YWPWYLFDM 32

Chapter 32

“Why are you kneeling all of a sudden? You’re not a criminal. Stand up and sit comfortably.”

Winfred’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at her posture. Alexia shook her head.

“What else am I, if not a criminal?”

“…Even His Majesty said he wouldn’t punish you, so please stand up. Unless you intend to defy the Crown Prince’s orders.”

Winfred spoke with a gentle smile, and only then did Alexia rise. Yet her expression remained uneasy, as if she would rather be punished and find comfort in that.

“The Emperor said my crime would be absolved if I safely escorted you to the palace and back, so I only need to focus on my duty, Your Highness. You may relax your expression now.”

It was her rightful duty in the first place, yet how could doing that truly absolve her of guilt? Alexia felt a bitter taste in her mouth but could only nod in agreement.

In a few days, they would leave Agrio and return to the capital, Venator. She had to ensure perfect protection.

Though according to the original schedule they should have already departed Agrio, a few days had been delayed while searching for Cloud. As she was thinking about hurrying back to prepare for departure, her eyes fell on the book Winfred was reading.

“A Register of Imperial Nobility?”

So that was what he was so seriously reading. But why was he suddenly looking up a register of nobles?

Noticing her gaze on the cover, Winfred quickly shielded it with another document.

That only made him appear more suspicious. And his restless expression didn’t help.

“…D-Do you have something to do?”

He even stammered as he spoke.

Alexia narrowed her eyes at Winfred. That expression… she had seen it many times—whenever her son, Bradley, got into trouble and tried to hide it from her.

But this was the Empire’s only heir, the future Crown Prince. She couldn’t press him, so with a lingering unease, she left the room.

“Phew.”

Once Alexia left, Winfred exhaled deeply. He couldn’t understand why he had been so flustered. It would have been less suspicious to act confidently, he thought, as he rapped his own head with his fists in frustration.

The reason Winfred had been scrutinizing the imperial nobility register was… because of Ayla.

He had definitely heard the surname Hailing and assumed it belonged to a noble family. If she was a high-ranking noble, he surely wouldn’t forget her. So he was meticulously reading the register, down to the minor nobles.

‘I wonder if Ayla is doing well…’

Thinking of her made his chest tighten inexplicably. He didn’t know why—it was as if his heart itself ached. He truly wondered where she was and what she was doing, but he couldn’t imagine it at all. That was because he knew nothing about her—except for her name.

Even that name might not be real. A girl with so many secrets could easily have given a false name.

Yet still, he silently pronounced that precious name with his tongue. Again, it tingled.

‘I want to see her.’

Sighing, Winfred habitually looked up at the ceiling, as if Ayla might be perched on the roof above. Someday, he thought, he would meet her again. She had said so.

Winfred closed his eyes.

Cloud struggled to open his eyes. The cumbersome bandage around his right eye made his vision extremely narrow when using just one eye.

Even that limited vision wavered, as dizziness made it hard to focus. Alexia’s sword had truly wielded incredible force.

How had he even survived escaping the city with that? His head spun, and blood streamed endlessly from the corner of his eye.

Using the hemostatic agent he had, he had performed self-first aid and leapt over the high city walls to evade the guards. His leg had been injured in the fall, but he had run tirelessly, enduring the swollen ankle pain, until he had escaped to this location.

And then he had lost consciousness. When he regained it a few days later, he sent a letter to his sister-in-law, Capella.

Cloud struggled to get up; he needed to reunite with his companions as soon as possible.

“Already trying to get up? You should rest a bit more.”

The elderly physician who had been taking care of him spoke with concern. Cloud shook his head.

“…It’s my own choice. I’ll just take the medicine.”

The old man clicked his tongue and handed him a cup of medicine. It was bitter, but after drinking it all at once, Cloud felt a bit more alert.

“The letter…?”

“It’s been delivered. Don’t worry.”

The old man lived outside Agrio, in the forest beyond the city walls, and healed anyone for a price. He didn’t care if they were criminals and had treated countless suspicious patients.

Most were regulars, but this young man had somehow found him.

“Thank you, then.”

Cloud set down a pouch filled with gold coins on the desk. He was now able to move, and it was time to return to where his niece and sister-in-law waited.

“…Wait. You should take the medicine with you.”

The old man hurriedly handed him the rest. The taciturn patient silently accepted it.

“Your vision may be worse than before, but you won’t lose it completely. I think I earned my fee.”

The old man eyed the gold coins greedily.

But the scar could not be helped. If he had treated it with healing magic from the start, it would have healed cleanly, but removing an existing scar was not easy.

The old man clicked his tongue at the ruin of a handsome face, counting his gold coins with glee. When he finally looked up, the quiet patient had vanished without a trace.

“…How long do you plan to keep me waiting on the roadside?”

A noblewoman, covering her mouth with an ornate lace fan, asked in a high-handed tone. The young noblewoman sitting beside her glared as well.

The guards at Agrio’s city gate bowed in fear.

“Apologies, ma’am. Orders from above…”

They had been instructed to search every carriage thoroughly, which was delaying the inspection. Holding the portrait of the Prince who had led a rebellion ten years ago, the guards had to check every face passing through the gate.

Searching a noble’s carriage was particularly difficult. No matter how brave someone was, the noblewoman’s commanding gaze could intimidate them.

After a tense period, no suspicious person was found in their party. Some carried weapons, but they were confirmed as a legitimate mercenary group, so the noblewoman’s carriage was allowed through.

Outside the gate, as the luxurious carriage moved away, the guards exhaled in relief.

At the same time, the noblewoman inside, Capella, also relaxed. She was thankful to have passed safely.

“…We’ve passed the gate, my lady. Once we reach a secluded area, I’ll get you out immediately.”

She whispered to herself. From beneath her, a groan was heard.

“My legs are killing me. Increase the carriage speed.”

Byron replied irritably but softly, so it required attention to hear.

Capella opened the window connected to the coachman and relayed Byron’s instructions. The driver increased the speed.

After a long ride, they arrived at a nearly deserted forest. They quickly stopped the carriage. Byron, hidden inside, stood up with an annoyed expression.

“The ride was absolutely awful.”

He stretched his arms, joints cracking.

“…Miss? Miss?”

As Byron moved away from the carriage, Capella woke Ayla, who had fallen asleep due to the prolonged inspection.

Ayla opened her eyes wide, looking around in disbelief. How had she slept through that situation?

She had even had a pleasant dream—her childhood in a duke’s household with her biological parents, a memory she could not truly recall.

Surprised at her own carelessness, she prepared to disembark from Byron’s carriage to set up camp.

“…Uncle!”

Laura shouted in alarm. Turning toward her, she saw Cloud approaching, limping, with his face swathed in bandages.

“Laura.”

“Where have you been?! Do you know how worried I was?!”

Ignoring the people around, Laura ran up to Cloud and pounded his chest with her tightly clenched fists. She didn’t even ask if he was alright—she was too frustrated.

Though he spoke bluntly, Cloud had been a father figure to her since childhood. He had been missing for days without a word, and she had been worried sick.

“…I’m sorry. May I report to the master briefly first?”

Cloud gave an awkward smile. Laura, her eyes brimming with tears, glared at him.

“Do as you will.”

With a snort, Laura turned and hurried back to her astonished mother.