Chapter 4 – To The North (Part 2)

“Where did you say Selena went?”

“S-She went to the Baron of Zeraon’s estate.”

“From the Duke of Asillious to the Baron of Zeraon? Why?”

“T-That, I’m not sure…”

“I have appointed you to find out such things, and you do not know?”

Monterno’s voice grew cold. The air around them settled, and the aides in the crown prince’s office slowly rose and left the room. He didn’t bother to stop them. The knight, who had been reporting to him, shook his head.

Elsewhere, the noble heir to the throne was a symbol of gentleness and kindness. But not here. The crown prince’s court was strictly under Monterno’s control, and he did not hide his personality here. Even the Emperor was unaware of his cruelty, concealing it so well.

“What was it I ordered you to do?”

With a swishing sound, the sword decorating the office wall was drawn. The knight flinched at the sound but tried to remain calm. Showing fear would only provoke Monterno’s cruelty further.

“…To accompany the Princess to the Duke of Asillious.”

“And then what?”

“To escort her back to the palace…”

With a thud, the knight’s body staggered as a teacup flew at his shoulder. The cup shattered, staining his clothes with tea, but he couldn’t move. Any movement would mean certain death by the sword in Monterno’s hand.

“And you cannot do it? Have I given you a difficult task?”

“The Princess went out before I could catch her…….”

“You couldn’t manage to keep a single young girl at the Duchy?”

Monterno’s hand moved. The sword sliced through the knight’s hair. Had he moved, his shoulder would have been cut off. The knight broke out in a cold sweat but didn’t show it.

“Phailus.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I entrusted this task to you because I believed in you.”

“I understand.”

“But you’ve disappointed me.”

Phailus remained silent, knowing any words would not be well received by Monterno at this moment.

The only person in the palace who could break Princess Selena’s stubbornness was Monterno. Phailus couldn’t stop her once she decided to act.

Pacing the throne room with his longsword in hand, Montero asked Phailus.

“What about the Second Prince?”

“Yes?”

Though Monterno disliked being questioned, Phailus couldn’t help it. The sudden mention of the Second Prince, while he was being interrogated, was baffling. Not understanding Monterno’s intention, Phailus remained silent.

“You didn’t even bother to find out what Inferno was doing at the Duchy of Asillious?”

“The Second Prince did not arrive until after the Princess had left the Duchy.”

“Do you know that Inferno was kicked out of the Duchy of Asillious?”

“…I did not know.”

“The Grand Duke who visited the Duchy chased him away.”

Monterno wasn’t expecting an answer. He simply recounted the facts he knew, pressuring Phailus. It was a petty tactic, but Phailus silently endured Monterno’s words, occasionally offering his flesh to the swinging blade until Monterno’s anger subsided.

After much time had passed, the sword slashing at Phailus gradually slowed. Once his rage had somewhat abated, Monterno wiped the blood from his sword, breathing heavily. Although the wounds were not severe, Phailus’s body bore numerous cuts.

Monterno ruffled his hair and sat back in his chair in his throne room. Even then, Phailus couldn’t leave his spot because the Crown Prince had not yet granted him permission.

“Phailus.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Monterno did not ask if he was okay. He glanced at Phailus, who was struggling to respond, and issued another order.

“The Grand Duke has probably reached the Duchy by now and is preparing to head North. Go and kill them all. Leave no trace.”

“Understood.”

Phailus rose from his position, bowed to Monterno, and stepped away. He staggered for a moment, then straightened his posture and turned to leave the courtroom.

“There’s no one reliable enough to handle these tasks.” 

Monterno muttered to himself. Phailus heard him but pretended not to and walked out with a stoic expression.

As soon as he left, Monterno’s pent-up anger exploded. He flung the objects off his desk, unable to contain his fury.

“Why can’t they even accomplish a simple task?” 

He fumed. Monterno couldn’t understand. He was meticulous in everything he did. As the Empire’s Crown Prince, his orders had always been executed without fail. This was the first time it hadn’t happened.

He couldn’t comprehend it. It was a very simple order: accompany the princess to the Duchy of Asillious and delay as much as possible. He never imagined that his loyal knight would fail to carry out such a simple order.

‘I was going to smooth things over and make her my concubine!’

He couldn’t forgive Reubellina for trying to flee to the North to escape him. No, he couldn’t forgive the Duke of Asillious for defying the will of the imperial family. Nor could he forgive the Grand Duke for scolding him. Monterno wanted to make an example out of them.

“Their inflated egos need to be deflated.” 

He muttered darkly to himself, though no one was around to hear his chilling words.

***

By midday, the carriage had entered a quiet mountain path. Though her back ached from the constant travel, Reubellina didn’t show it. The riders on horseback must have been even more tired than she was.

“Miss, please have some of this.” 

Sandy offered Reubellina a cookie. It was a lemon tart, her favorite.

Reubellina took a piece and bit into it. The sweet and tangy cookie helped curb her hunger.

Tap. Tap.

At that moment, someone tapped on the carriage window.

“What’s going on?”

Sandy opened the window and stuck her face out.

“His Highness the Grand Duke is asking how you would like to handle lunch.” 

The knight spoke loudly enough for Reubellina to hear. She asked nonchalantly.

“How are the knights handling their meals?”

The knight was taken aback by her question and hesitated before answering.

“…The knights plan to have a simple meal of jerky.”

“Then there’s no need to stop. Let’s just keep going.”

“I’ll relay that message.”

At Reubellina’s signal, Sandy quietly closed the window.

Once it was shut, Sandy asked her.

“Miss, why aren’t you stopping to eat?”

“If there were a suitable place to stop, I would. But what can we do in these mountains?”

“But you should eat something.”

“The cookie will suffice for now.”

Preparing a noblewoman’s meal took more time than people realized. It was better to be out of the mountain pass before dark, so she decided to stave off her hunger. She could endure the hunger to avoid camping in the mountains.

‘Camping is the most dangerous part of traveling with a merchant trading post.’

In the dead of night, anything could happen in the mountains. Bandits targeting the trading post, thieves, wild animal attacks, and even monster ambushes were all possibilities. So, Reubellina chose to keep moving.

Meanwhile, the knights escorting the carriage were surprised by her decision. Noble ladies they knew were typically irritable and demanding, creating trouble for the knights if their whims were not met.

“Did you hear that?”

“Yeah, I definitely heard it.”

To the knights of the North, noble young ladies were a third entity that brought nothing but annoyance and irritability. They showed no consideration for knights or soldiers and were merely creatures who fawned over those in power. This was evident from observing Bellaruse, the former fiancée of the Grand Duke.

When Tartenon was present, she pretended to be kind in every possible way, but the moment he disappeared, she transformed and treated the knights as if they were her servants. They still hadn’t forgotten this fact. So, they assumed Reubellina would be the same. After all, Bellaruse was the only noble young lady from the capital they had known.

“We’re just going to leave?”

“Alright, hand over the money!”

“No way.”

“Seriously?”

“Hand over the money!”

Tartenon’s knights had placed bets on whether Reubellina would demand a meal to be prepared or just let it slide.

The knights were aware that if they didn’t hurry, they might have to camp in the forest at night. However, since Reubellina was unaware of this, they naturally assumed she would order a meal to be prepared. This was the moment when their expectations were spectacularly shattered.

Heather, the only knight who had bet that Reubellina wouldn’t ask for a meal, shouted out.

“All the money is mine!”