Chapter 22
The attendant added, his tone arrogant as if he were granting a great favor.
“Since it’s from someone of high standing, make sure you eat it well. And there’s no need to thank her, so don’t come near my lady. You may keep the basket.”
With that, the attendant turned his back without hesitation.
It was a clear sign that he had no desire to speak any further with shabby-looking commoners.
“Our master is too kind for her own good. To show mercy even to people like that…”
Muttering to himself, the attendant walked away.
Left behind, Rakan and Elizia wore equally stunned expressions.
Rakan took an apple from the basket and stared at it thoughtfully. The red apple gleamed under the sunlight.
After gazing at it for a while, he turned his head toward Elizia.
She too lifted her gaze from the basket and met his eyes.
“……”
“……”
They wore almost identical expressions—trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Then, after a brief pause, both burst into laughter at the same time.
‘What is this? Did they just treat us like beggars?’
It was a strange experience.
Even as she laughed aloud, Elizia glanced over her dirtied skirt, Rakan’s disheveled hair, and the dust covering the bloodstains on his sleeve.
She could somewhat understand the attendant’s contemptuous gaze.
Even if she had shouted, “How dare you! I am a princess!” she would surely have been treated as insane in this situation.
Rakan also laughed heartily and bit into the apple. Being with Elizia always led to unexpected experiences.
Like that rundown theater they had once visited—and now this lakeside.
It was all quite amusing.
“This kind of treatment… it’s a first.”
“Same here.”
“But oddly enough, it doesn’t feel that bad.”
Talking about what had just happened, the two began walking toward the Bien territory. A narrow path stretched out before them.
“I hate to admit it, but after swinging a sword so hard, that apple tasted incredible.”
“No wonder you ate two all by yourself.”
“You ate all the cookies.”
“I was starving since lunchtime.”
They chatted idly. After walking for a while, Rakan suddenly slowed his pace as if remembering something.
He quietly searched inside his clothes. Naturally, there was nothing in his mud- and moss-stained garments.
Rakan turned his head slowly toward Elizia.
“Elizia, do you happen to have an identification badge?”
“Yes.”
She jingled the bracelet on her wrist. A violet crest—the symbol of the Ortigia royal family—was embedded in a golden gem.
However, it wasn’t something ordinary people could easily recognize.
Commoners usually carried wooden identification tags, while nobles had ones made of ivory.
Rakan looked at the bracelet, then checked his own clothes again.
Not only did he lack an ID, but even the small amount of money he had kept as a precaution was in the clothes he had given to Ren. In the chaos, he hadn’t been able to retrieve them.
“I don’t have an ID either. And no money.”
“Hm…”
In conclusion, the two of them were now unidentified penniless vagrants.
Even if they walked to the nearest territory, the sun would likely have set by then.
With no proof of identity and no money—what could they do now?
But Rakan soon smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry, Elizia.”
“I’d like not to worry… but where are we going to sleep tonight?”
“Just trust me. I’ll figure something out.”
Elizia searched herself, hoping to find even a small accessory she could sell. But there was nothing.
‘What should we do…’
She looked over Rakan as well.
The only valuable-looking thing he seemed to have was his smooth, handsome face.
At this rate, there was only one possible future for them:
Sleeping outdoors.
It wasn’t winter, so they probably wouldn’t die from it—but still.
“Well, if it comes to it, I’ll just sell this. I can have another one made.”
She tapped her bracelet lightly as she muttered. Rakan shook his head.
“You shouldn’t sell something that symbolizes royalty so easily.”
“But we don’t have a choice, do we?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“You’ll handle it?”
“Yeah. Just trust me.”
“……”
He had nothing, yet acted as if he had everything.
Elizia found his baseless confidence strangely fascinating.
‘Sometimes I wish I could see inside his head.’
In any case, after being treated like beggars by an attendant, they had now truly become beggars.
Lost in thought, Elizia gazed at the sky, then nudged Rakan’s arm.
“I’m a princess, and you’re an imperial noble. What if we reveal our identities and stay somewhere, promising to pay later?”
“Well… unfortunately, people only believe what they see.”
Rakan glanced over their appearances.
Elizia followed his gaze and inspected herself again.
Indeed. Looking like this, if they said, “We’re royalty, please believe us. Let us stay and eat for free—we’ll pay later,” no one would believe them.
Especially with only a bracelet that no one could recognize.
Elizia accepted reality.
Right now, she was nothing more than a filthy, disheveled woman.
