“It’s just…” Laila looked up at the Marquis, struggling to part her lips. It was strange. The words wouldn’t come out. I was only slapped on the back of the hand. It’s nothing. It didn’t hurt at all. So please, retract the order to flog the boy.. She needed to say that, but it felt as if something invisible was choking her. A moment later, Laila realized what that invisible something was. It was fear. The fear of doing something she had never done before. The terror of defying the villain’s decision, an unfamiliar act she never once dared in her entire life.