The first inn near the border hadn’t been this bad.

The Astia Empire had no slave system, but the Peshar Empire was different. Especially in the capital where slaves were concentrated, it seemed even worse. Since they waged wars of conquest, many slaves were created, and there seemed to be high demand accordingly.

‘Are we almost at Peshar’s capital…?’

Evelyn yanked out the foreign object from inside her. The wooden piece glistened, covered in love juices and s*men. She opened the window and threw it toward an empty area.

When she pulled out the wooden piece, the s*men pooled inside flowed down.

“Haah…”

How many times had she thrown it away already? Even after discarding it, Jenkins would find another one to fill her insides completely. Just then, she heard someone’s voice.

“We’re right at the doorstep, so why isn’t His Highness the Crown Prince going straight to the imperial palace?”

“It seems to be because of the coronation…”

“Wouldn’t it be better if he became Emperor?”

“Who knows. I heard His Highness the Crown Prince originally preferred freely enjoying various places rather than politics…”

The inn must have had thin walls, since she could hear everything the knights outside were saying. Evelyn’s face burned hot again.

‘That means they can hear everything happening inside too.’

Since the Crown Prince was staying here, knights took turns standing guard 24 hours a day. What sounds had she made last night?

“Ahh. It’s sliding right in. The mock p*nis seems to be working. Right?”

“Ungh… Just shut up and f*ck me properly.”

But his thick hand struck her buttocks again. With a slapping sound, Evelyn’s toes stretched taut. D*mn it, no matter how many times she was hit, she never got used to it.

“…Even if I want to f*ck you properly, you’re too loose to do it. If you can’t tighten down there, I’ll have to use other methods…”

“?”

Again came the slapping sound as her buttocks burned. When she clenched her vaginal walls tight from the pain, Jenkins moaned with satisfaction.

Just when her bruised buttocks were about to heal, he would hit them again, so the bruises never disappeared. Evelyn gripped the mattress tightly and swore to herself. Someday she would definitely hit Jenkins’ buttocks in return.

* * *

Evelyn sat on the bed looking toward the window. If she entered the harem, security would be ironclad, so if she was going to escape, now seemed to be the only chance. But without clothes, her status as a slave would be exposed. She pondered deeply, then knocked on the door.

“Wh-what is it?”

One of the knights guarding the room stammered. He couldn’t bear to look inside, so he only extended his hand, but Evelyn grabbed that hand and pulled him inside. The man stumbled in and looked at Evelyn, who was holding his hand. His eyes widened as he saw Evelyn’s n*ked body.

The knight’s face turned bright red as he didn’t know what to do.

“Your Highness the Princess…!”

Evelyn smiled and embraced him. How did men usually seduce women at the border?

“I’m bored. Shall we kiss?”

“What? Ah…”

Another knight outside gently closed the door and said,

“Just be gentle so His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t catch you.”

With his colleague’s permission, the knight became very bold. He quickly removed his clothes, then rushed toward Evelyn. Evelyn frowned as she watched the knight frantically sucking on her br*asts.

“Gasp, how did you know I couldn’t sleep last night…!”

The knight, gripping his c*ck, rubbed against the entrance to Evelyn’s p*ssy. Even though he would die if Jenkins caught him, he moved according to instinct. After all, standing guard outside the room, he would hear the sounds of s*x every time whether he wanted to or not, so how many people could endure that?

“I’ll definitely satisfy you…!”

However, Evelyn kicked the knight’s c*ck with her knee and covered his mouth with a blanket to muffle his scream. Leaving only his nostrils exposed, she rolled the knight up tightly in the blanket, then put on the clothes he had removed. With a sword at her side, she looked exactly like an imperial palace knight.

‘Now I won’t look like a slave, right?’

Her silver hair was too conspicuous, so she hid it inside the knight’s hat.

“Mmph mmph…!”

The knight’s eyes widened as he writhed. But since she had tied the knots carefully, they wouldn’t come loose.

“Sorry.”

After apologizing to him, Evelyn jumped out the window. This inn was only two stories, so it wasn’t very high.

Escaping from the inn was too easy. She had even brought the knight’s identification, making it possible to leave the capital, but she couldn’t do that. Running away would implicate the old man, Josh, and Sarah.

“You need to have only me in your heart, Evelyn. Otherwise, I might tear the escaped Astian Emperor to pieces.”

She couldn’t predict what would happen to Hector either. Hadn’t Jenkins said he waged war because of her?

‘I need to find the guild Hector created.’

Even if it couldn’t help, she needed to let Hector know she was alive. She should have informed him immediately that day, but she had wasted time unnecessarily. The daily life spent with the old man and Josh had been too peaceful.

In the bustling area, Evelyn was able to find that guild. The Turble Guild, created by mixing Hector’s and her own names, had established bases everywhere to monitor foreign countries. When she entered the Turble Guild, several people examined her and then approached with recognition.

“Are you from Astia?”

“That outfit is from a Peshar imperial palace knight…”

The guild employees were undoubtedly people Hector employed. Originally, only merchants could travel between the Peshar Empire, and that’s what the guild employees were. But after the Astia Empire was conquered by Peshar, countless Astians had become slaves.

Evelyn removed the hat she was wearing. As her silver hair fluttered down over her shoulders, they felt reassured.

“I am the Princess of the Astia Empire. Can you contact His Imperial Majesty?”

