Chapter 7
And they’re speaking Hifrian… Could this child really be…?
As soon as Emilia recalled the events of the original story, one particular incident came to mind.
The event that took place before the novel even began—
The one in which the male protagonist suffered a grievous injury.
“…Could it be…?”
Bwaaaang—!
At that moment, the train let out a thunderous whistle, signaling its imminent departure.
Startled, the child looked around frantically before immediately sprinting back toward the train.
“Wait!”
Emilia reached out instinctively, but the child had already reached the carriage.
Grabbing the bag she had set beside her, she hurried after them.
Thunk!
The two of them barely managed to climb aboard before the doors slammed shut behind them.
Flustered, the child hurried down the aisle as if trying to get somewhere.
Emilia caught them by the shoulder.
“[Name… your name.]”
“[Ivan! My name is Ivan!]”
The child answered without the slightest hesitation.
Emilia let out a quiet sigh.
Just as I thought.
It was a name she remembered well.
The Emperor’s hidden illegitimate son.
The child who would soon be murdered by the Empress.
The original novel never explained the details, since it all happened before the story officially began.
But one thing was certain—
The person escorting Ivan to the capital had been the male protagonist.
Just then, a passenger walking through the aisle glanced briefly in their direction.
The instant he did, Ivan flinched and quickly hid behind Emilia.
Sensing something was wrong, Emilia discreetly spread one side of her skirt, shielding the child from view.
Only after the passenger had completely passed did she quietly turn back.
“[Bad person… here?]”
she whispered softly.
Tears immediately welled up in Ivan’s eyes as he nodded.
At once, Emilia’s expression stiffened.
So that’s why he got off the train to ask for help.
Because he believed the people inside the train were dangerous.
What do I do…?
She turned toward the carriage door.
But the heavy iron doors had already sealed shut.
Moments later, the train lurched forward as it began to move.
In the original story, Ivan had been assassinated.
Judging from the circumstances, the male protagonist—who should have been protecting him—must have been too badly injured to move.
Which left Ivan completely alone.
No matter how she looked at it…
This train was where Ivan had originally been killed.
I should have stopped him from getting back on…
Realizing her mistake, Emilia bit her lip.
“It’s alright… You’re safe.”
She gently patted Ivan’s back while forcing herself to think calmly.
First of all… those clothes stand out far too much.
She had already noticed it back at the station.
It wasn’t clothing anyone would normally wear.
The passenger who had just passed by had probably looked over because of that.
“Just a second…”
Emilia reached to remove Ivan’s robe—
Then suddenly stopped.
There’s blood on his clothes.
Compared to bloodstained clothing, the oversized robe actually attracted less attention.
Letting out a small sigh, Emilia carefully fastened the robe again.
“[Come… here for a moment.]”
Ivan immediately grasped the hand she offered with both of his.
Keeping him hidden between herself and her travel bag, Emilia moved as inconspicuously as possible.
I need to get him to my compartment first.
The train was divided into four-seat compartments separated by sliding doors.
When she had bought her ticket, she’d been told that aside from her own seat, the other three seats were vacant.
Since she had purchased her ticket just before departure, there was a good chance they were still empty.
Soon, Emilia stopped in front of her compartment door.
With one hand on the handle, she listened carefully.
Fortunately…
She heard nothing from inside.
Click.
Slide.
Thank goodness.
Just as she’d hoped, the compartment was empty.
Emilia quickly stepped inside and closed the sliding door behind her.
She seated Ivan on one of the benches before kneeling in front of him.
“[The injured person… where?]”
“[They’re in the ##!]”
…What does that mean?
Emilia frowned.
She couldn’t understand that particular word.
So she tried asking in a simpler way.
“Um… Train… no… [Front? Back?]”
“[Back!]”
Just as Emilia was piecing together where the male protagonist might be—
Voices sounded outside the compartment.
She paused and looked toward the door.
Are they checking tickets?
Turning back to Ivan, Emilia took out her own ticket and showed it to him.
“[Do… you have one of these?]”
Ivan shook his head.
The station staff will catch him…
…Wait.
Something’s strange.
Of course railway staff sometimes checked tickets.
But they usually only inspected a handful of passengers—
Not every single person on the train.
Don’t tell me…
Carefully making sure not to make any noise, Emilia slid the compartment door open just enough to peek outside.
Several compartments ahead, she spotted the back of a railway employee checking passengers’ tickets.
At first glance he looked perfectly ordinary.
But…
There were bloodstains on the hem of his trousers.
He’s looking for Ivan.
Taking a slow breath, Emilia quietly closed the door again.
At almost the same moment, she heard the man begin questioning the passengers in the next compartment.
It’s too late to move Ivan somewhere else…
Then…
Her gaze landed on her large travel bag.
That’s it!
She immediately threw open the window and leaned outside.
Directly below, a broad river flowed alongside the tracks.
From this height… it won’t make much noise.
Pulling herself back inside, Emilia opened her travel bag.
Ah! The things Madam gave me!
Her eyes widened.
She quickly took out only a single small pouch and kept it.
Whoooosh—
The wind poured through the open window, whipping her hair wildly.
Without another moment’s hesitation, Emilia tossed everything else in the bag out the window.
She felt a pang of guilt for littering…
But—
A person’s life is far more important!
Ivan stared at her in astonishment, his eyes round with confusion.
Pointing to the now-empty suitcase, Emilia urged him quietly,
“Quickly—[Get in here!]”
Still bewildered, Ivan looked back and forth between Emilia and the suitcase.
Then he climbed inside.
Fortunately, his small frame fit without much difficulty.
“[No sound. Understand?]”
After confirming Ivan’s nod, Emilia closed the suitcase.
She hurriedly sat down and smoothed out her clothes.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
The compartment door was rapped from outside.
Stay calm.
The door slowly slid open.
The same man she had seen earlier stepped inside.
“What is it?”
“We’re conducting a ticket inspection. May I see your ticket?”
Stepping into the compartment, the man casually swept his gaze across the interior.
Swallowing nervously, Emilia quickly handed over her ticket.
The moment he took it, she immediately withdrew her hand.
Her fingertips were trembling from tension.
I can’t let him think I’m acting suspiciously.
No matter how she looked at it…
There was no chance she could overpower this man.
And even if I tried to run… we’re on a moving train.
Meanwhile, the man compared the seat number on her ticket with the compartment.
He handed the ticket back.
Emilia silently prayed he would leave immediately.
Then—
“And what’s in that luggage?”
With a slight nod of his chin, he pointed toward the suitcase resting at Emilia’s feet.
