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Chapter 5. I Might Just Fall for You
Arsène soon realized what Princess Rose had meant when she said they’d be “seeing each other often.”
To attend the launching ceremony, the Remigis Order set out on a journey toward Bastia.
Bastia was a southern port city of the Kalon Empire—bustling with ships due to its easy access routes. It was also the traditional host of the annual launching ceremony.
However, the journey from the capital, Eretria, took nearly five days, and time was tight.
“Captain, isn’t it a bit much to ask us to escort someone when we’re already on such a tight schedule?”
One of the knights grumbled as he eyed the grandiose carriages lined up before them. He clearly disliked the idea of having to cater to royalty on top of everything else.
“Hagen, mind your words.”
The man addressed as Hagen wore an eyepatch over one eye. He irritably scratched his lion’s mane of hair.
“Well, if we’re late, don’t blame me!”
“We won’t be. Return to your post.”
Snorting in defiance, Hagen swung onto his horse. Among the knights, he stood out with his towering build. On horseback, he looked even more imposing.
Rose peered through the curtain of her carriage at the orderly formation of Remigis knights.
All the knights hailing from Dunstan Island were massive in stature. Their dark-toned armor looked even blacker under the spring sun.
“We’ll be out of the capital before sunset.”
Suddenly, Arsène rode close to her window, speaking through the curtain.
“It’s going to be a rough march.”
With that simple report, he returned to the front of the procession.
Rose kept her gaze on him, mesmerized by his fully armed form.
‘Those broad shoulders… that wide back… If I could just throw my arms around him, I’d have no other wishes left.’
His silver armor, perfectly fitted to his frame, gleamed under the sun. His dark green cape fluttered with each movement of his horse.
As the cape shifted, the crest of the Remigis Order became visible on his shoulder—a sea serpent coiled around an anchor, the symbol of House Lafayette.
It marked them as natural-born seafarers.
Escorted by the Remigis knights on her way to the launching ceremony—this journey could not be more ideal.
…If only it weren’t for that awful Second Princess, Aracne.
“Why is this carriage shaking so much!”
Aracne’s constant complaints were grating. The narrow carriage was made worse by her insistence on bringing her own entourage of attendants, causing the entire procession to slow to a crawl.
“To think such a pathetic carriage was arranged—how fitting for a savage’s taste.”
Rose had to work hard not to let her exasperation show.
“The schedule is tight. We had to use smaller carriages for faster travel. Honestly, why did you decide to attend the ceremony last minute, anyway?”
“Hmph. I suppose you’re used to this filth. It suits your level.”
Aracne had decided to tag along at the last moment.
Rose had thought they were traveling as royals—but Aracne’s behavior was so absurd it left her speechless.
The launching ceremony clearly meant nothing to her. Even before departure, she had picked fights with the knights, expressing every discomfort imaginable, and finally going so far as to openly insult the Remigis Order.
“I’d rather be guarded by hunting dogs than these filthy beasts!”
She lacked both dignity as a royal and fitness as a monarch.
‘She’s completely unhinged.’
Her behavior was even worse than the novel had described. It was as if she had come solely to sabotage Rose.
That was, until the carriage began to rock violently as it entered rough mountain paths—and Aracne, unable to withstand the motion, collapsed in a heap.
Rose looked down at her now-pale face with a touch of cold amusement.
‘Well, at least it’s peaceful now.’
If the rest of the journey to Bastia stayed this quiet, maybe traveling with Aracne wouldn’t be so unbearable.
But that peace was short-lived.
“Monsters—Garmr pack sighted ahead!”
“Garmr?!”
A thunderous rumble sounded from the brush before something burst out—fur dyed red, massive in size. The earth trembled under the creature’s weight.
Without hesitation, Arsène drew his sword and shouted,
“Form a perimeter around the carriage!”
He kicked his horse and charged into the fray. With a single swing, he sliced through several of the beasts.
The Garmr split in two with a howl.
More appeared from the thicket—at least a dozen.
‘Of all times, why would monsters appear while we’re escorting royalty? And so close to Eretria?’
Something felt off.
Hagen voiced the same suspicion from nearby.
“They only live in the Hinon Valley. What the hell are they doing this close to the capital?”
The knights of the Remigis Order fought back against the onslaught.
The clash of steel and the howls of beasts rang out again and again.
“What’s happening?!”
Aracne, jolted awake by the commotion, screamed at the sight of the crimson monsters.
“What are those things?!”
Thunk.
Something heavy landed on top of the carriage.
Rose gasped for breath.
A massive paw dented the roof.
‘How big is that thing?!’
She’d never seen a monster in real life. It was enough to make her faint.
But she remembered the old saying—stay calm even in a tiger’s den.