Rakan stared silently at the distant sky.
Even if revealing their identities wouldn’t be believed, that wasn’t his only concern.
The Empire had conquered many kingdoms in a storm of blood.
Its territory was vast—and so were its enemies.
Even Elizia’s homeland, the Kingdom of Ortigia, was not on friendly terms with the Empire.
Though now there were only minor conflicts, decades ago things had been very different.
Countless people had died cursing the Empire. Many royal families of defeated nations had sworn revenge.
Some had even fled to the neutral nation of Swena, surrendering wealth in exchange for asylum.
If he were to encounter descendants of such families in his current state, the situation could become dangerous.
Though they now bowed under the Empire’s power, it was only natural that enemies still sought revenge.
The chances were slim, but if anyone discovered he was alone, they would try to take his life by any means.
That was why lying low until his guards arrived was the best option.
‘I need to find a way to get money.’
Rakan tapped his sword thoughtfully.
It would be one thing if he were alone, but Elizia was with him.
He couldn’t let them sleep on the streets.
After walking for quite some time, the sound of wooden carriage wheels rattling approached from behind.
It seemed a noble who had been enjoying a lakeside outing was returning home.
The path was narrow. Rakan and Elizia stepped aside to let the carriage pass.
But instead of passing them, the carriage stopped.
The horse neighed loudly as the coachman pulled the reins.
‘Why did it stop?’
Elizia glanced at it.
The carriage window creaked open. First came a glimpse of elaborately styled wavy hair adorned with flowers, then the face of a beautiful woman with seductive eyes.
A clear, ringing voice called out to them.
“Want a ride?”
The noble lady smiled brightly and pointed upward.
Rakan and Elizia looked up.
She was pointing to the luggage compartment on top of the carriage.
Once again, the imperial prince and the royal princess were being treated like beggars.
“……”
“……”
Neither of them spoke. By now, it wasn’t even surprising.
‘The luggage compartment… huh.’
Elizia looked at it with a blank expression.
If they rode it, they’d reach the territory faster. If not, they’d have to keep walking on tired feet.
The decision didn’t take long. She nudged Rakan with her elbow and whispered excitedly:
“Senior! Let’s ride the luggage compartment!”
What did dignity matter? They were being offered a ride.
After nearly dying earlier that day, she wasn’t about to refuse.
Rakan might care about pride—but Elizia didn’t.
Rakan glanced inside the carriage.
There were two people: the woman who had spoken and a man.
They didn’t seem like people who recognized his identity or meant him harm.
Just nobles acting on a whim.
Elizia poked him again, anxious.
“Let’s just think of it as a fun experience! Come on, luggage compartment! Forget your pride!”
Rakan chuckled and gave the lady a slight bow.
“If you offer your kindness, we will gratefully accept.”
His sharp gaze softened, and a gentle smile lifted his lips. His golden hair fell neatly over his forehead.
The lady’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Hmm… perhaps the luggage compartment is a bit much. Fine. Both of you, come inside instead.”
It was an impulsive offer.
Given their appearance, it was quite a bold one.
But before Rakan could respond, her companion objected.
“Lady Lily! What are you saying? If you ride with such filthy people, you might catch something!”
“They look shabby, but their skin is clean. They seem hygienic enough.”
“But—!”
“My father is the lord here. Is it wrong for me to care for my people?”
She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes with a faint smile.
Joseph, the baron who had objected, fell silent.
Her father’s authority was great—and he had spent years trying to win her favor.
Besides, her unpredictable behavior wasn’t new.
‘Once we’re married, I’ll fix that temperament of hers… just endure until then.’
Reluctantly, he nodded.
The lady smiled and leaned out again.
“Both of you, get in.”
Rakan and Elizia nodded.
But they stood still for a moment.
No attendant came to open the door.
Soon, Rakan realized the truth—they had to open it themselves.
He politely grasped the handle and extended his hand elegantly to Elizia.
“After you.”
Perfect manners.
Elizia nodded and stepped inside naturally.
Watching them, the attendant scoffed.
Seeing a shabby man treating a dirty woman with such courtesy made him sneer.
‘Seems they’ve seen such things somewhere. What a ridiculous pair.’
Rakan then entered as well.
The carriage began to move.
As they sat down, the nobleman opposite them, Baron Joseph, leaned back deliberately.
He clearly didn’t want to be near them.
Then he flung the window open wide.
Of course, there was no smell coming from them.
It was simply a display of displeasure.
