LRAB Chapter 4: Prisoner Transfer
Chapter 4: Prisoner Transfer
Chapter 4: Prisoner Transfer
The silence in the cell shattered as the clanking of boots echoed again, pulling Ryuen out of his thoughts and momentarily distracting him.
He expected the soldiers to start opening the cells one by one, beginning with the first. Instead, they walked directly to his cell and began unlocking it.
Rising from where he sat, Ryuen watched as the girls hid behind him for safety.
He noticed the way the soldiers looked at them. It was only a matter of time before they acted on those looks, but Ryuen was ready to fight to the death to protect them, no matter what.
Yuta also stood, slipping his hands into his pockets, his cold eyes narrowing as the soldiers pulled the door open. The loud clang of the metal reverberated through the cell.
The soldiers stepped back, motioning for them to follow. Their eyes avoided Ryuen's, likely out of fear, though they dared not show it. They were stronger, after all—or so they believed.
But the mortal standing before them had a gaze that said otherwise. If he had the power, his eyes alone would have burned them to ash.
"Move," one soldier commanded, his tone laced with malice for no apparent reason.
Ryuen exhaled, gesturing for the boys to go first. They did as instructed, but not without casting glares at the soldiers.
Yuta, however, was bold enough to bump shoulders with one of them, a smirk playing on his face as he walked by.
For a moment, the soldier raised his hand, ready to retaliate, but stopped halfway under Ryuen's piercing glare.
The soldiers' frustration was palpable—they clearly wanted to pummel the five of them into the ground.
The girls followed next, keeping a safe distance from the soldiers, their heads bowed.
Ryuen also moved, his gaze lingering on the soldier who had opened the cell door.
He noticed the man's eyes fixated on Akari's exposed legs.
Ryuen paused and chuckled. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Huh?... What are you talking about?" the soldier stammered, embarrassed that his intentions had been noticed.
But instead of backing down, Ryuen stepped closer.
"I'd advise you to keep your eyes off my students—unless you'd enjoy having your head off your shoulders."
He said coolly, flashing a polite smile before his expression hardened again.
"How dare you?!" the soldier barked, though his tone betrayed his unease.
Even as a prisoner, Ryuen's aura was unsettling, and the other soldiers struggled to stifle their laughter at their superior's discomfort.
Catching up with the others, Ryuen whispered, "Listen, especially you girls," standing between them while the boys walked ahead, close enough to hear him.
"If we ever get separated, I want you to be very careful. Learn how to throw a punch if you have to..."
"...Yuta and I have no problem with that," Kenta interrupted, gesturing at Akari.
"We should be worried about her. She's awfully weak for someone with such a big mouth."
Ryuen nodded. "I understand, but all of you need to learn to defend yourselves."
" I might not always be around to protect you. I might even get killed soon," he added with a laugh, his fear of death absent in his voice.
His only regret would be leaving them unprotected if it came to that.
The king leaned back, his gaze shifting to Haruka and Akari. "The girls," he paused, his tone softer but still firm and unyielding.
"What are their names?"
Haruka lowered her gaze, her hands gripping Ryuen tightly until he pried them away.
Akari, on the other hand, maintained eye contact with the king, though her shoulders were tense and she remained silent.
"Their names are not necessary, and they are with me," Ryuen said, trying to remain respectful. "That's all you need to know."
The queen tilted her head, a slight smile appearing on her lips. "So loyal," she mumbled. "But loyalty can be... misplaced."
The prince chuckled. "Or it can get you killed."
Ryuen didn't stand down. "Perhaps," he said, his hazel eyes meeting the prince's envious gaze.
"But I don't plan on dying here."
"You won't. Just leave the girls with me. I will take good care of—"
"—I would rather drag my balls through hot coals than let that happen," Ryuen blurted, and the room fell silent almost immediately.
The guards stiffened, the audacity of Ryuen's words playing over and over in their minds.
Insulting the prince was one thing, but uttering something so unbelievably painful was another. Yet, he was bold enough to say it.
The king's eyes narrowed, deeply displeased with Ryuen's confidence.
The fact that Ryuen had silenced the prince intrigued him, but it was unacceptable.
"You speak boldly for someone in chains."
"I speak because I value their lives," Ryuen said flatly.
This made the queen's smile fadr, replaced by a cold scowl, though she spoke, hiding her displeasure well.
"The girls will stay with us. The rest can be taken somewhere else."
"No," Ryuen refused immediately. "They stay and go anywhere I go."
A frown creased the king's brow. "You would defy me?"
Ryuen didn't break eye contact.
"If it means protecting them from the grasp of conscience-lacking and hungry men like you, then I would."
For a moment, the room grew still and cold.
"We should let another kingdom deal with this..." the queen said, casting Ryuen an irritated gaze. "Disrespectful pest."
The king gave a brief nod, gesturing to the soldiers who had brought them in.
"Take them to Mirath City. King Arel and his daughter should be able to deal with them."
"What about the other prisoners, Your Majesty?" a soldier asked, bowing deeply.
"Take them along. These mortals disgust me."