Elena had planned to only bring a few people with her from Blaise Castle. At least, that was what she believed until the carriage stopped for a rest. When she got out, she saw as many as six additional family knights following her some ways away. Including the two men who had been guarding the carriage, there a total of eight additional knights escorting her. When Elena expressed her surprise the lead knight explained,
"They were sent by Lord Derek. He believes there weren't enough guards."
"Derek, my brother…I see,"
she murmured, but her mind was turning. She could not rescue Crown Prince Carlisle with all of these people with her. If she had known exactly when and where he was assassinated she might have been able to make use of the family knights, but all she knew was where the crown prince died. She may have to stake out at the location for a few days, and she couldn't take a large entourage there. She came up with an excuse that she was helping with Glenn's wedding, but with what excuse could she come up with for staying in one place for so long?
That wasn't all. Even if Elena managed to persuade some of the knights to help her, she couldn't reveal her abilities in front of them. In fact, that was the biggest setback. She had lived her whole life as an ordinary daughter of a count, and for her to suddenly reveal she was an expert swordswoman? It would be, by all accounts, an inconceivable thing. Elena didn't want to explain this to her family or other people.
Although she wasn't ashamed to say expert swordswoman, she was willing to cut down tens or hundreds of people down in the future just to prevent the rise of Emperor Paveluc. The fewer people who knew about it the better. She wanted her family to be as safe and ignorant as happy as possible. That way, she would be able to laugh next to them as if she don't know anything…
With that decision, she had to escape and complete her mission her own. However, it was much more difficult to get away when the number of escorts had dramatically increased.
'…How do I do this?'
There were eight guards, a maid and a coachman. Ten people in all. Even if a daughter of a count couldn't go without an entourage, this number was ridiculous. A rat could disappear without being caught by anyone, but if a member of the family were to disappear it would cause utter chaos. Was there a way she could deceive all of them and disappear like smoke?
At the end of the day the group stopped at a luxurious inn they were to stay for the night. Elena entered her room, concern furrowed on her face. Sophie followed behind and closed the door behind them.
"Get some rest, My Lady,"
she said in a soft voice.
It would take three days to reach the place where the crown prince would be assassinated. She had to figure out how to get there somehow.
*
*
*
The inn had the most luxurious amenities and services, making it a fine place to stay overnight for any noblewoman. In fact, it was comparable to Elena's room room back in Blaise Castle. However, her mood was low. It didn't matter how comfortably she had spent the night.
'Why didn't I think of this…'
She was the esteemed daughter of a count and she was expected to act accordingly. However as time went by, she began to regret her decision and concluded that spending the night at the inn was a meaningless waste of time. She hadn't thought of a way to find the crown prince yet, but she had to plan as she goes. She hoped there was a little time left to look around.
If she had known she would've wasted time like this she would have spent her precious moments with Mirabelle instead. She felt angry at herself, but it was already beyond her control. What already happened, happened, so Elena had to use the rest of her time as efficiently as possible.
As soon as she got out of bed she did her morning exercise regimen from her previous life, then prepared the armor and sword inside the sack so that she could leave at any moment. Elena took a bath alone, then was soon prepared to go out.
Sophie the maid, who was just waiting outside for her master to wake, knocked at the door softly. She heard Elena's voice in reply, as if Elena had been expecting her.
"Come in."
Sophie walked into the room and her mouth opened in surprised when she saw Elena completely dressed. Even though Elena was diligent woman in everyday life, it was never to this degree.
"Ah–My Lady, you should have called for me when you woke up. How long have you been awake?"
"You don't need to take care of everything on your own while we're traveling. I brought you with me because I don't like all of the mess, but I can handle most things myself. You don't have to worry too much about it."
Sophie looked at Elena with a confused expression. When Sophie first left on this trip she thought she would have an increased burden serving Elena by herself. While Elena was a delicate woman, she was strangely more considerate today. Sophie spoke in a friendlier manner without realizing it.
"Hold on, My Lady. I'll hurry up and get you breakfast. The food at this inn is famous and is said to be second only to an expensive restaurant."
