Chapter 19
The road to the western region was quieter than I had expected.
For hours, the only sound was the steady rhythm of horses’ hooves striking the dirt road.
Even after riding for more than half a day, I didn’t really feel sore or exhausted.
Maybe it was thanks to all the training.
Or perhaps…
…No, it’s probably because I’m too tense.
I looked toward the sun as it slowly began to sink in the west.
To reach our destination, we had to pass a road leading toward the capital.
If the Imperial Family had begun searching for me, this was the place where we were most likely to run into them.
“By the way.”
Around then, Damian, who had been holding the reins behind me, suddenly spoke.
“Why are you going to the west?”
The question came out of nowhere.
Now? All of a sudden?
Ever since he’d been assigned as my escort, he hadn’t brought it up once.
I’d assumed he simply wasn’t curious.
Still facing forward, I glanced back at him.
“Isn’t that a little late to be asking?”
“I wasn’t particularly curious.”
“Now I don’t feel like telling you.”
“Then don’t.”
Damian answered indifferently, as if he’d only asked on a whim.
He really never let me win a single exchange.
So annoying.
Throwing him a sideways glare, I looked forward again.
“There’s someone I need to meet.”
Damian tilted his head.
“I didn’t know Your Highness had acquaintances in the west. If they live there, they must be a mage.”
“Why do you sound so surprised? Did you think I couldn’t possibly know anyone there?”
I shot back sharply.
Damian didn’t deny it.
His silence was answer enough.
Honestly…
I felt a little guilty.
At this point in time, I’d never actually met that person.
I was simply showing up uninvited.
There was a good chance he didn’t even know I existed.
Studying my complicated expression, Damian narrowed his eyes.
“Does this person even know we’re coming?”
“…”
Sharp as ever.
I thought for a moment before answering.
“…Maybe not.”
In the end, I told the truth.
As expected, Damian frowned.
“Don’t tell me you’re just showing up out of nowhere again. Like you did at the Grand Duke’s estate.”
“That’s right.”
“…I can’t decide whether to call that bold… or reckless.”
“Sounds like you mean the second one.”
“Correct.”
He wasn’t even pretending otherwise anymore.
“I couldn’t help it. There wasn’t enough time to send a letter.”
Damian looked at me.
His expression suggested he wanted to ask something.
“…Why?”
After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
“Is this because of Father?”
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened.
Why had Carlos suddenly come up?
Granted…
It wasn’t an inaccurate question.
But what exactly was he getting at?
“You mean the Grand Duke?”
“I heard you’ve been preparing Father’s lunches every day.”
So Mia had told him.
Well, it wasn’t exactly a secret.
“Apparently they’re meals that help suppress demonic energy. I even heard you left behind all the recipes.”
“…Something like that.”
“And what does that have to do with the west?”
I pressed my lips together.
That wasn’t an easy question to answer.
Was it because I wanted to escape the Emperor?
Because I wanted to save Carlos?
Or because I intended to deliver my purification stone?
None of those were things I could explain.
Not yet.
“…I’ll tell you later.”
That was all I could say.
“Just… not right now.”
Damian looked at me.
For a long moment.
“…I see.”
He didn’t press the issue.
Instead, he looked away.
Silence settled between us once more.
The only sound was the steady beat of hoofbeats.
But…
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
If anything, it was strangely relaxing.
Ten days ago, I never would’ve imagined I’d one day feel at ease riding alone with Damian Carter.
…Life really is unpredictable.
Just then—
Damian suddenly yanked hard on the reins.
With one hand, he stopped my horse as well.
“Shh.”
His voice was cold.
Startled, I immediately fell silent.
“Keep your head down.”
He gently but firmly pressed my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Quiet. Don’t speak.”
No sooner had we hidden ourselves among the bushes than faint hoofbeats echoed in the distance.
The chaotic sounds grew closer.
Moments later, a group of knights rode into view a short distance away.
At the same time…
My heart sank.
White armor.
Golden cloaks.
The Imperial Second Royal Guard.
My prediction had been right.
The Emperor had sent people to hunt me down.
I clenched my fists so tightly my fingers nearly went numb.
The knights halted in the middle of the road and looked around.
“Are you certain it’s this way?”
“Yes. Reports say she disappeared somewhere around here.”
“What about the witness?”
“The coachman who accepted payment was the last one to see her. But it was raining before dawn, so he couldn’t make out much…”
“Tch.”
I saw the captain click his tongue in irritation.
There was no doubt they were talking about me.
Watching them carefully, Damian narrowed his eyes.
“Why would the Imperial Guard be…”
He muttered to himself before slowly turning toward me.
“So… you really did run away.”
“…You thought I was lying?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
Damian answered honestly.
How reassuring to know he’d trusted me not even a little.
“I never imagined Your Highness would actually abandon the Imperial Palace.”
“I told you.”
I cut him off.
“I didn’t abandon it.”
“I escaped.”
“Because if I stayed there… I would die.”
Damian stared at me.
He seemed to remember what I’d told him back in the infirmary.
“Because if I stayed there, I’d die.”
Perhaps back then he’d thought I was joking.
Not anymore.
Now the proof was right in front of him.
“It looks like we won’t be able to use this road.”
Damian quietly examined the route behind us.
His voice dropped lower.
“We’ll have to slip out through the other side of the woods. I’ll handle the horses, so stay low and—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Looking at me, he tightened his grip on the reins.
“…Why are you looking like that?”
“Are you alright?”
“What do you mean?”
At my question, his brow furrowed slightly.
As if he couldn’t believe I didn’t realize it myself.
“Your face is pale.”
“What are you talking about? My skin is always pale.”
I forced myself to answer casually.
But my hands kept slipping on the reins.
My entire body throbbed with the frantic pounding of my heartbeat.
“Your Highness, that’s not what I mean. Right now, your complexion—”
Damian reached toward me—
Then abruptly stopped.
Without another word, he grabbed me and yanked me toward him with surprising force.
Whoosh!
Thunk!
An arrow sliced through the air.
It grazed my cheek before embedding itself in the tree beside us.
The sudden movement threw me completely off balance.
I crashed to the ground.
“Ugh!”
A sharp pain shot through my shoulder.
I’d landed badly.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
Because from somewhere behind me…
A voice I knew all too well rang out.
“So this is where you’ve been, you little vermin.”
