Alisson sat quietly in the cell. This was only his temporary housing before he would be transferred to solitary confinement. The doors to the room opened, and in came Ardinand, followed close behind by Celis and the apprentices, all wearing concerned looks.

“So it’s true, they locked you up…” Ardinand muttered, standing before Alisson’s cell with crossed arms.

“This must be a mistake.” Marenix mumbled. “They know that you were just using her as a body double, right? You didn’t do anything else.”

Alisson closed his eyes. “The Queendom has seen fit to charge me with trafficking, accessory to sexual misconduct, and sexual misconduct. I will be transferred to solitary confinement until word reaches the homeland.”

The three of them recoiled. “Why!? Why would the loyalists do this! They’re stabbing you in the back! All of this is bogus! Did you hear, they want to send out Celistine and the two apprentices here to do ‘training’ in the wilderness!” Ardinand said, cursing. He looked to Alisson, “We’ll get you out of here, legally or not. You can count on your fratello.”

Alisson shook his head. “We don’t need this incident being escalated any further. I have already been found guilty unilaterally, and they have a victim’s confessionary. I’ll be fine. Sidonia will sort this out when she hears of it.”

“Why not just ask the Queen? I’m sure she’d pull some strings.” Ashlynde added.

“Because the Queen is probably the one who set this up.” Ardinand muttered angrily.

“Or, it’s true.” Celis said darkly, staring on at Alisson.

Alisson closed his eyes in response. “Truth will be decided on by others. Not us.”

Ardinand tapped his foot. “We can’t have you out of action for potentially months – Irine’s counterattack will come and we’ll need every one we can get to help clot the bleeding.”

Alisson nodded. “If the Queendom wishes to rid themselves of an able-bodied ally, then let them.”

“What if they execute you? Are you just going to lay down and die?” Marenix scowled.

Alisson didn’t answer, and only looked down into his lap. Ardinand stepped closer, and grabbed the bars tightly.

“If you call, we will get you out, Alisson. That, I can promise.”

“I appreciate the sentiment. For now, however, comply.”

“Does that mean going and training out in the middle of nowhere…?” Ashlynde asked bitterly.

“It is most likely an excuse to separate me from my close companions, so that you do not try to do anything on my behalf…” Alisson said with a deep breath. “Just do it. We don’t need any more trouble than my oversights have caused.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Oversights!?” Celis snapped. “Are you admitting that you did something wrong!?”

“Master…” Ashlynde tugged on Celis’s side in an attempt to calm her down.

Celis exhaled a breath of air and turned away from him. “I hope you enjoy solitary.”

…

I never expected this…One day we’re celebrating with the loyalists and now suddenly my master has been thrown in jail. It feels so contrived, so wrong. There has to be something going on here. You would think someone falsely accused of rape would be more indignant, but Alisson seemed calm, content even. I don’t get it.

Celis led me and Ashlynde through the streets of Ahvaratsu. We were given three horses and plenty of supplies for this supposed ‘training’ trip they’re forcing us to go on. It’s just like Alisson said. They want an excuse to throw us out of the city. Celis hasn’t said anything to us since we left Alisson to his fate. It looks like she either believes that he did something wrong, or that she’s mad that he didn’t tell her anything. I thought the two of them had an unbreakable bond, but I guess that’s just what it looks like on the outside.

I guess Alisson won’t be telling me the truth any time soon now, with him being off in solitary. I clenched my fist. Me and Ashlynde are in no position to refuse though…We just have to do what we’re told.

We reached the gates of Ahvaratsu, and soon, we were out of the city, trotting along. I’m not exactly an expert in horse riding, so even travelling at this pace still makes me nervous.

I had never been in the wilderness like this before. The sounds of the city slowly dulled behind us the longer we traveled the road. We soon saw no other travelers or signs of life, as the sun started to fall. My eyes darted at the nearby tree lines, fearing that any moment, a beast could leap out and take a bite out of me.

“This is the place.”

Celis suddenly came to a stop, and I struggled for a moment to rein my own horse to stop. We waited there in silence for a moment, Celis not even looking back at us.

“M-master…?” Ashlynde asked nervously, but it was hard to speak with the newfound absence of a din of city life.

“You took your time.” I heard a familiar voice and jumped.

At a nearby tree, sitting calmly, was my master, Alisson.

“I didn’t think I’d miss being outside of a city.” Celis said, and I caught her smiling.

“Me neither.” Alisson concurred with a small smile, and rose up. Tethered to the tree he sat against was a horse, that was similarly equipped for travel like ours were.

“W-wha…what?” I muttered, at a loss. “You’re supposed to be in a cell…”

“That would be the common knowledge, yes.”

Alisson untethered his horse and stepped closer, but before he could continue, Celis had dismounted and embraced him in a hug that almost made him fall back.

“Never make me do that again!” She exclaimed. “I hate it!”

Alisson gently rubbed the back of her head. “I can’t say that it’ll be the last time. It’s better that people think that even my greatest ally has turned on me. Ardinand will spread that news well enough on his own.”

I couldn’t stop blinking in disbelief. Then, it all clicked. “You…Master…You wanted this to happen? You wanted to be thrown in solitary?”

Alisson nodded to me. “All a ruse. But thanks to that ploy, Sidonia will believe I am somewhere I am not. We are free to move as we please.”

I was a little stunned by his forwardness. “You’re…telling me the truth? Now that we’re out here, alone?”

“Yes. It’s time I am frank with the two of you. Come, there’s a cliff to the sea nearby that is quite scenic. It is a better place to converse than this. I will tell you everything. Then, we will head north, to the Holy Angelic Country of Angela.”

***

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End Movement 1