Chapter 2.
I Want to Live Off That Face Forever!
“The carriage from the Kingdom of Pritan is set to arrive in five days. You’ll leave in it.”
“What? Five days?!”
I involuntarily gaped at Marquis Uzkhal’s words.
It’s absurd enough that my groom-to-be changed just two months before the wedding with the aging emperor, and now I’m expected to leave for the Kingdom of Pritan in only five days?
I needed to completely overhaul my escape plan. A wave of dizziness hit me.
“How did my groom get changed, anyway?”
“Well, that’s a bit…”
A troubled expression appeared on Marquis Uzkhal’s face, and the Marchioness quickly cut in.
“What does it matter why? The important thing is that you’re marrying the King of Pritan. You only need to worry about what you must do for the family once you become queen.”
Even when I was told I’d be marrying a sixty-something emperor at the age of twenty, the Marchioness ignored my shock and only insisted I repay the family debt.
But I had a different view. Since I came to this mansion at age eight after my mother passed away, I had never once been happy.
The Marquis claimed to be my father, but because of the Marchioness’s strict commands, I never called him that. Nor did he ever treat me like a daughter.
It made me wonder—why even bring me here in the first place?
When I turned ten and people began to talk about my beauty, the Marchioness and my half-sister Hayley started to see me as a threat.
To protect myself from their suspicion, I played the role of a shallow, naïve illegitimate daughter all these years—just enough for them to let their guards down.
Trying to coax me like a child with candy, the Marquis said, “Leah, it’s a bit short notice, but the Pritan carriage is incredibly luxurious. Rumor has it it’s even more extravagant than our royal carriages.”
At the mention of a luxurious carriage, Hayley’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Really? Father, can I ride it before Leah leaves?”
The Marchioness gave her a glare and smacked her arm lightly with her fan.
“Leah, you like carriage rides, don’t you?”
The Marquis looked at me with an expression that clearly meant You better say yes.
Since my answer was already expected, I gave it to them.
“I love fancy carriages! I just hope the king is really handsome. What do you think?”
Hayley burst into laughter beside me.
“Wishful thinking. A war-crazed beast might be handsome, but he’s still a beast.”
“You and that obsession with faces,” the Marchioness sneered at me, her eyes full of contempt. “You used to trail after Lord Palette like a puppy.”
Lord Palette was a knight in the Uzkhal household, once among the Empire’s top five swordsmen in his prime.
Having lived with my mother in the slums until I was eight, I knew how crucial it was to protect myself.
So when I met Lord Palette, I was determined to learn swordsmanship from him.
But knowing the Marchioness would interfere if she found out, I played the part of a giddy girl obsessed with his looks.
“Eeeek! Lord Palette, you’re so handsome! I won’t be a bother. Please just let me see your face up close!”
The Marquis, who hated hassle, allowed it as long as I didn’t cause trouble, and from then on, I followed Lord Palette around like a shadow.
For the next ten years, until his retirement, he secretly became my swordsmanship teacher.
But in the Marchioness’s eyes, I was just a cheeky girl who cared only about boys’ looks from a young age.
“She takes after her mother, doesn’t she?”
The Marchioness mocked. I nearly lost my composure at the mention of my mother, but kept my face calm.
It was the Marquis who looked more flustered by her question. He glanced around awkwardly before reluctantly replying, “No, Leah doesn’t resemble Yurahel at all.”
Yurahel. A name I hadn’t heard in a long time.
Tears threatened to fall, so I quickly looked out the window and blinked hard.
I’d been busy revising my escape plan in my head. Listening to their nonsense was a waste of time—I didn’t have time to waste!
“Marquis, I have a request.”
“Speak.”
“Compared to our Harun Empire, Pritan is a remote region, right? Probably behind in trends and all. Could I go to the Crossroads today to look at some fashionable items?”
The Crossroads was the Empire’s most bustling district and the hub of aristocratic fashion. It was also the best place to quickly liquidate the few trinkets I owned.
“I mean, I’ll be a queen. I need to keep up with the latest trends so I don’t get looked down on by those provincial ladies.”
The Marquis, apparently pleased with my haughty attitude, granted me permission without question, even offering a carriage and three gold coins.
“Buy whatever you need.”
My jaw dropped. Wow—unexpected escape funds! Jackpot! Meanwhile, the Marchioness and Hayley’s faces twisted in displeasure.
Before they could find something to nitpick, I slipped out of the sitting room.
Back in my room, I called out urgently, “Millie, we’re out of time. The carriage from Pritan will arrive in five days. We have to escape before then.”
“When should we leave?”
“Tonight.”
Millie’s face turned pale.
