Jared Murphy woke up to the shock of cold water.
“You’re stubborn. I think you’d be cuter if you had more of a charming demeanor suitable for your age.”
“…Shut…up…”
He couldn’t form his words properly.
The prolonged drenching of cold water had drained both his body temperature and stamina.
Before him stood a man, a nameless noble, with a look of exasperation on his face, and two pale, mid-teen girls.
“Being subjected to continuous cold water torture is difficult, isn’t it? Even with your potential to become a Court Mage, you probably aren’t accustomed to torture. Why endure it?”
“Who knows.”
“Perhaps these young ladies are unsatisfactory? I prepared girls who are excellent in both appearance and character among those who wish to become your wife… As expected of Olivier Alway’s Fiancé, I suppose. Your taste in women seems to be rather peculiar.”
He wanted to glare at the man, but his eyelids were heavy, and his consciousness was too hazy. He didn’t even have the luxury of feeling regret.
“Hmm. You might die if this continues, so let’s take a break. You two, dry his body thoroughly. You are his future wives, so you should be able to do that much. I will report to Lord Leonard that further torture is futile.”
“Y-yes.”
The girls responded to the man’s command as if they were afraid. Clutching the towels they held, they approached Jared, who lay weakly on the floor.
With both of them pulling, they dragged him to the dry part of the floor and began to vigorously rub his bare upper body.
Jared was already at his limit. He had been continuously subjected to cold water created by the Magician for over three hours. His stamina and spirit were both beyond their breaking point.
Their demand was simple: marry the girls and produce children. That was all. But Jared refused. He wouldn’t agree, not even with a lie.
The result was a state so weakened that, despite his restraints being only on his arms, he couldn’t escape.
“Um, are you alright?”
“I’m sorry, it’s because of us…”
He couldn’t even respond to the girls’ concern and apologies.
He wanted to tell them they had no need to apologize. He already understood their circumstances. They were born into a family that preached the supremacy of Magicians, yet they had children with no magic power, or siblings in that situation. Or perhaps their parents had some magic, but not enough to be called Magicians, putting them in a precarious position within the organization.
Therefore, the girls desired to become Jared’s wives, trying to contribute even a little for their families.
He wished they could all escape such an organization, but if they could, they would have already. In fact, it seemed some had left Leonard’s side.
They, no, their family, couldn’t escape and were simply afraid due to their weak talent as Magicians.
It seemed there were other boys and girls in similar situations, not just the two introduced to Jared earlier.
“Shia, prepare some hot water.”
“Understood. Older Sister. Please wait.”
The girl called Shia left the room once and returned with a cup.
“Here, Lord Jared, please drink.”
The heat seeped from the cup, and his body craved it, but he couldn’t even reach out.
“…Lord Jared, please excuse me.”
In his hazy consciousness, the girl took some hot water into her mouth and then pressed her lips to Jared’s.
Slightly lukewarm, warm water flowed into his mouth and down his throat.
“Ngh… *cough*, *cough*…”
“Don’t rush. Please drink slowly.”
The girl took more water into her mouth and pressed her lips to Jared’s again.
After repeating this three times, Jared regained a little warmth and composure. Then, his consciousness began to fade. He wished he could escape now that there were no guards in the room, but considering the possibility of burdening these girls, he abandoned the idea.
He decided to escape after recovering his strength and surrendered to his darkening vision.
In his fading consciousness,
“When I find an opportunity, I will surely help you escape. Please bear with it until then.”
He thought he heard those words.
