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Chapter 34
But ‌the door wouldn't budge.
After tugging at the ‌‌‌handle several times, I realized the bolt had ‌been fastened from the inside, and I clenched my ‌‌teeth.
'Damn Ayla...'
The fury I'd suppressed all night came boiling up as though it might explode at any moment.
I gnawed at my scab-covered lips and glared at the firmly shut door before turning away.
Perhaps it was for the best. If I'd acted impulsively without proper preparation and failed by some chance, I would have been the only one ‌‌‌‌to meet a pathetic end.
I needed to prepare more thoroughly before proceeding. There was still a long road ahead, so I would find an opportunity soon enough.
I steadied my ragged breathing and hurried out of the Corridor. As I descended the ‌‌‌‌‌stairs toward my Room, I heard a clattering ‌sound from somewhere.
I quickly concealed myself behind a pillar.
A ‌faint shadow stretched across the ‌‌‌Corridor as dawn light began to seep in gradually.
Hidden in the darkness, I carefully peered out to examine the Corridor. A slender woman stood before the door of the Room right next to where I was staying.
I narrowed my eyes to study her face. ‌‌She was a middle-aged woman with ‌‌‌dark ‌brown ‌‌‌hair and refined features.
After a moment, I recognized her as one of ‌‌the attendants my mother ‌‌‌had assigned to me.
The woman carefully closed the door, pulled a deep dark brown hood over her head, and slipped silently out of the Corridor. I stared intently at her retreating figure before following her.
The woman exited the building and walked briskly along the muddy path where puddles had formed. Her agile movements suggested she ‌had received intelligence training.
After surveying her ‌‌‌surroundings carefully, the woman stopped near a small ‌‌‌Garden located behind the Main Building.
I hid ‌‌‌myself behind an Arcade pillar and watched her. The woman, who seemed to be waiting for someone, lingered before the pavilion for a while before noticing something and quickening her pace.
Following her movement, I shifted my gaze and spotted a priest in black Religious Order robes walking slowly out of the darkness, and my eyes widened.
His face looked familiar—he appeared to be one of the Noblemen who had attended the banquet.
The Nobleman, who appeared to be around forty, retrieved ‌‌‌a small vial-like object from his robes and handed it to the woman. She took it, opened the cap to examine the contents, then closed it again and slipped it inside her robe sleeve. She then turned and began retracing her steps. ‌‌
I hurried toward the Dormitory Building.
As I rushed up the stairs and burst into my Bedroom, my legs gave way beneath me.
Leaning my back against the door and catching my ‌‌breath, I listened to the sounds from outside. After a moment, I heard the door open and close, and then silence fell like a tomb.
I swallowed hard.
I couldn't determine exactly what the scene I'd witnessed meant.
Who was ‌‌that Nobleman?
Was ‌‌‌‌he my mother's collaborator? If so, what had he given her? Could she be planning poison?
I forced myself to swallow past ‌‌‌‌my tightened throat.
If it were poison, I could have obtained it without outside help. If such a complicated method was necessary to acquire it, it meant the item was something that couldn't be brought into the Capital City at all.
'What on earth is she plotting?'
I ran through various theories ‌in ‌‌‌my mind, but no clear picture emerged.
'One thing is certain—something enormous is about to happen.'
Senebier accomplishes whatever she sets her ‌mind to. If she ‌‍‌had decided to eliminate the long-standing obstacles in her way, the Crown Prince was as good as dead. If luck favored us, Ayla would disappear from this world as well.
Feeling my heart race ‌‌‌‌with excitement, I allowed a satisfied ‌‌smile to play at my lips.
* * * ‌‌
Another long and tedious journey had begun.
An escort comprised of hundreds ‌‌of knights and soldiers moved forward steadily beneath the intense sun. At this pace, we would cross the border of the old Osyria Kingdom within ten days.
Edrick Lubon, who had been studying a map to gauge the remaining distance, turned his head to look at the carriage, quiet as a coffin.
The Imperial Princess, as always, had drawn thick curtains over the window and remained secluded inside.
He guided his horse ‌‌alongside the carriage, carefully observing the faint silhouette cast upon the curtains. Even the horses were panting heavily in the oppressive heat. He found himself wondering what would happen if they discovered her steamed to death inside the carriage.
