Part 3: The Prisoner's Resolve
Let's rewind the clock slightly and look back at what happened to Mont Angelina and Jade when they fell into the trap.
The ground under their feet suddenly split open. Mont Angelina instinctively clutched Jade tightly to protect him, her voluminous skirt opening like desperate flower petals during the descent. The anticipated impact did not come; the bottom of the pit was lined with thick padding, softening the shock.
She immediately propped herself up and checked the child in her arms.
"Jade, are you alright?"
The boy shook his head, his small hand gripping her lapel, his eyes strangely bright in the gloom.
Mont Angelina tilted her head back, roaring up at the square opening:
"You Cheng fellow! Is this the Black Sheep Duchy's way of treating guests?!"
Cheng Mubai's face appeared at the edge of the pit, his twisted smile looking particularly sinister against the backlight.
"Beauty, truly the pinnacle of dynamic beauty! Princess, you are like a mother leopard fallen into a trap—wild, angry, yet so captivating. To let such beauty languish in the world would be my greatest sin."
"Your 'aesthetic' is revolting, and completely inconsistent with your despicable actions right now!"
"Despicable? No, this is love! My undeniable, deep love! Love itself is accompanied by possession and suffering, you must understand my profound intention!"
Mont Angelina suppressed the disgust and her mind raced. She tried to secure a chance for Jade to escape.
"If Duke Cheng's target is me, why involve a child? Please release the boy."
Unfortunately, Cheng Mubai was so immersed in his self-pitying drama that he failed to recognize the true value of the hostage. Or rather, his madness stripped him of basic calculation ability.
"No, no! Mother and son are one destiny. How can they be separated?" He ecstatically rejected the plea from the very source of beauty.
"In that case," Mont Angelina's voice turned cold. " We have no choice but to resist by force."
Before she finished, her fair fingers had already pinched a hard dried fruit from a hidden waist pouch. With a flick of her wrist, the pit shot upward like a meteor, precisely hitting Cheng Mubai's left eye!
"Aargh—!" Cheng Mubai let out a non-human shriek, stumbling back, clutching his eye.
The injury was minor, but the insult was immense.
He steadied himself with the help of his subordinates, raging with shame and fury.
"You bitch! You ungrateful tigress! Unless you learn a lady's manners and beg on your knees, you'll never get out! I'll properly 'educate' you. Just look forward to it with hope!"
The pit was crudely covered. The interior didn't fall into total darkness. The inner surface of the cover was coated with a special fluorescent paint, giving off a chilling, unnatural white light that painted their faces a ghastly pale blue.
"In this twisted place, he truly acts like a 'real artist,' " Mont Angelina murmured to herself, a hint of self-mockery in her voice. She realized that Cheng Mubai's mind could not be measured by any normal standard. Even if her brother, Mont Mentiel, possessed extraordinary cunning, he would be hard-pressed to fully predict the actions of this madman.
A moment later, the cover opened again. Cheng Mubai's voice returned, carrying a tone of condescending arrogance:
"Well, Princess? Have you reflected? If you apologize for your discourtesy just now, this Duke might be lenient…"
Mont Angelina looked up, her face devoid of panic, replaced by a cool, almost cruel serenity.
"I have but one request, which I hope the generous Duke Cheng will grant."
Cheng Mubai's sense of superiority swelled: "Speak! This Duke is not a stingy man."
"Please promise, should I unfortunately die here, you must never use your 'noble' pen to compose any poem for my death. That would be the greatest blasphemy to the deceased, and it would cause the Goddess of Art to bring calamity upon all the people of the Empire!"
The silence lasted for about two seconds.
Then, Cheng Mubai's enraged roar, coupled with the sound of him furiously stomping his foot, poured down from the opening like an avalanche. The cover was slammed shut fiercely, and the world returned to darkness and confinement.
"Whether it's Wu Lie or this Cheng Mubai… the character of the Electors is so degraded it makes one want to cry." Mont Angelina muttered. "At this rate, it might not be a joke. My brother… or Dipper Aureus, truly needs to conduct a thorough cleansing."
She reached out to touch the stone wall. The cold, damp feeling instantly wrapped around her fingertips. The place was close to Prime Lake and extremely humid, the chill bone-deep. She didn't hesitate to tear off the outermost wide hem of her beautiful gown and carefully wrapped it around Jade.
What was disgusting was that Mont Angelina also found many tools and restraint frames in the dungeon that Cheng Mubai mentioned he used to 'educate' women.
He was a pervert beyond description.
Her failure to return on time meant her brother would certainly be alerted. But mobilizing the Raven Duchy's forces for a rescue would inevitably leave the Prime Lake City vulnerable. What would the watching Grand-Heir faction do? One false move affects the whole situation. She felt as if she were dancing with a torch on a hay pile soaked in oil.
Before she could sigh, she met Jade's eyes. The child's eyes held no fear, only complete trust and dependence. He even gave Mont Angelina a reassuring smile.
A rush of warmth suddenly welled up in her heart, chasing away some of the chill. Mont Angelina hugged the child tightly, her cheek pressed against his soft hair, and whispered:
"Don't be afraid. We will definitely get out safely, so you can see your Daddy. I, Mont Angelina, never lie."
The reality of their predicament was stark: the pit opening was over three people high, the stone walls were slippery and impossible to climb, she was wearing a complex dress, and she was carrying a child. A forceful escape was nearly impossible.
"I cannot act rashly." She cautioned herself. Given Cheng Mubai's nature, he would never leave them alone. He would reappear soon. That would be the chance for a counterattack.
"Nana, don't worry." Jade patted her face with his small hand, his tone carrying the unshakeable certainty unique to children. "My Daddy will definitely come and save us. He's super good at fighting!"
Li Junce… that man with the cold face and sharp eyes.
Mont Angelina's mind flashed with his image. He was the child's father. Based on that alone, perhaps… that trust was worth betting on. In this dark, hopeless dungeon, the child's belief became the faint but tenacious candlelight in her heart.