Chapter 19
The road toward the west was quieter than I had expected.
Only the steady sound of hooves striking the dirt road echoed through the air.
Even after riding for more than half a day, I didn’t feel much pain in my hips or exhaustion. Whether it was the result of training—or simply because I was tense.
‘…It’s probably tension.’
I looked at the sun beginning to tilt toward the west and thought.
To reach the western continent like this, we had to pass one of the roads leading toward the capital. If the imperial pursuit had begun, there was a high chance we would run into them near that area.
“By the way.”
Around then, Damian, who was holding the reins behind me, suddenly spoke.
“Why are you going to the west?”
It was an unexpected question.
‘At this point, all of a sudden?’
Since he had taken on the role of my escort, he hadn’t brought it up once. I thought he wasn’t curious.
I had been staring straight ahead the whole time, but I glanced at him slightly.
“Isn’t that question a bit late?”
“I wasn’t particularly curious.”
“Now I don’t feel like telling you.”
“Then don’t.”
Damian answered in an indifferent tone, as if he had only asked casually.
As expected, he never let a single word slide. It was irritating.
I shot him a sideways glare before looking forward again.
“There’s someone I need to meet.”
Damian tilted his head.
“Your Highness has connections in the west as well? If they live there, they must be a mage.”
“Why are you asking in that tone? Did you think I wouldn’t?”
I snapped back.
Damian did not deny it.
Silence meant agreement.
To be honest, I did feel slightly guilty. At ‘this point in time,’ I had never actually met that person. I was simply going to find him recklessly, and there was a high chance he didn’t even know of my existence.
Watching my subtle expression, Damian narrowed his eyes and asked,
“Does that person know about our visit?”
“……”
Sharp, as always.
I paused, thinking about how to answer.
“He might not.”
In the end, I answered honestly.
Naturally, Damian’s expression twisted.
“Don’t tell me you’re going unannounced again. Like when you came to the Grand Ducal estate?”
“Yes.”
“…I’m not sure whether to call that bold—or foolishly reckless.”
“It sounds like you mean the latter.”
“Yes, exactly.”
Now he didn’t even bother denying it.
“It couldn’t be helped. There wasn’t time to send a letter.”
Damian looked at me.
His eyes suggested he wanted to say something.
“…Why?”
After a brief silence, he asked,
“Is it because of my father?”
“…What?”
My eyes widened at the sudden question.
Why was Carlos being brought up here? Well, it was an accurate question—but in what context?
“You mean the Grand Duke?”
“I heard Your Highness prepared lunch for my father every day.”
So Mia had told him everything.
Well, it wasn’t exactly a secret.
“They say it was food good for detoxifying magic. You even left recipes behind.”
“…Yes, well.”
“What does that have to do with the west?”
I pressed my lips tightly together. It was a difficult question to answer.
To escape the Emperor? To save Carlos? Or to deliver my refined magic stone?
I couldn’t say it. Not yet.
“…I’ll tell you later.”
That was all I could say in the end.
“Not now.”
Damian looked at me.
For a long time.
“…I see.”
He did not press further and turned his gaze away. After that, a long silence followed.
Only the quiet sound of hooves echoed, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt at ease.
Ten days ago, I could never have imagined this. That I would feel comfortable riding alone with Damian Carter.
‘…They say you never know what life will bring.’
That was when it happened.
Damian suddenly pulled hard on the reins. With a gesture, he blocked my horse.
“Shh.”
His voice was cold.
Startled, I shut my mouth.
“Lower your head.”
Damian pressed down on my shoulder—not painfully, but firmly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Quiet. Don’t speak.”
The moment we hid ourselves between the bushes, faint hoofbeats could be heard in the distance.
The chaotic noise gradually grew closer, and soon a group of knights appeared not far away.
At the same time, my heart dropped heavily.
White armor. Golden cloaks.
The Imperial Second Royal Guard.
My prediction had been correct.
The Emperor was pursuing me.
I clenched my fists so tightly that blood almost stopped flowing.
The knights halted in the middle of the road and looked around.
“Are you certain it was this way?”
“Yes, she disappeared somewhere near here.”
“A witness?”
“The last was a hired coachman. But it was a rainy dawn, so he said he didn’t see clearly…”
“Tch.”
The captain clicked his tongue in irritation. Anyone could tell they were talking about me.
As Damian observed their movements, his eyes narrowed.
“Why would the imperial guards…?”
He muttered, then slowly turned to look at me.
“So it’s true—you ran away?”
“…Did you think I was lying?”
“I wasn’t entirely sure.”
Damian answered honestly.
Thank you for openly admitting you had not trusted me at all.
“I didn’t expect Your Highness to truly abandon the imperial family.”
“I told you—I didn’t abandon it.”
I cut him off.
“I ran away. Because if I stayed there, I would die.”
Damian looked at me.
He seemed to recall what I had said in the apothecary room.
“If I stay there, I think I’ll die.”
Back then, it might have sounded like a joke. But not now. Not with proof right in front of us.
“It seems that road will be difficult.”
Damian said in a lowered voice as he examined the retreat path behind us.
“It would be better to slip out from the opposite side of the bushes. I’ll handle the horse, so lower your body—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
He pulled on the reins while looking at me.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Are you alright?”
“What do you mean?”
At my question, his brows drew together slightly, as if asking how I could not know.
“Your face is pale.”
“What are you talking about? My face is always pale.”
I answered lightly.
But my hands kept slipping on the reins. My entire body throbbed like it was nothing but a heartbeat.
“Your Highness, that’s not what I mean. Your complexion right now—”
As Damian reached out his hand, he suddenly cut himself off. Without another word, he grabbed me roughly and pulled me back.
Whoosh—Thud!
At the same time, an arrow sliced through the air, grazing my cheek and embedding itself into the tree beside us.
My body lost balance and crashed to the ground.
“Ugh!”
A sharp pain surged through me. I must have hit my shoulder badly.
But that wasn’t the problem.
Because from behind me, a familiar voice rang out.
“Found you. You little vermin.”
