A cold, barren expanse stretched before them. Beyond that, a jagged, gray stone mountain rose sharply into the sky.
“It feels like just yesterday I crossed those mountains to get here.”
Adrienne stared out the small carriage window, silently counting the time.
Three months.
That’s how long it had already been since she came to Rantschka and began living there. A short time, if one wanted to call it that—or perhaps long. Regardless, during those months, Adrienne had done her best to become part of Rantschka.
She needed a place to stay. And someone who would let her stay.
That place was Rantschka Castle—and that man… Lukas Ken Rahel.
“My husband…”
Adrienne looked at Lukas riding beside the carriage, his horse’s black mane fluttering in the wind as dark as its rider.
His sharply cut profile exuded a solemn intensity.
“Why is it… so simple? You could die, you know?”
Strangely enough, that annoyed expression of his had been more comforting than anything else. Perhaps that’s why she had unintentionally let her true feelings slip.
[“Because you’re with me, it’s okay…”]
Even remembering it now made her cheeks flush.
“Marriage is built on affection. Live side by side long enough, and you become comrades-in-arms.”
Comrades.
Adrienne suddenly recalled what Denis had told her before the wedding.
“Why? Is there something wrong?”
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Lukas turned and asked. Caught off guard by being discovered, Adrienne quickly shook her head.
“Get some rest if you can. It’s best while we’re still on flat land.”
Nod.
According to Jeord, they wouldn’t find a proper place to camp or lodge until they made it safely through the Forest of Shadows.
But that wasn’t the real problem. The real danger came after crossing the five jagged stone mountains—through which they’d have to pass to reach the forest.
Adrienne shuddered as she remembered the monsters they had encountered three months ago while crossing the stone range.
Red eyes bulging from misshapen faces, claw-like hands, and terrifying speed. The grotesque creatures, mouths open wide in a hideous snarl as they leapt toward them—just the memory sent chills down her spine.
“The sun is rising, Your Highness!”
“We have to get out of here before daylight breaks. Move faster!”
At Keaton’s call, Lukas shouted a command. If they were unlucky enough to encounter barbarians in this area, they would be in real trouble. Even though each of them could hold their own in a fight, the barbarians moved in large groups—and Adrienne needed protection.
They would be better off facing those ragtag monsters. Once they reached the stone range, the odds of running into barbarians would drop significantly.
“Hyah!”
Gallop, gallop.
“Let’s go!”
Clatter, clatter, clunk.
Lukas’s black horse galloped beside the carriage, guarding it closely.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
Meanwhile, Tessa had just been led by Duke Dephil’s retainer to a northern annex of the Tereze estate. The office was a rectangular room—long but sparsely furnished, with only a desk and a four-person table. It was a simple, orderly space, starkly unlike the grandeur of Tereze Castle.
“My son-in-law sent you?”
“My name is Tessa.”
Despite his polite bow, Dephil only gave him a sharp once-over as he entered.
“So, what brings you here?”
“His Highness asked me to deliver this to you.”
Once the duke had seated himself, Tessa laid a scroll on the table. Dephil stared at it briefly before reading.
“Salt? Is this for real?”
Rantschka, the frigid and barren north, had nothing of value. The only crops that could be grown were potatoes and oats. A newly discovered salt mine there was news that would surprise anyone—especially Duke Dephil.
“Yes, a mine was discovered. I was sent here to request mercenaries for protection.”
“You’ll supply salt in exchange for mercenaries?”
“Correct.”
“Sit down, Te…?”
“Tessa.”
“Right. Tessa.”
At his response, the twitching of Dephil’s brows evened out.
“Barbarian raids are frequent, aren’t they?”
“They believe Rantschka was taken from them.”
“Leech-like scum. Just because a place is briefly vacant doesn’t mean it has no rightful owner.”
Dephil let out a short scoff.
“By the way, Her Highness the Archduchess is safe and well. She’s grown quite accustomed to the people there.”
“Well… that’s a relief.”
“I thought you might be worried about her, so I wanted to tell you.”
“I’m no longer the one who should be worrying about her. That’s her husband’s job now.”
Dephil added with a grumble, his expression sour.
“So, you need mercenaries.”
“Yes. His Majesty is skeptical about deploying them.”
