Chapter 50: The Dungeon’s Depths and a Dire Predicament

The barren lands of Windwhisper Town could not sustain a large population.

Consequently, when the town was first designed, comprehensive prison facilities were never a consideration.

The so-called dungeon was nothing more than a converted basement within the lord’s castle.

There were no towering walls or heavy locks to enforce strict confinement.

Instead, only dim, cramped passages and damp, rugged stone walls defined the space.

I slowly followed Rodd into the depths.

The moment I stepped inside, the air was thick with the scent of dampness and mold, a clear indication of the abysmal conditions in a place devoid of ventilation.

As we walked, I occasionally felt droplets of water fall upon me.

The icy chill was accompanied by a wave of nausea.

The dungeon was not deep, but it was long and oppressively narrow.

Torches on either side of the walls flickered with faint light, casting elongated shadows.

These shadows resembled gaunt hands, clinging to the rusted iron bars.

They seemed to seal off each small cell with despair, suffocating one person after another.

“What happened to your face?”

Halfway through, Rodd suddenly asked me this, and despite his calm tone, I could sense his underlying concern.

I paused, then replied with a casual wave of dismissal:

“Ah… I must have accidentally scratched it while putting out the fire.”

As I spoke, I deftly changed the subject.

“Master, I think we should add some fire safety equipment near the castle in the future. A fire in just one woodshed was so troublesome; imagine if it happened in a more important area.”

“You’re right, but you shouldn’t get involved in such dangerous matters again,” Rodd stated, his voice carrying an undeniable firmness.

“Ah… why?” I asked instinctively.

“Didn’t Fina tell you? It’s been decided that you’ll be my personal maid. That position isn’t for doing such things.”

‘Then what *is* it for?’

I almost blurted out the question, but quickly caught myself the next instant.

‘Good heavens…’

‘Why has my mind become so sluggish?’

‘Isn’t it obvious what this position entails?’

Drawing upon my experience as a butler, I quickly grasped the unspoken implication in Rodd’s words, yet at that very moment, I felt a surge of nervous bewilderment.

“Y-yes… yes, I… I understand.”

Overwhelmed by my confusion, I could only stammer out a reply, barely daring to look at his retreating back.

I had no idea what expression was on my face, but the mere thought of a certain scenario made my heart pound wildly, even causing my pupils to tremble erratically.

‘No, don’t you dare chicken out!’

‘Haven’t I been with women before? Such things are as simple as drinking water, aren’t they?’

‘Besides, I’ve been a man for decades; shouldn’t I be able to take such things in stride?’

I lowered my gaze to my frail, small hands, trying to recall the feeling of firm, powerful strength I once possessed, hoping to rekindle my courage and resolve.

‘Don’t panic, don’t panic. The witch changed your body, but can she change your soul?’

‘You’re just temporarily trapped in this woman’s body, that’s all.’

‘Lord Axas has already promised that if I complete this mission, upon my return, I can not only take Lulona with me but also ask the witch to change my body back.’

‘With the powerful witch Lulu, she might even be able to help me fix any flaws!’

‘It’s temporary, everything is temporary!’

‘It’s just… getting *done*?’

‘A man doesn’t chicken out!’

I felt as though I was gradually coming to terms with it, and my troubled mood significantly improved.

Taking a deep breath, I gazed intently at Rodd’s back, almost hoping that he would rise to the occasion, so I wouldn’t have to look at him with that ‘it’s okay, you did great’ expression.

“Brother.”

Allen’s voice drifted from a short distance ahead.

Under the faint torchlight, I saw him standing tall and upright in his military uniform before a cell.

When Rodd reached his side, Allen proactively lit the torch within the room, illuminating the figure huddled inside the cell.

The moment darkness receded, I saw Aisha curled up in the corner, her form appearing particularly solitary in the dim, yellow light.

As autumn approached, the castle benefited from fireplace heating, yet the dungeon’s temperature remained frigid.

The air was permeated with a biting cold that turned every breath into visible white mist.

Aisha was still wearing the same dress from last night, her bare shoulders looking especially vulnerable in this environment.

While the dress accentuated the young woman’s lovely figure, it offered no defense against the bone-chilling cold.

She was forced to huddle, wrapping her arms around herself, attempting to draw a sliver of warmth from her own body heat, yet she still shivered uncontrollably in the corner.

