Chapter 74

Thats how much Im grateful to the prince. Is there anything else I can do for you?

It was also known that the East Continents Emperor favored his second son.

Once I go to the East Continent, I will have to bend my back hard as well because I have to be in the princes good graces.

Hmmmm.

The prince suddenly coughed and glanced at Lady Treve, and blushed to the tip of his ears.

I dont really want anything, but can I ask you to take care of my Liliana?

Liliana?

I realized that Lady Treves name was Liliana, one beat slower.

Shes so kind and soft-hearted. Im worried about leaving her alone.

The princes marriage cannot be thrown away like roasting beans. After completing the preparation, the lady will be going to the East continent.

Of course, of course. Im close to the lady, remember? Hold on to your worries.

I grabbed the princes elbow and dragged him away from Lady Treve, with the excuse that I have a separate message.

So what Im saying is, as the ladys best friend, Lady Treve loves taraka silk. However, the problem is that there are not many clothes made of that silk because the volume of its production is so limited.

Thanks to the contract with King Taraka in the past, the imperial family imported silk at almost no cost, and thanks to the increasing demand within the empire, they were able to resell it at a very high price.

What if the craze for Taraka silk blows from here to the eastern continent?

As it is the eastern continent with no trade exchanges with Taraka, they will have no choice but to buy all the supplies from the imperial family of our empire.

In addition, as I was part of the contract, there were quite a lot of silk stocks owned by the Duke.

I tried to entice the prince, thinking insidiously inside.

You know that, too. Shes such a quiet person that you cant ask her first. She told me a few times that Taraka silk was very beautiful. Even though 10% of the empires taraka silk is imported from our duchy.

No, I want to know more! Duke!

Did I look too serious?

Why are you telling me such an important fact now?

The princes cry made me struggle to stop my insidious laughter.

The price of taraka silk is quite high.

I dont care. I dont care how much it costs, so charge me for all the expenses and make as many clothes as the lady wants.

Oh, of course. For the prince and my best friend, I will give you a good quality item at a particularly low price.

I mean, this is all business.

If I escape to the East continent, I was planning to develop a trade route that would reach Taraka Port.

Yes, please take good care of Liliana.

After a long, successful send-off, I felt free to concentrate on my escape preparations.

At least once a day, I would stop by the dock where the ships were anchored to check its progress.

From securing valuables to last-minute stealing of wine over 100 years old. There was more than one thing to care about.

As I was packing this and that at the pier again today, I went to the carriage returning to the imperial palace at the end of the evening.

The carriage quickly headed for the Imperial Palace along the coastal road.

I stared at the scenery outside the window.

Strong waves were beating the rock hard under the running cliff road.

I kept thinking about it, staring at the sea that was shaking like a struggling sea snake.

The winter sea must be dangerous, too.

When are we leaving?

As if he had read my mind, Knoxus next to me asked carefully.

Spring.

I wanted to leave right now, but it was too dangerous to sail through the winter sea.

I will leave in time for the New Years banquet.

.

As it is a place where people from all over the world are invited, there will be many ships going to and from the port, and all the attention of people will be focused on the banquet, so it is perfect to escape quietly.

Above all, it was the first time that the female protagonist, Princess of Esland, appeared.

After meeting the female lead, Cardan will be locked with her in his room for a few days, so it will be a while before he finds out that I have disappeared from the palace.

Im sorry for you and Catherine. Since youll have to leave your hometown.

Knoxus shook his head firmly.

No, I am grateful. Arent you taking the risk of taking us with you when you can just leave me behind?

As I was momentarily surprised and couldnt answer, Knoxus shrugged.

I stepped down from my position as the captain of the guard, and I fell out of favor with the Empress. What can I do if I stay in the Empire?

Yes

Knoxus was right.

He only followed orders as a subordinate and did things that were never to his own volition, but the Empress was a person who would still be able to kill Knoxus.

I laughed quietly.

I dont know anyone else, but Ill definitely take you.

Then the carriage rattled loudly.

