Including too many people in an escape was just an easy way to get caught, so I decided to go with a small party.

  Everyone wanted to accompany me, but I knew that Valer and Assisi would be good enough companions for me.

  I left the others in the palace with different tasks in hand, and if one wanted to know what it was, well, simple. To disturb dad.

  I was quite curious as to who managed to survive after disturbing my dad, but it didn’t hurt to trust people’s abilities.

  Maybe not. Caitel was a ruthless and cruel Emperor. On top of that, he was as smart as Ferdel; there was no way he would overlook their actions.

  Hopefully, when he found out about what I did, I would have been long gone from our country.

  Thanks to our horses running from morning to evening, we managed to reach Ancief in three days.

  A victory for us!

  After all, there was nothing humans couldn’t achieve when they put their heart into it! Whoa, I felt so proud.

  From there, we moved around for two days and arrived in Armeta, the best city in the country. There were numerous things to see there, but our priority was to replenish our strength, so we decided to rest for a day before getting onto our journey.

  Ancief wasn’t a safe place, so I had to go over to another country, yet I felt curious to know what happened in Agrigent.

  Dad wouldn’t o come to Ancief, right?

  “I checked with the merchants, and they said the capital had been blocked. Maybe they’re still looking for people. It seems like they didn’t know about our departure.”


  “It was nice that we rushed to Ancief.”


  “Yes. If we were a little late, we might have been caught at the border.”


  Valer shrugged.

  Maybe it really might happen; just the thought made me shudder.

  “Are you going to the Northern Empire on the floating ship?”


  Havel asked as he heard our conversation.

  I turned to Valer. If that was the case, I wanted to visit the next country, Parten-Kiehern, but it seemed impossible with the time we have. Well, Valer came to Ancief, but he was upset that he couldn’t see the fairy forest.

  “Well, it would be better to go as far as possible.”


  “Then, it has to be Schertogenbosch.”


  At my answer, Valer smiled.

  “I think we can slowly move to Bureti while looking around the Northern Empire.”


  “Right, will dad come over to the Northern Empire in search of me?”


  I had an ominous feeling; I felt like he might come over to the Northern Empire.

  Huh, huh, it’s probably because of my mood.

  Assisi left in the morning and bought the tickets for our journey. We would have dinner and leave.

  There were floating ships in Agrient too, but this was the first time I rode one. It was a means of transportation made of floating stones, and to put it simply, it was like an airplane. There were only 40 ships in the world in the shape of a ferry, which only nobles or wealthy merchants could use, and it was the most preferred mode of transportation for people with money.

  “Ah, I finally feel like I’m alive!”


  As I smiled brightly, Valer said something else.

  “I might get sick.”


  I was still worried about Sanse and the others.

  I smiled. It was hard for me to sit on the horses for three days straight.

  No matter how many lessons I took on horseback riding, doing it as a sport differed from traveling long distances.

  After a while, Assisi had to make me sit on his horse since I had no energy left to hold onto my mare. Still, I was fortunate for reclaiming my stamina after resting.

  While I sat on the chair with a smile, Valer clapped.

  “Let’s have something expensive for dinner! I’ll check out some stores!”


  “Something delicious!”


  “Obviously!”


  With a smile, he dragged Assisi with him and left the room.

  Did he like to eat that much? Sure, even I enjoyed eating.

  Having food was the best.

  Right, wasn’t a trip supposed to be about food? All the beautiful sceneries looked better with a full stomach.

  As I stretched out, I saw people coming and leaving. Since our room was expensive, the view from the window was pretty.

  Ancief and Agrient differed from each other entirely, although they were neighboring countries.

  Above all, I liked the temperature here; it was neither hot nor cold.

  A country of eternal spring.

  This climate was maintained throughout the year, and after learning about it in geography class, I got inquisitive of the principle behind it! I didn’t mean to say that I wanted to research all my life.

  Although it was said that the country had dedicated a third of its land to Agrient, Ancief was still rich.

  Drinking water, I get to organize my luggage, but Havel, who was sitting with his chin on his hand, suddenly spoke.

  “Is it tough?”


  What’s with that question? Did I look tired? Actually, it was tough, but I didn’t think about it because I was desperate to flee. However, for others, it was tiring. They were exhausted.

  “Aren’t you tired?”


  It was hard for me, but I didn’t think the men were doing that great either.

  Havel shrugged upon hearing my question.

  “I’m used to traveling.”


  “I envy that.”


  As I smiled, Havel stared at me.

  Was there something on my face? It wasn’t like I was in a palace, but I felt weird as he looked at me.

  “It’s my first time coming out of the house; it’s tough to leave your home.”


  I hated keeping my silence, so I spoke, but Havel titled his head and asked back.

  “Are you regretting this?”


  “No……”


  Leaving one’s childhood home was never easy.

  “It’s fun.”


  Right, it was tough, but I was having fun too.

  “I don’t know when dad will catch me and take me back, but coming out like this and seeing people is fun, especially since I lived my life inside walls.”


  “Right.”


  I saw a lot while coming over here. Although all I did was sight-see, it was still a different experience.

  What I learned from books about the outside world differed from what I saw while traveling. I was impressed with what I saw; my eyes had opened up to things my dad hid from me. It was shocking.

  Everywhere I went, it was different from the others. This country wasn’t a paradise; people weren’t as friendly as I thought.

  However, I liked it. Yes, I did; this was the real face of the world.

  The world I lived in and this world was not so different.

  When I checked on things, I felt something, a sense of relief that I couldn’t explain. My fantasies about Agrient were shattering, but I still felt great.

  Should I say that I felt great after knowing that I wasn’t a princess in a fairy tale?

  “I know a little bit on why Emperor Caitel is adamant on keeping you with him.”


  I was trying to remember something when I heard Havel’s unexpected words.

  “What is the reason?”


  How would he know something I didn’t know?

  Havel looked into my eyes and said.

  “I won’t tell you.”
……

  I should just throw him away.