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Chapter 72
“Rai, be careful on your journey.”
“Yes.”
“Julian, aren’t you worried about your brother?”
“My brother always manages fine, even if I don’t worry about him.”
The two men were ready to head to Fene and had gathered at the south gate of the palace.
Claude was dressed in the uniform of the Begen Agei Empire, and Rai was in his knight commander attire.
Julian had come out early in the morning to see Rai off.
“Julian, I hope you’ll be well by the time I return.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure to show you a healthy me soon.”
While everyone was worrying about their own concerns, Julian held a parasol and quietly enjoyed the situation.
“Oh, by the way. I brought some herbs from the apothecary that might be good medicine for you.”
“Herbs?”
“You’ll see when you go to the apothecary room.”
He had brought the Bled herbs he purchased from the market to the apothecary and even stationed someone there to see if Julian would take them.
“Thank you so much, brother. You even got herbs for me.”
“For my one and only little sister.”
Claude smiled faintly, lifting just the corners of his mouth.
At that moment, another carriage arrived at the palace’s south entrance. Seeing the familiar rose emblem, Julian’s smile immediately faded.
When the decorated Iba stepped down from the carriage, Julian’s expression stiffened completely.
“Why… why is that young lady coming here?”
Julian hurriedly asked Claude.
“Didn’t you know? This time, Lady Iba is coming along as well.”
Having never heard this before, Julian looked at Rai this time.
“……”
He silently watched Iba step out of the carriage. Julian hurriedly grabbed Rai’s hand at that gaze.
Rai immediately turned to meet Julian’s eyes and smiled gently, asking:
“What is it, Your Highness?”
Startled. I thought the dark magic had failed. Julian felt a slight relief seeing Rai’s smiling face.
“Rai, you knew that Lady Iba was coming too?”
“Yes, His Majesty informed me.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“You didn’t ask, so I didn’t say. But is it that important?”
Julian was left speechless, only moving her lips.
“Your Highnesses Claude and Julian, greetings.”
At that moment, Iba approached the royals with Jane to pay her respects. Rai stepped back a step as she came closer.
“Welcome, Iba.”
“Am I a bit late?”
“No, you’re on time. We just came out early.”
“I see. I was worried I’d be late.”
Claude quickly observed Rai and Iba’s expressions. Compared to the greenhouse, the two seemed colder toward each other.
Julian stomped toward Iba in anger. Feeling the burdened gaze, Iba leaned back slightly.
“Are you going to Fene as well?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Why you?”
Though the tone implied, how dare you be involved, Iba was used to it. But Jane, listening from behind, had to suppress her frustration.
“The Fene side requested me to accompany them.”
“What? You?”
When ignored again, Iba also tried not to be provoked.
“Julian, His Majesty personally commanded this companionship. Stop it.”
Claude stepped forward to mediate first. Julian said nothing further, sealing her lips, though her eyes expressed displeasure.
“His Majesty, the Emperor, is coming out.”
Hearing Pla’s voice, Rai led the knights to form a line on the left. Claude stood in the center, Iba on the right, each in front of the carriage they would ride.
Julian dashed to Rai’s side.
“Is everyone gathered?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Hm? Our Julian is out as well.”
“Your Majesty!”
At the nickname, Julian ran quickly to approach the Emperor from Rai’s side.
“You came out to see your brother off. How admirable.”
“Your Majesty, I also want to follow my brother…”
“Wait, Claude must leave the palace first. We’ll talk later.”
“Your Highness, please come this way for a moment.”
Julian, about to link arms with Advan, had to step back due to Pla’s restraint. Feeling like an outsider, she frowned to herself.
“Claude, many are watching your first role as acting Emperor. Trust yourself and act calmly. I trust your actions and intentions.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll do my best.”
Advan patted Claude on the shoulder and moved toward Rai.
“Commander.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I want you to stay by him as if accompanying him with your own life.”
“I will protect Your Majesty with my life.”
Rai saluted, and the knights behind matched his salute. Finally, he moved forward to greet Iba.
“Your Majesty! I will come too!”
At her loud voice, all eyes turned to Julian.
What nonsense is she about to say now?
Iba sighed internally while looking at Julian, but Advan approached her steadfastly, ignoring Julian.
“Lady Iba.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You said you were accompanying Claude to behave completely differently from a Crown Princess.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I hope you show that well in Fene too.”
It sounded like go stir up trouble to your heart’s content, and a small smirk formed on Iba’s lips.
