198 Corrupting soul

Raylen observed Emily staring blankly back at him as if she hadn't registered what he had just said, yet it was clear she was merely taking a moment to process it. He noticed the subtle stiffness in the princess's posture, almost as if she were unwilling and rejecting the idea. However, her thoughts never reached her lips because she knew that she didn't have the luxury to express them. 

"Is that the only way to slow it down?" Emily inquired with a furrowed brow. 

"If I knew of any other method, I would have told you by now," Raylen replied in a nonchalant tone as he leaned back on the couch. He glanced down at the glass in his hand, which still held a sip or two of liquor, and continued, "We don't know how fast your soul will corrupt. It might progress slowly due to the Blackthorn blood you possess, or it could accelerate and rapidly close in on your death."