Chapter 45

On the way back to my room after leaving the library—

“Your Highness, Princess.”

When I turned around, Damian was leaning against the corridor wall.

“Young Duke? Is something the matter?”

“Are you leaving for the East tomorrow?”

“Yes. It was just decided.”

Damian opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. His lips twitched. It was obvious he wanted to speak but didn’t know how to put his thoughts into words.

“…Please be careful.”

At last, the words came out in his usual gruff tone.

“I’m sure you already know this, but it’ll be dangerous. Once you’re outside the Grand Duchy, you’ll be under the Imperial Family’s influence. Don’t forget the self-defense techniques I taught you. If anything happens, aim for their vital points.”

Then came one warning after another.

The demonic energy grows denser the farther east you go, so stay alert.

You never know what those Imperial bastards might try on the road.

Always keep your guard up.

I stared at him blankly before tilting my head.

“…Are you worried about me, Young Duke?”

His ears instantly turned bright red.

“Me? Ha! Who said I was worried? I’m simply giving basic advice as the person responsible for your protection.”

“But you’re not coming with us this time.”

“…”

“So you’re not even acting as my guard.”

My straightforward reply made Damian freeze on the spot.

He simply stood there blinking his emerald-green eyes.

He looked so dumbfounded that I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

“So…”

“Doesn’t that mean you’re just worried about me after all?”

“Who says I am?!”

Finally snapping out of it, Damian ground his teeth and practically jumped in place.

The more I look at him, the more obvious it is that he’s still just a kid.

Before I returned to the past, the Damian I knew at the Imperial Palace had only ever looked at me with cold eyes.

We’d never had conversations like this.

Back then, I couldn’t stand him either.

But now…

The younger Damian actually had moments where he seemed rather adorable.

Of course, if I ever said that to his face, I’d never hear the end of it.

“…Anyway, be careful.”

He muttered awkwardly.

“And come back safely.”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“I’m not worried!”

“All right, all right. Thank you.”

“I don’t want your thanks either!”

Why does he keep shouting?

When I couldn’t hold back my giggles any longer, Damian quickly clamped both hands over his burning-red ears.

“Young Duke! Thank you so much for worrying about me!”

“Grr…!”

With his face scarlet, Damian spun around and marched away.

Even as he walked off, he refused to uncover his ears.

He’s seriously adorable.

“I mean it.”

“I’ll come back safely.”

I quietly spoke to his retreating back.

Watching him disappear around the corner, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

He’s like an older brother.

He grumbles, yet still looks after me.

He insists he isn’t worried, even while worrying.

And in the end, he still tells me to return safely.

If I’d had an older brother… would it have felt like this?

Just imagining it made my chest feel strangely ticklish, as though a feather had brushed against my heart.

…I think I like this feeling.

The tips of my fingers felt unexpectedly warm.

That Night

I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Tomorrow, we’d leave for the East.

The Grand Temple of the East.

Once my guardian registration was complete there, I would no longer be under the Imperial Family’s control.

The Emperor’s decrees.

Imperial envoys.

None of them would have the authority to force me anymore.

Of course, there’s still a long way to go before I’m truly free.

This was merely the first stitch in weaving my freedom.

This time…

I would never end up dying in an underground prison like I had before.

More importantly…

Carlos and Damian will finally be safe.

Yes.

The dream I’d clung to was finally becoming reality.

My heart pounded.

I can do this.

Hope.

Excitement.

Fear.

Every emotion mixed together until my heart hammered against my chest.

The more hopeful I became, the more frightened I felt.

The Emperor would never sit still.

His envoy had failed.

He’d undoubtedly try another method.

Perhaps…

We might even be attacked before reaching the East.

It’s okay.

Everything will work out.

I repeated the words to myself.

It’ll be fine.

It has to be.

Closing my eyes, I drifted to sleep.

Tomorrow marked the beginning of a long journey.

The Next Morning

By the time I woke up, sunlight was already pouring through the window.

Normally I woke before dawn, but today I’d overslept.

I must have tossed and turned too long last night before finally falling asleep.

After hurriedly getting ready, I stepped outside.

A carriage was waiting in front of the Grand Duke’s residence.

Just as Zion had demanded, it was a luxurious one.

Soft cushions.

Excellent suspension.

Perfect for long-distance travel.

“Wow…”

“They really prepared the best one.”

Zion circled the carriage with obvious satisfaction.

After opening the door and inspecting the inside, he slowly applauded.

“My back won’t hurt at all.”

Before climbing aboard, I looked back at the Grand Duke’s estate.

When I’d first arrived, it had seemed like nothing more than a ruin.

Now…

It felt different.

The white roses in the garden sparkled beneath the morning sun.

Mia stood by the entrance, waving enthusiastically.

I’d be back before long.

Even so…

For some reason, I felt sentimental.

The carriage interior was spacious.

The seats faced one another.

Carlos sat on one side.

Zion and I sat opposite him.

Stretching lazily, Zion grinned.

“This is my first time traveling by carriage.”

“You can still disappear if you’d like.”

Carlos answered with his usual prickly tone.

Ignoring him completely, Zion leaned his head against my shoulder, his eyes sparkling.

“Lorea, got any interesting stories?”

“All of a sudden?”

“I’m bored.”

“The Grand Duke never talks.”

Carlos’s eyelid twitched.

He completely ignored what Carlos just said.

I laughed awkwardly.

Before returning to the past, I wasn’t exactly someone people could push around.

Was it because I’d become younger?

Being caught between these two felt like a shrimp trapped between whales.

Twisting a strand of my hair playfully around his finger, Zion asked,

“So what’s this temple registration actually about?”

“You just fill out paperwork?”

“It used to be that simple.”

“You could even complete it through correspondence.”

“But the procedure suddenly changed.”

“So even if we go directly to the temple…”

“…there’s a good chance they won’t approve it right away.”

“I see.”

If the temple truly sided with the Emperor…

They’d naturally do everything they could to delay or reject my registration.

Knowing that, we still had no choice but to head there.

It was frustrating.

Meanwhile, once we left the Grand Duchy behind, the scenery gradually changed.

The dense forests became sparse.

Before long, a bleak plain stretched endlessly before us.

The closer we drew to the East…

The heavier the air became.

Stagnant.

Oppressive.

Almost sticky.

The demonic energy was growing denser.

I glanced at Carlos.

His expression hadn’t changed.

But the slight crease between his brows hadn’t escaped my notice.

Even his breathing seemed just a little rougher than usual.

Unless someone was an ancient transcendent like the Master of the Mage Tower…

A place saturated with demonic energy was practically poison to someone overflowing with mana like Carlos.

Even purification crystals couldn’t block it completely.

It’ll only get worse the farther east we go.

Just as my concern deepened—

One of Zion’s fingers moved ever so slightly.

At the same moment…

I saw something.

A faint stream of mana quietly spread from his fingertips toward Carlos and me.

A protective spell.

A thin, invisible barrier that filtered out demonic energy.

Cast so subtly.

So naturally.

Without Carlos noticing in the slightest.

I blinked.

Thankfully…

Carlos seemed completely unaware.

He continued gazing silently out the window.

Zion glanced at me.

Then he gave me a playful wink.

“It’s a secret.”

He mouthed the words without making a sound.

I stared at him for a moment.

Then silently mouthed back,

“Thank you.”

Turning my gaze toward the window again, I watched the endless gray landscape pass by.

I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

The sense that the Emperor was plotting something only grew stronger with every mile.

It’ll be okay.

For now…

All I could do was believe.