Reborn as the Villainess's Bodyguard, I Refused to Stop at Bodyguard novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Quarrel

It took Haruka until midnight to reach the cell.

The Prince's household guards held the stair, two young men in white and gold who were told to let no one pass.

Corwin dealt with them.

He walked up with a sealed note and a straight face and told them the Queen's chamberlain wanted them in the hall at once.

They went, grumbling.

"Spare key," Corwin whispered, and pressed it into her hand.

"Where was it?"

"Inside the clock case on the landing. The old captains kept it there." He shrugged, unhappy. "I never knew why. Go. You have a quarter of an hour."

Haruka climbed the last flight at a run.

The key turned.

Seraphine sat on the cot with her back to the wall, dressed, with her hands folded and her face as smooth as marble.

"Seraphine."

"Captain Delamere."

It landed.

"I'm sorry about this morning," Haruka said, coming in and shutting the door. "I had no choice. If I'd fought him I'd be in a cell myself, and nobody would be left to..."

"You bowed."

"Yes."

"You said the word duty to him." Seraphine's voice was low and very even. "I heard it from the guard before you came."

"I said it to buy time."

"Time for what?"

"Time to get you out."

She laid the plan out in rapid, urgent sentences.

The thirteenth night.

The postern.

The river road, and Corwin at the shed with two horses, and a day's start before anyone knew.

Seraphine listened without moving.

When Haruka finished, she said only, "No."

"No?"

"I will not go."

"Seraphine, I can do this."

"You have no sword." Her eyes flashed. "If you take me out of this tower, they will hang you at my empty block."

"Let them try."

"They will do more than try. You will be the woman who freed the Saint's poisoner, and the whole city will say it's what a besotted fool does." She stood up, trembling. "I will not be saved at that price. I will not let you die for me, Eleonora. I would rather the axe."

"Don't you dare say that."

"I will say it to your face."

"You are twenty-three years old!" Haruka heard her own voice crack. "You have a list of fourteen things and you have done nine! I did not cross whatever I crossed to stand in your cell and watch you walk to a block because you would not let me carry you!"

"Then why did you kneel to him!"

"Because I'm trying to save your life!"

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