Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74 Bound by Blood or Coin

Finished

Margaret halted, then added quietly, “Only give me the word, and I shall do all within my power to see you freed from this place.”

“By what right do you speak of taking anyone from our village?”

Another figure clad in dark clothing stepped forward, his voice rising. “If you mean to leave, then be on your way-and swiftly. Were it not for the leader’s forbearance, do you truly believe you would walk out of this village alive?”

Theodore’s hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, but the village leader raised a calming hand. “Enough. Let us keep our tempers and speak with reason.”

A faint, prideful smile touched his lips as he regarded Margaret. “Miss, I understand your desire to play the savior. It is a noble impulse. But the people of our village have no need of your rescue.”

He turned toward the crowd gathered behind him. “Let them speak for themselves. If any wish to go with you, let them say so now. I shall raise no objection.”

上

The villagers slowly parted, and from their midst, five or six bound women were shoved forward. They hung their heads, shoulders hunched, not daring to utter a sound.

Margaret took a step closer. “If you wish to leave, I will take you

with me this

very

moment.”

Not one of them nodded.

Their eyes were wide with terror.

Margaret pressed on, her jaw set. “I do not know what it is you fear, but you must believe me—I can keep

you

safe. I will take you back to Breston and see you protected. Every woman in this village will know freedom before long.”

A few snickers rippled through the crowd, as though her confidence were merely childish arrogance.

“I will speak plainly,” Margaret continued, raising her voice. “I am the trueborn daughter of the Prime Minister. All that has transpired here will be reported in Breston. Within days, every woman in your village shall be freed. But before I depart, I will not see harm come to any of you.”

Her

gaze

shifted to the four other women held nearby.

What stayed her most was the dread of what these women would endure once she was gone.

Perhaps she could return with aid in time.

But by then, how many would still possess their dignity-or even their lives?

In so cruel an age, to lose one’s honor was little different from losing life itself.

“Hah! The trueborn daughter of the Prime Minister-do you all hear that?” a man called out, laughter in his voice. “That’s a rich one.”

11:34 am

Chapter 74 Bound by Blood or Coin

Finished

No sooner had she spoken than Theodore drew his blade.

“A pack of beasts. There is no use in treating them as men.”

He moved forward, placing himself between Margaret and the villagers.

The four captive women began to cry out again.

“We wish to go with you-we are not from this village!”

“Save us, good ser, miss!”

“Mercy, I beg you…”

But their pleas were cut short by sharp, open-handed blows that sent them stumbling to the ground.

The men holding them sneered. “Still crying out? Shall I carve the tongues from your mouths?”

11:34 am

Chapter 74 Bound by Blood or Coin

Finished

Margaret stiffened with anger. “You said whoever wished to come with us might—”

“You mistake my meaning,” the village leader interrupted smoothly. “I spoke of the daughters of our village. Any of them who wished to go with you, you might take.

“But as you see, none have chosen to do so. Those few… They are not ours by birth. Yet we paid good silver