Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 83: Abby’s Secret Room
The group moved in silence through the corridors, following Abby.
Their steps were measured. Careful. Carrying bodies.
Dante’s wives hung in others’ arms, unconscious. Some barely breathing.
Azael didn’t slow down. Elise rested against his chest.
Max followed behind. Lamia felt lighter in his arms... or at least, that’s how it seemed.
The corridor narrowed.
And then it ended.
A wall stood before them. No exit.
Abby stopped.
"This is it."
Varis frowned.
"This is it... where?"
Vimel narrowed his eyes, studying the wall.
"There’s no door."
Moonlight crossed her arms.
"That’s why it’s called a secret room."
Abby let out a short laugh. She stepped forward and touched a stone that slightly protruded from the wall.
Click.
A second of silence.
Then the stones began to move. One after another, they loosened and fell to the ground. The wall collapsed as if it had never truly been solid.
Dust filled the air.
And behind it, only darkness.
Abby raised her hand, pointing with two fingers. Small sparks flickered at her fingertips. She fired them forward.
The candles scattered around the room lit up one by one.
The light revealed the space.
A wide room. Forgotten. Covered in dust. Cobwebs hung from the corners. Toys lay scattered across the floor. Boxes. An old, crooked shelf.
The group entered. One by one.
The skeletons brought up the rear, and behind them, they began rebuilding the wall. Stone by stone. Sealing the entrance.
As if it had never fallen.
Azael looked around. His gaze moved across the room.
Something in his expression shifted. Slightly.
"...this place..."
His voice was quieter.
"This was our playroom."
A pause.
"We used to spend our time here."
Abby smiled. Not mockery.
Memory.
"We’d hide here whenever we didn’t want to do our chores."
She crossed her arms.
"We were pretty good at sneaking away."
Moonlight walked among the objects. She picked something up. A doll, covered in dust.
"...didn’t expect this."
She turned it in her hands.
"You had this kind of stuff? That’s cute."
Abby didn’t answer. She moved to a closet, opened it with a loud creak, and pulled out a folded structure.
A bed.
She unfolded it with some effort.
"You can lay her here."
She looked at Azael.
He didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and placed Elise down carefully.
As if she might break.
Abby pointed at a set of old couches.
"The others can go there."
Vimel and Varis obeyed. No jokes this time. Careful.
The atmosphere settled, heavy.
Max looked at Dorian.
"...are you sure you can handle all of them?"
Dorian let out a breath, rolling up his sleeves.
"Of course."
He adjusted his hair.
"But it’s going to be exhausting."
Max nodded.
"...thank you. Really."
Azael stepped forward.
"Please. Start with her."
He looked at Elise. Firm.
Dorian didn’t answer.
He looked at Max first.
Waiting.
Max held his gaze for a second.
Then decided.
"Treat Elise first."
He pointed at the others.
"Then the rest of the women."
A pause.
He lowered his gaze, to Lamia.
"And leave this traitor for last."
Cold.
"Let her suffer a bit. So she learns."
Silence.
Dorian nodded.
"Sounds like a great plan."
He stepped toward Elise. His hands began to glow.
Off to the side, Moonlight had already sat down, absentmindedly playing with the doll. As if none of this was happening.
Azael and Max exchanged a glance. A subtle nod.
And then, the skeletons vanished.
One by one.
Crumbling into dark dust. Fading into the air.
The room fell into silence.
Dim light.
Breathing.
And magic beginning to flow.
***
The glow in Dorian’s hands slowly faded.
The last of Dante’s wives stopped trembling. Her breathing stabilized.
Dorian remained still for a few seconds.
Then his body tilted forward slightly.
"...shit..."
He pressed a hand to his forehead. Fever. Exhaustion. He took a deep breath, but it came with effort.
Sophie appeared at his side. Without a word, she handed him a canteen.
Dorian looked at her.
"Thanks..."
He took it and drank. A long sip. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"...thought it was wine..."
He let out a faint chuckle, cut short by a dry cough.
"But this works too."
Sophie shook her head.
"Idiot."
Nearby, Azael sat beside the bed.
Patiently untangling Elise’s hair with his fingers. Careful.
She breathed steadily. Deep.
Neros stirred.
A low groan.
"...ugh..."
His eyes opened. Heavy. Confused. He held his head.
"...my head..."
He blinked. Looked around. Too many people.
Something didn’t add up.
He frowned.
"What the hell is going on here?"
His gaze fell on Dorian.
Then on Lamia.
"What’s he doing with that traitor?"
And finally, he looked at Azael. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
"...and who the hell is this guy?"
Max exhaled.
"Finally awake, sleepyhead."
Neros ignored him. His eyes remained fixed on Azael.
Abby stepped forward.
"He’s part of Max’s plan."
Direct.
"And that man is Azael."
She let out a breath.
"My older brother."
Silence.
Neros didn’t hesitate.
His hand went straight to his sword. He drew it. The metal gleamed under the dim light.
He pointed it at Azael’s head.
"I don’t like this guy."
Cold.
"Not one bit."
Azael didn’t react.
He didn’t even look up.
His fingers kept moving through Elise’s hair. Fixing it. As if nothing else existed.
Neros clenched his teeth.
"...you’re trash."
Moonlight looked up from her corner.
"Lower your weapon."
Calm. The doll still in her hands.
"This isn’t the time to fight."
A pause.
"Besides... he’s going to help us against Dante."
Neros didn’t lower the sword.
Not yet.
Max stepped forward.
"Trust me."
Direct.
Neros hesitated.
Barely.
He turned his head. Looked at Sophie.
She nodded.
That was enough.
The air left Neros’ lungs. He lowered his sword slowly—and sheathed it.
"...you better be right."
He slumped against a wall, in a corner. Still pale.
Max nodded.
"Thanks for trusting me."
Azael said nothing. Didn’t look at anyone. Only Elise. His fingers never stopped.
Then Dorian straightened up—with effort. He turned toward Max.
"Well..."
He looked at Lamia.
"One left."
Max met his gaze. Said nothing. Just nodded.
Dorian walked toward her. He crouched down. Placed a hand on her body.
The magic in his hands flared again, faint, strained.
Then—
A sound echoed.
Loud.
CRACK.
Everyone turned.
The wall.
The one the skeletons had rebuilt.
It cracked.
A fracture ran from top to bottom.
Dust fell.
Another impact.
Stronger.
The stones shifted.
"...this can’t be..."
Abby whispered.
And then—
The wall exploded inward.
A cloud of dust and debris filled the room.
