Chapter 7 An angel who is a demon.

The moment the shackles were untied, Ash lost his balance and was about to fall forward. He thought he would hit the ground and those two wouldn't be bothered to help him up or maybe they are here certainly with some schemes.

"You are... okay? Can you walk? You see... we have to walk out of this and it is quite a long distance to reach the entrance. Will you be able to hold on till then?" Lynn asked in such a tender voice that Steve was so shocked to hear that and temporarily forgot to help her.

Ash was no less in shock than Steve that his brain went on a sudden shutdown. The least he expected was for her to hold him in an embrace without concerning how dirty his body is right now with wounds pestering all over his body, blood still bleeding out of his wounds and on top of that she was least bothered by it and was only concerned if he can walk out of that place in that condition. His senses were brought to reality, when he heard her voice softly and very close to his ears,

"Ash? Can you get up? Can you walk? Are you okay? Can you hear me?". Lynn was genuinely concerned about him. Reading novels is all about imagination. Now that she is looking at him in such a condition, she momentarily forgot if this was reality or not, actually, she doesn't care about that anymore and was so angry thinking how on heavens someone can do this to a child, to an extent where he doesn't even know whether he is a pain or not. She held him so carefully, not to touch anywhere where his wounds are even when she can't see much in the little light.

For a moment, Ash wanted to hold on to that warmth forever, after all, being held by someone with such concern, even if it was fake, he was yearning for it but knowing that it is very inappropriate to do so and realizing that they might be there for some plan and that she is someone with the surname Sapphire, he immediately tried to move away.

His sudden movement startled Lynn and she immediately scolded him "What? Do you want to die in this cell? I get it, you, the male lead of this story who doesn't take help from anyone" she read out the character sheet of the protagonist in anger and turned towards him and said sharply, "if you want to die here, it's upon yourself but if you want to go out of this place..." she extended her palm towards him "whatever you decide". Ash knew that he has to go out of this place first if he has to create contacts to find Liam and others. He didn't hold her hand neither he wanted to hold it specifically now that he is sure of who she is, instead he just plainly said: "My hands are dirty". "Shut up" she scolded in a low voice, took his hand, swept it over her shoulder and carried him on her back. It all happened so quickly for both Ash and Steve to even realize what was happening and both of them were temporarily buffering. "I CAN WALK!" Ash immediately said using all the energy he had in his body and Steve signed at the same time that he will carry him.

'These 2 dumba*ses' she thought to herself and said "Keep quiet both of you! I can't stand the smell of this place, not even a second more. Steve! take the light and lead the way. And you..." she stopped and didn't continue. Steve, at this point, kind of figured out that she is not the same timid woman anymore and that he can't go against her, he immediately took the light and started leading them towards the entrance.

Ash, on the other hand, could not figure out what exactly is happening and he could do nothing but stay on her back and let her carry him. Even though he doesn't want to appreciate it, he was still so shocked to see this delicate-looking woman carrying a full-grown man on her back while still having a long heavy sword hanging around her waist.

Steve stopped before opening the prison door and signed to Lynn that from here he will carry Ash as people outside will spread unnecessary rumours. Lynn realized it is for best to let him carry and very softly asked Ash, "Ash? Are you awake? Can you hear me?". Sensing that he didn't speak for long, she was worried that he might be trying to hide his pain. She carefully pulled him down and turned to Steve while still holding Ash's hand, "Steve, I want you to take him to your place, help him clean up and then go to that old man, that doctor, tell him that I asked his help to check on his wounds. Let him rest and then come and meet me." Steve was looking at the way she was still holding his hands and nodded understanding something on his own that only he knew what.

The moment the door was opened, Ash felt like shrinking back as his eyes were not acquainted with that bright sunlight for the past 5 years. He immediately fainted. After 2 days, he finally opened his eyes and looked up. What he saw was not that dark cell with iron gates and shackles but instead a sky-blue-coloured bed screen.

As the only child of the royal family and as a crown prince, Ash spent his first 12 years living in luxury and with love from both his parents and the people for his kindness. His life then took a turn and pushed him to the point where he had to eat things regardless of what the jailers gave, and had to help himself from his own wounds pestering,

Ash felt that the cotton bed on the floor where he is lying down now is more luxurious than the golden feathers and silk threaded bed he was used to as a child. Yet, even this bare minimum luxury from Sapphire Dynasty was not something he would ever take or touch, so he woke up from the bed and slowly walked towards the door. He was, for some reason, so scared to open and see the scenery outside in a fear of all of this being his dream and it will dissipate once he opens the door. When he was still deciding whether to open the door or not, the door was suddenly opened from outside and Steve along with 2 servants entered inside holding food plates in their hands.

Both of them stood facing each other silently and unmoving for a moment. Steve, now seeing Ash in daylight fully cleaned and dressed up looking all handsome, slightly nodded as an approval, signalled that the food is for him and walked inside to keep the food on the table. Ash stepped aside to let them enter only then realizing that Steve cannot speak. He stood at the door silently looking at them arranging the food on the table when he heard people from outside the door "Is he awake? Didn't empress herself went to the Cold Prison to bring this one? They made lots of food to nourish him enough to serve her in the future". "He must be really handsome for the empress to let Marshal Steve and the royal physician to personally take care of him". The moment he heard this, a hint of disgust immediately took over his face and he dispelled all the good thoughts he had of Lynn in an instant.