Chapter 38 65 vouchers The path veered further off the beaten track , and at a crossroads , the sharp - faced man suddenly bolted , ducking into a side alley and disappearing from sight . Lorrayne gathered her skirts and dashed after him a few paces , only to lose her way in the maze of twisting lanes . An odd scufling of footsteps reverberated down the cramped alley , like someone slouching along in loose shoes , brushing against the walls as they came closer . Lorrayne whirled around and caught sight of a hulking , boozed - up guy lurching into view . His outfit was grimy as a slaughterhouse floor , sagging off him in tatters , with chest hair and belly button on full display . He clocked her and swerved her way , slurring , " Ooh , what's this ? A pretty little thing right here ." The nearer he stumbled , the more nauseating his reek of liquor and sweat became . Under his wild tangle of hair , his sleazy eyes fixed on like a predator eyeing its next meal . She scanned the area - no one else around - then locked eyes with the oaf . " Who put you up to this ? Athina or Veyna ? " " What ? What're you babbling about ? " The guy unleashed a rank , acidic belch , scratching his chest with a blank look . " A genuine lowlife wouldn't be this pristine , " Lorrayne said , nose wrinkling as she scanned his torso . " No fleas hopping around , no matted chest hair - what are you even itching at ? " Shock flickered in the oaf's eyes before they darkened with malice . " Big deal if you've sussed it out - you're stuck here with me anyway . " A vicious , blood - hungry smirk twisted his face as he shattered the bottle . " Shame you pissed off the wrong crowd ; with a face like yours , I could've dragged out the fun a bit longer ! " What a pity for those scum to get the scraps ! " The bottle exploded , gushing a bright red liquid that saturated the air with a sickly , decaying sweetness . Lorrayne yanked out a handkerchief and pressed it to her face . " Troy ! " A piercing sword whine cut the air , followed by a dazzling streak that hurled the oaf backward . Troy appeared before Lorrayne in a flash , scooping her up one - armed and vaulting onto the roof . " Spare him - for now . " " Understood Troy leaped back into the alley , doused a cloth with water from his flask , and wrapped it over his nose and mouth . The oaf had been flung into the wall by the sword's blast , then crashed to the dirt . Wincing , he clambered up and snatched a whip from his waist " Who the hell are you ? " He'd glimpsed Troy's sword hilt , and panic surged - the intricate Magic Runes carved into it was what had blasted him . He thought , " The princess has sworn Lorrayne is just a Lowborn - how does a Lowborn end up with a Arcane Swordbearer in tow ? ' Troy clutched his blade and closed in steadily . " My background's none of your business . Spill - who hired you ? " T The oaf shook . I can't rat out my boss " " Troy Lorrayne called from the rooftop , her tone frigid , " if he clams up , end him . " On the other side of the wall . Veyna caught the commotion from the alley and spun around , deflated . " This is your ' great show ? Some Swordbearer mopping the floor with a goon ? " Athina's face twisted in frustration ; she hadn't counted on Lorrayne having a Swordbearer bodyguard . 0 D PD Chapter 38 55 Vouchers Even so , annoyance sparked in her eyes . She thought , ' A lowly Count's daughter thinking she can snub me ? The fool is digging her own grave . The scheme hit a snag , but no biggie - we can still test if she's bluffing about being Highborns , " Athina said , steady as ever . Veyna gawked at her in shock . " Test what ? Her guy's about to waste yours , and you're still questioning if she's legit Highborns ? " " Drop it ! " Athina swallowed her fury , keeping her voice even as she clarified . " That doesn't prove he's her guard - he could just be a Swordbearer buddy she linked up with somewhere . " Just watch - once Nicholas spills his identity , Lorrayne won't lay a finger on him ," Athina said with a smug grin . " Lowborns are spineless cowards : they'd never dare off a noble ." Veyna shot her a doubtful look but peeked through the gap in the bricks to watch the drama unfold on the other side . Back in the alley , the guard dressed as a thug had stonewalled long enough to exhaust Lorrayne's patience . Troy , end him . " " Understood . Troy gave a curt nod , lifting his longsword with the deadly point trained right on the brute's Adam's apple . No - hold up , stop ! " the brute screamed in panic . " I'm Highborns - you can't touch me ! " " My dad's Priestley from Atlandia Kingdom . I'm his son , his heir - you can't pull this off ! " " Atlandia ... Troy's knuckles whitened around the hilt as he looked up at Lorrayne . " Still going through with it ? " " Like I'd take a lowlife's word for it , " Lorrayne replied from the rooftop , her gaze icy . " Pop his jaw out of socket , then finish the job ." Across the alley , Veyna snapped her head toward Athina . " Didn't you claim she wouldn't have the guts to kill him ? " I gave her too much credit for smarts - she clearly has no idea how bad the fallout is for bumping off a Highborn . " Athina's expression turned stormy . Veyna taunted her . " She doesn't get the stakes ? A Lowborn offing a Highborn lands you the ultimate penalty , but when Highborns take each other out ? Whole different ballgame . " " I keep telling you - she's no Highborn . " Athina's eyes blazed red with irritation at Veyna's thickheadedness . " You'd better hustle and bail out your sorry guard, " Veyna said , loving every bit of the chaos . " My pals are about to roll up with the city watch any second " Who the hell authorized them to grab the city watch ? " Athina growled . Veyna flashed a victorious smirk . " You were all for stringing me along , huh ? Not panning out so well now , is it ? " Athina couldn't just spectate anymore . She charged around the wall and barked , " Halt ! " Lorrayne's face registered shock at Athina's sudden appearance . " Athina ? What are you doing here ? " " You've been dragging your feet on purpose , right ? Just baiting me to step in ? " Aduna fixed her with a frosty stare . " Have your guy back off . He's a Highborn - taking him out will only spell trouble for you ." Lomayne's eyes widened in genuine surprise . " Athina , what on earth are you on about ? He's nothing but a sleazy creep . Letting scum like him stick around will just ruin more lives . " Anger flared in Athina's eyes as she barked an order straight at Troy . " You - let him go . You can't handle the heat from icing a viscount's hear Troy ignored her completely , not even glancing her way . Athina balled her fists , humiliation boiling inside her as she shot Lorrayne a venomous glare . " You fool - kill him , and you're headed for the gallows ! " Lowborns who slay Highborns get slapped with blasphemy charges . Blasphemers face infamy , guiting , and the stake - burning alive in agony Doesn't that scare you ? " 12/3 P Chapter 38 55 vouchRES , Nicholas was Priestley's sole heir - if he bit the dust , Priestley would go berserk . Athina truly wanted to pull him out of this . And she wasn't bluffing Lorrayne : Lowborns who offed Highborns really did get hit with blasphemy and those brutal penalties . Infamy involved stripping the offender bare , strapping them to a pillory for the mob to jeer and curse ; gutting meant carving open their gut and hauling out the intestines ; the stake was torment for both flesh and spirit , making the condemned beg for mercy in the blaze until they were reduced to a blackened husk . Nobody shrugged off those horrors - she was convinced Lorrayne would cave after hearing that and set Nicholas free . Athina locked eyes with Lorrayne , brimming with certainty . " Don't want to die ? Then let him walk ." " Athina , you've totally lost it . " Lorrayne said , chuckling as she shook her head . " I'm no Lowborn , and he's no Highborn . Wasting a dirtbag who tried to jump me ? That's no crime at all . Troy , get it done . " 田 Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. 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