Chapter 45: More Annoying Than the Empire...

(Selenia’s POV)

My falling asleep so fast was odd, and I now knew exactly why… No longer was I in the carriage, I was currently in a cave. My hands were tied up behind my back. Looking around the cave, it was somewhat dark.

I could see some light coming from one end of the cave, which is probably the exit to it. I didn’t see Cirilia or Resoria around me. Hopefully, they’re safe, and I was the only target. I… I honestly would lose my mind if those two were killed…

Woman: “Are you awake?” She asked.

The woman looked to be a paladin of some kind. Why the fuck would a paladin kidnap me? Her golden hair was long and shiny… She truly looked like some kind of holy warrior.

Selenia: “No. I am Selenia.” I reply with a cheeky tone.

Rem: “…Smug. But that is fine. I have no intentions on killing you, after all. My name is Rem.” She replied.

Selenia: “Oh? Then why did you kidnap this princess?” I ask.

Rem: “Someone said that you were a demon. Considering that you showed up out of nowhere and became a princess, I assumed that you had mind controlled the royalty of Sooven.” She explained.

Selenia: “Demon? Miss, I am a blessed person. Resoria was someone I once saved, so she likes me very much. Which is why she “kindly” asked her father to adopt me.” I explain.

Rem: “No lies… So it seems that I was indeed tricked.” She said with a sigh.

Selenia: “Tricked? It was probably someone from the Empire. There have been so many attempts on my life lately.” I reply.

A necromancer, and now they have lied to a paladin? Paladins aren’t loyal to any church, or anyone really. Resoria told me about them, and how if I ever need help, go find one to help me. Common sense is being tested at the moment…

Rem: “How evil… I will find the one that informed me that you were a demon and kill him. That would be the only just thing to do.” She said with a thinking pose.

Selenia: “Yeah. So… could you release me now?” I ask.

The rope that was binding my hands wasn’t normal at all. No matter how much strength I use, I can’t break it.

Rem: “No. And don’t bother trying to escape those restraints. That is holy rope. It blocks the powers of both holy and evil. Without your blessing, you’re just a child.” She replied.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Selenia: “Why can’t you release me?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

Rem: “Isn’t that simple? After making the entire convoy fall asleep, I took you. But those one woman woke up before I could escape. That was less than a day ago. Now, even in such a short period of time, the entire empire seems to have my face up on wanted posters.” She explained.

Selenia: “Ah, so I am a hostage?” I assume.

Rem: “As much as it pains me, yes. Though, now that I know that you’re actually a blessed person, I am struggling with keeping you hostage…” She said with a sad tone.

Selenia: “Just release me. I swear that I will convince Resoria to not pursue you at all.” I say with a serious tone.

Rem: “Unfortunately, to survive, I must keep you as a hostage. I have already been excommunicated. Since I am no longer a paladin, I don’t have to only do good things anymore. In fact, I cannot find and kill the one who set you up.” She replied.

Selenia: “Then what is your plan, Paladin Rem?” I ask.

Rem: “…Escape.” She answered.

Before I could ask her anything more, the woman walked out of the cave. Shit… This is what happens when you get in between women and their wives… Trying their best to save me, they ended up making it harder to escape from this damn woman…

Days Later.

Rem has been dragging me along for a while. Despite saying that she didn’t have to be a good person anymore, she was very kind. She made sure that I ate food and drank water, as well as let me use the restroom.

Of course, it’s not like she was there right next to me. And it wasn’t like I was restricted as much as when I woke up a few days ago. Instead, I now had a long rope tied around my waist. The rope was very good at restricting my power, though I could walk around a decent bit. The rope did have some slack, after all.

Rem: “I am surprised that you haven‘t tried to run away or tried to kill me, Selenia.” She said with a confused tone.

Currently, it was night. Rem and I were sitting around a campfire. I was enjoying some soft and tasty bread. Despite being a hostage, Rem’s treatment of me was pretty good. Rather than a hostage, I felt like I was just reluctantly traveling with her.

Selenia: “If you try to rape me, I promise that I will try to run or kill you.” I reply before returning to my soft bread.

Rem: “…”

Selenia: “If you want to keep our current relationship, then don’t do anything like that.” I say with a laugh.

Rem: “Where do you think that I should go?” She asked.

Selenia: “I don’t know?” I reply.

Rem: “Surely, as a Princess you know of some good places, right?” She asked once more.

Selenia: “Hah. That is very funny, Paladin Rem. You see, I have only been a princess for less than a month. Before that, I was just a random, unknown child.” I reply.

Rem: “I see…” She said with a sigh.

Selenia: “I am sure that there are many places that you could escape to. But I just don’t know of any. It is funny, not that long ago, I couldn’t even read.” I say with a sigh.

Rem: “Couldn’t read? How old are you?” She asked.

Selenia: “I am about 8 years of age. Pretty young, I would say. And I was born into a worthless family.” I reply.

Rem: “That’s wrong to say about your family, Selenia.” She said with a stern tone.

Selenia: “I think that my mother died in childbirth, as I never saw her. As for my father, he tried to rape me before he decided to take his own life. He left me on my own, and to survive, I had to join Sooven’s military.” I explain.

Rem: “…”

Selenia: “?”

Rem: “I am sorry for what I said. I wasn’t aware of your circumstances.” She said with a remorseful tone.

This woman wasn’t in the right mindset right now. If she was, Rem would ask me more specific questions. For instance, I haven’t tried to kill or run away from her. But I have left a trail that Resoria and Cirilia would easily recognize.

It pains me somewhat… This woman is clearly someone good, but the empire set both me and her up. I will be able to get through this and live my life. But Rem will lose her place in the world. I guess… I have to somehow convince those two…