Jonathan said he didn't care if he couldn't obey Bernard's orders, even if he lost his life. Before the Kustan army infiltrated even deeper into Velician territory, he had to inform the superiors of this fact somehow.

Because that was his duty and responsibility.

'Then I'll go too.'

'That won't do.'

Jonathan shook his head when Herietta said she would go to Arrowfield together with him.

'I'm sorry, Miss Herietta, but it's much easier for me to go alone than with you. The situation is like this, so I can't afford to travel to my destination while worrying about your safety.'

So with Jonathan's words, Herietta kept her mouth shut. Because she knew he wasn't wrong in the slightest.

'Miss Herietta. If I don't get back here in three days, I'll probably have failed in my plan.'

Jonathan looked at Herietta with serious eyes.

'So after that, you must not wait for me. No matter how long you wait, I will never come back.'

'Then what should I do?'

Herietta asked. Jonathan thought for a moment before continuing.

'Get out of here and head to Arrowfield. And report this situation to the Lord of Arrowfield instead of me, and request that an emergency contact be made to the capital. Please.'

With those words, Jonathan left. He was half-running, knowing that he had a long way to go in the given time.

He disappeared somewhere through the dense forest.

Two days have already passed since then, and he still has not returned here.

'Wherever he is, he should be safe.'

Armed Kustan soldiers were scattered everywhere. She had no doubt that Jonathan was a brilliant knight, but it was clear that sneaking out of here to avoid the eyes of close to ten thousand soldiers would be a very difficult task.

Drip, drip-

The sound of water drops falling on the water echoed in her ears. Herietta closed her eyes while looking at the corner leading outside.

Time seemed to pass so slowly.

Three days had passed since Herietta had hidden herself in a cave in the forest with the villagers of Balesnorth. It was short yet long. For those three days, Herietta quietly waited for Jonathan inside the cave, as he had promised.

However, even though the promised time had passed, Jonathan did not return to this place in the end.

The fourth day after he left. Herietta accepted that the situation she feared had eventually become a reality.

Must you go, sister?

Lucas approached Herietta as she prepared to leave the cave and asked cautiously.

Just in case, you can wait a little longer.

Lucas looked at Herietta and cried. He was still young enough to not be able to discern the situation properly, but even he knew how dangerous it was to go out of the cave.

'He would think it would be the same as walking into the fire with my eyes open.'

Herietta knew that not only Lucas, who was stopping her, but everyone else here was thinking the same way. But she had no desire to correct them. Because she knew very well that they were not wrong.

Jonathan Coopert had been formally trained as a knight since he was a child. After he became an adult, he was so talented that he was appointed as a Royal Guard Knight. Even he was unsuccessful in his mission. Indeed, just because Herietta tried, what percentage of success would there be?

Why does Sister have to go?

It's not like Sister has to go.

When Herietta went silent, Lucas, who took it as hesitation, whined. His large eyes were filled with concern about the dangers ahead of her.

'Why me? As Lucas said, is it something I have to go to?'

Herietta repeated Lucas's words to herself. It was something she had already thought about and asked herself many times.

Velicia was not her homeland. It was just that one of many countries that had friendly relations with Brimdel, which was her homeland.

Moreover, she had many reasons for not having good feelings for Velicia. After all, the beginning of the misfortune that befell her life came from Velicia, this country.

If only Velicia didn't ask Brimdel for a bride, if only the person they proposed as the groom wasn't the infamous 2nd Prince, Herietta wouldn't have to pretend to be the fake princess and come over to Velicia.

It was Shawn and the King of Brimdel who poured oil into the fire, but the person who provided the fire was none other than Velicia. Even if it wasn't intentional, they obviously did something.

Whether Velicia was invaded or destroyed by an enemy country, what does that have to do with Herietta Mackenzie? What's more, there was something else she had to do.

This was not something she would clap her hands in joy about, but certainly not something she would risk her life to help with.

'But.'

There were people that came to Herietta's head.

The maids of Velicia who treated her wholeheartedly and took care of her even though they were seeing her for the first time. Several teachers stepped out of their way to help her grow and gave her many lessons. Even though it must have been a nuisance, Jonathan and others who escorted her to this place without showing their expression.

She remembered their kindness and the big and small considerations she had received during her stay in Velicia. The faces of the people she was grateful for who helped her rise up and lead her who had been in tatters as both her body and mind were in ruins.

And above all.

'I'm saying I'll help you.'

There was a man who smiled, showing his neat white teeth in front of Herietta, who was struggling in the pit of despair.

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