I'm Not Sorry But The Prince Will Marry Me Anyway-Chapter 109

A deal.

Not a word Tristan expected to hear from a mere errand boy.

But in some ways, it wasn’t surprising.

This man had always rubbed him the wrong way for no apparent reason. If something finally surfaced to justify that feeling, then perhaps it would bring him some peace of mind.

"That depends on what you're offering."

"Your safety."

"Are you really planning to slay the monster for me?"

"Do you think the monster is your only enemy?"

"...No."

Tristan lifted his gaze toward their destination.

The sapphire mine, once an active development site just last month, had been shut down overnight due to the monster outbreak. The broken railway tracks hanging precariously along the mountainside looked like rusted shackles, remnants of a halted industry.

They claimed there had never been a single collapse in these tunnels before.

But could they say the same now, after a monster had rampaged through them?

"Rick. How much do you know?"

"The primary collapse points. The ground weakened significantly when the monster was trapped inside."

"And what do you want in exchange for this information?"

Just then, a scout from Count Braum’s forces called out from the resting area.

"Your Highness! It’s time to move out. Where are you?"

"I’m coming!"

Tristan exhaled and began walking, but Rick murmured under his breath.

"If you ever want to talk alone, just sigh and complain, ‘I don’t feel like going,’ or ‘I have a bad feeling about this.’ I’ll make a nuisance of myself and come to you."

"Ah, so you’ve officially rebranded yourself as my personal provocateur?"

"That was my first job. I hadn’t expected His Highness to accept this monster hunt before I had a chance to provoke you."

"Deliberating over things isn’t really my style."

"To avoid suspicion, I’ll follow one step behind."

Tristan didn’t answer and simply climbed the hill.

He already understood why the earl had sent him here. They don’t want to hand over Blue Atrium to me on a silver platter.

They’d rather throw me into danger than let that happen. How utterly desperate.

Yet, beyond the bubbling anger, another question loomed in his mind.

Rick Ray. Just what the hell are you?

If you were plotting something as serious as regicide, you wouldn’t entrust it to just anyone. No matter how much money you threw at them, hiring a servant from the prince’s camp was far too risky.

So why did they choose Rick Ray? Was he connected to this place somehow?

As Tristan pieced things together, the scout leading the way came to a halt.

"This marks the beginning of the mining grounds. Those white stakes in the ground will help us detect vibrations from inside—"

Before the scout could finish, a deep, guttural roar echoed in the distance.

Even without touching them, it was obvious—the nearest stake shuddered, vibrating in sync with the sound.

The noise wasn’t like any known beast, but there was no doubt—it was angry.

"Hah. For something that's been trapped for a week, it sure has a lot of energy left. No one’s been sneaking in to feed it, have they?"

Tristan’s sarcastic remark was met with Rick stepping closer.

"Your Highness! There’s no need to be so nervous! It’s always the weak ones that make the most noise."

I wasn’t nervous to begin with.

Tristan lowered his voice.

"I take it you’re here to offer unsolicited encouragement?"

"First warning—do not go more than ten meters into the left tunnel. The rails there have likely collapsed."

"Noted."

"And while we walk, I’ll tell you the most important part of this deal."

Before he could finish, the scout up ahead shouted.

"Your Highness! Two soldiers will lure the monster from the back tunnel while we open the front entrance!"

Rick muttered as he followed.

"Count Braum’s life."

"What?"

There was no response.

The soldiers had already moved into position. A scout and one soldier stood at the mine’s entrance, waiting for Tristan.

He stepped forward, pausing only to curse Rick internally about ten times over before speaking.

"Hah... Give me a moment. Let me take a deep breath before we open this."

Rick smirked and sauntered closer.

"Your Highness, just put on the same show you did for Young Duke Arthur yesterday!"

"I know!"

As Rick guided him toward the mine’s entrance, he finally got to the point.

"I’ll tell you every trap and weak point I know. In return, I want you to use my testimony to execute Count Braum for attempting to assassinate the prince."

"...You’re not speaking figuratively. You mean it literally."

"Yes. Next time, I’ll wait for your answer."

