IDTRAFTML 22

~Chapter 22~

“Jonagel Jizir…”

I glared at Jonagel, who appeared with a disgusting smile on his face.

He wasn’t even supposed to be out yet—so if he showed up in front of me now, it meant I was his target.

“You shameless thing. Still haven’t come to your senses, and yet you dare say my name out loud.”

“You’re the one who hasn’t learned a thing. You broke orders after already being punished, and now you’ve come all the way to the capital yourself?”

“I was too angry to just sit around doing nothing.”

Jonagel stepped out of the bushes and revealed himself completely, taking a step closer.

“You—just a noble from a baron family—dared to talk back to me. And the prince actually took your side? That day was the worst for me.”

“Oh, so you’re doing all this because you couldn’t beat me in a war of words? Is that it?”

Pathetic.

When I didn’t back down, Jonagel’s eyes burned with rage.

I glared right back while glancing around, planning a way out.

They say if you keep your wits, even in a tiger’s den, you can survive. Time to think fast.

“What makes you act so cocky? You think someone will come help you out here?”

“I thought I could beat someone like you.”

“Hah! Let’s see how long that cocky attitude lasts.”

As soon as he said that, a bunch of rough-looking men jumped out from the bushes.

They all had tough builds and mean faces—they were clearly hired thugs.

Of course. No way Jonagel would come alone just to deal with one woman.

With a name like Jonagel Jizir, it would be surprising if he acted alone.

“Scared now?”

Jonagel smirked as I instinctively stepped back.

Even though we weren’t far apart in height, he puffed himself up like he was towering over me.

I needed him to come closer if I wanted to make a move…

I started thinking about how to provoke him so I could use what I had prepared.

“You and Lysa Medinail should’ve known your place when you had the chance. You were shown kindness, and instead of being thankful, you climbed all over us.”

His face twisted with anger.

That’s it!

He stupidly exposed his weak spot. Now I knew exactly how to get under his skin.

“I’m actually a generous person. I could’ve ended this quickly. So if you want to live, get on your knees and beg.”

Completely drunk on his own ego, Jonagel kept talking, totally unaware of what was about to happen.

To keep him from snapping out of it too soon, I put on a pitiful face, like I was really sorry.

“If I kneel, will you really let me live?”

“Heh… Now you’re starting to understand the situation. Go ahead, beg properly. Maybe I’ll show you a different way out.”

Disgusting bastard.

The way his eyes slowly scanned my body made my skin crawl.

He was a duke’s son, yet completely uneducated. He lacked not just manners but basic decency as a human being.

Honestly, I wanted to jump at him and stab those eyes out—but those thugs were watching, so I couldn’t.

Sigh.

I took a deep breath and slowly knelt down.

“Ha! Finally realizing your place.”

Just as Jonagel looked happiest, I stood back up again.

He looked confused for a moment—then angry.

Tsk. Not yet, buddy.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Don’t you want to live?”

“I just don’t think it’s worth hurting my knees for someone like you.”

“What?”

“Come on, think about it. From my perspective, why would I bow to some loser who tried to blackmail Lysa with a confession and got rejected like trash? I’d rather die.”

“You damn brat!”

As expected, Jonagel completely lost it and charged at me.

I waited silently for him to get close enough.

Once he was within reach, I grabbed a handful of powder from my pocket and threw it right into his face.

“Argh! What the—?! It burns!!”

The powder hit him square in the eyes, and he fell, clutching his face.

I used the chance to run as fast as I could back the way I came.

How’s that for spicy?

The powder I threw was my homemade self-defense mix—like a pepper spray substitute.

It was made with five or six spicy herbs, and just a little of it was enough to make someone cry and lose sight.

“Chase that girl! Right now!”

With Jonagel writhing on the ground, the thugs came after me.

They were surprisingly fast and closed the distance quickly.

‘That’s why I brought more!’

I covered my mouth and nose with a handkerchief, then tossed some small bottles behind me.

“Gah!”

“Cough! It burns!”

“Wh-what the—cough! What is this?!”

A moment later, I heard heavy coughing behind me.

It was the same powder as before, but mixed with an herb that caused a mini explosion when hit—spreading the powder further.

I had shaken them off for now, but—

“Wait. Where am I?”

The capital was massive, and the roads were like a maze—I had no idea where I was anymore.

I only ever went back and forth to the training ground, so I had zero sense of direction here.

And now it felt like I was running in circles.

“Stop right there!”

While I was trying to find a way toward civilization, one of the thugs appeared again.

He must’ve gotten lucky and avoided most of the powder.

And he was carrying Jonagel on his back while running at me full speed.

“Oh, screw it!”

I didn’t know what else to do, so I just ran again!

If they caught me, who knew what would happen. I just prayed to run into anyone.

But the problem was…

Even though I’d gotten healthier after possessing this body, Amelie still had weak stamina at the core.

I hadn’t even run that far, and my legs were already shaking.

It was ridiculous—my real body had iron stamina, able to work for hours nonstop!

“I’m going to kill you, Amelie Garnet!”

“Screw you, you psycho!”

I shouted with all my heart—but the distance between us was shrinking fast.

That guy might actually kill me.

“Ahhh!”

I felt him right behind me—and in seconds, my legs gave out and I fell.

Jonagel, now off the thug’s back, forced his swollen eyes open and grabbed my hair.

“You filthy girl. You think you can do this to me?!”

“Let go!”

“I’m not letting you die easy.”

“I said LET GO!”

Wham!

As soon as the thug reached for his sword, I smashed my forehead into Jonagel’s face.

There was a crack—maybe a bone broke—and Jonagel clutched his face in pain.

But that wasn’t enough for me. I kicked him hard in his… sensitive area.

“Urghhh!”

With a scream, he collapsed to the ground.

I turned to the next target—the thug with the sword.

But despite his size, he didn’t seem very smart. He just stood there staring.

“What are you doing?! Kill that b**** already!”

Jonagel screamed in agony, but I acted first.

I threw the rest of the powder in my pocket straight at the thug.

“Arghh!!”

“My eyes!!”

Unfortunately, the wind blew some into my eyes too.

Even with just a little, the stuff was so strong I couldn’t open my eyes.

“This witch!”

The thug, who got much more than I did, came stumbling toward me, swinging his arms wildly.

You think I’ll let you win just because my plan backfired a bit?

Whack!

I kicked his weak spot too and forced my shaky legs to move again.

“Waaaah! My eyes!”

I was a complete mess, but I forced my eyes open through the stinging pain.

The fear of being chased again and the panic from getting lost pushed me to the edge.

‘I can’t die here! Someone—anyone—please show up!’

Crying and stumbling, I finally made it out of the woods—

“Richard!!”

And through my teary, burning eyes, I saw a flash of golden hair.