Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Doubt
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“Damn it!”
At Rainen’s shout, Kashan, who was beside him, spoke up.
“Aren’t you better off calling it quits now?”
“…….”
“The people are trembling in fear. I don’t know what that woman means to you, but they’re precious subjects you have to protect too.”
“…….”
Rainen fell silent. He knew that. How could he not? They were the people he’d have to safeguard once he became emperor. But right now, he wasn’t in any state to think straight. He felt like he was going mad.
“If you have any orders, call for me.”
With that, Kashan left the room. Watching him go, Rainen grimaced at his worsening symptoms. The headaches were growing more intense, his heart pounding without respite. He couldn’t even sleep at night anymore.
His complexion had grown darker by the day, dark circles long settled under his eyes. His close aides were startled at the sight.
On top of that, he wasn’t eating, his body wasting away. He was barely holding on with the medicines from the imperial physicians. Kashan sighed, picturing Rainen’s gaunt face.
It was true they couldn’t keep the people in fear, but he worried Rainen might collapse like this. He was the next emperor, the pillar the people needed. If he crumbled, the entire empire could follow.
Of course, that’s why Raibus existed as a contingency. And once he showed some promise, the nobles started clamoring that Raibus was the true heir apparent. But Raibus was too young, and he didn’t want the throne.
[Kashan, you’re the loyal retainer who’ll do whatever my brother asks, right? That’s what I believe. Please put my brother on the throne. I don’t have even a speck of interest in what they’re saying.]
He was only twelve, always wearing that inscrutable expression, but that time, his face had been utterly serious. Kashan couldn’t read him usually, but he knew Raibus meant it.
He truly had no interest in the throne.
Recalling Raibus’s words, Kashan sighed once more. He had to get that fool Rainen back on his feet soon!
“Let’s head back to the capital for now. You’re exhausted, and so is everyone else. Rest up a bit, then we’ll pick up the search.”
“……No.”
“Look, if you keep this up, you’re really going to die. No matter how important that woman is, you’re more precious to us. You’re the crown prince. If you fall, it’s over.”
“…….”
Kashan pushed hard. Rainen could feel his friend’s worry in his tone and expression, so he reluctantly nodded.
“Let’s gather more detailed information first, then go search again.”
“……Got it.”
Rainen nodded grudgingly. It was the right call, really. Even with the emperor’s help, it had taken time, and the people had been uneasy seeing their village torn apart.
With no choice, he set off on the return journey.
“We’re suspending the search for now and heading back to the capital.”
“Yes, understood!”
Thanks to their swift pace, they made it back to the capital in just a week. Vitality returned to his men’s faces. He felt sorry inside for putting his subordinates through this.
“Dismissed for today. Rest well and report to the palace tomorrow.”
“Yes, understood!”
Hearing their hearty response, he returned to the palace. Seeing the gates open reminded him of how her carriage had suddenly sprouted wings and sped through them in an instant.
“Damn it.”
The mere thought was excruciating, but he held it back. There was still a chance, and he’d find her somehow.
“I’m back.”
Upon returning to the palace, he immediately sought an audience with the emperor. The emperor felt heartbroken seeing how much thinner his son had become, but he didn’t show it, simply telling him to rest before dismissing him.
“Your Highness, you need to rest today. It’s His Majesty’s command.”
As he entered his chambers, the imperial physician who had diagnosed him with lovesickness approached with medicine. Though reluctant to rest, he felt his body’s limits acutely, so he took the medicine and fell into sleep.
* * *
Meanwhile, as Canibella headed toward the capital, a question arose in her mind.
‘Why am I even running away?’
She knew the imperial family and the temple were searching for someone with golden hair and blue eyes. And it was possible that someone was her. But she hadn’t done anything wrong. If she had to point to one misdeed, it was deceiving Rainen.
Sure, that was wrong enough, but was it reason enough for this massive manhunt, practically advertising it everywhere?