The scout at the entrance pulled a stone from the pile blocking the entrance.

Almost simultaneously, a loud crash sounded from the back exit as the monster rushed toward the brighter opening.

A carnivorous, wolf-like creature, they said.

As it passed, the sound of its claws scraping against the rock sent a sharp, grating noise through the air.

Yet something was off. The rhythm of its footfalls wasn’t right. It must have injured a leg while thrashing around.

That makes things easier.

A cornered beast always fights the hardest—but that desperation creates openings.

The soldiers took their positions around the cave entrance, ready to use light and noise to lure the monster if necessary.

Of course, whether all those openings actually led to the surface, or if some were merely there to provide Tristan with a false sense of security, remained to be seen.

It didn’t matter.

Hunting wolves was something he was well accustomed to.

Tristan strode forward without hesitation, stepping into the dimly lit tunnel.

The last thing he saw before the darkness swallowed him was the streak of Rick’s brown hair as he kept pace beside him.

Without a word, Tristan handed Rick the lantern.

"You said I had to whine before you’d approach me. But now that you’re in a rush, you’re quick to ‘encourage’ me, aren’t you?"

"Your Highness, we should settle the deal before—"

"Tell me who you really are first. Why did the earl trust you to carry out this plan?"

"That shouldn’t be your priority right now. Protecting an informant’s identity is common sense, isn’t it?"

"I can’t rule out the possibility that you’re a double agent."

Even as he spoke, Tristan recalled Rick’s first warning.

Do not go more than ten meters into the left tunnel.

Without hesitation, he kicked a loose stone in that direction.

It took several seconds before the faint sound of it hitting the bottom echoed back up.

His first warning had been correct.

"Are you convinced yet?"

"I never said I needed you."

Tristan snatched the lantern back from Rick and pressed forward, choosing the right tunnel without hesitation.

"Your Highness, that’s dangerous!"

"I’m not as stupid as you seem to think."

Finding ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) stable ground in this wreck of a mine wasn’t difficult.

The beast had left claw marks on the rails as it ran, and the dried blood on the floor served as a natural guide.

The key was avoiding the areas where its tracks were too deep.

Tristan circled around one such spot like it was an obvious trap.

A moment later, the area where he should have been standing collapsed under falling rocks.

Rick’s voice wavered.

"Your Highness, how did you—?"

"The beast’s tracks showed it tried to take a running start. It must have slammed into a cracked wall, attempting to break out."

"Hah..."

But even Tristan, who had been charging ahead with confidence, began to slow down.

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The air was growing damp.

The monster’s breathing was getting closer.

Tristan gripped his sword.

"Theory one: You stand to gain something from the earl’s death. But that’s unlikely—he has no legal heirs, his wife died last year, and he has no major lawsuits pending."

"Go ahead, verify whatever you need."

"Theory two: You hold a grudge against the earl. But logically, no one would entrust a job to someone who hates them. This theory seems meaningless at first, but..."

The earl might simply not have realized that Rick despised him.

Just like I foolishly assumed Doris’s feelings were absolute.

But if the earl did know, then the only reason he would trust Rick was if...

He hated the royal family even more.

"Rick Ray. Let’s make a deal."

"Wait—what? What?"

"Give me all the information you have."

"Hold on. Weren’t you just suspecting me?"

"If you were planning to kill me, you could’ve shoved me into the left tunnel earlier."

"..."

"But executing the earl could take over a year. Can you wait that long?"

"Of course."

Even after hearing a year, Rick answered as if he’d been drowning and had finally broken the surface for air.

Tristan’s instincts had been right.

Rick’s grudge against the royal family was nothing compared to his hatred for the earl.

As Rick carried the lantern and they walked on, he asked,

"Be honest. You could’ve handled this alone. So why did you change your mind?"

"Because I just remembered one reason I have to make it back alive."

Rick scoffed. "Lemme guess. Something cheesy, like telling your fiancée how much you love her?"

"...Are you asking because you want me dead?"

"What are you even talking about?"

Tristan didn’t answer.

Because, damn it.

That was the reason.

He had to ask Doris Redfield.

"Do you love me?"

...And if not, could you ever?