CH 121

Subjugation and Rakain (12)

Part of the Imperial Knights which remained in the Palace and part of the Capital Knights had left together in order to escort the Empress to Rakain.

And as their general manager, one of the senior nobles, Duke Johannes Bönt, eventually joined the party too.

“Everyone is having a hard time because of me.”

Roelin looked outside through the carriage’s small window and murmured in a voice that was full of apologies. Then Lucy, who was sitting across from her, smiled slightly and shook her head.

“It would be an honor to serve the Empress. Look, Empress. How proud everyone is feeling.”

“Come on, Lucy. Are you going to embarrass me?”

Roelin smiled awkwardly at Lucy’s words and responded before she. looked outside once again and asked a question.

“Did you say that you’ve sent a messenger to His Majesty?”

“Yes, perhaps His Majesty has already heard from him by now.”

“I do hope the situation is going well… What if I go there and just get in the way instead?”

As many days passed without seeing Kergel, many worries eventually increased. Roelin was excited and worried at the same time that she could not see him soon. However, Lucy smiled continuously with a calm expression and opened her mouth.

“Rather, His Majesty must be more willing to conquer those monsters at the news of the Empress’s arrival.”

He wouldn’t want to show his beloved woman anything hideous or horrible. Lucy, while guessing so, soothed the worried-looking Roelin in return.

Thanks to her, Roelin let go of her mind and cast her eyes at the scenery that was passing through the window yet again.

Her blue eyes, which were looking out for a while, suddenly shook with a complex glint.

Her mother was in a critical condition.

‘Did she really say that she wanted to see me?’

Roelin just couldn’t believe it at all. At the same time, she couldn’t refuse to say no and headed to Rakain like this, so she looked utterly pathetic and foolish.

“What do I truly want to check once I get there?”

And what was it they were actually going to see?

As soon as she tried to swallow a heavy sigh, there was a disturbance outside. Roelin erased her thoughts and looked outside while wondering what was going on.

A bird was seen to have landed on the knight’s arm. It was the messenger. When Roelin saw a letter had been tied to the bird’s feet, she opened her eyes wide and hurriedly opened her mouth to Lucy.

“Stop the carriage, Lucy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lucy, too, hurriedly tapped on the wagon wall as if she was aware of it all. Since the procession was just about to cease, the carriage stopped right away. Roelin opened the carriage door even before Lucy could stop her.

“Your Majesty!”

Suddenly, the carriage door had opened and the escorting knight soon approached. Roelin accepted her escort before stepping down the carriage and approached the Duke of Bönt. The Duke of Bönt hurriedly showed courtesy as he approached while still reading the letter that had been tied to the forerunner.

“I’m sorry, Duke. Seeing that the messenger is already here…… Is it from His Majesty?”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. It was actually sent from the Imperial Palace.”

The Duke of Bönt replied with a guilty look, even though it was not his fault.

Roelin almost looked disappointed without realizing it, but when she saw the gray-haired old noble was feeling guilty, she waved her hands hurriedly.

“No, Duke Bönt. You don’t have to say that. By the way, why did the messenger come from the Imperial Palace? Is there something wrong with the Palace?”

“There is no problem with the Palace. However… I think that we may need to change our route.”

“……?”

“I think it would be safer to take a detour to the south and cross the mountain range.”

“Then, I won’t be able to see His Majesty, will I?”

It was said that the place where Kergel and the punitive forces were located had been north of the Samalta Mountains. She had heard from Heinez that they were blocking and tracking the path in order to prevent the monsters from going south.

“It doesn’t seem as easy as I thought to conquer the monsters. It seems that the messenger that had been sent from the Palace was also hunted by a monster during its course.”

“……!”

Roelin’s eyes widened instantly. The Duke of Bönt continued while still looking at Roelin.

“So, it’s Lord Bashel’s opinion that it would be better to take a detour for the safety of the Empress.”

“……You don’t exactly know where His Majesty is now, do you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the Duke of Bönt’s words, Roelin said nothing more. However, just by looking at Roelin’s face, anyone could have guessed what she was feeling right now.

She was silent for a moment with her ashen face, then she breathed heavily before trying to respond in a calm voice.

“Okay, let us do that.”

On the surface, she pretended to act nonchalantly, but her fingertips were all trembling. The Duke of Bönt did not miss that detail. However, he did not point it out and simply bowed to his waist to express courtesy.

After receiving the Duke’s courtesy, Roelin tried to return to the carriage once again, but her legs soon loosened themselves and she stumbled.

“Your Majesty!”

Lucy hurriedly came to her aid.

“Are you all right? Your Majesty…”

On the journey to Rakain, there was a Palace doctor who accompanied the procession while following along to check on Roelin’s health. As Lucy hurriedly raised her voice and tried to find the Palace doctor, Roelin grabbed her arm and shook her head instead.

“It’s okay, Lucy. I think I can just go back to the carriage and rest for a while.”

“But Empress…”

Roelin looked at Lucy’s worried face and smiled before forcing herself to walk to the carriage.

“………Kergel.”

She curled up and called out his name only when she was finally alone in the carriage.