A Gamble on the Highway
As Elena and Lia closed the distance, the six knights escorting the carriage wheeled their mounts in unison, falling into a flawless defensive formation.
"Halt! Advance any further and you will be deemed hostile and cut down!"
The glare of the knights flashing through the slits of their helmets was as sharp as cold steel. Yet, the moment they laid eyes on the two approaching women, a strange tremor shook their ironclad composure.
A wild beauty with windswept crimson hair, and an ethereal, peerless maiden whose delicate aura practically begged for protection—it was a sight far too surreal to encounter on a dusty highway.
But these were knights trained to the bone.
They immediately adjusted their spears, keeping a safe distance. Elena, playing the part perfectly, raised both hands with a sly, beaming smile.
"Oh my, gentle knights. There's no need to be so hostile. As you can see, we are merely fragile women."
She patted the sweaty neck of her mount, continuing with easygoing charm.
"Look at these poor beasts; they can barely breathe. They're foaming at the mouth and look ready to collapse at any second. I know it's terribly forward of us, but we were hoping to ask for a bit of help. We would be ever so grateful for just a sip of cool water."
But the knight captain at the front remained utterly unyielding, shaking his head coldly.
"I am afraid that is impossible. We are escorting a personage of high standing and cannot permit contact with any outsiders. Seek aid in the next city, Rosen."
At his firm refusal, Elena shot a subtle glance at Lia. Lia let out a silent, weary sigh.
'Sigh... I'm actually starting to get used to doing this crap.'
But to survive, pride had to be thrown to the wind. Lia put on her most pitiful expression, mimicking the sweet, coquettish tone that her former party member, Sera, used to employ so effortlessly.
"Sir Knight... please, I beg of you. My legs hurt so much... I don't think I can take another step. Won't you please help us just a little?"
As tears welled up in her deep blue eyes, the knight captain's ironclad expression faltered, twisting into a look of sheer embarrassment.
"W-well... protocol dictates..."
Just then, the tightly shut window of the carriage slid open with a rattle, and a young man's voice drifted out.
"Jerome, what is the meaning of this commotion outside?"
The knight captain, Jerome, quickly turned his horse and approached the carriage window.
"My lord, my apologies. Two female adventurers were requesting assistance. I was just about to send them on their way."
"Female adventurers? Hmm..."
Intrigued, the occupant of the carriage poked his head out. The moment his eyes fell upon Elena and Lia, his eyes went wide.
"Good heavens..."
He stared blankly in disbelief for a moment before suddenly snapping at Jerome.
"You were going to turn away such beautiful ladies?! Jerome, are your eyes merely decorative?!"
"B-but, young master... letting unverified strangers near you is..."
"Silence! Your stubborn, thick skull is the real problem here. What are you waiting for? Invite them over at once!"
Jerome opened and closed his mouth in sheer disbelief, but he could not defy his master's orders. Swallowing a heavy sigh, he gestured to the two women.
"Follow me. The young master has granted permission."
Elena and Lia approached the carriage, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
The young man looking out the window had rather delicate, handsome features and wore expensive silk robes. He flung the carriage door open, welcoming them warmly.
"Welcome, ladies! I am Edwin Belfort, the second son of the House of Belfort."
Edwin introduced himself with a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Meeting such exquisite beauties in a desolate place like this must surely be a blessing from the Goddess. Tell me, what trouble has befallen you?"
Elena bowed her head politely.
"It is an honor, Lord Edwin. Our horses are utterly exhausted, making it impossible to reach the city. We had no choice but to shamelessly beg for your assistance."
"Ah, I see. My, looking at the state of your mounts, they truly do seem to be at their limit."
Edwin readily gestured to the spacious seats inside the carriage.
"In that case, please, ride in my carriage. There is plenty of room. My knights can tend to your horses and lead them behind us."
The knight captain, Jerome, intervened in horror.
"Y-young master! That is far too dangerous! Inviting complete strangers to ride in your carriage?!"
"Oh, Jerome, do be quiet! What could possibly be dangerous about such delicate ladies?"
"But...!"
Ignoring Jerome entirely, Edwin offered his hand to Elena and Lia.
"Come, please step inside."
Realizing he couldn't stop him, Jerome shook his head and spoke coldly.
"For the young master's safety, I have one condition. You must surrender all your weapons."
Elena's expression faltered for a split second, but she quickly masked it with a sweet, eye-curving smile.
"Hoho, of course. We completely understand your concern, Sir Knight."
She unbuckled the sword at her waist and handed it to Jerome. Then, she pointed to the massive Tower Shield strapped to Lia's back.
"Lia, hand yours over too."
"Yes..."
As Lia grunted, unstrapping the colossal shield and handing it over, Jerome's eyebrows twitched.
'What in the world? What is this absurdly massive shield? A fragile woman was carrying this around?'