“Yes. I will.”
“I expect it.”
Advan extended his hand for a handshake, and Iba, unafraid, grasped it.
With the brief greeting done, everyone prepared to board the carriages.
“Your Majesty, I will follow my brother to Fene as well.”
Julian approached Advan again.
“Julian, your body is very weak now. You won’t be able to handle the long journey.”
“No! I want to go too!”
“Julian, calm down.”
“I will go. I want to go together.”
The princess shouting to follow held up the departure.
“Julian, this time you cannot follow recklessly.”
At Advan’s firm tone, Julian blinked several times, tears welling in her eyes.
“Father… I really want to go. I don’t know when my body will allow me next. This seems like the last chance.”
Her voice grew wetter with emotion.
She sounded less like a princess and more like an actress.
Iba looked at Julian with an indifferent expression in the carriage.
She will follow, after all.
The youngest daughter and heroine, teary-eyed, speaking like this—how could she refuse?
Seeing the delay, Iba decided to offer Jane a snack as they would depart later.
“Pla.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Tell them to depart the carriage immediately.”
“…What?”
Julian couldn’t believe the command, expecting the carriage to prepare for the princess instead.
“Yes, understood.”
Pla immediately signaled the coachmen to depart.
“Are we leaving now, Jane?”
“Yes, the wheels are moving.”
Iba quickly checked the situation outside.
“Father! I want to go too…”
“Enough!”
Startled by the shout, Julian almost hiccuped.
“Claude going to Fene in my stead is a major task. You cannot go and create more worries for him.”
“…Father.”
“Act like a child only inside this palace.”
This was no lenient, foolish father; Advan scolded the immature princess with the authority of a true emperor.
Advan left Julian and headed straight to the palace.
Left alone, Julian bit her lip. Staring at Iba’s carriage disappearing into the distance, she muttered softly:
“All misfortune, cling to her ankles. Allow no moments of happiness. Take everything away. Strangle her with all your might.”
Without a witch’s power, the curse was weak. Yet Julian continued to curse even when the carriage was out of sight.
“Commander, we have a problem.”
Rai, riding behind Claude’s carriage on his black horse, looked down as a knight approached.
“What is it?”
“The Blanche’s accompanying carriage is stuck in a puddle and cannot get out.”
“What? Since when?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“Why report it only now after such a delay?”
“The young lady asked me not to say anything. But if delayed any further, it might fall behind, so I report now.”
“Understood. The front group will continue to follow His Majesty and watch the surroundings. You follow me.”
“Yes.”
He left the group with one mounted knight.
Looking back, they found Blanche’s carriage tilted, one wheel sunk into the mud.
Knights were trying to pull it forward and push from behind.
“One, two! One, two!”
And she—completely disregarding her fancy dress—was pushing from behind with the knights.
“Commander, you’ve arrived?”
Rai turned his head to check the carriage.
“Who drove the carriage?”
“I did.”
“Explain the situation.”
“There was a puddle, so I tried to speed through. But the ground sank more where previous carriage wheels and horse hooves had passed, and the wheel won’t turn.”
Ten people plus one horse were moving with the carriage but could not free it.
“Your Highness.”
Rai addressed Iba formally.
“…Yes, Duke.”
“Sorry, but we must abandon the carriage.”
“Abandon the carriage?”
“If this many cannot free it, the wheel is deeply stuck. Further delay will separate us from His Majesty.”
Iba nodded at the quick judgment.
“We will load your attendants onto the horse that pulled the carriage and move.”
“Yes, understood!”
The knights moved immediately at Rai’s command.
“What about our lady?” Jane asked worriedly from behind the horse.
“Don’t worry, I will take the young lady. Depart immediately.”
With Jane on the horse, the rest followed.
Left alone, Iba looked at Rai, who only stared at the wheel.
Unsure what to say, she struggled to speak.
To ride Rai’s horse, she needed to get to the opposite side of the puddle. She lifted her dress and stretched one leg forward.
“Wait.”
He urgently spoke in a low voice. Iba stopped halfway.
Rai strode into the puddle where the carriage was stuck, water reaching his shins.
He paid no attention, approaching Iba without hesitation.
“Your Highness, your dress will get wet. I will help you.”
You’re already wet. Shouldn’t you worry about my dress now?
Iba still didn’t meet his eyes but looked at his outstretched arms.
His kind yet ignoring attitude only made her more confused.
“Your Highness, this will delay us.”
“…Yes.”
With his urging, Iba had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck.
