Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Escape
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She had resolved to escape, but the schedule was quite tight. Lukamin headed straight out into the streets the next day to make preparations for Canibella's getaway. Meanwhile, she pored over the maps he had secretly slipped her, scouting potential escape routes.
'Luminir Empire....'
The Luminir Empire was the supreme nation dominating the continent—the only empire of its kind. It was also home to the Remiachi family, who held a monopoly on continental intelligence. No place was better suited for investigating the incident from six years ago.
Getting in would be extremely difficult, but she trusted Lukamin to find a way. For now, she focused on what she could do herself.
'Think it through. Figure out how to make it happen.'
As she steeled her resolve, the day finally arrived for her journey to the Remius Kingdom. The maids bustled about frantically, while those joining the wedding procession checked their assignments.
Pretending she didn't want to go, she hid and observed the goings-on. Suddenly, a large hand shot out and roughly seized her wrist.
"Princess, it's time to go."
"Ow, I don't wanna go! I said I don't wanna!"
But the queen's chamberlain—a man—dragged her off roughly. When they reached the castle gates, the queen, the king's wife, Lansien, and her second-youngest sibling Rakaeri were waiting. With a quivering voice, she said,
"Father Emperor... Kabel doesn't want to go."
"Canibella, I'm sorry. But you must be happier there than you are here."
As she spoke, the king's wife averted her eyes. Canibella turned her head away as if she had expected as much.
"Your Highness! We will carry out our mission."
Soon, the knights assigned to escort her bellowed their declaration and appeared. Among them, the knight captain rode a fine steed, clad in silver armor. Pretending to cling to the king's wife, Canibella fixed him with a sharp gaze.
'Good thing it's not that Dankun fellow.'
It would have been a disaster if he had come along. She might have died screaming before she even attempted her escape. Fortunately, the knight captain had the look of an honest simpleton. Thinking it a relief, she stared blankly at the man extending a hand to her.
"Madam, I shall attend to you."
But she said nothing. Flustered by her demeanor, he tried again.
"We must depart now. Please, come along."
She squirmed. The knight's expression shifted, urgency flashing across his face at the need to hurry. She pretended not to notice.
'If I were a child, I'd whine even more here, right?'
With that in mind, she screamed that she didn't want to leave, clutching the king's wife's clothes and burying her face in them.
"I don't wanna go!"
The delay in departure made Muila swallow her irritation and bark orders at the surrounding knights.
"Take the princess to the Remius Kingdom at once. You have permission to lay hands on her."
At the queen's command, the knights swiftly pried her away and loaded her into the carriage. The interior was empty. She flung open the carriage window, tear-streaked, and wailed,
"I'm not going! Kabel said she's not going!"
But the carriage set off indifferently, and as the palace receded, she promptly shut the window. The commoners celebrated her marriage with street festivals, scattering flowers on the ground, but the bride herself couldn't care less.
"Lukamin, are you in here?"
"Right here."
She scanned her surroundings, confirmed no one was near, then called for him. He was already inside, precariously wedged into a gap in the carriage ceiling.
"Escape supplies are in here."
With that, he handed her a backpack containing everything she had instructed him to prepare: forged identification, dried rations, spare clothes, money, and more.
"We'll use that once we're in the mountains."
She eyed a certain vial in his possession and said so. He nodded silently.
"Who knew Mother's meddling could be useful for once? A shared carriage like this."
She sneered at Muila. The queen's deliberate choice of carriage had inadvertently made it easier for Lukamin to hide. Just then, he whispered in a low voice,
"I sense someone tailing us."
"I know. But it's fine, right?"
She nodded at his words. She had anticipated a pursuer from the start, and the presence felt like something she could handle.
The carriage pressed on, arriving at the Kaishus Mountains exactly five days later.
* * *
Once they entered the mountains, the carriage began to jostle in earnest. The rugged paths stirred unease among her wedding companions.
"I'll die climbing these mountains."
"Why do we have to suffer for some weird princess?"
"If I die, who's going to look after my family?"
She listened quietly to their grumbling. Gazing at them indifferently through the window, she thought,
Same here. You think I'm doing this for fun?
"Quiet down, you slaves! How dare you mutter such things!"
Their whispers grew too loud, drawing shouts from the knights. The group fell silent at the knights' rebukes, but the spreading anxiety and discontent were beyond even their control. Carrying that heavy atmosphere, the party reached the first rest stop.
"We'll rest here for the day and set out again tomorrow."
At the knight captain's order, they pitched tents and lit fires. Soldiers were posted everywhere to guard against potential mountain beasts. Days passed as they ventured deeper into the mountains.
For the first time in a while, she opened the window to survey the group. Her instincts told her at once.
Ah, so today is the day.
"How's the situation now?"
"We're halfway through the mountains. If we start descending, we should reach the Remius Kingdom in three or four days."
"Then today it is."
