/
“G, G, Grand Duke Noctis……!”
“You recognize me well. I don’t think you’re hurt.”
“What the hell is this……”
Denver was looking down at the captain with a cold smile. It was a relaxed attitude as if he had read predicted everything beforehand
“You… you knew a landslide was going to happen.”
He was not a god.
He just has the blood of the royal family, and there was no human being in the world who could see the future, no matter how great a duke he was.
Even in the temple of a worshipping god, it was impossible to predict everything except for vague oracles.
“No way…….”
The captain clutched his head in despair, his mind reeling from the reality around him. The plan had long gone down the drain.
The captain of the Royal Guards who became a bloody mess in front of the Knights of Perus and the lone survivor of the landslide.
It was a conclusion that could be known without having to wait.
“They are the ones sent by the empress. They were disguised as a merchant group, but everyone had swords.”
The Knights, who were already looking around the side of the landslide, threw evidence that was revealed one after another to the side of the captain.
“Oh, no…. We’re just…….”
“Yes, you must have followed your master’s orders.”
Denver looked at the captain, sticking a sword over the dirt as if he would forgive them generously.
“I’ll spare your life because you have something to do.”
“…….”
“Tell the Empress. Soon the lion will find you.”
It was a soft smile, but in the eyes of the captain, he looked like the god of death.
The Grand Duke burst into laughter as he trembled his limbs.
“You are an insignificant fellow, to think that you even dared to follow me.”
Perhaps the captain of the Royal Guards will not be able to convey Denver’s words to his master, the Empress. Because he doesn’t want to experience his tongue being cut off.
Seeing the captain shivering with frightened eyes, Denver turned to detour.
And at that moment,
“Oh, I guess it’s over.”
Among the group of men, someone opened the door of the carriage with a refreshing voice. There appeared the princess of Bevenia, the one who the Royal Guards had been searching for.
It was Flotty Bevenia.
“I guess it’s him. The Empress’ man whom you said was after me.”
Her eyes glowed silver as she looked at the captain with a big smile.
She was wearing a messed up dress, but her graceful flowing purple hair was beautiful.
‘The disgrace of Bevenia.’
To the point where the modifier “disgrace” does not fit at all.
“That woman… the princess of Bevenia…….”
After seeing her reversed color traits, the captain paused for a moment. She smiled and shone her eyes as if she was seeing through everything.
***
The Royal Guards disguised themselves as merchants…….
As we entered the shortcut, I heard from Harton, but when I saw it with my own eyes, I realized it.
The fact that the Duke of Bevenia caused a reverse conspiracy and fled after abandoning Flotty Bevenia.
And the fact that I’m the stupid princess was abandoned by the Empress who looked after my family.
“It’s dangerous, so stay inside.”
“They’re all dead anyway.”
The Royal Guards, who were stranded in shallow water, died under a pile of dirt. Only the surviving Royal Guard captain was kneeling in front of the Grand Duke.
“Princess…Princess of Bevenia…”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Because you couldn’t catch me.”
My situation wasn’t just a made-up story. It is a reality that it hurts when you are stabbed, and that you die when stabbed.
“Will you send this guy away alive?”
“Yes, I have a message for the Empress.”
The Grand Duke said with sad eyes as if he was too young to live.
His cleanly slanted mouth looked relaxed, but his anger toward the empress was clearly revealed.
“That’s it for the search.”
In unison, the knights who were searching at the side of the landslide began to climb the middle of the mountain range.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and tell the empress.”
The cold voice raised the captain’s body with a bluish complexion.
He moved his feet to survive, even though his men who followed him were caught in a landslide and killed.
“Do you have faith in me now?”
“…….”
I said, looking at the captain of the Royal Guards, who was rushing out. These are the lives I saved. Of course, I did it to protect my life.
“You haven’t answered me.”
The Grand Duke’s eyebrows wriggled as he uttered a thin laugh. It wasn’t a childish feeling that I was happy to be recognized for my use.
‘I found a way to survive.’
That was all.
“……Thank you.”
“I can’t hear you well.”
Smiling as if teasing the Grand Duke, he grinned and thanked me unwillingly.
“Thank you for today.”
The Grand Duke, who said so, flew his black cape and went among the knights.
[Oh, my. You two are getting along well.]
