The Greatest Villainess (Completed)

Chapter 39

Warning: Contains scenes of violence and harassment ahead!

The carriage had been moving for hours. I sat in silence, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. My eyes wandered to the two knights seated across from me, their expressions cold and unreadable. My hands fidgeted nervously in my lap, my fingers twisting together as if trying to ground me in this tense moment. Where are they taking me? My mind raced with a thousand questions, none of which had answers. I didn’t know what awaited me at our destination, but the fear of the unknown gnawed at me.

Moments passed in agonizing silence before the carriage finally came to a halt. My heart leaped into my throat, a sudden rush of panic filling my chest. The door creaked open, and one of the knights stepped out first, offering me no choice but to follow. The other knight grabbed me by the arm, his grip rough, forcing me down from the carriage. My knees buckled slightly, but I managed to steady myself, my jaw clenching as my eyes scanned the surroundings.

So, this is where they’ve brought me. The estate of Count Rodolfo.

I caught sight of him almost immediately, standing tall and smug with a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Bring her to the dungeon,” his voice cut through the air like a blade. I met his gaze, my eyes sharp and defiant, but he only smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

Without a word, the knights began dragging me towards the manor's dungeon. I fought to keep my footing, but their grip was relentless. When we reached the dark, damp cell, they shoved me forward with such force that I stumbled, crashing to the cold stone floor. Pain shot through my body, and I gritted my teeth, suppressing a curse. These bastards... they would regret this.

I pushed my tangled hair away from my face, my hands shaking from a mix of anger and hunger. My stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder that I hadn’t eaten since the morning. I cursed under my breath. Damn it. I can’t even remember the last time I ate.

Dragging myself to my feet, I walked over to the iron bars, peering through them. Two knights stood guard at the entrance, indifferent to my suffering. I pressed my lips into a thin line, refusing to show any sign of weakness. I would not ask them for food. My pride would not allow it. I gripped the bars tightly, my knuckles turning white. This situation was unbearable, and the cold of the cell was seeping into my bones. How long do they plan to keep me here?

I tilted my head back, blinking rapidly to hold back tears. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. How absurd. How did I end up here, trapped like some criminal?

With a heavy sigh, I slumped against the wall, sinking to the floor. I closed my eyes, willing myself to believe that this was all just a nightmare, a twisted illusion. Maybe, if I slept, I would wake up and this would all be over. But no such relief came.

I must have fallen asleep at some point because I awoke to the sound of metal scraping against metal—the dungeon door opening. My heart raced as I scrambled to my feet, my eyes narrowing at the figure entering. He carried a tray of food, his face calm and composed. My brows furrowed in confusion. It was Ezekiel, Count Rodolfo’s son. What is he doing here?

He knelt down, offering me the tray. “Eat. You’ll need your strength,” he said, his voice gentle, almost too gentle for someone related to Rodolfo. His concern caught me off guard.

I stared at him, suspicion flickering in my eyes. “Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice laced with distrust.

He placed the tray on the ground when I didn’t take it. Standing up straight, he answered, “I just don’t like seeing you suffer. It doesn’t suit you," his words were indifferent, but there was something unsettling about his calmness.