Captured

Edna became curious. How could a dragon like Luca be caught? What's more, Maximillian had to help Luca escape from this place.

Meanwhile, Edna did everything so easily. Absolutely no hindrance. She confirmed that the thing in the bag was exactly as Luca had described it. It was a small bottle containing her blood, which her father kept in the warehouse.

Their purpose for coming to this kingdom was her blood!

It somehow made her sad. Edna could have helped them from the start, but she didn't want to. She was tired of receiving pain all over her body.

Above all, Edna was just a human being, not a cash cow. She didn't want to be used so barbarously as before.

Edna pocketed the cloth bag, put out the candle, and locked the window before running back through the path she came. However, the closer she was to the back wall of the residence, the faster her heart beat.

Somehow, it felt like something was wrong.

The girl tried to look back one more time and make sure she didn't leave something behind. She then toughened her resolve and ignored her premonitions.

"No. It's too easy. This doesn't feel right," muttered Edna as she started climbing the wall once more.

Just like when she escaped from the Westfall residence back then, she was so confident and jumped freely on the ground.

"Hop!"

CLANK-SRRK-CLICK!

"Well, well, well, long time no see, Edna."

Instantly, Edna's body froze in place. She couldn't stand up or even look up. The voice that had been her nightmare came back. Apart from that, several sounds of heavy footsteps approached her, then a silver sword was suddenly pointed at her neck.

"Uncle?" Edna muttered in shock, still not believing what she saw.

Jonathan pushed aside the guards surrounding Edna. The man stood haughtily, towering over Edna who was still sitting on the ground. His sly smile widened as the girl looked up and looked at him in fear.

"Did you miss your beloved home?" Jonathan asked, still smiling. That smile was spine-chilling!

Her uncle's eyes were looking directly at her, but it felt like his focus wasn't on her. He seemed to be preparing all kinds of punishments for Edna later.

Jonathan held out his hand. Edna quickly shook her head because she knew that it was all just an act. Jonathan could never be that nice to her, especially after what she did to him the night she ran away.

SLAP!

Edna's ears were ringing. She was so surprised when a hard slap fell on her cheek. The salty taste in her mouth indicated that the slap was so hard that it cut her inner cheek. Perhaps if there was light, Edna would see blood coming from her mouth.

"Oh, sorry. My hand slipped."

Jonathan leaned closer, then brushed Edna's short hair. He tucked it behind the girl's ear.

"Oh, Edna… come on… you're a member of the Westfall family. Why are you climbing the walls like a thief? You can come home whenever you want, the doors of the house will always open wide for you."

Edna could only freeze. Her fear was far greater than her logic. She couldn't think straight. Jonathan's smile was dreadful. She tightly closed her eyes as Jonathan brought his face closer. The man roughly reached into Edna's skirt and took the cloth bag she had hidden.

"No, Uncle… It is mine!"

Seeing her belongings taken away, only then could Edna find her voice again.

"Yours?"

Jonathan stood up to look at the contents of the cloth bag. It was her only ticket to achieve freedom. Seeing her freedom threatened under Jonathan's hands, Edna immediately stood up and pushed away the guards who were trying to restrain her. She then jumped at Jonathan.

Jonathan, however, moved faster. The man raised his hand high. No matter how much Edna tried to get the cloth bag, she could never get it.

Jonathan pushed Edna's body away until the girl fell to the ground.

"Ugh, get your disgusting hand away from me! Guards, hold her! Oh, my sister will be very grateful to me for catching this mouse!" Jonathan said so proudly.

Edna tried to free herself, but it was in vain.

"Uncle! No, Uncle! Give it back. It's mine! Uncle!!!"

Edna shouted and tried to push away the two guards who were dragging her. The commotion didn't wake anyone up at all. The back of the Westfall residence was a grove where no one would wander around at three in the morning.

"Let me go! Let go!!!" Edna screamed vehemently that it deafened the two guards.

"Good grief! Can you two shut her up? Knock her out or shut her mouth!" Jonathan snapped, irritated by Edna's screams.

And the next second, one of the guards hit the back of Edna's neck, causing the girl to faint instantly.

Edna only opened her eyes when she felt a slap in her face.

She opened her eyes with a frown. Every part of her body was in pain. She felt dizzy and her vision blurred. Edna almost fainted again. Her mouth was held tightly and a bitter liquid was shoved into her mouth forcefully.

Edna could only groan because she couldn't fight back. In front of her already stood Marchioness Westfall and Uncle Jonathan.

"Oh, you're awake?" asked the Marchioness.

"Dad…"

"Your father isn't here. The man is depressed elsewhere. Now Edna… let's talk about our last business before you die"

"Nghh!" Edna winced in pain as Jonathan yanked her hair.

"Oh, and I'd be happy to kill you like how you did to me before." Jonathan tossed Edna's head roughly.

The hard slap from Jonathan was still stinging, and added with her stepmother's slap, it worsened. Her cheeks felt burning.

"Force her to drink the blood-boosting potion. I want to squeeze her blood dry, and we will repay our debt to the nobles who have asked for her blood."

"When can we do it?" asked Jonathan, still yanking Edna's hair. The girl could only wince in pain, silently asking for mercy.

"I don't know. Maybe tonight we can give her plenty of potions, so tomorrow we can start squeezing her blood?"

Edna shook her head. She tried to beg her stepmother, as well as her uncle. It was horrifying.