Leaving

The room had been quiet for nearly an hour.

Lathel was still sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard, while the silver chain wrapped around his ankle extended down to the metal ring fixed beneath the floor. He had tried opening it twice, but both attempts failed. It was not because the lock was too complicated, but because the key had been taken away. With his current strength, breaking the chain by force was nearly impossible.

Lathel lowered his head and looked at his ankle. A faint red ring still remained on his skin where the shackle had pressed against it.

Pandora had been silent ever since Catrina left the room, unusually refraining from mocking him even once. Only when Lathel unconsciously touched the bruises around his neck again did she finally speak.

"Does it hurt?"

'Not much.'

"I'm asking about your neck, not your pride."

Lathel: "..."

He slowly lowered his hand.