The sky cleared as if it had never been overcast with dark clouds. The ground, soaked with rainwater, was damp. As soon as I woke up, the procession began preparing to return to the capital. I leaned my chin on the carriage window and watched the bustling people.
'How interesting crowd psychology is.'
Just because it had rained a little in the area, they were rejoicing as if all the drought had been relieved. The rain ritual didn't actually help alleviate the drought. Unless it really rained or I went out and sprinkled water myself, the western drought would remain.
"Oso, it should rain a lot, shouldn't it?" (It should rain a lot, shouldn't it?)
Perhaps hearing my muttered words, Oscar, who was sitting opposite me, smiled contentedly.
"Maebyul, you're already becoming an excellent ruler by worrying about the people."
An excellent ruler, that was the worst insult I could think of. I hastily opened my mouth, fearing I might really be branded as a virtuous ruler.
"Really, you're even humble."
"I'm a bad person. I don't care about others!" (I'm a bad person. I don't worry about others!)
I was trying to argue, but couldn't think of a proper response. Seeing Oscar still smiling contentedly at me, I felt my resolve weaken.
'No matter what I say, it won't make a difference.'
The path to becoming a tyrant is still far away today. Giving up on my excuses, I resumed watching people outside the carriage window. In the distance, Enrique appeared. Leaning against a tree in a secluded spot, he looked different from usual.
Enrique, whose characteristic was a charming smile, had a blank expression, which made him seem unfamiliar.
'He looks like a different person.'
Just as I was staring blankly at Enrique, someone lightly tapped the carriage wall. Startled, I widened my eyes, and a familiar face appeared outside the window.
It was the knight who had approached me occasionally since our last greeting.
"I greet Your Majesty and Your Highness. I have come to introduce myself as the commander of the carriage guard for today."
It's only natural to return a greeting when one is received. I waved my hand in greeting, and Sysero's face suddenly disappeared from view.
I leaned out of the window and looked down to see Sysero crouching on the ground, trembling.
"It's nothing. Please don't worry about me."
Oscar gently pulled my hand, which was awkwardly nodding.
"Maebyul. It's dangerous to stick your head out of the carriage like that. Come inside quickly."
The moment I sat back in the carriage, Sysero's head reappeared. His face was flushed as if he had a fever.
"Sysero, are you sick?" (Sysero, are you sick?)
"Ah. No, I'm fine. I'll return to my post now."
I watched the retreating back of the situation emperor, wondering if he would really brand me as a virtuous ruler. The road back to the capital was as leisurely as the journey to the shrine, but the degree of leisure was clearly different. This was all due to the emperor's disguised threat.
"If my small and precious Maebyul gets even a little seasick, you'll have to be prepared."
"Y-Yes, I will keep that in mind……!"
"If anything goes wrong, don't ask me for mercy."
The poor coachmen drove the carriage with pale faces, trembling. All I could do was not get seasick for their sake. The situation emperor would detach from the procession every ten minutes and come to my carriage, asking repeatedly.
"Maebyul, how's your stomach?"
"If you feel unwell anywhere, you must tell this father. Understand?"
Even though I answered that I was fine, he didn't seem to trust me and gave Oscar strict instructions.
"Oscar, watch Maebyul carefully. If her condition worsens even a little, stop the carriage immediately."
"Yes, Father. Don't worry."
"Good. I trust you, Oscar."
I stared at the retreating back of the situation emperor. In the past, I would have just wondered why he acted that way, but now it felt different.
'He acts so much like a father, it makes me keep hoping.'
Even though I tried not to harbor such expectations, I couldn't help it. Every time I realized that I had started to take the situation emperor's affection for granted, I disliked myself.
'How can I keep hoping after being abandoned like that? ……I'm such a fool.'
No matter how much I pushed him away, the situation emperor kept trying to get closer, and so did I.
"Why are you like that, Maebyul? Are you in pain?"
Oscar's unusual request surprised me again.
'Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?'
He usually seemed mature beyond his years. I tilted my head, looking at Oscar, and nodded readily.
Although I didn't really want to distance myself from people for no reason, I couldn't refuse Oscar's first direct request.
'It's a child's request, so I should grant it as an adult.'
Hem. Besides, I wasn't that close to Sysero, and I didn't want to get closer if it would disappoint Oscar.
"Ung. I like Oscar better than Sysero."
Seeing my flustered reaction to his excessive display of affection, the nanny and Larima smiled contentedly. And then it happened. Thud! The carriage jolted violently. At the same time, murmurs from outside reached our ears. We were all frozen, unable to grasp the situation, when a voice cut through the chaos.
"It's an ambush! Protect the emperor!"
The carriage jolted again, even more violently this time. Thud!! It tilted to the side before righting itself.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, are you okay?!"
The nanny was startled and checked our condition. Although I was a bit surprised, Oscar had supported my head, so I didn't get hurt.
Oscar's heart was pounding, and I could hear it. I nodded.
"Nanny, we're fine. But an ambush……"
We had so many guards that we never expected an attack. It was almost like leading an army, so who would dare to ambush us?
'But there are such bold people in the world.'
Indeed, the world is full of surprises. The sound of metal clashing, screams, and shouts came from outside the carriage. There was even an explosion. Oscar, who was patting my back despite being startled himself, muttered.
"It seems there are mages involved. This isn't the work of bandits."
"Which bandits would attack the imperial carriage? Unless they're fools." (Which bandits would attack the imperial carriage? Unless they're fools.)
Still, with Swordmasters like Lysandro and the situation emperor, and the knights, there shouldn't be much danger. I thought so until a blade pierced the carriage wall, narrowly missing my face. A few strands of my hair, cut by the sharp blade, floated to the ground. I stared blankly at the sword that had pierced right in front of my face.
'There's a pattern on the blade……'
Oscar, who had cupped my cheek, moved me to the center of the carriage. Meanwhile, the blade that had pierced the carriage was quickly pulled out.
"The guard…… has been breached?"
The nanny's voice, scolding the shocked Larima, was trembling. None of us in the carriage had anticipated the danger.
"I'll go out first. Don't argue."
"Nanny, I'm the only one here with a weapon."
Oscar, who spoke firmly, slightly opened the carriage door. The metallic sounds that had been faint became louder. The scene outside the opened door was chaos. Flames were shooting up in various parts of the forest, and a fire elemental in the air seemed ready to incinerate our allies. A knight who had just cut down an enemy rushed to guard us as we got out of the carriage.
"The enemy is quite formidable. There are three, no, more than three Master-level mages. Ermanno's mages can't handle them."
Oscar muttered and drew his sword. At that moment, a flaming arrow quickly flew in from the right. The arrow evaporated in mid-air before it could touch the knight's sword.
"One of our mages!" (One of our mages!)
An unknown knight exclaimed in admiration. I sighed inwardly and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
The carriage's defense had been breached. It was better to observe the situation outside than to tremble inside, not knowing when a blade might strike. The sound of metal clashing continued, indicating that the defense hadn't been completely breached yet.
"I'll go out first. Don't argue."
"Nanny, I'm the only one here with a weapon."
Oscar, who spoke firmly, slightly opened the carriage door. The metallic sounds became louder. The scene outside was chaos. Flames were shooting up in various parts of the forest, and a fire elemental in the air seemed ready to incinerate our allies. A knight who had just cut down an enemy rushed to guard us as we got out of the carriage.
"The enemy is quite formidable. There are three, no, more than three Master-level mages. Ermanno's mages can't handle them."
Oscar muttered and drew his sword. At that moment, a flaming arrow quickly flew in from the right. The arrow evaporated in mid-air before it could touch the knight's sword.
"One of our mages!" (One of our mages!)
An unknown knight exclaimed in admiration. I sighed inwardly and wiped the sweat from my forehead.