Yes, it was a rush, but the longer we waited, the tighter the security would become.
The best chance was when they were least expecting it.
“I’ll write a letter. You go straight to the Earl of Stone’s house and find Robby.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Give it to him personally and get a reply right there. Also, bring me the jewelry box.”
“Right away.”
As I wrote the letter to Robby, Millie fetched the jewelry box I had hidden deep in the closet.
“These are the necklace and earrings the Marquis gave you for your coming-of-age ceremony, right?”
Inside the box were a sapphire necklace and earrings, barely larger than a grain of rice.
“Should we not sell those since they’re a memento?”
She tried to set the box aside.
“No, we’re selling that first. It’s the least meaningful thing I have.”
“What about Lord Palette’s gold button?”
“That stays. Hopefully, I’ll never have to sell it.”
I gently stroked the small gold button. Lord Palette—my dear mentor.
Snapping myself out of the sentiment, I refocused. There was no time for nostalgia.
“Listen, Millie. We’re taking the carriage out. I’ll get off at the Crossroads while you take the carriage to the Earl of Stone’s. I’ll sell the jewelry and get the cash in the meantime.”
“Yes, my lady.”
We rode into the heart of the capital.
I got off at the largest jeweler in the Crossroads with the box, and the carriage sped off toward the Earl’s estate with Millie inside.
✦✦✦
Robby was out horseback riding when Millie showed up. Her sudden visit made him realize something serious had happened.
He took her to his room and quickly read Leah’s letter.
Dear Robby,
Today I was told that I won’t be marrying His Majesty the Emperor but the King of Pritan instead. The carriage from Pritan arrives in five days, and I plan to leave tonight.
If possible, could you prepare a carriage heading for the southern border tonight? If not, just say so—I’ll find another way.
Your friend,
Leah.
After carefully reading the letter, Robby burned it and told Millie:
“Listen closely. Tonight at midnight, I’ll have a carriage ready under the ginkgo tree on Laurel Hill. You and Leah should go there. Got it?”
“Yes. Midnight, Laurel Hill, ginkgo tree.”
“Exactly.”
He got up and rummaged through his drawer, stuffing all his gold, silver, and copper coins into a small pouch.
“Take this for now. I’ll bring more gold tonight.”
“Thank you, Young Master Robby.”
“Go, Millie. See you tonight.”
✦✦✦
The largest jeweler in the Crossroads—this was my destination today.
Among the few valuable pieces I had were the gifts Robby had given me each birthday.
At ten, his first gifts—hairpins and brooches—were crude even to my young eyes.
So I assumed everything he gave me after that was just as cheap. But last week, after getting them appraised, I was shocked.
The necklace and bracelet Robby gave me for his 16th birthday could be exchanged for gold coins.
After I revealed my escape plan, Robby had agreed I could cash them in.
I took out the sapphire necklace and earrings from the Marquis, plus a small tiara and ruby bracelet from Robby.
I’d never worn them for fear the Marchioness or Hayley would steal them. They were practically new.
The tiara especially was so valuable, I knew I had to sell it here in the capital or nowhere.
The jeweler’s eyes sparkled at the sight.
“Oh~ you’re selling the tiara? I’ll offer 13 gold coins—very generous.”
“Wait. Didn’t you appraise it at 25 gold last week?”
“That was last week. The market fluctuates fast for these items.”
I narrowed my eyes. He was lowballing me, knowing I was desperate.
I should’ve been more composed. I probably looked too eager.
“Then give me 15 gold for the tiara, necklace, and earrings. I’m keeping the bracelet.”
“Fine. 13 gold and 30 silver. Honestly, the sapphire’s pretty useless. I’m being generous for you.”
What a thief. But I had no choice—this was the only place I’d found in ten days that could pay in cash immediately.
Soon, Millie’s carriage returned. We hurried back, packed simply, and stashed the money and jewels.
That night, while the mansion slept, we made our escape.
✦✦✦
Or so we thought.
We hadn’t even made it out of the estate. In front of me stood the Marquis’s people—and shockingly, the terrifyingly handsome King of Pritan.
“I asked what you’re doing here at this hour, dressed like that!” the Marquis bellowed.
I swallowed hard.
“Well, you see, Marquis…”
My face flushed red, my voice trembling. But as I glanced at the ridiculously gorgeous King Miklok, I made my decision.
“I heard His Majesty the King of Pritan arrived, so I packed immediately! Are we leaving now?”
“What?”
The Marquis looked utterly dumbfounded. I took a step closer, clasping my hands together and bouncing with excitement.
“He’s sooooo handsome. I want to live off that face for the rest of my life!!”
King Miklok, who had stood there expressionless, slightly raised his left eyebrow.