Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Leaving Bratz
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“…I wish you were dead.”
Countess Mary kept muttering as if she had nearly lost her mind. Chel seemed quite shocked by his mother’s state and stood frozen behind the bed without moving. Ian glanced at her and instructed the warrior.
“Call Clan Leader Kakantir and Nersarn.”
“Yes, Ian.”
“I wish you were dead. I wish your flesh were torn to shreds so that even the fact you were born into this world was forgotten.”
“Mother. You’d better stop hurting yourself. The investigation team is still in the manor. If they catch you, I’ll have no choice but to hand you over.”
At his words, Mary froze. Was it because blood rushed to her head? It almost sounded like Ian was saying he would let her live.
“Ian. Are you saving us? What about Father?”
“Chel, you’re in no state to be asking that. Father’s already been captured by the Central Army, so there’s nothing we can do. Do you have any belongings to pack?”
Upon hearing that Derga had been taken by the Central Army, Countess Mary’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor. Chel was the same. It was too dark to see clearly, but he was surely shocked and on the verge of tears.
“I’ll… I’ll save Father.”
“What?”
The words didn’t match her trembling voice at all. Before Ian could ask again, the Cheonryeo tribesmen let out faint chuckles. Who exactly was supposed to save whom?
“Chel. Get a grip. Haven’t you grasped the situation? Deo’s dead, the steward’s dead, and most of the manor servants are dead. And that’s not all. The territory’s people resent Count Derga for the battle’s damages. If you and your mother want to survive in Bratz, this secret space is your only option.”
The harsh reality being dumped on them seemed unbelievable. Chel flinched repeatedly as he looked at his mother and the dark room. Live here forever? No, absolutely not.
Ian turned his head at the sound of footsteps from outside.
“Ian. Kakan and Nersarn are here.”
“Good. I’ll be out soon. Mother, and Chel.”
Ian paused in thought, then snapped his fingers as if he’d decided on a destination.
“It looks like your only place to go is your family home. Prepare to leave with the warriors. We’ll depart as soon as dawn deepens.”
“Ian. Where’s this woman’s family home?”
“Who knows? I don’t.”
Shocked once by being called “that woman,” and shocked again by Ian’s nonchalant attitude, Countess Mary was speechless. In her stead, Chel answered.
“…F-Fontrol.”
“Fontrol? Ah, that’s north of Bratz. We’ll have to go around Merelrof, so it’ll take about half a month. The distance is one thing, but the rugged mountains…”
“Why go around Merelrof? We can stop there, grab some clothes and food…”
“Merelrof has completely sealed its gates. They’re the ones who killed the steward. They’ve issued their own lockdown until the situation clears up because they don’t want to get involved.”
At Ian’s words, Countess Mary whipped her head around in disbelief.
It was understandable that they hadn’t helped during the standoff with the Central Army. They could have been implicated in treason themselves. But killing the steward? That was utterly unthinkable.
“Merelrof… killed the steward…?”
“What’s wrong, Mother?”
“That bitch… she shouldn’t have done that. Not to me…”
The sight of her gnawing at her nails while muttering was eerie beyond words. The warriors looked at Ian with uneasy expressions, but he had no idea what was going on either.
“…We’re going into Merelrof.”
Mary nodded as if she’d made up her mind.
“Ian, before we leave Bratz, I need to stop by my room in the main building.”
“Have you lost your mind, Mother?”
The nuance was clear: stop saying ridiculous things. But she stood firm and expressed her will strongly.
“If we go there, Merelrof won’t be able to chase us out easily. We can borrow some funds, get various kinds of help…”
Ian couldn’t read her mind, but it was obvious it was a total mess inside. He crossed his arms and watched as if daring her to spout more nonsense.
Countess Mary suddenly stopped and asked back.
“My husband… Derga hasn’t been executed yet, right?”
“That’s right. The execution was postponed thanks to you and Chel.”
At those words, color returned to Countess Mary’s face. The only ones who knew she’d sent a letter to First Prince Marib were Derga and herself. If they could just hold out until a reply came from the palace, it wasn’t entirely hopeless.
“Yes. Yes, yes…”
“If you understand, hurry up and prepare.”
“Ian, let’s go to Merelrof! To Merelrof…!”
“Mother. If you don’t shut up, I’ll gag you.”
Ian turned his back as if he’d heard enough. The investigation team was camped in the main building. How did she plan to get in and out of there? He wondered who Chel took after, being so clueless about the situation, but it turned out he took after his mother.
“Guard this place. I’ll go see Kakan for a bit.”
“Yes, yes. Take your time.”
“Hey, you brat over there. You really have no luggage?”
“Uh, uh, no… And I’m Chel Bratz…!”
Ian climbed the stairs, listening to the pathetic exchange behind him. Kakantir and Nersarn, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, entered through the grass-camouflaged entrance and took Ian’s hand.
“You were inside?”
“They’re doing just fine.”
