoed, recognizing the name of the jewel immediately. It was a gem known only among the highest echelons of society, and the mention of it made him realize how serious the situation had become. He hadn't been privy to the full details of John Kinney's predicament, but now he understood its gravity.

Mila's grip on the dagger tightened slightly as she leaned closer to the man. "If you don't tell us the truth, I can't guarantee your life," she warned, her tone deadly serious. "I'll give you until the count of three."

"One..." The dagger pressed harder against his throat, just enough to draw a line of blood.

"Two..." The blade cut deeper, causing blood to trickle down his neck. 'Is he really going to let himself die over this?' Mila wondered, fully prepared to carry out her threat if necessary. She had encountered many stubborn foes before, but this man didn't seem to have the same resolve as the Mana Hunters.

"I don't know! We were paid to get the jewelry!" the man blurted out, his voice shaking as Mila withdrew the dagger from his throat. He clutched at the small wound, trying to stem the bleeding, his eyes wide with fear.

"Is that so?" Mila eyed him carefully, searching for any signs of deceit. She had no tolerance for lies, especially not in a situation as serious as this. If he was lying, she wouldn't hesitate to finish the job. "If you're lying, this dagger will kill you for good next time," she threatened, her voice low and menacing. The man trembled under her gaze, clearly terrified of the young girl who held his life in her hands.

"They were part of a noble family! I don't know who it was, but I know they had a beast with them—only nobles have beasts like that!" the man stammered, desperation creeping into his voice. "We're just commoners, working for money to survive! They threatened us—we had no choice!" His words came out in a rush, and Mila could tell he was telling the truth, or at least as much of it as he knew. The fear in his eyes was genuine, and it was clear that he and his men had been coerced into this.