~Chapter 7~
Aisha safely arrived at the port with the children.
‘That must be the ship.’
It was smaller than she expected. But who cared about size now? If she could just get out of here safely, she’d swim if she had to.
She rummaged through her pocket and double-checked the tickets.
“To Ordia.”
The Ordia Empire.
A small empire located a bit of a distance from Draxion, the main setting of The Emperor Can’t Live Without His Captive.
She only knew one thing about Ordia: trade was very active, and many people from other empires lived there—people like her.
“Once I settle in Ordia, I can start the magazine again. Rune’s guild members will handle the printing like always.”
Besides, not even Killian Winters would chase her all the way there. He’d just returned from war—he wouldn’t have the time.
Thinking that, she felt a little more at ease.
“Five minutes until departure…”
She figured they might as well board early. Gathering the kids who were still looking around the port curiously, she said:
“Alright kids, I’m going with Helen now. You all stay safe, okay?”
“Don’t worry about us. You’re the one who needs to be careful. Don’t let shady people steal your money.”
“Y-Yeah.”
Truly dependable. She almost regretted not sending them to inform Rune instead of Leoric.
As she thought that, Aisha handed the staff two tickets.
“Here—one child, one adult.”
Once aboard, Aisha checked the time again anxiously. Five minutes until departure. Surely nothing could happen in those five minutes…
“Um, Miss Aisha…”
“Hm?”
When Helen called her name, Aisha finally looked at the girl. Her face was still full of fear.
“Are you really sure this will be okay…?”
“……”
“I’m just a little scared…”
“Of course it’ll be okay!”
Aisha responded firmly.
“Nothing’s going to happen! Don’t worry about a thing, Helen. Got it?”
She said that, but…
‘My heart’s going to explode. Damn it.’
She was just as scared.
As Aisha fidgeted with her fingers near the deck—
“Hey! You’re so late! I thought you ran off with the goods!”
Her gaze turned toward the man who had just boarded with a large load and the group welcoming him.
‘A merchant? Ordia does have active trade…’
“I made it in time, didn’t I? You’d have been late too, in my shoes.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know—that Duke.”
Duke?
Aisha’s ears perked up like a rabbit’s.
“Kill… what was it? Killi…”
“Killian Winters?”
“Yeah! Killian Winters!”
No. Way.
“The Duke of Winters suddenly showed up with his knights! Enough to fill the whole street!”
Aisha’s face turned pale, then blue.
“Why here, out of nowhere? Especially someone as important as him?”
“That’s what makes it so weird. Now you get why I was late?”
The man shrugged.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but he looked like he was searching for someone.”
“Searching? For who?”
“How should I know? But one thing’s for sure—whoever it is, they’re dead now.”
“……”
“You know how terrifying Killian Winters is, right? If he showed up personally and not just sent his soldiers, he’s serious.”
“Yeah, no kidding. Poor bastard, whoever it is.”
‘T-This is insane!’
He’d already figured out that Sunday Exposé was based in Lindell Street? She never imagined even Killian would move this fast.
‘At this rate, he might even stop the ship. Then I’m completely screwed!’
Panicked, Aisha kept checking the time. Thankfully, less than a minute remained until departure.
She glared anxiously at the ticking second hand of her watch. 30, 29, 28…
‘Please… Please!’
16, 15, 14…
Clasping her hands, Aisha shut her eyes tight.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
“Departing now!”
The booming voice of the sailor brought color back to Aisha’s face. Her knees gave out and she was about to collapse in relief—
But then:
“Wh-What is that?”
“Dear god… What’s happening?”
“I told you! Killian Winters really did storm in with his knights!”
Up ahead.
A swarm of black-clad soldiers was rushing toward them like a horde of bees.
More precisely, at the front—Killian Winters.
‘Aaaaaah!’
Aisha screamed internally and gripped the deck railing. Peering over the edge, she saw the mooring rope had already snapped.
“Stop! Stop that ship!”
The knights shouted as they ran, but the ship had already left. It slowly pulled away from the dock…
And at the very edge of the harbor, Killian stood, black eyes fixed on Aisha.
“N-No… I must be imagining it… There’s no way he knows…”
Aisha muttered with a dazed face.
But why did it feel like his gaze was locked on her?
She couldn’t understand.
‘What, is he going to stop the ship mid-sail? Or jump into the ocean and climb aboard?’
Not even Killian could do something in a situation like this.
Please, god. Protect me.
Aisha, who didn’t even believe in God, prayed with tightly clasped hands.
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, she saw Killian—who had been glaring at her—take several steps back.
And then—
“W-Whoa!”
“Wait, Duke Killian!”
With clenched teeth, Killian sprinted toward the harbor’s edge, and people all around screamed and shouted.
Aisha couldn’t move. She just stared in shock as Killian picked up speed.
In moments, he reached the end of the dock—and leapt.
THUD!
With a loud crash, Killian’s heavy body landed on the deck, and the ship rocked violently.
Now safely aboard, Killian looked down at Aisha like he was about to murder her.
“Huff…”
Aisha’s legs gave out and she collapsed on the spot.
“Sigh…”
Killian continued to stare, then bent one knee to meet her eye level.
“Hello, Aisha Ashton.”
Then, he moved his lips slowly and said:
“Eldest daughter of Count Ashton. Writer and publisher of Sunday Exposé.”
“……”
“Right?”
I’m screwed.
Aisha stared at him like she might faint any second.
“Going somewhere in a hurry? To the point of abandoning your studio?”
“N-No, you’re misunderstanding—!”
Just then—
“Aisha noona!”
From far behind came a sudden shout—Leoric’s voice.
Turning her head, she saw the kids and Leoric being held by the knights.
“I’m so sorry!”
“……”
“This wasn’t supposed to happen… but I got caught!”
You useless, traitorous little brother.
“Hurry and come over here too! They’re actually really kind and friendly!”
Aisha exhaled slowly.
Then she stared into Killian’s dark, gleaming eyes—eyes that had nothing to do with kindness or friendliness.
