“Miss, my assistant will lead you to the carriage,” the innkeeper said, her facial expression pleased. “Take care, miss. Thank you again for the emerald … it will be highly beneficial to my family, especially my son since he’s ill.”

“Ill? What’s his illness?” the innkeeper's turned somber after hearing the question.

"L-Leprosy, miss. He's currently isolated from our home since it's contagious. Seeing him breaks my heart, but I believe I can explore possibilities and seek ways to help him, and it’s all thanks to you.”

I found myself at a loss for words to comfort her. Sympathy alone is useless, because feeling sorry for someone’s misfortune won’t solve anything. Empathy is what people like her need – a genuine understanding of her situation. But for some reason, I couldn’t find the right words to express it.

It was frustrating to realize that I wasn’t the kind of person who could pretend to care when I didn’t genuinely feel it. It might be quite bothering to have an apathetic heart, but I believe honesty is better than insincerity.

“I wish I can help more. If in case I’ll find someone who can help you, I’ll send them to you. I won’t give any promises, but for now, I hope what I gave would be enough. Well then, I’ll take my leave. Have a nice day.” I replied before stepping out of the inn.

It was seven in the morning, and the coachman helped me to bring my belongings inside the carriage.

“Have a safe journey, Your Highness,” the innkeeper’s assistant bowed as she closed the door.

‘Your Highness’ she said. Is she aware of my royal status? To what extent? I already sent Estelle away this morning to deliver my message to Jarvis, and that made me feel safer knowing that I don’t have a spy accompanying me.

As soon as Jarvis reads the letter, he will undoubtedly kill the messenger bird, as I have warned him that it’s not a bird or horse, but an Izavene spy sent by someone yet to be identified. I can’t be sure of Estelle’s loyalty after all, for she was a spy to begin with. There is always a possibility that she may be reporting my actions to her true master while we are apart.

In situations like this, it is better to be safe than sorry.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

I spread out the map to familiarize myself with the route I would be taking. According to the plan, the carriage would drop me off at a designated location in Alryne, where I should then hire another coachman to take me to Marrossi.

My chance of getting my jewelry exchanged for money is high, considering that Alryne is a civilized duchy. Having money before entering Marrossi would avoid drawing suspicion towards my true identity as a royalty of Eurhyia.

As I carefully examined the map and observed the surroundings, I noticed that we were traveling along a picturesque lake nestled between two hills. However, my attention was abruptly interrupted when the carriage suddenly came to a halt, and I could hear voices emanating from outside. The carriage itself seemed to shake slightly, as if something or someone had made contact with it.

Something doesn’t feel right.

I held my belongings and created an invisible shield to protect them from being stolen – whoever tries to hold it aside from me will experience an electric shock. The shield can unfortunately, only last for an hour as far as I know. I can’t pour all my powers just to keep my stuff.

“Hey, whoever is inside the carriage. Get out and give us your stuff unless you want to be killed like this fat coachman of yours!” the voice threatened, and I pulled out my sword and hid it behind me before climbing down the carriage.

“Oh, we have a pretty lady here! You heard us, right? Give us your belongings and we won’t hurt you!” the guy with a scar on his face said.

“Hand it to us now unless you want us to attack!” the guy with a bandana warned.

I chuckled under my breath as I watch them. It seems like it's time to practice with my sword once again.

Thank you, Evrart.

“What are you two waiting for? Get her!” the man from afar ordered, and two men ran to capture me, so I brought out my sword and swung it against them. The two also pulled out their weapon – one with a dagger, the other with a sword.

In a swift and calculated motion, I assessed the movements of the individuals outside the carriage. Utilizing my keen observation skills, I identified openings in their defenses and swiftly executed precise strikes. With the intention of incapacitating rather than causing fatal harm, I targeted the arm of one assailant, aiming to weaken their ability to continue the attack. Simultaneously, I swiftly thrust my sword into the abdomen of the other man, aiming to subdue him.

The rest of the men charged, one of them running in the direction of the carriage to steal my belongings, while three were focused on attacking me. Aware that I cannot take all of them at once, I struck one of them using lightning from my fingers, killing the man. The two weren't threatened and continued attacking until I felt something pierce my right thigh.

I forcefully removed the arrow lodged in my body, but the pain intensified to an excruciating level, refraining me from gaining my posture.

"Give up already, little lady." One of the men teased and held my neck. I couldn’t reach his body as he held my neck tighter, and I can no longer feel the ground on my feet.

Despite my weakened state and the intense pain coursing through my body, a sudden idea flashed through my mind – I held the arm he was using to choke me, and I used the energy force of lightning coming from my hands. He fell to the ground immediately, as did I.

The archer unleashed another arrow, this time striking my left arm.

Part of me felt relieved that I managed to protect my heart by using my arm as a shield, but it wasn’t enough to save me from the pain. As I lie down while catching my breath, I saw the peaceful blue sky and cirrus clouds, but despite the calmness of my surroundings, my body suffers as the weapons drains the energy out of me.

The sound of running feet grew louder, and even if I can’t see them, I’m certain that they’re not one of those bandits. A man appeared and crouched to reach my level, and gently lifted me, as if to assess and determine if I was still alive.

