He snapped open his swollen, stinging eyes.
Through his blurry vision, he saw a voluptuous figure standing before him. He had no idea when she had arrived.
Her eyes held no warmth as she stared coldly at him, a filthy little insect.
"Looks like I gave you too much free time, Jared."
"Enough time to amuse yourself with... this disgusting game."
Serina's gaze swept over the slightly torn petticoat in his hand. Her eyes held no anger or disgust, only indifference.
Jared felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. The blood in his veins froze instantly.
He fell to his knees, begging for mercy. He even wanted to crawl over and kiss the tip of her boot, but he couldn't move at all. His body only trembled violently on instinct.
Even more suffocating was the way fear and excitement intertwined inside him, both reaching their peaks at once.
His body trembled even more violently.
There was only one thought in his mind: It's over.
But Serina's expression remained unchanged.
She spoke calmly. "Are you done? Once you've recovered, listen carefully to what I have to say."
"Recent events have made me suspect there's a traitor."
"You may be useless, but at least you're a loyal dog."
At her words, a look of wild delight flashed in Jared's eyes.
A traitor?
Had his mission failed because of this so-called traitor?
Was that why the Atmesia boy hadn't died, and why someone else had beaten his adventurer party to the punch? Had someone leaked the information?
"Mistress! Someone must be behind this! Those newcomers are jealous of me, they—"
"But we still need to investigate," Serina interrupted. "I'll ask the questions, and you'll answer them. I'll also reassess your abilities and see whether you really are a brainless fool."
"Yes, Mistress!