Tremors on the Trail
At the village entrance amid the ongoing pursuit, Norn—reins clutched in hand as he waited for Vera and Rene—brightened at the sight of figures approaching from afar and spoke up.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Not at all. Ah, and this must be…”
In the midst of their exchange, Norn’s eyes finally caught Rene, who had been hiding behind Vera. A natural exclamation slipped from his lips.
Indeed, there’s a reason Vera looked so dazed.
Up close, Rene was without a doubt the most beautiful person Norn had ever laid eyes on. Even as a girl not yet fully grown, her beauty was palpable.
Norn imagined that in a few years, her name would echo across the continent as the most beautiful woman alive. Composing himself, he offered her a warm smile and a greeting.
“A pleasure to meet you, Saint. I’m Norn, Vera’s adjutant.”
“Ah, yes… Please take care of me.”
As Rene dipped her head slightly toward the sound of his voice, one new fact from his words struck her.
‘Vera’s adjutant.’
She didn’t know much, but Rene was aware that knights who traveled with adjutants held higher ranks than ordinary knights.
Sir Knight is more impressive than I thought…
It didn’t feel real. The Vera she knew was like a stubborn, upright knight from a story—someone who didn’t seem like he commanded others.
For a moment, Rene felt awkward holding Vera’s hand, having just realized this. Then Vera, who had been silent until now, finally spoke to her.
“Norn and I will escort you to the Holy Kingdom. We can’t take it easy since pursuers are closing in—please bear with us.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll travel by horse. Please ride with me, Saint.”
At those words, Rene’s body flinched.
“I… I’ve never ridden before. Will it be all right?”
“Yes. I’ll handle the horse, so just lean on me.”
“All right…”
“This way, then.”
Guided by Vera, Rene mounted the horse for the first time in her life and felt her entire body stiffen. Her body bobbed slightly with the horse’s movements. With nothing solid to hold onto, her muscles tensed. It was all combining into this overwhelming sensation.
“I-I won’t fall off, right?”
“No need to worry. Even if the horse bucks and throws you, I’ll catch you.”
Vera answered her question like that, then mounted behind her, adjusted their posture, and pulled Rene’s body back against his chest.
“Hold on tight. We’ll have to move fast.”
“Ah, yes.”
Rene reached out, wrapped her arms around Vera’s waist, and rested her head against his chest. And then—
Thump.
Thump.
The sound of a heartbeat reached her ears. She felt the heat radiating from his body. Rene couldn’t tell whose temperature or pulse it was.
*
Three days. That was how long Vera had been traveling with Rene. It should have been enough time to reach the Holy Kingdom by now, but her stamina and the pursuing trackers had delayed them. They were finally nearing the border.
While letting the exhausted horses rest after a hard ride, Vera looked up at the sky to gauge the time.
…Evening.
The sun was setting, dyeing the sky deep indigo.
Half a day, and we’ll be there.
No need to reach the Holy Kingdom itself. Once they crossed the border, the pursuers wouldn’t dare follow.
He wanted to finish the horses’ rest and hit the road again, but…
…That would push the Saint too far.
Vera’s gaze turned to Rene. She leaned against a tree, her face smeared with fatigue. Even leaning on him, riding a horse for three days of forced march had to be grueling for her.
Having thought it through, Vera approached her and spoke.
“We should rest here tonight.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes. If we leave early tomorrow morning, we should enter by afternoon.”
Rene nodded at Vera’s words, then gave an abashed smile and apologized.
“Sorry. It’s because of me, right?”
“Nothing to apologize for. It’s only natural to match the pace to the Saint we’re escorting.”
At his response, that strange tickle that had clung to her these past three days scratched at her insides again. While riding pressed against him, while dismounting and talking like this, even before bed—it would suddenly flare up.
Feeling her face flush at the inexplicable tickle, Rene bowed her head awkwardly and mumbled a reply thick with embarrassment.
“R-Right… Yes! Please take care of the rest of the trip!”
Her words dripped with tension. Moments later, a low voice slipped into her ear.
“Yes. We’re about to eat—anything you’d like?”
“Nooo!”
Her voice cracked high. Feeling her face burn like a horse’s tail flicked her, Rene clenched her fists and continued.
“Ah, anything’s fine.”
“Understood. I’ll be right back.”
Rustle.
Rustle.
Vera’s footsteps faded away. Rene sighed deeply, unable to understand why she was acting like a fool the moment they left the village.
Am I nervous…?
Maybe leaving her lifelong home for an unfamiliar place had her on edge. It was a plausible guess.