“You’re alive, good. Let me help you,” He carried me in his arms and I felt a sense of security in it.

"M-My … belongings. P-Please, take them from the carriage. I need … t-them,” my last words were soft like a whisper, and without responding to my words, my savior ordered the other person with him.

You heard her. Take her belongings and we’ll bring her to Marrossi,” the man spoke in a dignified manner, and it was the last thing I can remember before I close my eyes.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

I gently opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar place – the ceiling was made from panels of wood, and the walls and flooring are made of the same material. Summoning every ounce of strength, I managed to rise to my feet, using my arms for support. However, my movements were severely restricted, and I could barely shuffle across the floor.

I winced as I feel the pain coming from my shoulder and leg, reminding me of the group of bandits that attacked me. My wounds are cleaned and treated, but the pain remains.

Footsteps approaching from the stairs outside sounded louder – someone is coming.

The wooden door opened revealing a woman carrying a tray, and she had a light smile at the sight of me.

“Thank goodness you're awake now," she said and looked back. "Dante! Tell His Highness that the lady is awake.”

Dante? His Highness? What’s going on and where am I?

The woman stepped into the room and put down the tray, and sat on the chair next to the bed. "Call me Hermine. This is my house, and I’m living with my brother, Dante. We live in the woods. It was His Highness who brought you here. He said bandits attacked your carriage near the hillside and found you there.”

“Who exactly saved me? I don’t remember anything about him. The last thing I can recall was being carried by someone who said I’ll be brought in Marrossi. But I don’t remember his face.”

“You are in Marrossi now. His Highness, Hervouet Jerr Ruivenfiere, the second prince was the one who rescued you. You were unconscious for around eight hours now. I was the one who treated your wounds. You can stay here until you get your strength back. Here, I prepared you some meal.”

“Who exactly saved me? I don’t remember anything about him. The last thing I can recall was being carried by someone who said I’ll be brought in Marrossi. But I don’t remember how he looked like. The memory of him is blurry.”

“You are in Marrossi now. His Highness, Hervouet Jerr Ruivenfiere, the second prince was the one who rescued you. You were unconscious for around eight hours now. I was the one who treated your wounds. You can stay here until you get your strength back. Here, I prepared you some meal.”

I looked at the tray she was carrying earlier, and it consists of chicken soup with vegetables, oranges, strawberries, and warm tea.

“Um, thanks,” I said, mentally praying that this isn’t poisoned – because seeing tea only reminds me of Corianne.

“If you don’t mind, can I ask you a few questions?” Hermine asked, and I nodded in response. “What’s your name? Where are you from? It seems like you're either a merchant or a noble. Since when I checked your belongings, you have lots of jewelry with you. Even your sword and dagger had a gem as an accessory,” though I wanted to tell her that she shouldn’t have looked, I’ll let it pass, considering the favor she gave me.

“My name is Thyra, and I’m from Eurhyia. My old title doesn’t matter, since now I’m a fugitive. All of the jewelry is mine. I brought them with me because I'm unsure what currency the places I'll visit have. I'm looking for a place where I can exchange those little by little." I explained, giving the smallest idea possible. Introducing myself without a surname felt wrong, but somehow it can save me from potential dangers. At the end of the day, I'm still in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers.

“I see. I have one last question though – I saw your ring, and I haven’t seen an Izavene ring like that before.”

She hasn’t seen this kind of ring before? How come?

“I’m an alexandrite Izavene,” unsure of what to add next, I decided to keep my lips sealed.

“I didn’t know that alexandrite Izavenes exist. Nobody knows that kind of race. In all the regions of the Ruivenfiere Empire, there are only six kinds of Izavenes known – Red diamond,

Poudretteite, Aquamarine, Ruby, Moissanite, and Sapphire. My brother and I are ruby Izavenes.

Since you’re an Izavene from Eurhyia, I suppose you’re also born in a family of the same

Izavene race?” this Hermine woman is now asking too much. If this keeps on going, it’ll make it easier to track who I am.

"No, I'm the only Izavene in our family. That's all I can say," I responded, and part of me feels annoyed by the questions. But for now, I have to calm down and appreciate the favor. I have to change the topic. “I think you’ve learned enough from me. I want to know you and your brother.”

“My brother and I are blacksmiths. We craft all the weapons here in Marrossi, and some are sold in other regions of the empire. We had to isolate ourselves because even though most of our weapons are common, special weapons can be dangerous to be tested in common areas,” her answer made me curious about what she meant by dangerous.

“What do you mean by special weapons that are dangerous?”

“Like a gun that instead of shooting bullets, shoots animals to attack the enemy. Things like that," she flashed an awkward smile, and it seemed evident that she was attempting to conceal certain information from me. This piqued my curiosity even further.

The mention of a gun with a lion emerging from it as an example intrigued me, as it implied a potentially dangerous weapon. However, I found it difficult to fathom how such a weapon could exist. How can such a weapon exist?

The more I know, the more questions I get. And this is only the beginning of my new life here in Marrossi.