Letting herself collapse here would be the most foolish thing she could do.
She swallowed the scream rising in her throat.
“KYAAAA!”
…Unlike Aracne, who screamed non-stop, collapsing pitifully to the floor.
Fearing the monster would be provoked, Rose grabbed her shoulder tightly.
“Get a grip! The knights will take care of it.”
“Get it away! Get those things away from me!”
No matter how she tried to soothe her, the panicked princess couldn’t be calmed.
Then came a sharp crack—the window shattered.
Riiiiip. The curtain tore, and a claw burst into the carriage.
Red fur caught in the curtain.
Piercing yellow eyes locked onto her.
Grrr…
Saliva dripped from the wolf-like monster’s bared fangs as it lunged for its prey.
Its teeth clicked together with bone-chilling snaps, shaking the entire carriage.
It sounded as though it might splinter apart at any moment.
“Aaaaah—ugh.”
Aracne let out a final scream before fainting.
Rose tried to lift her up but lost her balance as the carriage rocked again, sending her sprawling.
‘Ow!’
Pain flared in her ankle. She had twisted it. Rose bit down on her lower lip.
When she looked up again, the red beast had nearly forced its way inside.
Grrr. Bark!
Thud, thump. Bright red blood splattered.
In shock, she wiped her cheek with her hand.
The blood wasn’t hers.
The beast that had filled the window dropped to the ground, gurgling blood.
As its massive body slumped away, she saw him.
Arsène.
“Are you unharmed?”
Rose lifted her gaze slowly. Her mind began to clear.
“I’m fine. But she isn’t.”
She motioned to the unconscious Aracne.
“Your Highness!”
“Princess Aracne! Are you alright?!”
Her maids rushed over from another carriage.
When the knight stepped aside, they nearly snatched Aracne from Rose’s hands.
Though she had only fainted, they screamed as if she were dying, rushing her away to another, intact carriage.
Once the chaos settled, Arsène offered his hand.
“I’ll escort you out. This carriage is no longer usable.”
It was in awful shape—heavily tilted to one side, it was a miracle it hadn’t collapsed completely.
Her hands still trembled slightly despite herself.
She took his offered hand and stood.
“Ah—”
A jolt of pain shot through her ankle and she dropped back down.
She frowned and reached for it.
Yep. Definitely twisted.
“You’re injured.”
The knight dropped to one knee, inspecting her.
The closeness of him—the scent, the warmth—made her heart race.
“I just twisted it a bit.”
“Please pardon me for a moment.”
He lifted the hem of her dress and carefully touched her ankle.
Removing her shoe, he winced. The swelling was already visible.
“Can you walk?”
“Probably not.”
Arsène looked genuinely conflicted for a moment.
Rose’s lips curled into a faint smile.
‘Even the crease between his brows is handsome. I wonder how he’ll react if I say I’m hurt…’
His reaction was even more unexpected.
Without another word, he slipped an arm under her knees and the other behind her back—and lifted her effortlessly.
“Eep!”
She thought she might fall and clung to his shoulders in a panic.
His strong jaw was right in front of her, and she gulped.
She hadn’t expected this level of close contact.
Rose stared up at him, memorizing every detail of his face.
As if embarrassed, his throat moved visibly.
Soon, his deep voice rumbled.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. You need treatment in better light.”
Still stunned, she was carried out of the broken carriage like a princess.
Outside, knights were burning the corpses of the monsters. A pile of bloodied fur was already forming.
“That… can’t be. Garmr, in Eretria? Gawain, am I losing my mind?”
“No, Sir Hagen. It’s really them.”
Knights murmured in concern.
The sudden appearance of so many beasts near the capital couldn’t be natural.
Arsène carried her away from the stench and set her down.
A junior knight handed him a waterskin and soft cloths. He knelt and began disinfecting her wound.
The cold cloth made her twitch.
“Is it strange for those monsters to be here?”
“Eretria has regular patrols. Even accounting for shift changes, this area was cleared two hours ago.”
He wrapped the ankle in a bandage with practiced skill.
“So they showed up after that.”
“Which should be impossible.”
“Maybe the knights just didn’t see them?”
“They would have.”
Perhaps noticing her anxiety, he spoke firmly.
“I’ll form a unit to search the area. For now, please focus on healing.”
He gently lifted her foot and slipped the shoe back on, carefully tying the laces.
Then, as if it were nothing, he used a clean cloth to wipe away the bloodstain on her cheek.
His attentive care made her feel warm inside.
Looking freshly composed, Rose rested her chin in her hand.
Her long, silken hair spilled forward.
“…Why are you being so kind?”
She leaned in and whispered softly against his ear:
“I might just fall for you.”
