“Stop! By His Highness’s command! All troops halt!”

It seemed they were going to take a break, having moved for half a day without stopping. At the herald’s shout, Roshan’s black army stopped in unison. Jane looked through the carriage window at the endless line of the halting army with admiration, then turned her head in the opposite direction to look at the knights in front.

‘Knights are indeed amazing.’

Jane, who blushed at Frederick’s face, the closest one, was looking at several noticeably tall knights when she paused. A handsome man with black hair appeared a little farther away. His appearance could make any woman’s heart flutter. But when Jane looked at Roshan, she was too terrified to even consider admiring him. His red eyes, in particular, made her knees weaken without him even needing to make eye contact.

“Jane.”

Yerena’s voice pierced Jane’s ears as she glanced at Roshan. Jane quickly turned her head.

“Princess? Are you alright?”

Soon, Yerena’s pale face came into Jane’s view. Yerena recalled Roshan when she heard “His Highness” from outside and became frightened.

‘This won’t do.’

But unlike the past few days when she had trembled and tried not to think about him, she gathered a little courage. She needed to learn at least a little now. About the enemy who killed her parents.

“Roshan Vistius…… about, about that person……”

Jane immediately realized that the princess was terrified and that the object of her fear was Roshan. Recalling once more the tragedy that had befallen the princess, Jane took her hand with a sympathetic face. Yerena flinched at the warmth touching her but soon exhaled deeply and asked in a somewhat calmer voice, though still unnaturally, as if reading text with breaks.

“Roshan Vistius. Can you tell me what you know about him?”

* * *

Jane quietly closed the window, noticing that Yerena didn’t use an honorific for Roshan, while checking outside. Fortunately, the nearby knights weren’t paying attention to the carriage due to the long-awaited break, and Frederick, the only one who had overheard the conversation, pretended not to notice and went elsewhere. With his presence gone, Jane opened her mouth.

“His Highness is…… the crown prince of the Empire and the only Grand Duke. I’ve heard he has dozens of titles bestowed by His Majesty. But they say he’s rarely visited his own territories because he’s been constantly participating in wars……”

“……”

“Though it’s kept quiet, the story everyone knows is that the emperor’s position should rightfully belong to His Highness. Since he’s the only child of the late empress.”

“……”

“Someone like me doesn’t know exactly, but I’ve heard rumors that His Highness gave up that great position to his half-brother, the current emperor? But is that even possible? Becoming emperor means becoming the most noble person in the Empire……”

Jane told Yerena what she knew about Roshan. However, Jane, who was originally of low status and had only done menial work following the army, didn’t know much information. Yerena couldn’t hide her disappointment at information she already knew.

‘He’s said to be secretive…… What could Jane, who isn’t even his close associate, know?’

Yerena thanked Jane and tried to recall what she knew about Roshan. But as soon as she thought of him, the moment her parents died at his hands flashed before her, and it became an indescribable terror that bound her. The only consolation was that she wasn’t completely paralyzed with fear as before.

‘This won’t do. If there’s ever a chance later…… I need to find a way to harm him without causing damage to Sedas…..’

Just as Yerena clenched her fist tightly to stop her hands from trembling again, there was a commotion outside, and the sound of soldiers moving busily could be heard. Some even jumped up and down impatiently.

“I’ll go out and see what’s happening.”

When Yerena’s face showed confusion, Jane quickly volunteered. Yerena couldn’t help but smile at Jane’s voice full of curiosity.

“The sacred tree you mentioned, Princess! It seems some leaves from the sacred tree have flown all the way here. Everyone is busy picking them up. They say having the leaves offers protection.”

Jane returned shortly and informed Yerena about the situation outside. At the mention of imperial soldiers picking up leaves from the Rubeo sacred tree, Yerena raised her voice in sudden anger.

“The Rubeo sacred tree protects Sedas……!”

But she immediately stopped speaking. What use was the legend of the sacred tree now? They had already been conquered by these people. Yerena contained her emotions. And she turned her head toward the outside she couldn’t see. Jane also sat down quietly in the suddenly somber atmosphere.

Lost in thought, Yerena recalled something and hardened her face. After a moment, she opened her mouth and asked Jane.

“……Could I go outside for a moment too?”

“Um…… I’ll ask the knight for permission.”

Jane immediately went outside and soon returned with a pale knight with silver hair. The knight opened the carriage door and, upon facing Yerena, tensed his shoulders, slightly nervous.

“Hello. I’ve greeted you once before……”

“Sir Hayden.”