The sudden appearance of the torchlight made her turn her head uncomfortably, her eyes slightly closed, like a startled small animal.

As her eyes gradually adjusted to the brightness, she opened them again, her gaze fixed steadily upon us.

The instant she saw me, I caught a fleeting contraction in her pupils.

However, she quickly regained her composure, returning to her previous calm demeanor.

“Will you finally tell the truth?”

Rodd’s voice was cold and firm, his gaze piercing through the shadows of the cell and landing on Aisha.

“Who truly instigated you to do this?”

Aisha remained silent for a moment, then answered as if summoning all her strength:

“My lord, I’ve already told you, I acted alone. I admired your valor and talent, so I secretly borrowed Lady Cassina’s dress when she wasn’t looking to attend the banquet, secretly drugged your wine, and then climbed into your bed after she had escorted you back to your room.”

Her voice was soft and trembling, yet it held a desperate resolve.

“I know what I did was wrong, but my heart couldn’t stop fluttering the moment I saw you. I would sacrifice anything for your favor…”

Rodd clearly didn’t believe her words.

His eyes, sharp as torches, challenged her: “Oh? So you mean you alone stole your mistress’s expensive dress, you alone infiltrated my heavily guarded banquet, you alone drugged my wine, and you alone came to my room without any obstruction?”

Each question was like a heavy hammer blow.

Simply standing behind and listening made me incredibly tense, yet Aisha answered without hesitation: “Yes, it was me, alone.”

“Nonsense!”

Allen suddenly roared at Aisha, his voice echoing in the cramped space.

“If it were truly that easy, then why are you still a maid, woman? Even a spy isn’t as professional as you!”

“But that’s the truth. I’m just a foolish woman who knows nothing but bed skills…”

Aisha revealed her vulnerability to Allen, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.

“I came here out of admiration for the lord, but instead of succeeding, I was imprisoned here as a spy.”

“Is it only if I say I was a spy sent by another power, with the purpose of seducing and bewitching Lord Rodd… only then will you be satisfied?”

‘Uh…’

I involuntarily let out an almost imperceptible shiver, as if pricked by an invisible needle.

‘Isn’t she talking about me?’

I quickly glanced at Allen out of the corner of my eye.

He was gritting his teeth, glaring at Aisha, his eyes flashing with anger and distrust, seemingly convinced she was weaving lies and determined to expose each one.

Rodd, however, remained silent, lost in thought, his gaze profound, like a bottomless lake, his thoughts unfathomable.

‘Sigh…’

‘Aisha, Aisha, I told you Rodd isn’t that simple. He wouldn’t be so easily tempted and ensnared by you.’

‘This time, you’ve hit a steel plate.’

Suddenly, I felt a prickling sensation on my skin.

I instinctively looked up and saw Rodd gazing at me with a hint of interest.

“Lilian, do you think what she’s saying is true or false?”

“Ah? Me?”

I pointed at myself in confusion, waving my hand awkwardly.

“I don’t know, but she seems quite honest and proper. I doubt she’s a scheming woman, right?”

“An honest and proper woman would casually climb into another man’s bed?” Allen looked at me in disbelief.

I immediately became too embarrassed to speak, lowering my head in silence.

Rodd let out a soft ‘hmph’ and turned his attention back to Aisha.

“Very well, Miss Aisha—I believe that’s your name—since you insist on explaining your actions this way, I’ll humor you.”

Pausing, Rodd continued, “Do you believe such an explanation will allow you to escape punishment? No, that is absolutely impossible. Your mistress, Cassina, should have returned to Azurewater Port by now. I will write to her tonight, detailing each of your crimes. Impersonating nobility, trespassing at a banquet, administering intoxicants, and various other vile acts are all unforgivable and shameful behaviors. Even if you are a woman, it cannot serve as an excuse for absolution.”

“So, when this letter, filled with your transgressions, reaches Cassina’s hands, how do you think your mistress will wish for me to deal with you?”

“Her identity is that of my fiancée, the future Lady of the Domain. If she were to simply tolerate such actions from her own maid, she herself would likely become a laughingstock. At that time, not only would she lose face, but even her parents would become objects of ridicule among the nobility.”

At this point, Rodd’s voice carried a chilling threat.

“Based on my understanding of nobles, Cassina will have only one choice: to send me a letter, begging me… to quietly kill you!”