"Your Highness, would it not be wise to allow some ventilation?"
"...Get out of my sight."
Fortunately, it seemed she still drew breath.
Edrick exhaled softly and urged his horse forward to the ‌‌‌‌front of the procession.
At the vanguard, as always, sat the Crown Prince atop a golden stallion from Norneksan.
Edrick carefully observed his face. Gareth, flushed crimson from the heat, was grumbling irritably at Sierchan, apparently demanding to know when they might rest.
'This journey will not be an easy one.'
For the coming days, nothing but harsh wilderness and mountainous terrain awaited them. Could such a temperamental Crown Prince endure such a grueling expedition?
Edrick shook his head and approached Barcas's side.
His commander let the Crown Prince's complaints pass through one ear while his keen eyes remained fixed upon the road ahead. The future ‌‌‌‌master of The Empire could voice all his grievances he wished—it seemed to matter not ‌at all to him.
Edrick found himself newly ‌‌‌‌impressed by his commander's composure and carefully opened his mouth.
"Lord Sierchan, the soldiers appear quite exhausted from the heat. Though it is somewhat early, would it not be prudent to seek a suitable location for rest?"
Barcas, who had been riding forward in silence, turned to regard him.
Edrick unconsciously tensed his body. Not once had ‌he ever seen this man lose his composure or raise his voice. Yet whenever Edrick stood before ‌‌Barcas, he felt an inexplicable pressure bearing down upon him.
He swallowed dryly ‌‌‌and continued hesitantly.
"If my suggestion was presumptuous, I ‌‌‌beg your forgiveness. It is ‌‌only that ‌the rear columns seem to be falling behind...."
"We shall reach a lake after another half hour's journey. We will rest there."
Barcas cut short his words. Edrick, who had been staring at him with widened eyes, quickly bowed his head. The Crown Prince, observing this with ‌‌‌apparent displeasure, complained loudly.
"When I speak, you pretend not to ‌‌‌listen, yet you hear every word from this mere boy?"
"Your Highness, I remained silent only because your words required no response from me. I assure you, I have listened to every word you have spoken without fail."
"Who gave you the right ‌‌‌‌to decide what requires a response!"
The Crown Prince bellowed sharply. The resonant voice befitting his large frame caused Edrick's eardrums to tingle.
Edrick ‌‌‌suppressed the urge to click his tongue and moved back toward the rear columns. It ‌‌‌was somewhat remarkable how the Crown Prince, notorious for his fiery temperament, became nothing more than a petulant child in the presence of Lord Sierchan.
'...I am troubled by what will come after Lord Sierchan departs the Knight Order.'
Once Barcas Laedgo Sierchan leaves for the Eastern Region, there will be no one left to restrain his rampage. The First Princess will also depart for the Eastern Region with Barcas, leaving only Gareth and Talia Roem Guerta in the Imperial Family.
Contemplating the dark future that awaited ‌‌‌the Knight Order as they endured these two reckless royals, his vision seemed to darken. He sighed heavily and approached the carriage carrying Talia.
Shortly thereafter, a whistle signaling rest echoed from the front of the procession.
Edrick halted his horse and instructed his subordinates to erect tents in a suitable location. The knights immediately set up simple field tents upon a level stretch of ground, ‌‌‌creating shade.
He brought the carriage to a stop nearby and gently tapped upon the window.
"It is time for rest. You should come out now."
"...." ‌‌‌‌
"How much longer do you intend to persist ‌‌‌‌‌with this pointless stubbornness? You have been confined in there all day. If you do not take care, you will collapse."
He spoke deliberately harshly, as though prepared to drag her out ‌‌‌by force if necessary, yet no response came from within.
Edrick furrowed his brow.
Had she truly ‌‌‌‌collapsed?
Seized by an ominous premonition, he wrenched the door open somewhat roughly. A wave of scalding air struck his face, carrying with it a cloying sweetness—a mingling of honey and milk.
Edrick scowled as he peered into the dim carriage, and upon discovering the princess sprawled limply upon the floor, he froze.

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Brought to you ‌by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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