The surviving princess {Liskook}

chapter 33 ⚠️

Gella continued, seething, “After I took them all down, he says, ‘If you’re going to throw them around like that, what’s the point of the daggers?’ So I told him I use them for interrogation.”

She brandished a still-wet dagger as she spoke.

“Two of them were still conscious, so I started with their fingernails, making them clean with this—”

“Hold on,” Jungkook interrupted.

Jungkook glanced down at Lisa in his arms, concerned the rough story might disturb her. However, seeing her slight smile buried in his chest, he realized his wife wasn’t disturbed by such tales.

“Go on,” he said.

Gella continued, “I just cleaned up their hands and a few teeth. Apparently, they’re from some thief guild. According to Sir Bambam, they were already washed-up rejects.”

“Expendable pawns,” Jungkook noted.

“Exactly. They didn’t know much, just promised money. The plan was to abduct me, have their way for a few months, and if I got pregnant, deliver me to the Jeon mansion.”

“What?” Jungkook’s eyes sharpened. He furrowed his brow but continued, “You worked hard. I have a fair idea who’s behind this.”

“Yes, it was tough. My wrist is all torn up. Do I get hazard pay?”

“This isn’t something money can settle.”

“Doesn’t matter. They didn’t have a personal grudge against me. I’ve already enjoyed giving them some payback.”

Though Jungkook’s expression remained indifferent, he recalled something he’d heard about Gella. “You’re saving up to buy a blacksmith’s shop in your hometown, right?”

“Yes. My father’s competitor, but he’s a fool.”

“I’ll purchase it for you as personal property. It might take a few weeks, but you’ll have the deed by early next month.”

Gella bowed deeply, grateful, then stood up with a beaming face. “I’ll head back with Sir Bambam. I look a mess.”

“Okay.”

As Gella left, the carriage resumed its journey to the Jeon mansion.

“Such a crude tactic,” Jungkook mused. “They hoped to trap me with scandal if Gella got pregnant.”

Lisa nodded calmly. “By the way, Pointy and Big called Gella your lover.”

Jungkook sighed deeply before asking, “Are you feeling alright, dear?”

“Why?”

Jungkook asked honestly, “I thought you’d dislike hearing about knife fights and the smell of blood.”

“Oh, that,” Lisa shrugged. “At first, blood terrified me. I was very young then.”

She added nonchalantly, “I used to dream about it at night, but I’m used to it now. Earlier, I was worried I might laugh out loud.”

Jungkook frowned, “You’ve seen it often, I assume.”

“I even slept among corpses once. I was twelve then. After that, everyone thought I’d lost my mind, which was easier.”

Her words were astonishing, but her tone of voice as if it was no big deal was very clear.

“About two years ago, the maids started suspecting I was regaining my sanity. By then, there were no more dying people, so I had to invent various acts to keep them convinced. It wasn’t easy.”