Turning his back to his daughter, Castell fought off the urge to look at her and cry in pain. Everything had gone terribly wrong since he’d sent her off to the royal castle. The regret burned in his heart wildly, but this...this was better than dishonorable death.

Closing his eyes, he moved to the door leading to his inner chambers and bedroom. “Begone from my sight,” he spat hatefully before slamming the door closed behind him.

Larson, who had already spoken a few words to his lord earlier and been informed of the plan while dressing Castell, glanced at the young miss subtly.

The expression of confused, heartbroken betrayal lasted for only five seconds. After sucking in a breath deep enough to completely force her chest to move as far out as it could expand, she let it out and returned to a controlled calm.

Seeing this, Larson fought back a soft smile and instead straightened from his bow. “Miss, as soon as Daphne returns, I and Sir Luther will leave so that you may change.”

Nodding her head once, the young woman returned to her place beside Luther, her pale eyes showing no traces of unease or fear. Ten more minutes passed, upon which Daphne and Sir Alred returned. The men were quickly ushered out, while Castell stayed locked up in his inner chambers.

Daphne worked fast; stripping the lady of her torn chemise, fitting her into a new one, and placing a traveling dress over that. “I packed several corsets, but I don’t think we have the time for now,” the maid explained when the lady looked at her in askance.

Gazing down at her body that felt only half-dressed compared to normal, the lady nodded slowly. “You chose wisely. I know not how long we will have to travel, but restricting myself inside a corset would be foolhardy. ...Thank you for all your help this night, Daphne.”

“Please, my lady,” Daphne blushed in pleased embarrassment. Raising her head, she briefly looked the lady in the eyes, before losing her courage. “S, stay safe, my lady,” the maid whispered worriedly, holding onto the torn up chemise with a forlorn expression.

Smiling softly, the young woman nodded. “I will,” she promised. “Live a happy life, Daphne. I shall never see you again. I hope you find someone to share a long, joyful life, with many children.”

Sniffling, Daphne wiped at her eyes, unable to say anything back. Instead, she curtsied as properly as her emotional body could manage, fighting to keep herself together.

You...you sound as if you are heading to your death, my lady.

Turning away from the maid, the lady walked out of the waiting chamber. The menfolk carried the four cases with her things, though the knight and valet looked doubtful when Luther quietly assured them that they had the means to take all of this along on their journey.

Back at the entrance, the two men serving the Castell family saluted the young lady for the last time. “Be safe on your journey and well in your life from here on, Young Miss. May the Goddess’ light protect you,” the men said the customary words for the departure of travelers.

After Luther told them firmly that the others couldn’t see them leave, as it involved a secret, forbidden spell passed down the generations of his ‘barbaric tribe’, the men made sour expressions but reluctantly gave in.

The doors closed behind them with a firm slam, making the lady blink in bemusement.

“...That felt easier than it perhaps should have been,” she muttered in thought.

The four suitcases resting at his feet, Luther grinned widely. “Did I not say to have faith? Now, come over here. We need to leave before those jerks decide to break their promise not to peek.” He held out his arms with a needy expression, which quickly transformed into one of happiness as she stepped forward into his embrace.

“.. ‘jerks’?” She tilted her head in question, having no idea what the unfamiliar word meant.

Smile slipping briefly for a moment, Luther shook his head. “Never you mind,” he quickly assured her.

With his passenger and her things surrounding him, he quickly transported them to the waiting vehicle for their journey to his world.

……..

…….

….

Sensing the shift in her universe and world, the being known here as ‘the Goddess’, let out a small breath.

Waiting to the left of the blonde and blue-eyed beauty that was very humanoid, a young handmaiden kneeled down to make a report. “Goddess, the Dark God has left on the ‘plane’ he uses to travel.”

The small breath abruptly transformed into a loud, gasping sigh of relief.

“Thank the Creation!” The Goddess shouted at the top of her lungs. Kicking her feet and hands up into the air, she began to roll around on her large, luxurious bed like an ecstatic child.

Expression carefully blank, the handmaiden showed no reaction to the Goddess' elated romp, completely destroying the hard work in making her bed nice and neat every day.

“El’ya, pour me a glass of...something! And make sure the kitchens kicked up a feast good enough to make me completely forget all about that troubling, obsessed, twisted arse! I want to get drunk tonight. Do you understand? Drunk! I want to feel like I’m going to die tomorrow.”

“...Understood, Goddess,” El’ya replied while thinking internally to herself.

Who wants to drink so much they want to die the day after in ‘celebration’? Though...I do suppose the Dark God was quite a horrible pain and leech to the Goddess.