Chapter 4.9

“Lusell, did you find anything?”

Garzen, trudging out of the bathroom and shaking water from his hair, asked. Lusell, who had been sitting at the table carefully examining the secret ledger Brienne had found, looked up.

“No, nothing yet. Well, this alone could serve as evidence, but it’s just ordinary supplies. What a letdown…”

“All right, then let’s look at it again when we return to Roeta. Let’s wrap up for today and get some sleep.”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Lusell closed the ledger and got into bed. But soon, as if something occurred to him, he sat up again.

“…But, Your Highness, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask since earlier.”

“What is it?”

“Is it true that Miss Brienne is under a soul-binding spell?”

He didn’t believe the prince he served would lie, but he had to ask just in case. When Lusell cautiously asked, Garzen tossed his towel to the floor and sat on the other bed.

“Yeah, it’s true. The moment that young lady opened my mana circuit, two different energies mixed in. I’d felt that flow before, so I knew right away who it was.”

“…So it really was true. I never thought someone like Sir Herace would do that… It’s disappointing.”

“I told you from the start. There’s something off about that guy.”

“I thought you were just saying that.”

Lusell flopped onto the bed with a sigh. Watching him, Garzen laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.

“That’s why you shouldn’t trust people so easily. I don’t trust anyone except you.”

“I know, I know… So what happens to Miss Brienne now? Is there a way to break the spell?”

“Well, there are two known ways for now.”

Garzen leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes. Lusell turned on his side, propping his chin on his hand, and stared at him.

“First, kill the other party to restore the stability of the mixed mana. But even that isn’t certain, so it’s a gamble.”

“……”

“And second, actually become lovers and get married. That’s the happy ending, right?”

“Both… are pretty extreme.”

Lusell gulped. Garzen opened his eyes slightly and grinned slyly.

“Yeah, it’s all extreme. Once you cast a spell, there’s no cancelling it. Magic is the most rigid thing there is.”

Indeed, magic wasn’t a flexible ability. You couldn’t grow just by trying, nor could you awaken it just by wanting to. Only those born with it possessed it. Thinking deeply, Lusell nodded and asked,

“But… is it possible for someone not to know they cast it?”

“If the other person is determined to hide it, maybe.”

“Then is there a chance Sir Herace didn’t know?”

At Lusell’s innocent question, Garzen snorted.

“Does that make sense? The soul-binding spell only manifests when you want to take someone as your spouse. It has to be intentional. There’s no way a great mage like him wouldn’t know he used it.”

Garzen answered with confidence, wondering if Herace had just coasted through the academy. Lusell, who usually dismissed Garzen’s words, looked at him a little differently this time.

“Ugh, the world of mages is so complicated… I admired them as a child, but now I’m glad I’m not one.”

“That’s life. I’m tired. Stop talking nonsense and get some sleep, kid.”

“Your Highness, you’re treating me like a child again…!”

Lusell sprang up indignantly, but in those few seconds Garzen was already snoring. Lusell stared at him for a while, then decided to take back what he’d just thought about the wild prince.

* * *

Brienne, who hadn’t slept well during the night, overslept more than she expected. Garzen and Lusell had tried to wake her, but she must have been too exhausted to hear them.

“Miss, we have to leave now! By now, not just the Ford family but the entire capital must be in an uproar over your disappearance.”

Garzen’s urgent voice came from outside the door. Having barely finished getting ready, Brienne flung the door open and stepped into the hallway.

“I know…! This is as fast as I could manage.”

“The carriage is already waiting out front. Let’s hurry. Who knows if those guys are looking for us too.”

Nodding at Lusell’s words, Brienne quickly picked up her pace. With his long legs, Garzen strode ahead and opened the carriage door.

“Careful getting in. We rented it in a hurry, so it’s a bit old. It’s a freight wagon, so there aren’t any seats.”

“That’s fine. As long as I can get home, I’d even ride in a cart right now.”

Brienne took Garzen’s hand and climbed into the carriage. Garzen and Lusell followed her in and firmly shut the door.

It was at that moment.

“Um, actually, there’s something I didn’t tell you both… haha, this wagon happens to be transporting…”

With an awkward smile, Lusell gestured toward the cargo covered with cloth. When Brienne turned to look, she felt goosebumps rise all over her body.

“…Lusell, don’t tell me—?”

‘No way.’

She desperately hoped not, but seeing Lusell scratch his face, it seemed her fears were true. Brienne covered her mouth and took a few steps back.

