Chapter 91
I was planning to head to the capital soon, but I didn’t expect to leave so suddenly.
There were still about two weeks until the banquet, but I thought Evan and I would have a lot to do before that, so I decided to head straight to the capital.
Clatter, clatter.
As I leaned my head against the window frame, the ever-changing scenery caught my eye.
Due to the urgent schedule, we left the duke’s territory with the minimum number of people.
“Ha…”
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”
Just as I sighed quietly in frustration, Joy, who was sitting in front of me, asked with a surprised voice.
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then why do you look like you’re about to die?”
Though Joy’s tone was mixed with lighthearted teasing, I sensed the worry beneath it and turned to look at her.
“It’s just… I have a lot on my mind.”
“Hmm, I guess so. Since we’re going to the capital, we’ll probably run into the person who cursed the customer, so that must be weighing on you.”
I nodded slightly in agreement with Joy’s words.
If we go to the capital, I would inevitably have to face Delos, even if I didn’t want to.
I wondered if I could manage my expression when I met him, but for now, I planned to act as if I knew nothing when standing in front of him.
‘If I provoke him carelessly, I might lose my chance.’
As I thought that, a sudden question arose.
What kind of force was behind Delos that caused the former crown prince to lose the throne so helplessly?
The incurable disease that struck the emperor one day and the emperor’s will that seemed scripted to follow.
‘Why would a force capable of handling all this secretly choose to align with Delos?’
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand.
That’s because Delos, who became emperor, is the one who ruined not only the empire but also neighboring countries in less than a year.
Power only exists where there is a nation.
If they had gone to the former crown prince instead, they could have easily gained power without such schemes.
How long had I been lost in thought?
Suddenly, another assumption flashed through my mind.
‘What if what they want isn’t power…?’
If the unknown force desired something other than power, then it made sense that they chose Delos.
I wasn’t sure what that something was.
“By the way, this succession test. It means that the one who wins between that prince who came last time and another prince will become emperor, right?”
I snapped back to reality at Joy’s question while I was deep in thought.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What do you think, Lady? About the prince who came last time. Is he someone fit to be emperor?”
“Well, I suppose one thing is certain: he’s much better than the second crown prince.”
I had no idea what he was thinking, but I held back my words and kept quiet.
I thought the first crown prince would move quietly from behind, fearing that Delos would cut off his tail, but he was openly provoking Delos, breaking my expectations.
I didn’t know what his intentions were, but for now, I had no choice but to go along with his rhythm.
If the first prince became emperor safely, it would mean protecting Evan and, furthermore, many others.
Creak.
At that moment, I felt the carriage slowly come to a stop.
Soon after, the window of the driver’s seat opened, and Roman’s voice came through.
“It seems the road ahead is in a mess because it rained a few days ago. Since it’s getting dark, it would be better to start when it’s bright.”
“I understand.”
It seemed that, just like when we traveled from the capital to the duke’s territory, we wouldn’t be able to avoid camping this time either.
As I got off the carriage, I saw Lucy, who had been in the following carriage, rush towards me.
“Madam! You must be hungry, right? I’ll prepare the food right away, so please wait a moment!”
“I’m fine, so don’t rush too much.”
Seeing Lucy’s excited expression, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Since we mentioned going to the capital, she had been happily bouncing around, clearly enjoying everything.
It seemed she had won the competition against her sister Vera to be the maid accompanying me to the capital, as only one maid was needed.
I turned my head and glanced at those busily preparing for the campsite.
Unlike before, when I didn’t recognize anyone, now I could see familiar faces here and there.
‘When did time pass like this?’
I had formed many connections that I never imagined I would when I came to the duke’s territory with Evan.
At that moment, I heard loud laughter coming from one side of the campsite.
“Wow, Commander. Your cooking skills seem to be improving day by day.”
“Hey, you guys. We’re all camping together, so why is it only my cooking skills that are getting better? Can someone explain?”
Roman and the knights were chatting noisily as they prepared a late dinner.
Watching the burly knights chatting like children made me smile unexpectedly.
“Madam! Come sit over here.”
At that moment, Lucy, who was tidying up the area, waved her hands and called me over.
When I reached the spot, Lucy draped a thick blanket over my shoulders and continued speaking.
“It seems the food is just about ready. I’ll go get it quickly.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
As I watched Lucy quickly disappear towards the food, I turned my head and looked around.
I had been looking for Evan, who had been missing for a while.
Thud.
In the midst of turning my head busily, I felt someone sit down next to me.
“Where have you been? I didn’t see you until just now.”
“I went to look around a bit. It would be troublesome if there were dangerous beasts in the area.”
He had become more sensitive about my safety due to the recent attack incidents.
“How’s your ankle?”
Evan examined my ankle, which was wrapped in bandages, and asked if I had applied today’s medicine.
“Yes. I applied it before we left earlier.”
Evan nodded at my response and quietly sat next to me, keeping his watch.
‘This is awkward.’
Was it just my imagination, or was the sound of the firewood crackling in the campfire unusually loud?
Having already confessed my feelings and received his rejection, I had no idea how to face him in this situation.
I wanted to clarify this matter, but too many incidents had occurred in between, pushing it to the back, and it had ultimately become an ambiguous situation.
“Um…”
Just as I was about to say something more to him, unable to endure the awkward atmosphere.
“Duke! Madam! I brought the food!”
Lucy, who came with her hands full of food, made me miss the moment to talk with him.
In the end, I had no choice but to finish my meal while listening to Lucy’s cheerful chatter.
***
Rustle.
I slightly opened my eyes at the sound that reached me in my half-asleep state.
When I couldn’t see the figure that should have been there through my blurry vision, I was fully awakened.
“Evan…?”
Noticing Evan’s empty spot, I sat up halfway.
Peering out between the tents to look around, I caught sight of Evan’s figure disappearing into the trees in the distance.
‘Where is he going?’
Now fully awake, I decided to go outside and wait for him by the campfire.
However, as time passed and Evan did not return, worry began to creep in.
“Is something wrong?”
The surroundings were too quiet for that, but I couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Eventually, I decided to follow the direction he had gone.
Rustle. Rustle.
How long had I been walking through the bushes?
“I think it might be dangerous if I go any further.”
As I wandered through the silent forest, an unsettling feeling suddenly washed over me.
If I were to encounter a wild beast by bad luck, it would be a serious problem, so just as I was about to turn back to the campsite, I noticed something.
“Hmm?”
As I turned around, something caught the corner of my eye.
I discovered a familiar figure sitting on a large rock that rose high in the distance.
“I was wondering where you went.”
I never expected he would be stargazing alone in a place like this.
As soon as I saw him, the tension I had been holding melted away.
