(Lara’s POV)

He quickly helped us down the wall, and simply jumped! I was scared, but he landed like a feather, without making any noise and without hurting himself at all.

(Shadow): “Follow me! We don’t have much time!”

He said, running to the forest after he cut the rope tying us. We followed right behind him as the explosions on the fort delayed the bandits. We entered the forest, where four horses were waiting for us. Shadow quickly organized us on our horses.

Two maids on one of the horses, the coachmen and my son in one, me and my daughter in one and the last one he mounted alone, probably expecting mounted combat.

(Shadow): “Follow me, we will go to the road! From there, we will make a run for the city!”

He said, moving the horse. We followed just behind him. Guiding us through the dark, we went out of the forest after a few minutes, reaching the road. While we rode, Shadow said again:

(Shadow): “We will ride without stopping, and reach the city in three hours! Don’t stop, no matter what, unless I tell you to, understood?!”

(Laura): “Yes!”

I answered as the horses ran through the road, the hooves raising some dust. Soon, I heard horses following us. It’s the bandits! Since I was right by his side, I heard Shadow speaking:

(Shadow): “Shit. I scared off the horses, but they managed to recover faster than I imagined. Well, not that I didn’t prepare for that.” He then raised his voice to speak with all of us. “Slow down and match the speed of my horse! I have a trap ahead!”

I didn’t doubt him. After all, he had that amazing explosion chain on the fort! We slowed down to match his speed, and slowly, the bandits started to catch up, appearing behind us on the road, holding torches and swords.

(Shadow): “Speed up again!”

He said, throwing a knife on a tree by the side of the road. I was confused, but when I hear a rope loudly snapping, I knew that his trap has been activated. Behind us, a log swung out of the darkness, hitting the side of the first horse of the bandits, and making several others crash on the log that is now hanging in the middle of the road, stopping completely their advance and killing several horses and their raiders.

When the hell did he set up this trap?! I’ve never seen something similar to this! It’s genial to see a trap such as this! We continue to ride, this time, without any interruptions or bandits. And after what seemed to be an eternity, we finally saw the walls of Faye in the night. The guards, seeing us approach, blocked the gate.

We slowed down gradually, and one of the guards approached. Relieved, I climbed down from my horse, followed closely by Shadow. The guard, with is torch in hand, said as he got closer:

(Guard): “Who are you peo-?! How- Why are you here, my lady?!”

(Yozora’s POV)

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Oh, a duchess? I saved her because I wanted to at least try to get some connections and have some practice with my new body and equipment, but to save a duchess. I guess that I hit the jackpot with this!

However, this guard… I was right in following her when she came down from the horse. As soon as this guard recognized Duchess Laura, I immediately felt evil intent coming out from him. It’s one of the basics of soul techniques, feeling evil intent oozing from the soul.

Because of that, it’s pretty easy to know when someone is up to something. And this guy… he has some kind of evil intent. He didn’t notice me, after all, I’m hiding my presence and I’m out of the range of the torch, so neither him or the guards at the gate noticed me. I take my dagger with my left hand in the case he tries something, as I see he putting his left hand on his back.

If I’m not wrong, it’s on the back that most guards let their daggers. My prediction soon proves correct as he says:

(Guard): “I’m sorry, your highness, but unfortunately, you must die here!”

He says, taking a dagger from his back. Laura steps back, surprised, while I step forward, unsheathing my dagger, blocking his attack easily. With my other dagger on my other hand, I pierce his chin, going upwards all the way to his brain.

(Yozora): “You Majesty, it seems that you weren’t expected to come back from the bandit camp alive.”

I say, pulling out the dagger. Other guards are approaching, weapons in hand, seeing that their comrade has fallen. Taking the torch form the dead man, I ask:

(Yozora): “They might all be against you, but if you wish, I will take them down, Your Highness.”

Looking back to her green eyes, she looks back at me, a shocked expression still on her face. She than looks at me, and determination appears on her face.

(Laura): “I will try to talk to them. If they still try to attack us, please, take them down.”

Nodding, I gave her the torch to free my hand, holding my daggers. She stepped forward, and screamed at the top of her lungs:

(Laura): “ALL OF YOU! I’M DUCHESS LAURA BRONSTON! I COMMAD YOU TO DROP YOUR WEAPONS!”

It seems to have a great effect, as the soldiers stop in their tracks immediately. With my senses, only two more sprout evil intents while the rest doesn’t. unfortunately, I can only sense evil intent, and emotion reading isn’t possible.

One of the ones that doesn’t have evil intent approaches with weapons in hand, by his armor, he must be the captain of this squad.

(captain): “If you truly are the duchess, approach so that I can see your face. And you, rogue, no petty tricks.”

Well, I could fry your balls before you even noticed, and suffocate you with them, so I’m not mad. Laura approaches the captain, that immediately recognizes her face, falling to one knee.

(Captain): “Your Highness! Pardon our rudeness!”

With his actions, the other soldiers drop their weapons. I also drop my instance. However, it’s still early to put my daggers away. The captain gets up with his head lowered, and then asks:

(Captain): “Your Highness, you must forgive me, but I must ask, why was this guard attacked?”

(Laura): “He attacked us first, Captain. This gentleman right here just freed us from a bandit camp that kidnapped me and my children earlier, and this guard tried to assassinate us. If it weren’t for his fine gentleman, I would be dead by now.”

(captain): “Understood! What do you need, Your Highness? I can call an escort from the fortress, if you wish so!”

He says, convinced by her words. I sheath my daggers and cross my arms, approaching the Duchess from behind and whispering:

(Yozora): “Your Highness, there’s still traitors among them.”

She looks at me over her shoulder. Frowning, she looks forward once again, and answers whispering:

(Laura): “The road that we used, as well the whole trip was secret. The group that attacked us was too big for just a normal band, even with their numbers. It was just excessive.”

(Yozora): “So this was an inside job. If the normal guards know about your trip, the scope for looking for a hole is too big.”

(Laura): “They weren’t supposed to know at all. Only the knights serving my husband should know.”

(Yozora): “That recues the number of worms. You should check who the guy who attacked you is related to and try to find any connections between him and any outside organization.”

(Laura): “Would you do the job?”

She asked. I smiled under my mask.

(Yozora): “Of course, but not for free.”

She smiled.

(Laura): “As expected, someone with your abilities won’t cheap to hire, huh?”

(Yozora): “It depends on the payment. I’m sure that we could start a good business relation. Don’t worry, my craft is my life, even if I get offered more, I don’t betray. If I did, my reputation would go to the ground.”

It’s true. “No matter how much they offer, do not betray the original contractor”, are the words that I live to till this day, and until the end of them. Well, in this situation, I guess that I’m living up to them even after my days are done. Laura smiles, and says:

(Laura): “Do you mind if we discuss the details later?”

(Yozora): “Fine with me. Consider yourself as my contractor!”