“Is it really empty?”

“Don’t worry about that! I, Lusell, checked it myself several times. No matter how urgent, we couldn’t possibly travel to the capital with a corpse.”

What on earth was going on?

A carriage for transporting coffins…

“Should I be grateful for this…?”

Even if the coffin was empty, it was still uncomfortable, but right now there was no other option. Brienne swallowed a sigh, nodded, and forced a smile.

“From now on, I shouldn’t say I’d ride in a cart, but that I’d even take a coffin.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry…”

As Lusell bowed his head nervously, Garzen shook his head. Garzen came over to Brienne, turned her around, and had her sit with her back to the cargo.

“Just sit like this for now, Miss. It’s better than standing, and better to have your back to the coffin than to look at it.”

“All right.”

“Ha, I really hope nothing happens.”

Garzen muttered anxiously, sitting behind Brienne. Lusell glanced out the ventilation window and swallowed.

“I was hoping for that too… but something already feels off.”

“What? What is it now?”

“There’s a guard post at the village entrance. There wasn’t one when we rented the carriage. Are they looking for us?”

“D*mn it, why does nothing ever go right…!”

Garzen ran his hand over his face irritably. Brienne, growing anxious, moved closer to Lusell and quickly looked out the window. The guards at the road were stopping women passing by and checking their faces.

“W-What do we do? We won’t get caught, will we?”

“…So that’s why they brought us to their own territory. In their land, the lord is king.”

While everyone was panicking, the carriage began to move slowly. Brienne took the purse she’d hidden in her petticoat and handed it to Lusell.

At times like this, the cooperation of the coachman was the answer.

“I have some money left from the inn. Is there any way to give it to the coachman? If he would just tell them there’s no one inside, it would help us a lot…”

“It’s a good idea, but it’s too late. This carriage doesn’t have a side window that connects to the coachman’s seat.”

“Yes, if we go out now, we’ll be caught immediately. For now, all we can do is hope not to arouse suspicion. May the blessing of Demekia be with us…”

Lusell pressed his clasped hands to his forehead and prayed. Meanwhile, Garzen crouched down and moved closer to the carriage door.

“Just in case, Miss, please move to the innermost part.”

“Yes…”

Brienne hesitated and headed for the corner. Before she could even prepare herself, Lusell, who was watching out the window, shouted,

“Oh no, the guards are already right in front of us…!”

“Are they going to inspect the carriage?”

Garzen frowned and looked at Lusell. Brienne swallowed hard. She could feel the carriage rattling and slowing down.

“…It seems so.”

* * *

At the same time.

Herace, unaware of what had happened overnight, was reading a letter Kaiden had left for him. Before meeting the Duke of Bannon, the letter had been secretly delivered through his attendant and Aaron.

[…I’ve prepared something for a day like this. It’ll take some time to create a new identity. You probably already guessed things would turn out this way. I hate to admit it, but you are smarter than anyone I know, Herace Belif.

I’m leaving in a week on a ship to Roeta from Schwitz Harbor. Once people find out I’ve disappeared, Father will definitely look for you first. For the sake of our old friendship, please divert his attention.

This is the first and last time I’m asking for help. Ridiculous as it is, you’re the only one I trust.

P.S. Please take care of Brienne. Make sure nothing happens to her because of this.]

‘…What on earth does he expect me to do?’

Herace tossed the letter aside and irritably ran a hand through his hair. He had acted as if he knew nothing when speaking to the Duke of Bannon, just as Kaiden wanted, but it left him uneasy.

It was because the Duke had finally mentioned Brienne Ford by name.

Letting out a deep sigh, Herace opened a drawer and tucked Kaiden’s letter inside. The sound of the drawer closing startled Aaron, who had been dozing off, and he checked the clock.

“Ah, how did it get so late?”

“While you were snoring in my office.”

“Haha… You should have woken me up sooner. I guess I’ll go back to keeping an eye on Derrick Harrington now. I’ll be back soon.”

“No need to hurry. If you notice anything suspicious, don’t come back to report—just follow him and return.”

“Ah, yes…”

Aaron scratched his neck awkwardly. But just as he was about to leave, there was a knock at the door. When Aaron opened it, a butler from the Belif household appeared, carrying a silver tray.

“Butler? What is it?”

“Young master, you have a visitor. It’s urgent.”

‘Urgent?’

Herace’s expression showed confusion as he recognized the card on the tray.

It was a visiting card from Marquis Ford’s family.