Chapter 4.1 – Coincidence and Inevitability

“…….”

Brienne sat rigidly, peering out the window. A dark, narrow alley. Not a single passerby in sight, a single oil lamp flickered above the deserted street. Under that faint light, the shadow of her carriage stretched long.

‘……If they stopped because of my words, they should have stopped much earlier. What is going on?’

As Brienne tried to grasp the situation, the figure sitting on the coachman’s seat stood up. A large shadow loomed over the carriage’s own shadow. Brienne suppressed a gasp.

One step, two steps.

In the silent stillness, the sound of footsteps grew closer. With trembling hands, Brienne locked the latch. At the same time, the man approaching the door stopped right in front of her.

Knock, knock……

A leisurely knock quietly reverberated through the carriage. Brienne retreated far from the door. Her heart pounded so fiercely she felt it in her ears.

In moments like this, what was she supposed to do? Her mind went blank, paralyzed by a situation she’d never faced before. Brienne squeezed her eyes shut and curled up. At that moment, the man began to force open the door.

‘What do I do? Please, someone…….’

Clank, clank. Hearing that noisy sound, she felt as though all the blood was draining from her body. She wished desperately that the door wouldn’t open. But soon, the sound at the door suddenly stopped.

“…….”

Brienne, her face stricken with fear, slowly opened her eyes. Through the glass, her gaze met that of a man peering inside.

She was so startled, not even a small scream escaped her lips. The man, face shrouded by a hooded robe, pressed his face to the window, grinning chillingly. Before she could even process what to do, the carriage door burst open.

But—

“Ugh……!”

The man was sent flying by someone’s fist.

“Lusell! Where did you go!”

Blinking, Brienne shot up and stared at the familiar face.

“Zen……?”

Garzen’s gaze instantly fixed on Brienne. He looked just as surprised, his face deeply flustered.

“……Miss?”

“Why…… Why are you here, Zen……. Wh-what is happening?”

Brienne, legs shaking, barely managed to approach him. The man who’d been sent flying was still rolling on the ground, clutching his stomach. Garzen glanced back at him and muttered to himself.

“Wow, what a coincidence…….”

At that moment, Lusell came running from the back alley.

“Your Highness……! What happened, mmph……!”

But Lusell’s words were quickly muffled by Garzen’s large hand. It was already too late, though. Brienne had heard the word clearly.

‘Your Highness……?’

Lusell, having spotted Brienne, glanced back and forth between her and Garzen, face pale as a sheet. Then—

“……Who are those guys! Get them all, now!”

“Yes!”

On both sides of the street, people in pitch-black robes rushed out. There were quite a few at a glance.

“D*mn…….”

Garzen scowled, clearly annoyed as he glanced at them. In the blink of an eye, Brienne felt her body lifted up. Startled, she struggled as she was taken out of the carriage.

“Zen……! Wh-why are you doing this!”

“Miss, just stay calm for now! We have to run!”

Garzen slung Brienne over his shoulder like a package.

“Lusell, just run!”

“Yes……!”

No sooner had he spoken than Garzen started running at full speed. Brienne clung tightly to his collar, afraid of falling. Her vision shook wildly with each of Garzen’s strides.

Garzen, running with Brienne held easily in one arm, showed no sign of strain.

“W-wait, can you adjust my position……!”

Brienne grabbed Garzen’s shoulder, struggling to lift her head. With her face pitched forward, she felt so nauseous she almost threw up on his back.

“Miss! Are those guys still following us?”

Oblivious to Brienne’s struggle, Garzen steadied her and asked. Brienne, hair whipped by the wind, managed to look back.

“Yes……! They’re still, still following!”

At her words, Lusell, running desperately, glanced back. With a near-scream, he picked up his pace.

“Ugh……! What is happening?! We were supposed to just tail them, why did you suddenly rush out! And why is Miss Brienne here?!”

Garzen, looking at the breathless Lusell with exasperation, shouted back.