Duke! Be careful!

As soon as I heard the coachmans cry, an arrow penetrated the window.

Get down.

Knoxus dragged me under the chair.

At the very next moment, two arrows were lodged where I was.

Out of the broken window, I could see shadows descending on the hillside.

I couldnt identify their faces because they were all wearing masks, but it wasnt difficult to recognize them.

It is clear that they are assassins bought by the Empress.

Quite a number of assassins

The three of us were at an absolute disadvantage.

I did not bring any escort except for Knoxus to prepare for my escape to the East as secretly as possible.

Giddy up! Giddy up!

The coachman whipped the horses, but the assassins quickly caught up with us.

Just before the assassins caught up with us, Knoxus picked up his sword.

Stay in the carriage.

No.

I caught Knoxus.

Obviously, Knoxus is strong. I learned that he is a soldier capable enough to easily overpower a number of knights during my tour.

But I knew instinctively.

If I send Knoxus, hell die. Its only a matter of time before I die.

Trust me.

Knoxus tried to reassure me, but I shook my head again.

Its not that I dont trust you, its that I know the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager will know the skills of Knoxus, and she will never leave the possibility of failure.

Im sure those assassins were chosen by her.

I glanced out of the window.

Soon they arrived at a narrow curve.

Under the cliff, there were many rock walls sharply cut by the waves.

If they fall, they will be crushed all over that rock.

The coachman stopped flogging and slowed down. The horses also sniffed as if they were anxious about losing their footing.

I pounded my fist on the wall of the tree.

Coachman! Speed up!

What?

The coachman asked back as if I was crazy, but I shouted again.

Speed it up!

When I saw the coachman lift the whip again, I grabbed the hilt of Knoxus sword.

When I open the carriage door, cut off the hinges right away.

What?

When Knoxus asked again as if I was crazy, I shouted my plan quickly so that the coachman could hear it.

The timing has to be right, so we have to work in sync.

We will jump out of the carriage! The survival rate will increase even a little if we fall far into the sea to avoid the reef under the cliff!

As I drove along the curve in earnest, the wagon tilted dangerously toward the cliff.

Use force!

As soon as the realization sparkled in Knoxuss eyes, I opened the door without hesitation.

Bang!

With a sound like a gunshot, Knoxuss sword split the hinges.

When I kicked it, the wagon door fell under the cliff as it bounced off.

As soon as I put my head out to check where the door fell.

Hiss!

The arrow scarily split the spot where my head had been.

Master! Are you okay?

Knoxus, who pulled me inside just before my forehead was pierced, looked at me urgently, but I only laughed loudly.

The carriage door was caught on the edge of the reef!

The wind swept into the carriage and scratched my face, but I didnt lose my smile.

Since we are lighter than the door, we will fall farther, right?

At the same time, the carriage tilted more dangerously.

I took off my one-sided glasses and put them in my left chest pocket.

On the count of three, well run! One!

I crossed to the other side of the carriage with the door.

Two!

Then, I lowered my stance and prepared to step up.

Three!

Tadadak!

I ran towards the open door frame.

For a moment, I felt as if the whole world had stopped.

A weightless, floating body, a wave that raised its head high to devour us like a hungry beast, an arrow that narrowly misses us, a crow dancing overhead.

Moments passed like eternity.

Like this.

Their fall which felt like eternity ended when Knoxus, who followed me like a bullet from behind, grabbed my hand and pulled me.

Hiss! Hiss!

The arrow tore through the air around us as we fell.

Fortunately, they missed us because of the sunset.

Kyaaaah!

I wanted to say something to the coachman who was screaming in fear next to me to shut up, but I couldnt dare to because the crash was too fast.

In an instant, we reached the edge of the black sea.

Knoxus arms wrapped around my waist were strained.

Hold your breath.

Like he said, I took a big breath.

Like that.

Ugh.

With a loud sound of hitting, I felt a dull pain in my left chest.

The cold sea engulfed me before I could identify the pain.

Want to read ahead? Read more here