Translator: yun

Time passed and night fell.

You shouldnt drink dangerous things. Until the Founding Festival, your body should be treated as something more precious than gold. Do you understand?

Rebecca looked displeased before going on her way.

Yeah, but only until the Founding Festival? What about after?

Since you can afford to joke around, we should increase our practice hours.

Wait. I was wrong.

Of course your body would always be precious.

She was huffing and puffing.

I see. Itd be nice if Rebecca smiled a little more.

Rebecca glared at me coldly after what I said. Perhaps she had been rendered speechless by my words as she shot me a look of incredulity.

Ashley.

In front of my palace, Dane was waiting for me with a horse. My hand was grabbed by his warm one.

Shall we go?

Yeah.

Dane was wearing leather shoes and clothes that were comfortable to move around in like me but even though he was wearing plain clothes, his extraordinary face made him stand out.

Huh? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?

Yes, there is.

What?

Your good looks.

Dane stared at me in confusion as I pulled down his hood.

So, cover yourself up. Your beauty is blinding even in the darkness of this night.

Dane who had just been staring at me soon burst into laughter. Looking at him smile so openly, I thought it would not be enough to just cover his face.

Im flattered, Ashley.

No, I dont think you are.

Should I bring Dane to the middle of the capital and reenact the tale of Pied Piper?

I think everyone will become mesmerised by him.

Lets hurry and go.

There was a brown horse accompanied by a horse that was of a slightly darker shade of brown.

I wanted to take the paler horse with patterns.

Is this horse safe?

Of course.

Naturally, Lord Ray took the paler horse but seeing them scratch or stomp the ground with their hooves and front heels, I wondered if it would be alright. As I approached Lord Rays light-coloured horse, someone approached me.

Dane?

Dane smiled and led me towards his horse and made me stand in front of it.

Dont you think Lord Ray and I should ride together?

Oh dear. Youre making my heart ache a little.

I mean, Dane, how can I go with you, ack. Wait.

Our conversation ended there. Dane placed me on the horse first before climbing up behind me and grabbing the horses reins while embracing me.

Can you hear me? I can hear you fine from here, Ashley.

I could hear Danes gentle and kind voice next to my ears.

Its better because its you.

The horse that had just been tutting started to run vigorously.

Hold tight. Ill make sure youre safe.

All Ive ever seen about horse riding was from TV. If I had known this would happen, I would have ridden that pony I saw on my school trip. My surroundings blurring around me was making me dizzy. I remained frozen for about 5 minutes to gauge how dangerous being on a moving horse was before barely leaning back to Danes chest.

The arms that surrounded me gave me more strength. At some point, it felt like I could hear soft laughter mixed with the wind.

Im someone who even rode bumper cars before!

With my forehead deeply crinkled, I suddenly lowered my head to see the arm surrounding my waist. This was strange. I always thought that Dane was the small prince who did not look much different from me. When did his hands become so unfamiliar?

No, I had already been thinking about this for a long time.

The horse, which had been running for a long time, stopped in the middle of the square.

Apart from that I was thinking about the fact that motion sickness can be caused by riding a car, boat and a horse. But it was pretty useless knowledge.

I guess were a little late.

When we arrived, the entrance to the building was wide open and all the windows on every floor were lit up in orange with the light stretching to the streets.

Although the patrols were not allowed to act in a place filled with civilians, they were still allowed to watch from a distance. In other words, I had knights who were watching over me from far away.

How did you know about this place, Princess?

This made me recall my meeting with Granius a while ago. I was apologetic as to how this was the first time I met him in a long time but I could not focus because of the bomb that was Hernan which exploded earlier. Eventually, my conversation with Granius ended in vain with him telling me to discuss it with him later.

What are you worrying about?

Huh? Ah I was wondering how much I can tell Granius.

Dane chuckled softly in the dark.

Cant you just tell him however much you want? Because hes a good man.

Ah. He is sweet.

No, Ashley.

We were along a dark alley that was not even well-lit and nothing stood out. Nevertheless, I could still clearly see Dane smiling.

Good people are people who like you. Hes bad to others but hes kind to you.

Just then, a smoke signal exploded. I forgot my current situation for a moment and admired the small flame lighting up the sky.

Its just a pretty dazzling flame used as a signal.

I know. It looks like a flower pinned in the sky.

It was strange. Everything about life outside the palace felt pretty, lovely and happy. At that thought, there Dane was, smiling with his head down.

Do you like it?

Huh. Ah, yes. Why?

Because youre smiling so prettily.

Dane tilted his head before gently closing his eyes and opening them again to watch me.

It would be nice if you always smiled like that.

Then Dane, make me laugh.

What should I do?

What can you do for me?

Ashley. Anything you want.

Recognising the playfulness of my voice, Dane placed his hand on his chest before bowing jokingly like a knight from a fairytale.

The beautiful princess.