The employees moved quickly. They closed the shop and turned off all the lights to make it look like they weren’t operating. Then they guided her to stairs leading underground.

“Your Highness the Princess. Please go inside.”

“…Very well.”

Evelyn followed them down, carrying lamps. She had been thinking of contacting him through documents or messenger birds, but why were they taking her underground? It was somewhat puzzling.

How far down had they gone? The underground area was vast, seemingly some kind of secret passage. She felt she would get lost if she didn’t memorize the route.

When the employee opened the door, familiar faces were sitting there seemingly in a meeting. Most of the nobles looked surprised to see Evelyn. Then the man sitting at the head of the table looked up. Hector, whom she was seeing for the first time in almost a year, was there.

“Evelyn…”

Hector hadn’t run away. He was brazenly positioned right in the heart of enemy territory.

Duke Perry, Marquis Smith, Marquis Harper, Count Sutton, and other high-ranking nobles were seated there. Evelyn was greatly surprised that those who seemed like they would have fled to foreign countries first were now in the lion’s mouth.

“Evelyn. We plan to attack the imperial palace on the day of the Peshar Crown Prince’s coronation.”

At Hector’s words, Marquis Smith frowned.

“Your Imperial Majesty. Revealing such secrets to Her Highness the Princess is…”

“Evelyn won’t betray me.”

Hector quickly approached from the head seat to where Evelyn was. He grabbed Evelyn’s wrist and whispered in her ear.

“The retreat was to strike at their main base. The Peshar Emperor is old and sick. We’ve planted several spies in the imperial palace, so when they open the gates… Astian soldiers will enter this capital.”

Evelyn’s eyes shook uneasily. She had thought Hector, who was obsessed with the Emperor’s position, wouldn’t have abandoned his people and fled, but she never imagined he was preparing such an operation.

“Marquis Harper also actively cooperated to rescue his daughter.”

“…Is that so?”

Evelyn had spoken of someone who would become Empress and married, but Hector seemed not to have taken an Empress yet. Duke Perry scanned Evelyn’s body up and down with his dark red eyes. He spotted red marks near Evelyn’s neck.

“I heard Lady Evelyn was attacked by bandits and died, so where have you been all this time?”

“It wasn’t bandits. The Peshar Emperor sent knights to kill me. I evaded them and was hiding in a rural village.”

“Hmm… Then why didn’t you make contact?”

Only candlelight flickered in the dark room. Evelyn avoided the gazes of the nobles looking at her and clenched her fists tightly. What should she say? Even if she had contacted Hector then, would her situation have improved?

“…There was no way to make contact.”

Duke Perry suddenly stood up and looked down at Evelyn. Hector also looked where his gaze was directed. Bite marks and kiss marks were scattered messily on Evelyn’s neck. Evelyn hurriedly covered her neck and tried to leave the place.

“…As long as His Imperial Majesty is safe, that’s enough. I’ll go back outside…”

“Wait, Evelyn.”

Hector gripped Evelyn’s wrist tightly. When he approached, Evelyn hesitated.

“…Where are you staying now? You need to tell the truth. You might not be able to leave this place today.”

Did he mean he would kill her if she was a traitor? Evelyn’s eyes widened.

“…I’m with Louisa Harper.”

Marquis Harper jumped up and said urgently,

“Louisa, you say?”

“Yes. She’s captured with me by the Peshar Crown Prince. We’re going to enter the harem.”

“Ah…”

Evelyn sighed and met eyes with Hector. Hector’s green eyes had darkened deeply. Since he was expressionless, she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“I heard Peshar people greatly admire silver hair and purple eyes. I was hiding when I caught the Crown Prince’s attention. The same goes for Louisa.”

“Then is Louisa healthy? She hasn’t suffered any terrible things, has she?”

Marquis Harper glanced at Hector. He seemed more worried about Louisa as the future Empress than as his daughter. If her body had been defiled, the Empress position would be as good as lost. Evelyn spoke reassuringly.

“Louisa hasn’t suffered anything.”

“What about you?”

At Hector’s words, the surroundings became quiet. Evelyn opened and closed her mouth, then shut it again. She had nothing to say about the wounds on her neck. Dark veins bulged on Hector’s forehead. He grabbed Evelyn’s wrist and quickly left the room.

The remaining nobles murmured, but he didn’t care. Passing through the winding passages, Hector brought Evelyn to his room. Hector’s attendant quickly bowed upon seeing Evelyn. The door closed, leaving only the two of them in the room.

“…Evelyn. Did the Peshar Crown Prince violate you?”

“Why do you ask when you already know?”

“…”

“I was destined to marry the Peshar Emperor anyway. Whether it’s the Emperor or Crown Prince doesn’t matter to me.”

“Evelyn…”

“Your Majesty must reclaim the country. …I wonder if it’s not too late. I should go before the Crown Prince finds me. If I disappear, Your Majesty could be in danger too.”

She could hear Hector grinding his teeth. Evelyn sighed and gripped Hector’s hand tightly.

“You are His Imperial Majesty of Astia. Show them that we are not weak, that we won’t just take it lying down.”

“…Evelyn.”

Hector embraced Evelyn and stroked her back. That touch was deeply desperate, but Evelyn was satisfied with just that much. Hector was still the Emperor and was moving for Astia’s sake. She was proud that he hadn’t run away.

‘Hector is someone born to be Emperor.’

From the young days when he saved her, nothing but being Emperor had suited him.