With those words, she gazed at him sadly. It was time to part ways with Lukamin.
"It really pains me that you can't come along."
"It's already decided. In exchange for Your Highness uncovering the truth behind the incident six years ago, I promised to find evidence that the current queen's family seized the throne through foul means."
"That's..."
She knew. No matter how discreetly they moved, digging into the royal family was dangerous. And this was an incident that had remained unsolved after six years of investigation. Risks were inevitable, and traveling together would draw too much attention, no matter how careful.
It had been settled back when they planned the operation. So she forced herself to accept the parting.
"Still, remember this one thing. Whatever happens, you must not die."
"Don't worry. I'm already a dead man walking. I won't let myself die."
"Promise me. We'll both uncover the truth and meet again. You shatter the Muila family, and I'll find Mother's killer. Then we meet."
She took his hand. She felt a faint tremble. Lukamin's eyes widened in surprise. His young liege had never shown weakness to him before. It frightened him.
What if something happens to me? What will she do?
The worries he had held back until now came flooding out. But he suppressed them and gently stroked her young back. She looked up at him with a resolute face.
Don't worry about me.
He could almost hear the words in her expression. A shiver ran through him at the sight of his young liege. When had she grown so much? Without showing it, he replied,
"Yes. I promise."
Ah, I must survive no matter what and return.
He vowed to keep his promise to her. Before stepping out of the carriage, he kissed the back of her hand as a token of his oath. Then he vanished.
Lukamin was her last remaining ally. Losing him would be unbearable.
She would crumble, shatter beyond recovery.
'Lukamin....'
She watched him disappear to execute the plan. He had been a father figure in place of the king's wife who had neglected her, a teacher who instructed her in swordsmanship, and the one who showed her the world when she could not move.
'We will meet again, no matter what....'
Her wish rode the mountain evening breeze.
While Canibella waited in the carriage, Lukamin slipped quickly to where the head cook was preparing the meal.
"What's on the menu today?"
"Today it's tomato and pork... Whoa! Who are you?"
The head cook answered absentmindedly before spotting his face and jumping in shock. And well he might—Lukamin was covered head to toe in black, like a grim reaper. The cook had to calm his pounding heart.
"I'm here to help, but you're scaring me like that."
"Aw, sorry about that. I startle easy... Wait, what are you doing!"
He grabbed a handful of salt and dumped it into the food, pretending it was an accident. The cook snapped at him.
"Go fetch some water and don't touch anything else! Just wait!"
The cook dashed out of the tent. Only then did Lukamin wipe the smile from his face and pull out a vial. He emptied every last drop into the soup.
"Today is escape day."
He muttered as he stirred. A faint purple glow appeared, then faded. The head cook soon returned.
"Don't touch anything—just assist me from the side!"
"Yes, truly sorry."
He helped the head cook chop carrots and stir the pot. He portioned out the food into bowls for the group. When mealtime arrived, he slipped away.
"Delicious!"
"The one thing worth waiting for."
Unaware of the ploy, the group chatted away as they ate. Lukamin felt a twinge of guilt watching them, but Canibella mattered far more.
Time passed. Night deepened, and people began to doze off.
"Aren't you sleepy?"
"Yeah, me too."
One by one, they collapsed. Lukamin waited until all were asleep, then descended from the tree and crept stealthily toward Canibella's carriage.
That's when he sensed killing intent. Reflexively, he drew his sword and blocked the attacker's strike.
Clang!
Swords clashed with a ring. It was the owner of that suspicious presence.
"So you're the culprit."
Lukamin muttered indifferently. He swung his blade. The man was skilled, but Lukamin was far superior. Soon, the man was on the defensive. His back slammed against Canibella's carriage.
"Damn it!"
The man yanked open the carriage door, hoping to take Canibella hostage. But he was met with her kick.
"Argh!"
He was flung aside. Seizing the opening from his stunned body, she slashed the tendons in his limbs with her sword. A groan escaped him. In a chilling voice, she demanded,
"Who are you?"
She pressed the blade to his throat. But he bit down on poison hidden in his mouth. Foam and blood poured out.
"Are... mai... for its sake...."
He died without closing his eyes. Biting their lips, the two realized instinctively.
Someone had planted this man to kill her, and whoever sent him was tied to the incident six years ago and the Muila family!
She sensed this would spark a great conflict. Vowing to the heavens, she told him,
"We'll both win this fight and meet again."
"Yes, understood."
He kissed her hand as a pledge and led her deep into the forest.
"This is the coachman I bribed in advance."
She boarded the carriage swiftly. She opened the window and met his eyes.
"Madam, remember this. My one wish has always been for Your Highness to find happiness."
"...."
"Don't let revenge consume you. It will only hinder your happiness."
"....I'll try."
That was their final farewell. The carriage departed, and he stood watching until it vanished from sight.
"Please be safe...."