Then, he addressed me with a weird nickname. A painting is truly a painting. Dane looked like a part of a watercolour painting with the night sky as his backdrop. I was suddenly reminded of someones face.

Deros.

That was his name. The man who looked like Dane but at the same time, someone completely different. At the last moment, a man who had disappeared with a deep hatred and twisted feelings towards Marissa lingered in my mind for a long time.

As soon as I tried to bring something up to Dane, I turned my head to the roar that rang. What I saw was the stream of templars that poured out. Their shouts finally brought life to the emptied space as a result of the stalls that were vacated in advance to avoid escalating the fights.

They were too far so I could not see them well but after narrowing my eyes to find a familiar face until I saw some scruffy women behind the procession.

Ashley!

I sprinted over there without letting Dane or Lord Ray stop me.

Hannah!

The front of the building was in ruins like the scene in a movie after a natural disaster struck. There was a knight who collapsed from exhaustion and a templar clutching onto his bloody wrists. I weaved past the templars who were placing the weapons down to get to one place.

I could hear someone screaming.

Sorry! Excuse me!

I checked the faces of the women who looked at me one by one. Brown hair, reddish-brown hair, red hair

Someone screamed again.

Urgh. Sorry.

Struggling to run, I eventually collided with someone before falling down because I couldnt keep up with my own speed. Apparently, I fell over someone while trying to avoid too many things at once.

I spotted a woman wincing and frowning as she raised his head at a soft touch with throbbing pain.

I gasped before saying, O-oh no, are you alright?

Urgh.

The womans eyes were of a vivid green colour. Their freshness and prettiness reminded me of green grapes but I didnt like how her eyes looked at me.

Ah.. What should I do? Im sorry!

I hurriedly got up before grabbing the womans arms and pulling her up.

It hurts. A lot.

The woman stared at my arm with disapproval before sighing wordlessly once she saw my restless expression. She somehow looked very elegant.

Where is this?

The western capital.

She carefully ruffled her scarlet hair and frowned. However, she looked so nervous and anxious that she held my hand without me realising it.

Youve been rescued.

Rescued?

Yes. Youre free now. Are you alright?

This person had just been rescued so she must have been confused and anxious. The haggard woman glanced at me but I couldnt catch what her face looked like.

Please help me. I. Need to. Find. My necklace. My man.

The woman sounded as if she could only speak a few syllables at once and it did not sound like she had proper grammar. I thought she had been flustered and anxious but instead she sounded awkward like a foreigner who just learned the language.

I scanned the woman carefully. Although she was dirty, I could tell that the woman was dressed with luxurious fabrics sewn with gold threads.

Thats silk, right?

However, why were foreigners here?

P-princess?

My thoughts did not last long.

Hannah?

Here! Princess! Princess!

Dumbfounded, I turned my head to see my maid who looked like a mess before running towards her.

Hannah!

She wailed before saying, Princess It was so so scary.

Hannah, whose hair was in a mess, ran into my arms. No, it might be me who hugged her first.

Im sorry. I was late.

P-please dont say. I-If it werent for the princess

Hannah cried nonstop as she held me because she must have been having a hard time all this while.

I missed you so much

Me too.

Closing my eyes, I patted her and let my shoulders get wet gradually. Even at this moment, I blamed myself for being unable to cry with her.

When I was younger, Hannah called me the princess. However, since I hated being given that title since young, she didnt call me that anymore. When I was younger, I dreamed that I could be one of the princesses in fairytales so I used to give lovely smiles with coloured cheeks.

She hiccupped before saying, I thought Id never see you again.

This maid of mine was bawling from relief. Why did she have to go through this? Its a relief that she returned safely.

It was both a pitiful and regrettable moment but it was also a moment when I could pat my shoulders with relief.

P-Princess

And she stopped mid-sentence as she spotted something. A woman who had a blank expression approaching us whilst staring at my maid.

Her eyes as she turned to face Hannah looked desperate. At the same time, she approached us.

You. Human? High?

..

The woman slowly licked her lips.

Please help.

She exuded the pride of someone who I could not easily approach. She was trying hard to remain aloof but she looked too young, no older than 20 years old.

With what?

The woman closed her eyes before whispering wearily and sighing.

I am Nefertiti Hator Ahacia.

What? Even Hannah stopped sobbing.

My gaze fell on the person distracting me. Wait. An unbelievable thought passed my mind. Why? Here? Her?

Please believe. Im here. From desert.

So far, in my life, no misfortune has ever just passed me by. No one could imagine that I would meet the woman who would kill me a few months from now while saving my maid.

The princess from the desert.

When someone receives too much shock, they become scarily calm. My experiences of being swayed by my surroundings were not pleasant.

My misfortune keeps bursting nonstop.

And now.

Princess

In the room on the second floor of an empty inn nearby, everyone including myself were sighing or staring off into space with gravely serious expressions.

How am I supposed to accept this situation?

Thats what I was trying to say. A princess? Here?

T/N:

Last double update since we caught up!