It was strange. A nagging suspicion crept in.
‘I need to find out what’s going on.’
So she decided to return to the village. It had been quite some time since she’d left, and the capital was just two days away now. Still, she boldly turned back.
Once decided, she acted fast. She packed her things quickly and retraced her steps. The dense forest led her astray at times, but with her keen sense of direction, she soon found the right path.
‘People keep coming in.’
What was odd was that people kept entering this forest, which the villagers treated almost like taboo. It was a place where the tangled paths often led to disappearances or deaths, so traffic was low—yet now they poured in.
She didn’t bother speaking to them. Partly to avoid attention, but also because something in their expressions unsettled her.
‘My gut feeling’s bad. Better not move during the day.’
She wanted to climb a tree for a better view but didn’t want to draw notice, so she hid in the crevices of large rocks and waited for them to pass.
“What crime has our daughter even committed? What’s so terrible about golden hair and blue eyes?”
“Why does the saintess have to show up at a time like this and make life so hard for us?”
“I don’t get why the temple’s searching for the saintess with the imperial family in the first place. Or why the imperial family’s looking for her.”
She had no idea what they were talking about. But one thing was clear: the imperial family and the temple were in on this together.
Prophecies were usually vague and open to interpretation. But this one was oddly specific, openly naming a saintess and describing her appearance fairly accurately. The suspicions about this whole affair deepened.
‘And they’re not even searching the entire empire. It’s like they’ve targeted specific people…….’
Exactly twelve designated locations. All were large villages on the outskirts, not central hubs, but bustling with travelers. That made it obvious.
They were using the oracle as an excuse to hunt for someone specific.
‘Are they after me?’
Still, she didn’t jump to conclusions. First, she needed to get back to the village and meet the man again. She’d figure out the truth from him, then decide her next move.
So she hurried on. During the day, she hid high in the trees, silently watching the movements below. At night, she used the moonlight as her torch and traveled.
A week later, she returned to the village. It was eerily quiet. Wary of running into anyone, she stuck to the shadows away from the moonlight and headed to the information broker’s shop.
“Closed for the day…… Wait, what are you doing here? I told you to run!”
The man couldn’t hide his shock at seeing her. Why had she come back? What if she got caught? She just shrugged at his words.
“Did the crown prince come through this village too?”
“Yeah…… Because of that, some villagers are so scared they’re fleeing. Damn it, my best customers…….”
“They weren’t using your services anyway.”
“…….”
The man shut his mouth. She cut straight to the point.
“Where’s His Highness the crown prince now?”
“Why do you…… No way, are you……?”
“‘No way’ has killed many a man. Yeah, I’m going to confront him.”
Horror filled the man’s eyes. What? Confront the crown prince? What if you get yourself killed!
But she had made up her mind. She stated her case forcefully to the man.
“I can’t keep running forever. I need to settle this somehow.”
“Why do you have to be the one to settle it? What are you even to the crown prince?”
She gave a wry smile. Yeah, what was she to him?
“That’s why I’m going to ask. I don’t even understand why I have to run.”
“…….”
The man was speechless at her logic. Well, she had a point……
He wanted to dissuade her. But her eyes showed no hint of backing down. The gaze of someone resolved. With a sigh, he said,
“His Highness the crown prince has already returned to the capital. He’s probably there by now.”
The capital was a month’s journey from here. A month was too long. She had to shorten it somehow.
“I’ll arrange a carriage to the capital. Here’s a voucher for quick rental. We have a service here in the village, so use it.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“No need between us. Oh, and you should dye that hair. The mood in the village is ugly right now—they’re grabbing any blonde on sight.”
“Got it, I’ll be careful.”
She quickly dyed her hair with the dye he gave her and took the voucher to the carriage rental. They promptly provided a carriage with a driver. And so, she set off for the capital.
‘I won’t leave until you tell me why. I’m going to get answers out of you.’
She ground her teeth inwardly.