Evelyn, having washed herself with warm water and received treatment from the physician, was now sitting in the quarters prepared at the outpost.

Though it wasn’t a proper place and the water stung her wounds, this was the first time in her life she had received such a rare level of care. Ordinarily, Evelyn would never have been allowed to enjoy such luxuries.

“Shall I bring you some tea?”

At the maid’s question, Evelyn slightly parted her lips. Her mouth was indeed dry. But Evelyn was ignorant when it came to types of tea.

“Just… water, please.”

Evelyn had reflexively intended to speak formally, but instead, she managed to show some patience in her own way. Her speech was awkward to the point of cringing, but the maid didn’t seem to think much of it.

That was because she believed Evelyn to be the real Princess Ophelia.

The maid, having filled a clean glass with clear water and served it to Evelyn, said to call if she had any orders, then exited the tent prepared for Evelyn. The maid seemed to sense that Evelyn felt uncomfortable around her.

Taking a sip of water, Evelyn let out a quiet sigh. Being alone made it feel at least a little easier to breathe. It had only been a couple of hours. Yet during that short time with the maids, Evelyn had felt constantly uneasy.

A caterpillar should live by eating pine needles. A maid like Evelyn didn’t suit such a luxurious life. Even to her own thinking, this wasn’t right.

Wearing things that weren’t hers only made her feel uncomfortable and encumbered. This was also because the identity she currently wore was the very thing keeping her alive.

Evelyn logically imagined what would happen if she were discovered to be a fake Princess Ophelia. If the maid found out, if the soldiers found out, if the Emperor of Bait discovered her identity— There wasn’t much to think about.

In every possible future Evelyn imagined, death awaited her. That’s how serious the matter was.

‘Rather than living in constant fear of being found out, wouldn’t it be better to run away?’

Evelyn gazed into the cup of water, deep in thought. Running to save her life seemed far more comforting than living in such constant anxiety.

Of course, if Evelyn fled from here, the relationship between Bait and Hesta would become irrevocably broken. Many people would die, and many would lose their loved ones.

But Evelyn didn’t care much. She had never been one to grow attached to others. Born and raised amidst nothing but scorn and contempt, there was no way she could harbor fond feelings for them.

Even what little conscience she had was now buried beneath the immediate threat to her survival, leaving not a trace behind.

Besides, hadn’t Hesta already tried to kill her?

Resolving to escape, Evelyn slightly lifted the tent flap styled as a window to check outside. Even during the day, soldiers could be seen patrolling the outpost in small groups. 

If she were to slip past them unnoticed, it would have to be in the late night. Having roughly decided on the timing, Evelyn observed her surroundings carefully to find the place with the fewest prying eyes.

It was then that Reynard and his soldiers returned with their horses. Evelyn, lowering the flap slightly and holding her breath, stared intently at him.

The man who introduced himself as Reynard Theodore was none other than the infamous emperor of the Western Continent.

Until now, Evelyn had only heard of Reynard through rumors circulating in the capital of Hesta, imagining a demonic figure. But the emperor of Bait she saw in person was a handsome man with a well-toned, muscular physique.

Surely the malicious rumors had been spread with the intent to defame him.

Reynard dismounted lightly and spoke to the people who had gathered around him, then lifted his head. For a moment, their eyes met. Despite the distance between them, Reynard’s gaze was sharp and focused directly on her.

Startled, Evelyn hastily dropped the flap she was holding and turned her head away. Her heart pounded with anxiety, like a thief caught in the act. Her fingertips turned cold, and cold sweat pooled in the hand clenched tightly in her lap.

Since she truly intended to escape from this place, her anxiety wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

She wished time would pass quickly so night would fall, but the sun still hung high in the sky. Biting her lips in frustration, Evelyn hesitated and peeked out again. Before she knew it, Reynard had left, and no one remained where he had been standing.

***

Evelyn barely managed to eat her dinner, nibbling at the greasy food just enough to fill her stomach, and waited for quiet to fall outside the barracks. Because the evening had been loud and bustling with so many people, even the wait for silence felt endlessly long.

Finally, time that had seemed like it would never arrive came, and night fell. Silence settled over the area. The only sound breaking it was the chirping of nocturnal insects.

Lifting the tent flap that served as a door, Evelyn saw guards posted in the distance. Fortunately, no one was standing watch over her own tent. It was strange that no one was guarding the tent of Princess Ophelia, but for Evelyn, trying to escape, it was a stroke of luck.

Timing her move for when no one was looking toward her tent, Evelyn stepped out quickly.

Glancing around busily, Evelyn quieted the sound of her footsteps.

The fluttering hem of her skirt was uncomfortable. Fearing she might be seen, Evelyn clutched the hem tightly as she walked.

The soles of her feet began to ache as if she were walking on shattered glass. It was because her feet, freshly treated, were not yet ready for such strain. Evelyn barely managed to suppress a scream that rose to her lips.

Without being noticed by anyone, Evelyn slipped into the bushes. A sigh of relief escaped her as her anxious heart slightly eased.

But she couldn’t stay here. Worried that someone might have seen her, Evelyn looked back and began running toward the forest. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as she endured the pain.

The deeper she went into the forest, the thicker the darkness became. There was only so far she could go relying on the faint moonlight. 

After running for some time, Evelyn reached out and groped for a tree. The damp bark met her hand.

‘Where am I? Where should I go?’

Having never even ventured into Hesta’s town, she knew nothing of the area.

The sounds of night insects, once faint back at the camp, now rang out right beside her. They cried from every direction, making it hard to pinpoint where she was. Evelyn’s ragged breaths were drowned out by the incessant chirping.

As she sat in the forest, memories of vague problems she’d ignored in the camp began to surface one by one.

A sudden wave of regret washed over her for having run away so irresponsibly. Whatever the reason, Evelyn had fled from Bait.

But now that she was out, she had nowhere to go. Anywhere would be better than facing death head-on, but the place she was in now lay between the borders of Hesta and Bait. 

If she went to Hesta, it would be meaningless with war looming so close. And if she tried to return to Bait, her identity was too uncertain. She didn’t even know if she would be allowed back into Bait to begin with.

Then where on earth was she supposed to go now?

As confusion overwhelmed her, a rustling sound came from the bushes. It wasn’t the wind shaking the leaves.

The noise made it difficult to determine the direction, and Evelyn tensed. She’d once heard that wild animals like stray dogs roamed at night in search of food. They were said to be so fierce and brutal that they could kill a person in an instant.

‘Was I too unprepared?’

Evelyn swallowed dryly. The sound was getting closer.

It wasn’t hurried, but neither was it leisurely—a measured pace. Listening carefully to the rustling, she finally realized it was coming from behind.

She hesitated and turned slightly to confirm.

“What could you possibly be thinking, out here all alone at this hour?”

Even before she could fully turn around, a voice brushed past her ear, startling her so badly she gasped. Her legs gave out from the shock, and she collapsed on the spot.

Contrary to her fears, the source of the rustling wasn’t some wild beast. But that didn’t mean she could let her guard down.

Because the voice belonged to the Emperor of Bait.

“Where were you going, Princess Ophelia?”