Chapter 1107

Wayne seized the opportunity. "Prince Yuvan is injured," he announced. "If we don't stop the bleeding, he'll be in grave danger. Lady Carissa, please release him so the physician can attend to the wound." His eyes fixed on Carissa; he would signal the suicide soldiers to attack the moment she loosened her grip. He needed to act swiftly before reinforcements arrived. The plan was simple: kill them all and escape.

But Carissa, though she'd slightly loosened her hold, still controlled Yuvan's throat. "It's a minor wound," she said. "As long as the dagger remains, it won't be fatal."

Yuvan gasped, pain radiating through his body. This woman was ruthless, showing no hesitation or mercy. He swayed, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Carissa's voice remained cold and steady. "Your Highness, remain still. Any movement will worsen the wound. Be careful; you might lose your life."

"Attacking royalty—do you understand the crime you're committing?!" Yuvan spat, glaring.

Carissa laughed coldly. "How curious. Are you suggesting this dagger is mine?"

"What do you want from me?" Yuvan's voice was strained, veins bulging with pain and desperation. He was near his limit. His patience frayed.

Carissa's tone was calm, calculating. "I want to know why you've set up camp here. What are you planning? Do you intend to raid the outpost?"

She wouldn't let Yuvan go easily. Even if Violet's involvement was cleared, Carissa wouldn't let him off the hook. She would wait for Violet's return and the resolution of the drug situation before acting. She needed closure; otherwise, the bitterness would haunt her. She would wait for Violet and Isaac.

Meanwhile, Isaac had taken Violet to the hillside overlooking the main road, where he'd planned to rest. The mat remained unrolled, providing a convenient spot. He sealed several of her pressure points, immobilizing her. Then, he retrieved a black-glazed ceramic bottle from a bundle on the donkey's back. A foul stench immediately filled the air as he opened it.

He pressed on Violet's pressure points, causing her to writhe violently. After a moment, he seized her chin, forced her mouth open, and dripped medicine into it before roughly shoving her away. "Throw it up, Violet!"

Violet gagged, her stomach churning. The foul stench of the medicine overwhelmed her. She vomited uncontrollably, the world spinning as her body convulsed.

While Violet vomited, Isaac climbed a nearby tree to observe. Carissa still held Yuvan captive; Claire and the others remained under guard. A standoff ensued, with Yuvan's predicament making them hesitant to act. Isaac needed to join them quickly.

Exhausted and weakened, Violet lay limp as a rag doll beneath the donkey, opening her eyes just in time to see its tongue. Panicked, she scrambled away.

Her senses slowly returned, along with her memories. She remembered riding with the silk thread delivery person. The grain and cloth carts had proceeded ahead, so they'd taken a shortcut through a narrow alley. In the alley, she'd felt weak, losing all strength before falling from her horse. Then, darkness. She awoke being dragged along a mountain path at night.

A sharp chill froze her. Memories flooded back—the stench of foul breath on her neck, the feeling of her clothes… Looking down, she saw her clothes were half undone. She quickly adjusted them.

"Beast! I'll kill you!" A roar of fury erupted as Violet sprang to her feet, shaking with rage.