I Will Not Go to the North
“I’m changing the plan. I’m not going north.”
Esilla’s single statement sent ripples far and wide.
The person in charge of escorting the northern convoy had suddenly declared a change in mission, so it was only natural everyone was thrown into confusion.
“I’m delegating full authority for the northern escort to my adjutant. Over and out.”
She issued the curt order, then opened the door to my carriage without so much as a backward glance and climbed inside.
“M-My lady… are we truly parting here?”
Leoness grabbed my sleeve, her face crumpling like she was about to burst into tears.
It made sense—she’d just gotten out of prison, and now we were facing a life-or-death separation.
Seizing the moment while Esilla was inside the carriage, I sidled up close to Leoness.
“No choice, right? Our paths diverge here.”
“Ugh… without thee, with whom shall I share my words…”
“Go make some new friends.”
“To me, thou art my only friend… I desire no more…”
I replied flatly, but a pang tugged at my heart.
After surviving life-and-death trials together for days, the actual goodbye hit harder than expected.
Still, what could be done?
She had to go.
“Criminal Leoness von Austria! Departure time!”
“Lady Bellaph. Do you plan to stay there forever?”
Right on cue, voices called from both carriages.
Leoness squeezed my hand tightly once, reluctance in her grip, then let go.
“I shall return safely… so please, thee as well… stay safe.”
She boarded the carriage heading north.
Through the receding window, I caught silver hair fluttering in the wind.
She’ll manage.
I believed in her.
She’d endure stubbornly, no matter what.
That left just me.
I trudged into my carriage.
-Thud
The door shut, leaving only Esilla and me inside.
“Let’s depart.”
At her command, the carriage lurched into motion.
Her red hair tied neatly in a ponytail, she maintained perfect posture even amid the jolts—arms crossed, sharp eyes surveilling me.
Uncomfortable.
Really fucking uncomfortable.
Hell, compared to this, hugging Leoness on that hard prison floor felt like paradise.
“Hey, Esilla.”
I couldn’t take it anymore and spoke first.
“Yes, Lady Bellaph.”
“Why me, specifically?”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t the north more important? Why ignore the crown prince’s orders just to escort me to the duchy?”
Esilla scoffed at my question.
“Princess Leoness or Lady Bellaph—which is more dangerous? Obviously, you, Lady Bellaph.”
“Why me?”
“Black magician.”
She stated it bluntly.
“One who shattered the underground prison walls in a single day, no less.”
Her gaze flicked to the restraint collar around my neck.
“Entrust you to mere soldiers? If you wanted, massacring them and fleeing would be child’s play.”
“…”
“That’s why I’m here. If you try anything foolish, I’m the only one who can sever your head.”
She fixed me with a piercing stare again.
Learning why she skipped the north… well.
Hurts my feelings.
Esilla, Adrian—trust in me was rock bottom.
No, beyond that; I was lucky they hadn’t killed me yet.
Thinking of them made angelic Lilliana and my friend Leoness seem like saints.
Lilliana was a bit scary lately, but still.
At least she wasn’t trying to kill me.
As those thoughts swirled, the carriage rattled along the dirt road.
From the capital to Bellaph Ducal Residence was a full week by carriage, they said.
I’d never visited the duchy in the game—nothing to see there—so I was a little curious, but.
A week of this suffocating confinement? My future looked bleak.
///
-Rattle, rattle
A few hours after departure, maybe?
The sun dipping low suggested half a day gone.
I was dying.
Escort carriage meant zero cushioning—just a thin leather sheet over a hard wooden bench.
Every bump on the unpaved road jarred straight through my body.
“Ugh…”
I tried acting unfazed, but my ass was numb; I had to squirm.
Shift to left cheek, then right.
Cross legs, uncross, repeat.
But the real issue was.
“…!”
Esilla across from me, hand on her sword hilt at my slightest twitch.
Even explaining it was just discomfort and nausea—she didn’t buy it.
Her thumb twitched, baring a sliver of blade each time.
Injustice.
My ass was sore, stomach churning from motion sickness, that’s all.
-Crash!
The carriage hit a massive rut and heaved wildly.
“Ow!”
That one really hurt.
Tailbone throbbing, a groan escaped; exhaustion plus nausea roiled my gut.
“Hah… hah…”
Pale-faced, I wiped sweat from my brow.
Stomach flipping. Maybe hunching would help—too rigid before.
Trembling hands clutched my belly; I pulled knees toward chest, leaning forward.
That’s when it happened.
-Crash!
Another violent jolt, the carriage screaming in protest.
“Eek!”
No time to brace—balance gone, momentum hurled me forward, feet off the floor.
Head for the opposite bench corner or flop pathetically to the floor—obvious doom.
I squeezed my eyes shut instinctively.
-Thump
No impact came.
Instead, hot hands snatched me roughly from midair.
“Be careful.”
Esilla.
One hand braced the carriage wall, the other gripped my shoulder firmly as she looked down.
Too close.
Her scent hit me, head spinning.
“Th-Thanks… can you let go now?”
I mumbled awkwardly, trying to rise. But she didn’t release.
Instead, she adjusted her hold, cupping my jaw.
Her thumb pressed my lips gently, tilting my head side to side.
“Lady Bellaph.”
“Ugh, what…”
“You look unwell. Cold sweat, too. Can’t stay still.”
I wanted to snap that she’d only just noticed, but I was too wrecked to speak.
“The restraint collar must be too tight, after all.”
Murmuring that, she stood and slid onto the seat beside me.
Narrow carriage.
Her firm thigh brushed perilously close to mine.
Sudden proximity dropped my heart.
Cramped space, bodies near—her soap scent flooded my nose, thick and heady.
“Stay still.”
Her hand darted in.
Firm, cool leather glove enveloped my jaw.
Forcing my head up, eyes locked on hers.
“I’ll check.”
“W-Wait. Check what…?”
Her other hand went to my nape.
Thumb and index pressed my throat, other fingers encircled the back—like throttling, but no pressure.
Instead, fingers probed the tight gap between skin and metal.
“Ngh…”
Her hot body heat contrasted the cold collar, racing along my neck.
“I said don’t move.”
Her face loomed inches away.
Downcast lashes, sharp nose, lips pursed in focus.
Her steady breaths ghosted my collarbone, shivers crawling my spine.
-Click
Fiddling the collar’s seam—obsessively thorough touch.
Not inspection; more like tracing my neckline.
Her thumb stroked slowly over my vein.
Thump, thump.
My heartbeat, my swallowing— all bare to her fingertips.
“Lady Bellaph.”
“…Y-Yeah?”
“Such a slender neck.”
She murmured low; faint pressure in her grip.
“A little force… and it’d snap right there.”
Sudden scary words from Esilla.
Her fingers trailed my jaw to my earlobe; rough calluses grazing soft skin raised goosebumps.
“I want to dig in, uncover everything inside.”
Her face drew nearer—noses nearly brushing.
Air thickened, sticky.
I shut my eyes tight on instinct.
Then.
-BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked outside.
The carriage tilted sharply, screeching to a halt.
“Kyaa!”
I toppled into Esilla’s arms.
She caught my waist deftly with one arm, sword hilt in the other in a flash.
“Ambush.”
Her eyes iced over instantly. The strange mood vanished.
“Stay inside. You’ll die if you come out.”
She kicked the door open and leaped out.
Chaos reigned outside.
Peering through the window slit, a colossal shadow loomed over the trees.
Muscle-bound giant, easily over three meters tall.
A two-headed monster: Twin Head Ogre.