“Oh my. It doesn’t make sense for a priestess to miss a meal due to indigestion. Come here, I’ll treat you.”

The considerate but clueless priestesses gently took my hand and pulled me.

Seren quickly intervened to stop them.

“Haha, the lady seems very tired. Let her rest comfortably, and we’ll go by ourselves. I’ll bring her meal separately. Ah, I hope they serve something delicious today.”

She deliberately spoke loudly about the lunch menu and led the priestesses away.

As soon as I was left alone with Shahar in the carriage, I let out a deep sigh.

In fact, not just now, but throughout the journey, I had been making excuses and barely leaving the carriage. While the two male leads ensured our safety, it was detrimental to my mental health.

Unable to bear the frustration, I slightly opened the curtain.

People, seemingly excited about having a proper meal, were chatting happily with bright expressions.

“Shahar, you must be feeling stuffy too. I’m sorry. But we’ll reach Pontos soon.”

If it weren’t for Shahar, I might have died of boredom long ago.

“The virtue of a stone is patience, so you need not worry.”

Shahar’s unique solemn tone now sounded like seductive whispers to me.

As I rubbed and lifted the coal, I couldn’t resist my hunger and opened the bag to take out a snack.

“Wait, you.”

“What?”

“In the bag…….”

Before I could ask what was wrong with the bag, Shahar suddenly entered it. Shortly after, the bag wriggled violently, and Shahar emerged with two bats.

“What? Janet? Michalis?”

Why are you two coming out of there……?

As I glared at them fiercely, the two bats averted their eyes and pretended to be innocent.

“What are you doing here? What about the capital?”

“I called some capable elders, so don’t worry. I’ve selected individuals who can handle anything.”

“Wait, did you have me fetch the bag from the lair so you could get in?”

“Oh, Lou. I thought you were just a fool, but your deductive skills have improved?”

“……Let’s spare Janet, but let’s just kill Michalis.”

Before I could finish my sentence, the coal darted towards the bats.

Michalis, barely dodging the attack with desperate wing flaps, shouted urgently.

“Wait, calm down! What if the carriage gets pierced?”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re about to die, so don’t fret over trivial matters. Even if the carriage collapses, don’t hold back, Shahar.”

The following attacks hit their mark.

Michalis fell to the floor, squeaking.

“I came to help you!”

“What help? That ridiculous romance guidance?”

“Wait!”

Ignoring his scream, I was about to deliver the final blow when a loud shout came from outside the carriage. Startled, I instinctively shrank back, and in that moment, Michalis and Janet slipped back into the bag.

I decided to postpone dealing with the two vampires and peeked outside.

“How dare you talk back to me? Do you think you’ve become something just because you’re dragging around high priests? As soon as we return to the Holy Kingdom, I’ll report your arrogant attitude to His Holiness the Pope!”

A middle-aged priest with a plump appearance was raising his voice at Gined. Even without knowing the context, it was clear that it was a ridiculous and childish complaint.

Gined showed no reaction, maintaining his characteristic expressionless face. This only fueled the priest’s anger.

Traveling with the priests on this journey, I realized anew that Gined had many enemies. Especially that middle-aged priest who openly antagonized Gined. He didn’t seem to get along well with High Priest Dominique, who was somewhat friendly towards Gined.

‘Was his name Emmanuel?’

I remembered keeping my distance from him because he was annoyingly troublesome even when I was studying in the Holy Kingdom.

After a while of berating Gined, Emmanuel suddenly turned his head towards me as if sensing something. Upon seeing me, he wiped his harsh expression and approached with a big smile.

“Lady Dronay, why are you in the carriage instead of having your meal?”

I briefly met Gined’s eyes behind Emmanuel. Knowing that acknowledging him wouldn’t please him, I quickly averted my gaze.

“I have no appetite.”

“Did the priestesses offend you? Just say the word, and I’ll scold them properly.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I coldly closed the window, forcibly ending the conversation.

Soon, I heard the sound of Seren and the priestesses returning to the carriage after their meal.

Seren boarded the carriage, her face unusually bright.

“Lady, we’ll reach Pontos in just a week!”

“What? Really?”

I exclaimed joyfully.

“We’ll finally be free from motion sickness!”

It was truly a relief amidst the misfortune.

The closer we got to Pontos, the harsher the environment became.

Frequent monster attacks, rough roads, cold weather, and the hostile gazes of the villagers were all challenges.

Some particularly xenophobic villages outright refused to accept outsiders. As a result, the knights had to act like mercenaries, dealing with monsters, and the priests had to provide medical services to barely secure food and lodging.

At this point, more than longing for Iscallion, I just wanted to end this tiresome journey as soon as possible.

One more week to go.

Next week, I would be walking leisurely around Pontos Castle with Iscallion, free from this dreadful carriage. Imagining how sweet that time would be, I steeled my resolve once again.

* * *

“Ugh…….”

I heard Seren’s painful groan.

But I didn’t even have the energy to ask if she was okay. The priestesses, who had been chattering non-stop, were now slumped over as if dead.

The last week had compressed all the hardships we had endured into an extreme journey.

Considering that it went smoothly only because the two male leads had joined us, I doubted whether diplomatic relations between Pontos and other countries could be sustained in the future.

“Just one more day, so let’s all hang in there…….”

Margarita, the most optimistic one, weakly encouraged us.

Then, suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt stop, and there was a commotion outside.

It wasn’t surprising anymore. It was surely another monster attack.

In such situations, it was more dangerous to go outside, so we huddled and waited for the knights to drive them away.

But no matter how long we waited, the battle showed no signs of ending.

Just as I was struggling to lift my heavy body, feeling an ominous premonition, the carriage door burst open, and a knight shouted.

“Lady, get out of the carriage immediately and move to the back! Hurry!”

The urgency in his voice snapped me to attention.

Without a moment’s hesitation, we quickly got off the carriage and started running.

When I instinctively looked back, I was shocked. A massive horde of monsters, unlike any we had seen before, was chasing us. They seemed to be native monsters of Pontos.

“Ahhh, what are those……!”

Seren, who had turned her head following me, was also horrified.

“Just run!”

I ran with all the strength I could muster.

Indeed, the land ruled by the Grand Duke of the North was not easy.

The knights did their best to protect us, but there were too many monsters.

One monster, having evaded the knights, reached out to grab me. Just then, the coal knocked it away. Another one immediately pounced. Without hesitation, I punched it in the nose. In the chaos, a grotesque hand grabbed my clothes.

“Let go, you ugly bastard!”

Half out of my mind, I stomped on the arm frantically. The arm, hesitating at my fierce resistance, fell away. I managed to stand up and put some distance between us.

“Lady!”

Seren screamed upon seeing me surrounded by monsters.

“I’m fine, just run!”

“Th-Then please return safely!”

With those words, Seren ran off without a moment’s hesitation.

‘She listens so well at times like this…….’

It was actually for the best.

Left alone, I transformed Shahar into a club and swung it wildly. I needed to buy as much time as possible for Seren and the priestesses to escape.

The monsters hesitated at Shahar’s unexpected power.

But only for a moment.

Neglecting my exercise had taken its toll, and my arms felt like they would fall off soon.

As I panted in exhaustion, someone roughly grabbed me. My vision spun. I reflexively tried to strike its head, but my arm was caught first.

“What are you doing when you should be running? Seriously, the maid runs and the master stays behind?”

A cold sneer rang in my ears.

I blankly watched the Crown Prince slay the monsters charging at us.

Seeing my face, he scoffed.

“You still have that stupid look.”

It was then that I realized I was sitting on his horse. Pinion pulled me close with one arm.