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Chapter 15
Simon looked deflated at Arthur’s emotionless face.
“You already knew?”
“That the Saintess ran away? Of course I knew.”
“But how on earth…?”
“If things went as expected, the Crown Prince would’ve placed guards on her. Seems the Saintess was craftier than I thought.”
Simon scratched his head.
He had rushed over as soon as he heard the rumor that the Saintess had disappeared, and now he felt a little embarrassed.
Even though Arthur had been shut inside this small bedroom, he seemed to understand the entire situation clearly, as if it were in the palm of his hand.
Simon asked awkwardly, “Shall we send a pursuit team?”
“Did the Crown Prince send one?”
“No, sir. After hearing about the Grand Duke of Bledel’s family, he thought for a moment and said it wasn’t necessary.”
“Damn it!”
Simon was startled by his master’s sudden outburst.
“Honestly, that guy is sharp. Simon! Bring me water to wash.”
“…Pardon? Yes, sir!”
Simon tilted his head in confusion. It was strange that Arthur suddenly got irritated at the mention of the Crown Prince, and even stranger that he was asking for washing water when they should be sending a pursuit team immediately.
But loyal Simon rarely questioned orders.
After a short while, he returned with warm water and a simple breakfast.
Arthur carefully washed and dressed himself. Only after finishing all the food Simon brought did he rise from his seat.
Understanding his master’s intentions, Simon quickly brought over the coat hanging nearby and helped him put it on.
Last came the perfume. Simon took a small bottle from his pocket.
As his strong fingers gently squeezed the rubber bulb attached to the bottle—
“Ah!”
Perhaps he pressed too hard.
The bulb collapsed completely, and perfume sprayed all over the front of Arthur’s shirt.
Simon turned pale.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace! This useless aide will smash his head in apology!”
Before Arthur could even speak, Simon rushed to the bedpost and slammed his head against it, kneeling with his hands neatly placed behind his back.
The small temple bedroom looked ready to burst from Simon’s large frame.
But as if this happened often, Arthur remained calm. He simply held his collar and lowered his head to smell it.
He frowned.
“There’s no spare outfit, and we don’t have time to waste. Get up, Simon.”
Simon, his face red from blood rushing to his head, staggered upright.
“Y-You forgive me, Your Grace?”
“Your head won’t be enough even if you keep hitting it all night. But if we want to catch the Saintess, we should leave by now.”
Arthur stretched lightly.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“…Where to, sir? Do you have an idea?”
Arthur didn’t answer. He only gave a sly smile.
A chill ran down Simon’s spine. The Grand Duke, who always thought ten steps ahead, had clearly set something in motion again.
“By the way… Simon.”
Arthur spoke while adjusting his clothes in front of the mirror.
Simon pricked up his ears.
“Isn’t it strange? Why did the Saintess run away?”
Clatter!
The carriage shook violently again.
Sienna gripped the handle beside her seat tightly. The bones on the back of her small hand stood out white.
Riding a carriage along an unpaved forest road was far more painful than she expected.
“I can’t believe I’m suffering from carriage sickness like this. Ugh!”
Just as she felt like she might throw up, a loud neigh rang out and the carriage stopped. Soon, the coachman called out.
“My lady, we’ll rest for a moment. The horses need water too.”
Those words were a huge relief to Sienna—even though she needed to get as far from the capital as possible.
She opened the rough carriage door and stepped out, stretching her arms and legs.
“Huh?”
They had stopped in the middle of a gloomy forest.
Even though it was daytime, thick leaves blocked most of the sunlight. Moss-covered rocks were scattered everywhere.
As she looked around, a familiar plant caught her eye.
“Huh? They have this in this world too?”
She stared at a tiny red berry the size of her pinky fingertip.
The coachman warned her, “Don’t try tasting it. It’s so spicy even animals won’t eat it.”
Sienna quietly stepped back. Apparently, she had almost proven to have worse taste than a wild animal.
After she moved away, the coachman spoke cautiously.
“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll fetch water from the spring.”
“…In this dark forest? Leaving me alone?”
“It won’t take long. There are no wolves or bears here, so don’t worry.”
With that, he hurried off.
Alone, unfamiliar sounds rushed into her ears—the rustling of unseen animals, droplets falling from leaves, even birds that sounded like people crying sadly.
Anxiety slowly crept up her spine.
“Please come back quickly, mister…”
Only after some time did something feel wrong to Sienna.
The coachman said he was going to fetch water. But something about it felt unnatural.
As she searched her memory, her face suddenly turned pale.
She clamped both hands over her mouth to stop a scream and sprang up from the rock she was sitting on.
“He wasn’t carrying anything!”
If he was going to fetch water, he should’ve at least taken a wooden bucket.
But in her memory, the coachman had empty hands.
He must have had another plan.
Her heart pounded.
“Run before he comes back!”
But the sight of the dark forest crushed her courage. Escaping on foot seemed impossible.
“….”
She swallowed hard as she looked at the empty driver’s seat.
“Can I drive this carriage? I barely passed my driver’s test on my third try…”
No matter how she thought about it, driving the carriage was her only chance of survival.
She reluctantly placed one trembling foot on the step of the driver’s seat—
“Where are you going, my lady?”
A low voice echoed.
The coachman had returned—from the opposite direction he had left—and he wasn’t alone.
He brought two huge men with him.
One had a long scar across his face. The other was bald. They carried heavy leather sacks.
What was inside those? Hatchets? Or animal carcasses?
Sienna tried to steady her trembling jaw.
“I was just… curious about the driver’s seat. And who are they?”
“They’re forest keepers who live near the spring. They’re headed to Abeiru as well.”
Perhaps noticing her anxious eyes, the coachman reassured her.
“They look rough, but they’re quiet fellows. No need to worry.”
He winked at her.
The men smiled kindly without saying a word. But Sienna’s unease didn’t fade.
A man who went to fetch water empty-handed and returned empty-handed—
“If this isn’t suspicious, then what is?”
Just then, the coachman took out the wooden bucket attached to the back of the carriage.
The men handed him the leather sacks they were carrying.
When he opened them, clear water poured into the wooden bucket. The horses lowered their heads and drank eagerly.
Noticing Sienna staring at the sacks, the coachman scratched his head.
“It’s a hassle carrying the bucket back and forth. Their cabin is near the spring anyway.”
“Oh… I see.”
Sienna tried to calm her pounding heart.
“Was I just being too sensitive?”
Soon, the coachman prepared to depart.
Now that she felt slightly relieved, something else started bothering her.
She narrowed her eyes at the narrow seats inside the carriage. The thought of being crammed inside for a long time with those two large men already made her uncomfortable. And besides—
“I paid double the fare, and now he’s letting others ride? Does he think I’m a fool?”
Sienna’s face hardened as she grabbed the coachman by the collar.
“Wait a minute, mister.”