“I don’t know! They suddenly attacked the carriage, so I reacted instinctively!”

“What?! What does that mean! Was Miss Brienne their target?”

Just as Lusell raised his voice again—

Garzen’s running feet abruptly stopped. A low curse escaped him. Brienne, sensing something ominous, quickly turned her head to follow his gaze.

It was a dead end.

* * *

“Sir Herace, I have something to report.”

As Herace returned to the banquet hall of the Bannon mansion, his escort Aaron hurried over. Today, Herace had tasked Aaron with keeping an eye on Derrick Harrington.

“To get straight to the point, he left the banquet hall.”

Aaron whispered quietly, and Herace gestured toward a corner of the hall. After moving to a quieter spot, Herace asked,

“The engagement ceremony hasn’t even started yet. What do you mean he left the mansion? Start from the beginning.”

“Well…… At first, he was drinking and talking business everywhere. Seemed to be gathering investors.”

“Business?”

Herace tilted his head. He’d never heard of Derrick Harrington running any business.

“Yes, seems he’s buying and selling something in Roeta, but I couldn’t figure out exactly what. Whenever someone asked, he smoothly changed the subject.”

“Go on.”

Herace nodded and leaned leisurely against the wall. If it was something being imported or exported, there would be records—he could look into it.

The problem was, he wasn’t actually telling investors what the business was about. That was suspicious……

‘It stank. Was he up to something illegal?’

“It was when Viscount Myers first offered to invest. Suddenly, a servant came and took him upstairs, so I secretly followed. Melosi Bailey’s maid was guarding the room.”

“When was this?”

“About forty minutes ago…… I think it was just after you came back and took out refreshments, Sir Herace.”

So Derrick Harrington met Melosi Bailey before leaving.

“And you don’t know where he went?”

“No…….”

At Aaron’s cautious answer, Herace sighed softly. It would’ve been nice if Aaron had followed Derrick, but it seemed he’d waited for Herace instead.

“All right, good work.”

“Thank you.”

Aaron withdrew, looking pleased. Left alone, Herace recalled what he’d learned about Derrick Harrington upon returning to the capital.

Alcohol, or maybe drugs. Whatever it was, he was always intoxicated. If not for his status as Earl Harrington’ son, no one would deal with him—a wreck of a life.

And yet, people believed whatever such a man said without question.

He’d hoped Rontiano might change a little during his time in Roeta, but the social scene here was just as Herace disliked.

No witnesses to the day Brienne and Derrick quarreled, except for one person who saw Melosi Bailey heading there.

‘Of all people, that woman.’

Herace clicked his tongue inwardly, recalling Melosi Bailey who’d blocked his way.

It was suspicious.

If Melosi Bailey was the only possible witness to that incident, and she met with Derrick Harrington—there might have been a deal.

Moreover, Melosi Bailey currently harbored ill will toward Brienne.

“Soon, the main ceremony will begin! Distinguished guests, please take your seats.”

Just as his thoughts grew long, the servant’s voice announced the start of the engagement ceremony. Herace sat in his assigned seat. The seat beside him, where Brienne should have been, was empty.

Herace swallowed a sigh as he gazed at the empty seat. He was troubled by Brienne’s back as she left, almost fleeing.

Was he too hasty again? Was his own heart so overwhelming that he was unwittingly hurting her?

He should approach slowly. He should be more considerate. But because it didn’t go as he wished, that must be love……

Brienne’s heart was too difficult for him. Whenever he thought they’d grown closer, she’d retreat. Whenever he thought they’d grown apart, she’d approach without warning.

She was truly inscrutable. If he could look into her heart, Herace felt he could do anything.

Finishing his thoughts, Herace looked up again at the platform where the ceremony would take place. Standing there, Melosi Bailey smiled brightly down at the guests.

But—

Her fiancé, Kaiden Bannon, did not appear until the end of the ceremony.