The old lady, who left me suddenly after only giving me information, returned. To be exact, only her voice was heard.
“What do you mean by getting along well? Where have you been?”
[You told me to get away from you. Why are you looking for me?]
“Why didn’t you tell me that the Empress was chasing after me?”
We couldn’t go any further with the blocked shortcut.
The knights preparing to detour didn’t care about my expression that changed every moment.
[You have to figure that out, too. Why do you keep making a fuss about me?]
“Ha……”
Yes, I’ll let it slide because she saved my life once today.
When I got on the carriage, I felt relieved from the landslide and felt tired.
[You’re a piece of shit when I help, and a piece of shit even if I don’t help…]
“It’s noisy, so go away.”
Now I was able to go to the Perus estate safely. It was the result of sacrificing the Royal Guards as a victim of the landslide.
I fell asleep in the rattling carriage.
***
Perus Castle, which I saw as I got off the carriage, was jaw-droppingly huge.
Located high enough to overlook a vast area, the castle was not only splendid, but it also emitted dignity due to its roughness.
“Wow…”
I knew it was not the time to be foolishly admiring it, but I couldn’t help but admire it.
It was so magnificent and elegant that it was incomparable to the Duke’s.
“Don’t just stand there and follow me.”
The Grand Duke, who was followed by attendants, beckoned me. He doesn’t know how to talk nicely.
“Use this room.”
It was a spacious and clean room when I arrived up the stairs. Considering that I was confined in a dark room at the duchy, this is an unexpectedly pleasant room.
“As you can see from the people who were chasing you, you’d better abandon the castle of Bevenia right away.”
Putting down my bag, which could not even be called baggage, I slowly peered inside as the Grand Duke leaned against the door.
“The sooner we get married, the better. I don’t intend to invite any VIPs, so we will simply share the documents.”
“Yes. It’s just a contract anyway.”
It wasn’t a problem for me if I got married quickly and could enter the palace.
As the old lady didn’t give me any instructions on how to get out of here, I’d be better off completing the assigned task quickly to gain freedom.
“Somehow, you look confident.”
“It’s something I have to do, whether I’m dead or alive. It’d be nice if we started quickly.”
I answered in an uncaring voice. With no further response, the Grand Duke left the room, leaving only the words for me to rest.
“Ha… What kind of mess is this?”
It was not until the door closed that I sat blankly by the window and sighed.
What lingering feelings do I have in reality? The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I felt.
“What’s wrong with the way you look at your father?”
“You’re an unlucky girl. It’s because you take after your mother.”
“You talk too. Tell me I’m going to lose.”
The voice of my father, who left the house a long time ago, penetrated my head.
I didn’t become a shaman because I wanted to be like my mother, even though I made that choice to save my father.
The abuse and assault of my father was carried out every day.
[Stop thinking about useless things!]
As I was immersed in deep thought, the old lady screamed as if to wake me up to my senses.
“Ah you— Why are you talking to me again?”
[You’re so mean. I was just worried you’d get cranky if you thought about your father, why!]
My grandmother remembered my father who hated my mother and his daughter.
It is unforgettable.
With swollen cheeks and bruises all over my body, I’ve asked the old lady many times for help.
“Never mind. He’s the one who left anyway.”
Besides, my body has left the reality.
All I had to focus on now was to survive in this novel that I didn’t even know the content of and return to reality.
“Old lady, are you going to take care of me so that I don’t die?”
[Why do you ask me? I’m living through your body…]
It was suspicious to see her blur the end of her words.
Indeed, if this old lady had lived for a long time, my mother wouldn’t have died like that.
“Never mind. What should I talk about with you? Don’t talk to me now.”
[Oh, I don’t know when you will grow up. I’m done, too!]
The sulky old lady raised her voice.
The strange scenery overlooking the large window calmed my dizzy mind.
I promised my father that I would never get married.
“I have to get married for no particular reason.”
It’s not real either, but in a virtual world.
“Flotty, don’t blame me for being like this to save you.”
Even though she is a character in the book, she must have a life.
I decided to apologize.
I don’t know when I’ll go back to reality or when I’ll be able to get away from the Grand Duke.
What would I do to think more about my future that I can’t even imagine?
I gave up my thoughts and lay down on the soft bed.
It’s been 13 days since I came into this book.
I will be a bride the day after tomorrow.