Ines, who had been quietly glaring at Alfredo, swatted away the man’s hand that was gripping her chin.

“No.”

“What?”

“I’d rather die than ever heal the likes of you again.”

Her sharp voice echoed through the room.

The reason Ines had used her ability on Alfredo in the past was because Marquis Descartes had leverage over her.

But now was different from then. She was no longer queen and had nothing more to lose. At worst, he would threaten her life. However, Ines had no intention of healing someone like Alfredo even if it meant death.

Alfredo twisted his lips at Ines’s words and said.

“Oh really?”

With that brief question, he pulled a bell cord beside the bed and the door opened. Soon after, a familiar man entered, bringing someone with him.

“Greta…?”

The person in the man’s grip was none other than Greta. Greta, who had been slumping tiredly, slowly opened her heavy eyes and stared at Ines.

“Lena…”

Her weak voice seemed to prove that Greta’s physical condition wasn’t very good. Watching this, Ines quietly bit her lip.

‘I didn’t think they’d bring Greta too.’

They must have brought her to use as leverage. Unable to contain her anger, Ines glared at Alfredo, who gave a satisfied smile and asked her again.

“Has your mind changed now? It seems you’ve grown quite close to that old woman in that backwater… We should save the old lady’s life, shouldn’t we?”

“You bastard…”

When Ines spat out the curse, Alfredo grabbed her hair. A short scream burst from her lips.

“Ugh.”

“It would be better to drop your pointless resistance and quietly heal me. Otherwise, I’ll set fire not just to that old woman over there but to your entire village. It’s precious to you, isn’t it?”

Ines gripped her skirt tightly at Alfredo’s murmur.

‘Do I have no choice but to use my ability after all?’

She would rather die than use her healing power for Alfredo again. But when he was threatening the lives of Greta and the villagers, she had no choice. In the end, again…

As Ines was gritting her teeth in this impossible situation, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

‘Not only is there the ability to take others’ wounds, but also the ability to transfer one’s own wounds to others.’

The other ability Greta had mentioned. The ability to transfer one’s wounds to others.

Ines quietly stared at her right ankle.

‘If I pretend to heal him but instead transfer this wound to Alfredo…’

At least she could buy enough time to escape from here with Greta.

Of course, she had never used the ability before. She was only vaguely guessing it might be similar to using healing power.

‘Still, it’s better than doing nothing.’

She wanted to at least struggle rather than helplessly taking on Alfredo’s pain like before. However, there was one thing that concerned her…

Ines raised her head and stared at the man holding Greta.

‘At least that man needs to be gone…’

Hans, was it? She knew well who he was. He was one of the Marquis’s henchmen she had seen at the mansion before. Given that he had stayed by Alfredo’s side until now, his loyalty to the Marquis seemed remarkable.

‘If I use an ability other than healing and Alfredo starts suffering in pain, that man might hurt Greta.’

So she needed to get that man far away before using her ability. But how?

Chewing the inside of her mouth while thinking, Ines continued speaking.

“Alright. I’ll heal you. But send that man outside. I don’t want another man to see me in a disheveled state after using my ability.”

Ines’s voice was pitiful, as if making a final request. Watching her, Alfredo shrugged.

“That’s not difficult. Hans.”

Alfredo looked at Hans, signaling him to leave.

“But…”

“Don’t worry, what could an old woman and a woman with a lame leg possibly do? Just rest comfortably downstairs. It will take quite some time.”

Hans alternately looked at Ines and Greta for a moment before nodding. He seemed to think that the two women were indeed powerless, as Alfredo said. Actually, even in the past at the Marquis’s mansion, only the two of them had remained in the room during healing. Having settled his mind thus, Hans turned to leave.

“Then call if you need anything.”

With those words, Hans left the room. As his presence gradually faded away, only the three people remained in the now quiet room. She had hoped it would work, and Hans had vacated his position just as she wanted.

‘Now this might work…’

While Alfredo would be writhing in pain, they would quickly escape from this room. Having mapped out the plan in her mind, Ines quietly clenched her fist. Alfredo, unaware of her intentions, had already approached her and whispered,

“Now, get started. Stalling won’t do you any good.”

His voice was confident that Ines had no other choice.

He closed his eyes and extended his hand to Ines, just as he had done before. He seemed to be waiting for the peace that would soon come.

“…”

Ines obediently took the man’s wrist before her. Then she placed her other hand on her right ankle.

‘Though I’m not sure if this method is correct…’

It might fail. She had only heard that such an ability existed, but had never used it nor knew how to use it. Still, she wanted to grasp at even a straw rather than just submitting passively.

With that thought, Ines slowly closed her eyes. Hoping her plan would succeed. She had bought time until the footsteps beyond the door disappeared. When she was certain no one was outside, light began to spread from her fingertips. As Greta watched this with wide eyes.

Alfredo’s peacefully closed eyes suddenly flew open.

“W-what!”

However, by the time he noticed something was wrong, the pain like his ankle was being torn apart had already hit him.

“What is this… Arghhhh!”

With a terrible scream, blood burst from Alfredo’s previously fine ankle. At the same time, Ines moved away from him.

“C-could it be…”

Ines immediately looked at her own ankle. The deep scar that had been etched into her ankle was gone, replaced by clean skin.

“Did it work…?”

Stammering in disbelief, Ines immediately stood up. Her body trembled as she took one step, then another.

“I can walk…”

The leg that had been limping just minutes ago had returned to its former wholeness. Moreover, she felt no pain at all.

The surprised Ines covered her mouth with both hands. Alfredo, who was rolling on the floor clutching his ankle, screamed hysterically.

“What the hell did you do to me!”

Glaring at her with bloodshot eyes, Alfredo staggered to his feet. But he couldn’t go far before collapsing again because of his leg.

Backing away at this sight, Ines hurriedly approached Greta. She had belatedly realized this was their chance to escape. They needed to get out of here before Hans came running at Alfredo’s screams.

Ines quickly untied the ropes binding Greta.

“Greta, are you alright? We need to get out of here quickly.”

“Lena, what did you…”

“Later. I’ll explain everything later.”

Greta, who had witnessed everything, asked with a questioning voice, but there was no time to answer such things.

As soon as she finished untying the ropes, Ines supported Greta and left the room. Her heart raced as she heard people’s footsteps climbing the stairs in the distance.

‘This won’t do.’

If they tried to escape like this, Hans would soon catch them. Biting her lip anxiously, Ines went back into the room and broke a glass bottle that was on the table. Then she took the sharpest piece and held it to Alfredo’s throat.

“You’re going to quietly come with me.”

“How dare you…!”

She planned to use Alfredo as a hostage to escape from here. As long as their master’s life was at stake, they wouldn’t dare attack her.

“Greta, stay behind me.”

Ines protected Greta while making Alfredo walk in front of them.

She didn’t know where this courage was coming from, but it felt like they couldn’t escape from here alive unless she did this.

As Ines hurriedly descended the opposite staircase, she soon came face to face with Hans, who had come running at Alfredo’s screams.