"I've already eaten. Let's leave right away."
"What? Now?"
Sophie's eyes widened in shock. It was still too early. Everyone would have woken up by now, but she wasn't sure if they were ready to leave yet. Then Elena said something more shocking to Sophie.
"Tell the coachman not to make any stops from now on, and to keep driving the carriage."
"Huh? How are you going to sleep?"
"I can sleep in the carriage."
Sophie forced her mouth shut and didn't ask how Elena could sleep in such an uncomfortable place. There was no reason for Elena to explain why they had to rush to someone's wedding preparations. Sophie was just a maid who followed orders.
'Well…if she gets uncomfortable she'll say it,'
Sophie thought to herself reassuringly. She didn't think that a lady who had never been through hardship could endure such a journey.
"Yes, My Lady. I'll go downstairs and tell them."
Sophie hurried to the room where the knights were staying.
On the third day of their journey Sophie realized she was completely wrong. A carriage ride without any stops was so difficult that she could hardly keep her breath. Meanwhile, Elena looked none the worse. Elena was gracious enough to allow Sophie to sit next to her inside the carriage, for which she was thankful for, but it barely alleviated her discomfort.
'How on earth can she stand this difficult journey?'
Exhaustion was written on everyone's faces but Elena had not complained. Sophie thought Elena wouldn't have been able to endure it.
Klak, klak.
Sophie gingerly nibbled on a piece of dried meat, her lips white with motion sickness. The food was terrible and even when she fell asleep the swaying of the carriage never stopped.
"My Lady, why don't we stop in town for food? If you eat spoiled food, you may have stomach trouble…."
Elena froze when she heard Sophie words. A plan began to form. While they had been speeding as fast as they could, Elena's mind had been filled with questions about how she could separate them and move on her own. But the answer seemed to be right there. Elena nodded in agreement with Sophie right away.
"You're right."
Sophie's face cheered a little bit when Elena agreed to stop by the next town. She hurriedly opened the carriage window and spoke to the coachman outside.
"Lady Elena wants to stop by the next town for a while."
"Town? Understood,"
the coachman answered briskly, but he also couldn't hide his relieved expression. As soon as Elena given permission, the group headed for the nearest town. Elena had been so insistent on making haste that Sophie had expected to stop only for a short while then head back to the road, when something unexpected happened.
Elena, who seemed fine just a moment ago, had a sickly expression on her face.
"I think there was something bad about the food I ate. I don't feel well. I think I need to take a rest."
"I told you, My Lady! This was too much."
The hard journey had made Elena sick and her health had gotten worst during the trip. They quickly made accommodations at the town and called the most well-renowned doctor in the area to see Elena. The trip hadn't been particularly urgent from the beginning, and the group had agreed to wait until Elena's health fully recovered. Additionally, the schedule had been extremely rough on them and everyone was eager for rest.
No men were allowed in Elena's room, and instead the knights took turns guarding her door. Sophie, the only woman in the party, was in charge of Elena's care. She promised the knights that she would inform them if Elena's condition worsened, then put a cold towel over Elena's forehead. Elena, pretending to be asleep in bed, pressed down a self-satisfied smile.
'Yes, there is a way.'
She had first assumed she was bound to them, but in fact it was they who were bound to her. Her health was their utmost priority. Upon telling them she was ill, the knights could not leave town but none of them could go in her room. They could stay for a few days until she was judged to be well.
However, there was still one person who would notice if she disappeared. Her maid, Sophie. If Elena could deceive her, no one would else would notice her absence. Elena opened her eyes and spoke to Sophie sitting next to her bed.
"Sophie."
"Yes, yes! I'm here, My Lady. Are you alright?"
"I have a favor to ask of you…"
"Please say it, My Lady."
"There is actually someone around here who I love very much. My condition improved after I saw the doctor, but I still can't help but feel sick."
Elena let the lie easily flow out of her mouth. A story that appealed to the maid's heart might be the most effective.
"Oh! What do you mean?"
Sophie's mouth opened in surprise at the unexpected revelation.