Yerena immediately recognized who the knight was. The one who had restrained and pressed down on her when she was causing a disturbance. Though their meeting had been brief, she remembered his voice and name.

“……You remember me?”

Hayden looked surprised that Yerena remembered him. But Yerena didn’t care about his reaction. She answered in a stiff voice.

“I was very rude then.”

“That…… Frederick had some business, so I’m temporarily in charge of guarding the princess.”

Hayden quickly explained the situation, perhaps embarrassed by her much colder attitude than expected. However, Yerena knew that Frederick’s real job was more surveillance than protection.

Though it was perhaps natural for a princess being taken as spoils of war, hearing the word “guard” made her blood boil. Yerena deliberately twisted her voice as she spoke.

“Ah! So you’re the new person in charge of guarding me. I’m honored.”

“I heard you wanted to look around outside. Where would you like me to take you?”

Hayden didn’t get angry at Yerena’s attitude. Feeling slightly ashamed now, Yerena bowed her head and said.

“……I heard the imperial soldiers are picking up leaves from the Rubeo sacred tree.”

“That’s correct.”

“I’d like to have a few too.”

It was a modest wish. Hayden looked at the profile of the princess with her head bowed, then turned his head to look behind him. Fluttering red leaves. Uniquely shaped, they strangely sparkled like reptile scales.

“Does the princess also want the sacred tree’s protection?”

Hayden asked Yerena, recalling why the soldiers were picking up leaves. His voice was tinged with pity. Yerena slightly raised her eyebrows and shook her head.

“No.”

“Then may I ask what your reason is?”

At Hayden’s continued questioning, Yerena closed her mouth. Silence filled the carriage, and after a while, Yerena raised her head toward Hayden with an expressionless face. The blind princess spoke in a chilling voice.

“……I was reminded of a story from a book I used to read often. That’s all.”

* * *

Time passed so quickly. The carriage carrying Yerena had already left the Sedas Kingdom and reached the territory of the Empire. After crossing high mountains and reaching the edge of the Alanta Forest, the sun that had been up for a long time was now gradually shortening.

“We’ll reach the capital before autumn ends.”

“That’s right. I was worried we might have to walk on frozen roads on the way back, but thankfully not.”

With the forest soon ending, the imperial army forgot their fatigue and picked up speed. After pushing through the forest and following the river for a few days, they would reach a plain that was much easier to traverse. And once past that, they could reach their destination, the capital.

“You left behind a nursing baby, didn’t you? You must miss her.”

“That’s right. I left right after my youngest daughter was born. When I return, I’ll show her my face all day long. Of course, after buying an armful of gifts for the children. And those candies they were so eager to eat…… Ugh!”

Just as the soldiers were chatting with their comrades walking closely beside them on the narrow path, sharp blades flew from the dense undergrowth. Some soldiers fell. Though they should have been shocked by their comrades’ deaths, Roshan’s army quickly regained their composure.

“We’re under attack! Attack!”

As if such ambushes weren’t uncommon, the soldiers immediately looked to the knights when the herald shouted. The commanders promptly signaled battle formations with hand gestures. The soldiers quickly formed ranks and began to counterattack.

“We are the Sedas resistance! We’ve come to take back the princess!”

“Where are the invaders of Sedas! Surrender your necks willingly!”

As the imperial army began to counterattack, the intruders shouted and jumped out from various places. Dark, rugged clothes and Sedas military uniforms, along with the emblem symbolizing the Sedas Kingdom on their shoulders. They were clearly Sedas resistance fighters who had refused to surrender to the Empire’s invasion until the end.

“Princess! It’s dangerous!”

Yerena also clearly heard the name of Sedas. Looking pale, she struggled with all her might to break free from Jane, who was holding her.

“Let go! Let go! I need to stop those people!”

The imperial army unit that was ambushed was not large, being at the vanguard. However, dozens of units followed at short intervals behind them. How many could the resistance fighters be? Yerena hoped that no more of her countrymen would lose their lives in vain.

“Pr-Princess!”

Yerena managed to break free from Jane and successfully grabbed and turned the carriage door handle. But due to the commotion outside and her blind eyes, she fell after taking just a few steps.

Thud.

“Ugh……!”

Yerena, who fell with a dull sound, reached out her hand and groped the ground. Around her, the clanging of weapons was loud.

“Princess. L-let’s go back, okay?”

Unlike Yerena, Jane could see what was happening and followed Yerena while trembling at the bloody fight. Though she had seen many injured soldiers during the war in the Sedas Kingdom, it was her first time witnessing combat this close.

“You need to go back in—Aah!”