Putting the cause on Vera didn’t fit—they’d talked so easily back in the village. His attitude hadn’t changed since leaving either. The problem had to be with her.
As she tapped her legs, drumming up that guess amid her unsettled gut these past three days, a sudden sensation flushed her face again. It rose in her mind. No—in her body.
The warmth felt while clinging to him on horseback, his scent, the heartbeat drilling into her ear. Warm, heavy sensations best described as a sense of security.
Feeling that tickle stir in her belly again, Rene thought to herself.
Ad-Adults really are different!
Yeah! It’s because I’m nervous that I’m leaning on him!
She didn’t know his exact age, but from his voice and the size of his body against hers, he was clearly much more grown than she was.
Unfamiliar surroundings. Unfamiliar situation. The anxiety bubbling up made her rely on him without realizing it. That’s why being near him felt so strange.
…Or so Rene told herself.
Lost in that self-rationalization bordering on denial, she heard rustling footsteps approaching. Growing closer. Probably someone’s.
Thinking it might be Vera returning, she tensed—
“Saint, are you feeling all right?”
Recognizing Norn’s deep voice, she relaxed.
“Ah, yes. Thanks to your consideration.”
“Mm. Just a bit longer until we reach the capital tomorrow—hang in there.”
“Yes, please take care of me.”
After their brief exchange, silence fell. Then a thought crossed her mind, and Rene’s lips twitched.
“Um, Norn?”
“Yes, speak freely.”
“Is Vera someone important…? Since you’re his adjutant…”
Her words tumbled out disorganized for some reason. Norn chuckled and replied.
“You could say that. He’s an Apostle bearing the Oath’s Stigma, so he holds a very high position even in the Holy Kingdom. Ah, but still below you, Saint. You’re treated as equal to His Holiness.”
“A-An Apostle?”
“Mm? Yes, an Apostle.”
Surprise flooded Rene at his words.
…I had no idea.
In a way, it made sense. Vera had never once mentioned it, so she had no way of knowing.
Well…
It would be ridiculous for someone coming to fetch the Saint—or risking danger to do so—to be low-ranking. In the end, it was just her lack of realization that she was the Saint causing this mix-up.
Nodding faintly in belated understanding, Norn continued.
His next words made her body go rigid.
“He’s remarkable. Undertaking austerities at such a young age without hesitation.”
Young age. The words pricked at her nerves for some reason.
“Wh-What do you mean by young…?”
“Ah, didn’t he mention? Vera’s eighteen this year.”
Eighteen. Four years older.
Her thoughts froze at those words. Her body stilled. Her mind swirled with them.
She didn’t know why she was reacting this way.
All she could do was panic at her own bizarre response.
“He came to the Holy Kingdom four years ago to become an Apostle… right at your age now, Saint. I still remember that Vera. Young as he was, his swordsmanship was top-notch.”
His words droned on, but Rene couldn’t focus.
Young age. Eighteen. Four years older.
That’s all that filled her head.
“Th-That’s impressive…”
Her replies were nothing but cliches.
Thump.
Thump.
Suddenly, her heart pounded like a drum. An inexplicable reaction she’d never felt before, leaving her fidgety and anxious without knowing why.
Unable to pinpoint the cause, her confusion mounted, twisting her expression strangely—
“Saint, it’s ready.”
Vera’s voice rang out.
Rustle.
His footsteps drew near.
Thump.
Thump.
As they grew louder, so did the throbbing in her chest.
Still, she didn’t know why.
*
Deep into the night, Vera gazed at the sleeping Rene before shifting his eyes to the campfire, lost in thought.
…She’s been so tense.
That aura had thickened since leaving the village, now blatantly obvious even at a glance.
Grip.
Vera clenched his fist. He blamed himself for her tension.
I should have been more attentive…
His impatience had gotten the better of him. And there were reasons.
The pursuers drawing ever closer. Was it the delays? They’d gone from approaching to nipping at their heels.
They hadn’t encountered them yet, thankfully, but for safety’s sake, they should depart at dawn.
As Vera pondered—
“Vera.”
Norn approached from beyond the brush.
Vera glanced at him and asked.
“Any sign?”
“No Draconian traces. However…”
“Night’s Followers. Right?”
“…Yes.”
Vera scowled and clicked his tongue at the confirmation.
“We leave now.”
Night’s Followers were trouble. Not for their strength, but because it was night.
Acting on the thought, Vera rose and instructed Norn.
“I’ll wake the Saint. Prepare to depart.”
“Yes.”
Vera watched Norn leave, then scattered dirt over the campfire, extinguishing it as he steadied his breath.
…Thought we’d slip through easy.
In the end, annoyances had caught up.