Suspicion flickered in his mind, but relieved to have secured their weapons, he took the shield.
Once disarmed, the two stepped into the carriage. The interior, lined with plush velvet seats and smelling faintly of expensive perfume, was incredibly comfortable. Edwin sat opposite them, grinning from ear to ear.
"Now, we must introduce ourselves. May I ask your names?"
"I am Elena. And this is my younger sister, Lia."
"Elena and Lia... Haha! Even your names are beautiful."
Edwin stared blankly at Lia as if entranced, pouring out endless admiration.
"Especially Lady Lia... You are so breathtakingly beautiful, I cannot help but wonder if a forest nymph has taken human form and descended to this earth."
Shuddering inwardly at the cringeworthy praise—the likes of which she had never heard in her entire life—Lia suppressed her goosebumps and bowed her head awkwardly.
"Y-you flatter me, my lord."
"But tell me, how did two such delicate ladies end up traveling this treacherous road all alone? Without even a proper escort, no less."
Elena smoothly intercepted the question before Lia could answer.
"We have urgent news to deliver to an acquaintance in the Capital. We were in such a rush that we failed to prepare properly, which led to our current predicament."
"Oh! The Capital! What a marvelous coincidence. I, too, am on my way to the Capital, summoned by my family."
Edwin clapped his hands in delight, looking like a child who had just been handed the world.
"This is no ordinary twist of fate! I shall take full responsibility for escorting you to the Capital. I was practically dying of boredom on this journey, so I am incredibly fortunate to have found such delightful companions."
Outside, Knight Captain Jerome let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the earth, but inside, the carriage was filled with Edwin's excited chatter.
Though Elena smiled and conversed politely, a cold, sharp calculation gleamed in her eyes.
'Talk about luck. Thanks to this dimwitted young master, we've got the perfect cover to throw Kyle off our scent.'
Lia also felt her tension melt away. Even Kyle wouldn't dare lay a finger on a carriage bearing the crest of the House of Belfort. They would be safe, at least until they reached the Capital.
"Haha, I have attended countless balls in the Capital and met the most prominent noble ladies, but I have never seen anyone quite like you, Lady Lia."
Edwin slid closer, narrowing the distance between them, and suddenly grabbed Lia's hand.
"You are like a pristine, untouched canvas. Your pure innocence stirs my heart so deeply."
Lia forced her lips into a smile, desperately fighting back the shudder running down her spine. She wanted nothing more than to yank her hand away, but she had to play along to keep him pleased.
"Ahaha... you flatter me. I, too... have never met anyone as kind and dashing as you, Lord Edwin."
Though she blushed like a shy maiden on the outside, Lia's inner thoughts were icy cold.
'Yeah, right. I've dealt with more than enough predictable, horny bastards like you on my way here.'
As Lia subtly averted her gaze in discomfort, she locked eyes with Elena, who was sitting opposite them. Elena had an amused, teasing smirk playing on her lips.
'Doing great. Keep stroking his ego.'
Elena signaled with her eyes. Swallowing another sigh, Lia turned her attention back to Edwin. Edwin gently caressed the back of her hand with his thumb and asked,
"By the way, what business takes you to the Capital? You mentioned visiting an acquaintance earlier."
Lia spun the lie she had prepared beforehand. This time, she dialed up the pathos.
"Actually... I am on my way to deliver a keepsake from my late brother. It was his most cherished possession, and his dying wish was for me to deliver it to his friend in the Capital."
As Lia feigned wiping a tear from her eye, Edwin clasped his hands together, deeply moved.
"Oh... heavens! To brave such a perilous journey just to fulfill your brother's dying wish! Your filial piety—no, your sibling devotion is truly profound! Your beautiful soul has made me fall for you all over again, Lady Lia!"
"Ah... yes... well..."
Lia could only offer a strained smile. This man was clearly the type to get entirely swept up in his own delusions.
As Edwin's one-sided courtship and Lia's soulless reactions continued, the carriage kicked up clouds of dust, accelerating toward Rosen, the final gateway city before the Capital.
A few hours after Lia's departure, on the very highway where they had stopped.
Four horses tore through the dust and screeched to a halt. It was the pursuers—Kyle and his party. Dismounting gracefully, Luna began to inspect the tracks on the ground.
Sniffing the dirt and keenly analyzing the surroundings, she pointed down the highway and spoke.
"They stopped here. And... it looks like they spotted a passing carriage convoy and quickly approached it."
Her gaze traced the wheel ruts and the chaotic jumble of hoofprints beside them. Kyle spoke up immediately.
"Let's move. A carriage will be slow; we'll catch them in no time."
Just as he was about to pull his reins, Luna's quiet voice halted him.
"Wait."
Kyle paused and looked back. Instead of her usual adoring gaze, Luna was staring at him with eyes full of suspicion.
"Kyle. You aren't lying to us, are you?"
