The most dangerous and uncertain part of my plan was, ‘Can I get out of the palace safely?’ It was challenging to get into the palace’s center, where the security was recently tripled, which made it even hard to escape.

  It seemed impossible to run away from home! If I got caught in the middle, it would look like I was just rebelling.

  Not wishing to look like that, I found it hard to pull out any profitable operation, but fortunately, Havel’s help solved the most tricky part.

  “Take in the new air!”


  Valer looked at me with sad eyes and clicked his tongue. I just laughed and stomped on his feet.

  “Ahhhk!”


  What was that!?

  Well, back to the main point…… it’s the first time I ever got to breathe in the air outside the palace. Although it was just a bare whip of air because of Pretzia’s procession, it was enough to get me riled up. When would I ever feel such air again?

  Oh, right. That wasn’t the time to be dilly-dallying.

  “Let’s run away quickly!”


  With Valer on my left side and Assisi on my right, I safely managed to come out of the Imperial Palace, but I still wasn’t feeling at ease.

  I had no idea when my dad would catch me!

  I had to get out of the capital, Girgento, and quickly reach the pre-established escape route. I had to get out as soon as possible.

  This was the first time I felt my heart longing for something, and yet, my heart ached for Assisi, who accompanied me.

  Unlike his usual stiff expression, Assisi didn’t seem like he had slept the night before. Even Valer seemed to notice the difference in Assisi.

  I felt confused.

  “Assisi, what is it? Something bothering you?”


  With a stern expression taking over his face, Assisi looked at me and asked.

  “I am curious as to why that person is here.”


  “Yeah. I’m curious, too; why?”, I asked.

  Why was the Emperor of Pretzia heading over to us?

  Instead of the glamourous clothes he wore during the departure, Havel, who was standing in front of me was in a simple travel outfit.

  I looked over at Havel, who put up a troubled expression.

  “You managed to get out of the Imperial Palace because of me, so why am I getting such a harsh treatment? So, you ask for help and never consider them again?”


  “No, but why are you here, infamous Emperor of Pretzia.”


  I really didn’t think he would be here.

  I knew the envoys of Pretzia headed to the south past the castle.

  He didn’t come with them! Oh, no.

  I shuddered at the thought.

  No, ehh, he wouldn’t do that. No, what kind of a crazy emperor would do that? He wouldn’t.

  While I was trying to deny my rampant imagination, Havel smiled.

  “I am following you.”


  “What?”


  “Your trip.”
……

  oh god, now I have someone else blocking my path.

  “I am not going on a trip.”


  “Huh? You said it was a trip.”


  I forgot that I had manipulated Valer into helping me. And it seemed like he was the spy.

  Ahh, this stupid child.

  I hit Valer’s stomach with my elbow and looked over at Assisi, asking him to handle Valer while looking at Havel.

  Maybe he was angry, or perhaps he’s smiling inside? Whatever he was feeling, Havel had a subtle expression on his face. A few of the Emperor’s direct guards stood behind him with strange expressions on their faces.

  Was he threatening me?

  “Don’t like it?”


  “I-it’s not like that.”


  “Then, we’ll head over to my palace and talk, okay? I am taking you there.”


  Ugh.

  “God?”


  “.……”


  That man was such a sly bastard!

  At the visible resentment in my gaze, Havel smiled.

  I was in an uncompromising position. Honestly, I didn’t like it, and I wanted to flee, but what if Havel returned to my dad and helped Caitel in catching me?

  It was obvious what he would do.

  In the end, I had to go with the man before me……

  “Not possible.”


  As I found it hard to answer, Assisi, who stood beside me, stepped forward.

  “Please stay behind me.”


  Since I was used to having Assisi stay quiet behind me, his sudden words and actions surprised me.

  Was he really the Assisi I know?

  His eyes were stern with no intentions of backing out, which only made Havel frown.

  “I think the leader of the group is Ria, right? Why is a mere subject, an escort knight, intervening?”


  “As an escort knight, I am in charge of Miss Ria’s safety, and I judge your presence here as an absolute threat.”


  “A threat? How could I be threatening?”


  ‘”Everything. Your very existence here is dangerous for me.”


  Their harsh words chilled the atmosphere. Of course, I could see why Havel was a threat, but it looked like both of them were willing to go in for a fight. I could see Havel’s knights readying to strike.

  I hated taking Havel’s side, but I didn’t want to see Assisi get hurt as well.

  Thus, I had to restrain Assisi.

  “Stop it, both of you! If you are going to extend this fight, I won’t think twice before throwing you both away!”


  They retreated immediately……

  what was with them?

  Still, they listened to me, although I didn’t say anything worth retreating from.

  “Look around us; everything is refreshing and magnificent, and you chose to defile that with your petty fights?”


  “Right. We should leave the capital first.”


  Valer intervened, impatient to leave soon. I felt so touched when he said it.

  “Yes, that’s right, my Valer. Get a grip on yourselves, you two.”


  “This oppa is very cool, right?”


  “It would have been better if you didn’t say that.”


  “Uhh.”


  Talking with Valer, I looked over at Assisi who was still staring at Havel.

  I had never seen Assisi hate someone or glare at them; that moment shocked me.

  Why did Assisi hate Havel this much? Well, at the moment, I didn’t know why.

  That was when Assisi spoke.

  “Should I cut him down?”


  “Assisi……”


  That was absurd. Assisi was trying to kill people without a reason.

  Rather, seeing his firm expression, I knew he would get the task done once I gave the orders. This said a lot about him, but I doubted that both Assisi and my dad had the same wiring in their brains.

  Some reason, it looked like Assisi was going to be more problematic to deal with than Valer. Perhaps it was just my imagination, though.

  I left Valer’s side and turned to Havel.

  “Did you help me escape?”


  “You just noticed it now? You don’t seem to be as smart as I thought.”


  Honestly, I thought he would ask for something in return, but I never thought he would want to flee with me.

  Ugh, I didn’t know anymore. What could I do? Everything had been prepared beforehand.

  Havel knew well that I had no place to retreat to.

  I spoke to Havel.

  “I don’t care whether you follow me or not, but if you bother me, I’ll throw you away!”


  “Fine.”


  “I really mean it!”


  “I understand.”


  I would really throw him away.

  Havel smiled at my words, a bright smile which only made me feel worse. Ha, I wanted to abandon him already.

  I knew Assisi hated it, but I was surprised to see Valer disliking it as well. Havel grabbed my hand.

  “And……”


  And what?

  Havel smiled. I really hoped he wouldn’t ask for something strange.

  “Just call me Havel.”


  Wasn’t his “Emperor” title supposed to be placed before his name? He really wanted me to call him by his name?

  Really?