YWPWYLFDM 49

Chapter 49

“Really, Father?”

Ayla’s eyes widened as she asked in a voice full of surprise. Freedom… she could hardly believe such a thing.

“Yes. Of course, it would be dangerous alone, so that’s out of the question, but if you go with Laura and Cloud, there’s no reason you can’t go into the city.”

Ayla was genuinely overjoyed by the news, yet a seed of doubt soon began to grow in her heart.

Byron would never truly give her freedom, would he?

No matter how satisfactory his recent behavior seemed, Ayla was still the daughter of his enemy.

And yet, lately, he had been unusually lenient.

He allowed her to carry weapons, and now even promised she could go out when traveling abroad.

It was impossible not to suspect his true intentions.

That night, Ayla finally learned why Byron had suddenly been so kind to her.

She also discovered another horrifying truth.

While Laura slept, Ayla quietly slipped out of the tent and eavesdropped on a conversation between Byron and Cloud.

“…My lord. Are you serious? You’re really going to allow her to go out?”

“Oh, that. Even though she’s from the House of Vicehafen, I couldn’t possibly extend my reach abroad. So it’s fine to let her out every now and then, isn’t it?”

Byron paused briefly, then the sound of him drinking something could be heard.

“When taming a hunting dog, you can’t rely solely on strict discipline. Sometimes, you have to know when to loosen the leash.”

Of course. Ayla stifled a bitter laugh in her mind.

No wonder he’d been unusually kind lately—it was the period for carrots, not sticks.

“…Being treated like a hunting dog is nothing new,” she thought.

She was so used to it now that it barely fazed her.

Still, she focused on the voices from the tent, bracing herself for the grim reality.

“Why worry, Cloud? Afraid she might run away? That foolish girl who thinks I’m her father won’t, of course, but even if she did… why worry? You know I’ve put a curse on her.”

Byron’s mocking words made Ayla’s heart plummet.

A curse? The cold dread hit her like a bucket of ice, and she looked down at her hands, as if expecting to see some mark of the curse on them.

“No matter, if she betrays me and leaves… I just have to kill her before she speaks to anyone. The moment the curse activates, she’ll die instantly, wherever she is.”

She felt suffocated.

She should have realized sooner that, no matter how much he’d brainwashed her from childhood to act as his daughter, he would never keep the daughter of his enemy near him without some kind of restraint.

And the scariest thought of all was this: even after returning to the House of the Duke, would she still have to obey Byron because of this curse?

Would she have to kill even Rodrick, knowing he was her real father?

No… such a thing couldn’t happen. It would be wiser for her to die alone and end it.

Just then, a ray of hope pierced the darkness of the tent.

“About that curse… I…”

Cloud spoke, his voice strained and choked with guilt.

“Why the hesitation? Ah, worried Ophelia might notice? Then just lift the curse before sending her back to the Duke’s house.”

Mentioning her mother, he explained that the curse would be removed before sending her back, so her mother wouldn’t notice.

“…How could Mother notice?”

Ayla bit her lip. It felt like there was so much about her mother she didn’t know.

Suddenly, memories from her past life resurfaced.

Just before entering the Duke’s household, someone had taken her to a sorcerer to perform some mysterious ritual to ensure her success.

‘Was that the ritual to lift the curse?’

It wasn’t certain, but judging from the conversation she’d just overheard, it was a plausible guess.

If that was true, it was truly a relief.

Her hands and feet still trembled, and cold sweat covered her, but she realized that with just a little more endurance, she could lift the terrible curse.

‘I should head back soon. Laura might wake up.’

Even if Laura woke and used the excuse of needing the bathroom, it would be fine, but delaying too long would make it difficult to come up with a believable reason.

Ayla left Byron’s tent and hurried back to her sleeping quarters.

Byron’s party reached the sea late the next night, not at a pier but along a rocky coastline.

Ayla, who had vaguely imagined a pier, found the scene unusual. Though she had never actually seen the sea, she had seen illustrations of harbor scenes as a noblewoman.

The sight was slightly different from what she had imagined, but she was captivated by the ocean before her. Though it was dark, the moonlit waves broke in dazzling white.

The sound of the waves almost sounded like a beautiful song, washing away her fear that Byron could end her life at any moment.

The salty, briny scent of the sea and the sound of the waves enthralled her, making her momentarily forget reality. But seeing the ship prepared for the smuggling voyage brought her back to the present.

“Are we crossing the border on this ship?”

Ayla wasn’t the only one thinking it; Laura beside her asked in surprise.

The ship was tiny, a far cry from the massive ships Ayla had seen in illustrations. Could such a small boat really take them abroad?

“No, this boat will only take us to a trade ship headed for Inselkopf,” Cloud explained, shaking his head.

The boat was a temporary means of transport. Since customs checks were strict at the docks, they had no choice but to transfer here.

“…Not departing? Spending the night here?”

Byron, growing impatient with Cloud’s explanation, snapped in annoyance.

“Sorry. Let’s board quickly, miss. We’re leaving now.”

Cloud, flustered, offered his hand to Ayla, who took it and climbed aboard.

Including Ayla, there were five passengers: Byron, Cloud, and Laura with her mother. Aside from them, only one boatman was present.

Others were traveling by different means. After confirming everyone was aboard, the boatman began rowing. The small craft slowly moved away from the shoreline until the land was swallowed by darkness.

Floating on the dark sea under a small lantern was eerie but thrilling.

Soon, a bright light appeared in the distance—a signal from the trade ship.

“Is that the way?” the boatman asked.

“Yes. Please,” Cloud replied.

The small boat soon reached the massive sailing ship, and the crew lowered a rope ladder for them.

Byron was the first to clumsily grab the ladder with his hook and remaining hand, followed by Ayla.

Once everyone was on deck, a man who seemed to be the captain greeted them politely.

“It’s an honor to have you aboard. Count Senospon repeatedly instructed us to take special care of his esteemed guests.”

Ayla, intrigued by his accent, noticed his tanned skin and unique speech, identifying him as a foreigner—likely from the Kingdom of Inselkopf.

“Thank you. We’re counting on you,” Byron grumbled. The captain, bending to please him, continued respectfully.

“Hot water is prepared in the cabins. Please go rest.”

“Yes, that’s perfect. I’m exhausted,” Byron nodded, and a crew member guided them to their cabin.

Ayla’s cabin, shared with Laura and her mother, was simple: three small beds and a tiny table.

The sailor apologized for the modest accommodations, explaining it was a cargo ship hastily fitted for passengers. But compared to the hardships of sleeping rough, it felt luxurious.

After a warm bath, Ayla felt sleep overtake her and lay on the soft bed. The gentle rocking of the ship made her realize she was truly in the middle of the ocean.

‘…Amazing.’

Though she felt a bit silly for getting excited like a child in such a dangerous situation, Ayla focused on the waves beneath her. She wanted to experience the sea fully, but fatigue quickly overtook her, and she fell asleep.