A sudden silence fell. Kyle maintained a calm smile as he replied.
"Lying? What are you talking about, Luna?"
"You said Leon was kidnapped. That he was dragged away by force."
Luna pointed to the tracks on the ground, calmly laying out her analysis.
"Look here. There are absolutely no signs of a struggle or forced abduction. In fact, they saw the carriage coming from the other direction and intentionally veered off to join it."
She traced the depth of the wheel ruts and the shape of the parallel hoofprints.
"Furthermore, this carriage doesn't belong to any kidnappers. Judging by the wheel width and the shape of the horseshoes, it's a typical large carriage belonging to a noble house. A kidnapper and his victim riding together in a noble's carriage, heading straight for the Capital?"
Luna shook her head, looking straight into Kyle's eyes.
"This is proof that Leon wasn't kidnapped. He is heading to the Capital with a clear purpose. If he had truly been abducted, it would make sense to seek help and return to Verden, which is closest. Instead, they bypassed Verden entirely and are heading to the Capital."
Rather than outright distrust, Luna's voice carried a mix of confusion at the logical inconsistencies and a faint trace of hurt that Kyle might be hiding the truth from them.
"Tell me the truth, Kyle. Was Leon really kidnapped? Or... did he leave us of his own free will?"
Beside her, Sera's eyes went wide as she chimed in.
"Luna? What do you mean? Are you saying Leon abandoned us and ran away?"
"No, not exactly ran away... I just think Kyle is keeping something from us."
Sera looked at Kyle with a bewildered expression. Ella, too, remained silent, idly twirling her staff as she observed Kyle's reaction. Her eyes were deep and still, as if she had already deduced the truth.
Kyle clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Sharp-witted little bitches.'
Yet, he showed none of it on his face. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh, putting on a deeply worried expression.
"Sigh... I suppose I can't hide anything from you girls."
Kyle paused for a moment, then looked up to meet Luna's gaze directly. Shrugging his shoulders, he continued.
"I simply made Leon an offer. I told him that, just like the rest of you, I would take care of him by my side for the rest of his life. Wouldn't it be far happier for him to stay with me and be loved, rather than being thrown into this harsh world with a woman's body? I only wished for all of us to be together."
Luna was left speechless by his blatant admission. He wasn't even trying to hide the fact that he viewed Leon not as a comrade, but as a new woman to possess.
"......"
Luna bit her lip in silence. She knew that look in Kyle's eyes all too well. It was the greedy, relentless glare he wore whenever there was something he absolutely had to possess. She wanted to argue, but a blind, unyielding devotion deep within her heart held her back, making it impossible to defy him. Ultimately, she turned her head away.
Beside her, Ella slowly closed her eyes.
'Just as I thought.'
Her grip tightened on her staff. The moment it was confirmed that Kyle's obsession with Leon was driven by sexual desire rather than mere possessiveness, a cold calculation began running through Ella's mind.
'Leon. I'm sorry, but... you have to die.'
She had no desire to see any more women gather around Kyle. She loathed the idea of sharing his affection, and a sudden wave of anxiety washed over her at the thought that Leon might monopolize Kyle's attention entirely.
'Once we find him, I'll dispose of him myself.'
While Ella quietly nursed her murderous intent, Sera fidgeted anxiously, glancing between her two older companions.
"Kyle..."
Sera looked back and forth between Luna and Ella, but neither of them spoke up against Kyle. Loving Kyle as deeply as she did, Sera also found it difficult to oppose his decision.
Within her naive, foolish mind, a bizarre rationalization began to take root.
'But... if Kyle wants it... and Leon is a girl now anyway...'
Sera looked at Kyle, her cheeks flushing.
'Maybe if Leon becomes Kyle's woman too, the five of us can live together forever... Wouldn't that make everyone happy?'
It was an utterly twisted dynamic, but to these women who had already been thoroughly groomed by Kyle, it was easily packaged under the guise of love.
It was Luna who finally broke the heavy silence. Letting out a deep sigh, she brushed back her messy hair.
"Sigh... Fine. If that's what you want."
Luna looked at Kyle with resignation.
"Let's go for now. Once we find Leon, we can ask him directly if he has any intention of accepting your offer."
"Yes, that sounds like a plan."
An arrogant smirk spread across Kyle's face.
'Of course. You girls could never reject me.'
He knew all too well that as long as these women loved him blindly, they would ultimately accept whatever decision he made.
'Tsk, I originally planned to make Leon mine first before introducing him to the group. The order got a bit messed up.'
It was a pity his plans had gone slightly awry, but the outcome would remain the same. Leon would end up in his arms eventually.
"Come, let's hurry. We must go welcome my lovely little bluebird."
Kyle spoke with absolute confidence as he mounted his horse. Luna, Ella, and Sera followed close behind, each harboring their own dark thoughts.