“More accurately, it’s the Crown Prince and House Theonan opposing it, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Their influence spans the entire Rodia Empire. Mercenaries probably seemed beneath them.”
Leaning back in his chair, Dephil smiled faintly. It was the smile of someone hiding an ulterior motive—but truthfully, he wasn’t hiding anything. He still wasn’t ready to accept Tehevia’s subjugation under Rodia.
“Yes. But to protect Rantschka and repel the barbarians, we need your mercenaries.”
“We need salt too. That’s why we’ve been importing it from the northern regions of the Grandis Kingdom at high prices.”
“I’m aware.”
“But since this is my son-in-law’s first request, I suppose I should honor it. Even if it means ending long-standing trade agreements. Don’t you think?”
“Thank you.”
Tessa’s expression stiffened slightly at his arrogant tone, but he managed a gentle smile.
“No need to thank me. Give and take—that’s how it works.”
Of course.
Tessa’s lips held a smile, but his brow tightened ever so slightly. Dephil, however, didn’t seem to care in the slightest and simply smiled more smoothly.
“I’ll assemble as many mercenaries as I can and send them to Rantschka immediately.”
“Thank you. And the salt—?”
“We’ll handle that according to the letter’s terms.”
Tap tap.
Dephil drummed his bejeweled finger on the scroll.
“Let’s hope my mercenaries are of great use to my son-in-law.”
“They will be.”
“That way, I can count on a favor from him someday too.”
“I hope so as well.”
Tessa replied with a polite but somewhat strained smile.
“Curious?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“About what kind of favor I mean.”
“I’m just a messenger following orders.”
“But it seems like you don’t want to hear it.”
Depil’s sharp gaze searched his expression.
“I’ve been taught to be sparing with words.”
“That’s true. You’re absolutely right.”
Still staring at him, Dephil let out a chuckle.
Thump thump thump.
Just then, a loud noise interrupted his laughter.
“What is it?”
Frowning, Dephil shouted at someone beyond the door. Moments later, a middle-aged retainer—the same one who had led Tessa here—entered.
“You said it was important. What’s this fuss about?”
“The Emperor of Rodia has returned to the gods.”
Dephil shot to his feet. Tessa, equally shocked, stood with him.
“What? Is that true?”
“Is it confirmed?”
Their eyes met midair, locked in shared astonishment.
The Emperor of Rodia—Xerses—was dead. That meant Agmund would ascend as the new emperor.
Of all times… why now?
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
Clunk!
Jolt, rattle, bang!
The carriage wheels jolted noisily over the rugged earth. The winding mountain path was steep, and rocks embedded along the way made the ride violently bumpy. Every time the wheels hit a stone, Adrienne bounced and slammed back down into her seat.
“Ah!”
“Are you okay?”
When Adrienne let out a yelp after hitting her head on the ceiling, Lukas rode up beside the carriage and asked.
“Did you hurt yourself?”
Adrienne shook her head, removing her hand from her head. Under Lukas’s concerned gaze, her cheeks flushed again. She felt embarrassed—of all people, she was the one riding most comfortably and making the most fuss.
“Are you alright?”
Keaton, who had been riding ahead, approached the carriage to ask.
“Is something wrong, Your Grace?”
Disaster. Now even Joe from behind had joined in. Flustered, Adrinne’s ears turned red.
“The terrain is just… a bit rough.”
“We can’t afford to slow down. We don’t have much time. We need to get past the Forest of Shadows before nightfall.”
Joe’s troubled tone was followed by Keaton’s firm reply.
[I’m okay.]
Unable to write in the moment, Adrienne used sign language. Keaton didn’t understand, and his brow furrowed. Joe also began to glance awkwardly between her and Lukas.
“She says she’s fine.”
At Lukas’s words, Adrinne’s eyes widened. So did Keaton’s and Joe’s. As the two looked at her in surprise, she nodded eagerly.
“The terrain’s too rough. You’ll have to bear with it for now.”
Nod. Nod nod.
“We need to move past the areas where barbarians might appear.”
[Understood.]
Adrienne signed while nodding. Lukas, who had been watching her, gave a short nod in return.
“Back to your positions.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The formation reassembled swiftly at Lukas’s command.
Rattle. Rattle.
The carriage began to shake noisily once more.
