Oswald clenched his teeth before finally forcing himself to speak. Though he had braced for this, the humiliation of being an imperial crown prince pleading in chains was still unbearable.
"Before I say anything, I have a condition. Your sphinx injured one of my men. That man, over there in that cell, is my loyal subordinate. I demand he be treated first."
Michael glanced at the neighboring cell, his sharp eyes catching sight of a mage cloaked in a tattered mantle. As Oswald had said, the mage lay groaning, a deep wound near his waist. Michael's gaze shifted to the sphinx.
[He tried to spring this human out of here. I had no choice but to act,] the sphinx explained nonchalantly.
If the sphinx's reaction had been excessive, it was still justified under the circumstances. Raising an eyebrow slightly, Michael turned back to Oswald, his tone tinged with a cold amusement.
"The injuries do seem severe, so I'll allow treatment for now. But your information better be worth it."