They had moved the innocent Kusille here to avoid the investigation team’s eyes, using the excuse that the stables were too cramped. Fortunately, the team didn’t care much since they’d secured the horses.
“We can send them off at dawn today if needed.”
“Yeah. Let’s do that. Who’s the best with horses?”
At Kakantir’s question, the warriors eagerly volunteered.
“Me, Kakan.”
“Leave it to me.”
They needed to blatantly deceive the Central Army and escape the territory. And with a woman and child, no less.
That wasn’t all. They had to lure the Central Army far away without getting caught, so they needed not just riding skill but sharp situational awareness too.
“Shul and Naru. You two handle it.”
“Don’t worry, Kakan!”
“Woo! Finally getting to swing a sword?”
“No recklessness. Take them as far as possible and deal with Mary and Chel. Bury them in heaven and earth so no one finds them.”
They couldn’t hand them over to the Central Army. That would earn Erika merit and affect the palace’s positive view.
But if they quietly disposed of Mary and Chel?
“Let those Central Army bastards wander the border for years.”
They wouldn’t return until they found the bodies. Since Mary and Chel were rebels, they couldn’t just abandon them for “getting away.” Even if operations halted, their credibility would hit rock bottom—killing two birds with one stone.
“The sun will rise soon.”
Kakantir nodded, looking at the reddening sky. The warriors assigned to Mary and Chel packed water and food and changed into Variel clothing.
“This is so uncomfortable. Why wear this crap?”
“Yeah. It’s gonna rip.”
Their bulky frames made the clothes visibly tight, but there was no choice. They had to thoroughly hide that they were Cheonryeo Tribe warriors. If their involvement leaked, treason charges would drag everything down the drain.
“Bring Mary and Chel.”
“Yes, understood.”
The warriors went underground and dragged the two out. They looked shocked at the manor’s completely changed landscape after just a few days. The annex on the verge of collapse from burning, Kusille everywhere, Cheonryeo tribesmen all around. They seemed confused if this was really Bratz.
“Long time no see. Countess Mary, and Chel.”
At Kakantir’s greeting, the two snapped their heads around. Countess Mary’s eyes narrowed venomously as she pulled her son close.
“Regrettable how things turned out.”
“You Cheonryeo…!”
Mary swallowed a curse and barely held back. Derga was still alive, wasn’t he? They had to survive somehow until First Prince Marib’s reply.
She knew these people weren’t helping out of pure goodwill, but still, they had no choice but to stick their heads into the tiger’s jaws.
“I trust you understand each other’s circumstances. Consider this our final act of kindness.”
Countess Mary chewed her lips. Was this what it felt like to step into a trap knowing it was there? She gripped her son’s hand tightly and nodded.
“Good. Cover your faces with hoods.”
“This way.”
“Hurry!”
Ian approached Mary and Chel as they moved toward the horses and whispered.
“The warriors will guide you to Fontrol, but they won’t risk their lives for you.”
In other words, cooperate fully and stay low. It meant they’d abandon the two at any sign of danger to themselves. As Mary glared while grinding her teeth, Ian just smiled.
“If you don’t like it, call it off now.”
Staying meant only two choices: live like moles in the secret storage until a miserable death, or get caught by the investigation team and executed with Derga.
Chel grabbed his mother’s arm and pulled, urging her to hurry.
“Ian, you bastard…”
“I’ll never forget the warm love you showed me, Madam. Thank you. But I don’t particularly want to see you again.”
“…”
Mary regretted it. She should have just killed him when she first learned of his existence. Or cut off his limbs, burn out his eyes and ears, and send him to the Cheonryeo. So many missed opportunities, so much regret.
“Now. Time to go.”
“W-Wait, Ian. Father…”
“Chel!”
Mary glared at her son, signaling no more talk with Ian. Mary and Chel donned black hoods and mounted the horses.
“The investigation team has started dinner and their meeting.”
“Now’s the time. Keep the main gate open.”
“Yes, understood!”
Neigh!
The horses carrying the two galloped fiercely through the manor’s center. A few soldiers reflexively turned at the whinny, but that was it. Horses came and went dozens, hundreds of times a day.
Clop-clop!
The two horses quickly entered the village and raced down quiet roads. A few territory folk glanced at the shadows in the darkness but paid little mind.
“What’s got them in such a hurry?”
“Yeah. And it’s getting dark.”
People’s attention vanished into the night without a trace. The remaining Cheonryeo tribesmen confirmed the horses were running smoothly and hurried with cleanup.
“Set the grass naturally.”
“Put a rock on it?”
“No. That’d draw suspicion. Restore it exactly as before.”
“Yes, understood.”
Meanwhile, Ian looked toward the lit annex. He was trying to guess why Countess Mary insisted on returning to her room even in this situation.
‘What on earth… Why did she think Merelrof would help her?’
But Erika was using it now. Once the investigation team left following Mary, he’d have to search the place soon.