Chapter 21
Ren bowed deeply and quickly.
“I had heard there was a large bandit group nearby, but I never expected them to come this far! This is entirely my fault!”
“……”
Lakan frowned slightly but didn’t scold him. After confirming the last bandit was dead, he simply stood up and tossed his ornate jacket to Ren.
Ren caught it with a startled expression.
“Change.”
“…Pardon?”
“You said yourself it’s a large bandit group. They might come back for revenge. We’ll split into two groups and scatter.”
“Yes, understood.”
Ren nodded and changed into Lakan’s clothes without hesitation. Disguising himself to protect his lord was nothing difficult.
Lakan scanned the surroundings.
The carriage wheel was broken, and the horse was dead. They couldn’t travel by carriage anymore—they would have to walk.
He clicked his tongue. Elizia had good stamina, so she would endure, but he was still concerned.
He shouldn’t have let things reach this point in the first place. It was his fault.
Ren, now fully changed, gestured respectfully.
“Then I will escort Your Highness, and the other three will accompany the lady—”
“No. Elizia and I. The four of you. We split into two groups.”
“But—”
“You’re wearing my clothes. It makes more sense for several of you to go together pretending to protect me. And… I don’t like the idea of being separated from her.”
“But it’s dangerous for just the two of you!”
Ren raised his voice urgently. Lakan, who had been rolling up his sleeves, turned his head calmly.
“Right now, I don’t have the capacity to protect you as well.”
“……”
A twisted smile lingered on Lakan’s face.
Ren opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Whether they were there or not, the prince could protect himself.
Forced into wars by the schemes of Empress Aira, his stepmother, Lakan had survived countless battlefields—not by luck.
And Ren, who had fought beside him, knew that better than anyone.
Ren bowed.
“Your Highness, please be careful.”
“We’re heading straight to the Bien territory. You go in the opposite direction.”
“Yes. I’ll gather reinforcements and come for you immediately.”
Lakan nodded instead of replying.
Ren and the three knights soon disappeared into the forest on the left.
Lakan grabbed the carriage door handle and pushed—but it wouldn’t open properly. With a sharp motion, he tore it open.
“Elizia.”
“Senior!”
Elizia, clutching her shoulder, brightened and stood up. Just hearing his familiar voice calmed her trembling heart.
Warmth slowly returned to her cold body.
Lakan looked her over carefully. As expected, she wasn’t injured.
A faint smile appeared in his eyes. His blood-stained blond hair gave him a chilling aura, but his smile was bright.
“You must’ve been frightened… I’m sorry, Elizia.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t summon the bandits, so why apologize? I just stayed hidden in the carriage anyway.”
She smiled brightly, trying to lighten the mood.
Her fingertips were still cold, but acting cheerful was better than sinking into fear.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“For now, the nearest Bien territory.”
The Royal Academy was too far away. Naturally—it had taken a long time by carriage.
The nearest territory was the one near the lake they had originally been heading to.
That was now their destination.
Lakan stepped out first, wary of danger. Elizia followed carefully.
As soon as he got outside, he picked up a fallen water bottle and poured it over his head to wash away the blood.
Elizia slowly surveyed the surroundings.
It was a world she had never seen before—one that made the fine hairs on her skin stand on end.
Pools of blood. Scattered corpses.
She narrowed her eyes. Her heart pounded. Her breath quickened.
But she straightened her shoulders, hiding it.
After all, the one who had turned people into corpses stood right beside her.
“Princess, this way.”
As if sensing her thoughts, Lakan extended his hand gracefully, urging her to leave.
He pointed toward a narrow path to the right.
Water droplets fell from his golden hair.
Elizia stared blankly as one slid down his cheek.
She couldn’t look away.
The forest path was fresh with the scent of wet grass.
Contrary to expectations, no one chased them.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, and moss-covered rocks glowed softly.
Just moments ago, it had been a battlefield. Now, it felt dreamlike.
After about two hours, Elizia glanced back.
Lakan wasn’t walking beside her—he followed behind, guarding her.
As if nothing had happened.
But the small bloodstains on his collar proved otherwise.
She recalled the chaos. Screams. Clashing metal. Her trembling hands.
She had trained in swordsmanship—but had never killed. Never seen death. Never stepped in blood.
A princess raised in a sheltered life.
But Lakan was different.
He remained completely composed.
Her steps slowed.
“Senior.”
“Yes?”
“Are you… used to situations like earlier?”
He paused, surprised.
Of course, he had killed many.
Corrupt nobles backed by Empress Aira. Those who disrespected his sister. And countless battles at the border.
He had survived them all.
To survive, staining his sword with blood was inevitable.
Instead of answering, he simply smiled.
Elizia smiled awkwardly.
She understood.
Eventually, a blue lake appeared.
Under a large tree by the shore, a noble group rested.
The air was fresh and cool.
“It’s even more beautiful than I imagined,” Elizia exclaimed.
“This is called the Lake Where the Moon Rests. At night, the crescent moon reflects perfectly at the center.”
She walked closer, entranced.
Golden sunlight rippled across the water.
“Let’s not stay long. We need to reach the territory before dark.”
“Yes!”
She dipped her feet briefly into the cold water, then returned.
It felt almost like a picnic.
Lakan lay under a tree, using his arm as a pillow.
She sat beside him.
“Senior… can I ask something strange?”
“Of course.”
“If you experience death often… do you become numb to it?”
“Why ask that?”
“I’ll become queen someday. I might go to battle. I don’t want to look afraid.”
He picked a blade of grass and gently poked her hand.
“At first, it hurts like this. But eventually, the tip dulls. And then… it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“…I see.”
“Think of your question the same way.”
Then he added quietly:
“The first step is the hardest. But once you take it… change happens instantly.”
A breeze passed.
He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
Her body froze.
Her heart raced.
“Relationships are the same.”
“…Relationships?”
“Yes. Just one step inside a small gap—and everything changes.”
His gaze burned softly.
Then it returned to normal.
Elizia exhaled slowly.
‘He really knows how to charm people…’
As the air grew cooler—
“Hey.”
A middle-aged servant approached from behind.
“What is it?” Lakan asked.
The servant looked them over disdainfully, mistaking them for commoners.
He handed over a basket.
“My lady kindly sent this.”
Inside were leftovers—two apples and a few cookies.
“……”
“……”
Elizia and Lakan exchanged confused glances.