"I tried to let him go because our difference in status, but I can't forget his face after all this pain."
"Oh, My Lady…"
"I'll only see him for a while, so will you keep it secret from the rest of the knights?"
"But if something happens…!"
"Oh, but I don't want to live without him anymore."
Elena covered her face with her hands. Sophie looked at her helplessly, unable to decide what to do. Elena remorsefully spoke a line she had prepared in case Sophie needed a little extra push.
"I'll die if I don't see him."
"Don't say something like that, My Lady!"
Elena had taken the line from a play she had seen in the theater a long time ago. She could tell Sophie was starting to waver a little. Elena took out a gold coin from her pocket and held it out to her maid, hoping it would push her over the edge.
"Please take this as a reward for your help."
Sophie's eyes, which had been shadowed with embarrassment, suddenly flashed with greed. She had hesitated at first since she would be held responsible if it was found out that she let Elena leave without telling anyone. But she couldn't miss this opportunity of a gold coin. Furthermore, if Elena began to think well of her, Sophie's life as a maid would be a success. Her internal debate didn't last long.
"I cannot disobey you. But please come back soon."
The benefits of taking a small risk were too good. Sophie's face no longer showed any hesitation.
"I cannot disobey you. But please come back soon."
"Don't worry, I will try my best. All the knights think I'm sick, so if you make a proper excuse there shouldn't be any problems."
"Yes, My Lady."
Sophie nodded, and Elena reassured herself that this was the best choice. She didn't want any witnesses, but reality wasn't so accommodating. In fact, the easiest and most surest way would be to kill everyone to keep their mouths shut, but she didn't want to go so far as murdering the people of the household. Overall, this was not a bad result. Elena handed over the gold coin to Sophie.
"Then I look forward to working with you, Sophie."
If anyone found out, she could disguise it as an escape to a secret romance.
With Sophie's cooperation, Elena was soon left alone in the room. The time had finally arrived. She took out the black metal armor that she had been hiding and put it on her with familiar motions. Finally, she placed the black helmet on her head. She no longer looked like the daughter of a count. There stood only a knight with a sharp blade. Maybe this was her true form.
Elena murmured at the sight of the moon outside her room.
"…I hope I'm not too late."
*
*
*
Elena pushed the horse as fast as she could. As she got closer and closer to the location where the prince had died in the past, the heavy smell of blood began to emerge. Soon she didn't have to wonder where it was coming from. There were as many bodies on the ground as there were trees in the dense forest. Even Elena, who was familiar with the battlefield, grimaced deeply at the sight. One, two, three… There were far too many bodies to be counted.
'This looks like a war.'
Just looking at the bodies on the ground gave her rough picture of how fierce the battle was. The worst she had feared had happened, but fortunately the remains remains seemed fresh. Moreover, considering the scale of the battle the crown prince seemed to have been well-defended by many people. However, it was too early to feel relieved. With fears rising that the crown prince might have already died, Elena urged her horse to go faster.
Tadag, tadadag.
Fortunately, she soon heard the sounds of blades clashing.
'Please, just be alive,'
she prayed desperately. She finally arrived at the scene where the fighting was taking place. It was not what she expected. She had expected to see a fierce battle between the prince's guards and the assassins who came to kill him. Instead there was only a lone man surrounded by a dozen other men.
'The dead bodies were the work of one person?'
It was hard to believe. But something even more incredible was unfolding before her eyes.
"Ah…"
An involuntary gasp escaped from Elena's mouth.
The lone man was surrounded by a dozen of enemy knights, but the man didn't seem to be fully human. He had fierce, slanted eyes, a straight nose and sharp jawline–by all accounts he was handsome to look at. But the skin from his right hand to his shoulder was covered with hard, lizard-like scales and from his fingers were long, sharp talons.
Her blood pounded in her ears.
For a moment she looked into his chilling blue eyes, and a forgotten legend of the royal family came to her.
"The creature born between a dragon and a man becomes the emperor of the Ruford Empire, and they will have absolute power for generations."
She thought it was just a story invented to make the emperor seem special.
'…The legend is real?'
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