The carriage door was blasted away and Nikulas hopped out from the carriage followed by Auriana. She carried Rael and Ida on both shoulders as a transparent shadow of a gorilla enveloped her entire body. Ida was in a constant coughing fit while Rael clutched at his head, groaning in pain.

“Arrows!” Nikulas exclaimed.

They couldn’t catch a break as Nikulas was focused on deflecting and slicing the arrows while Auriana dodged them, rushing towards the tree in the distance for cover. They were in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by a dense forest. The carriage eventually collapsed onto the gravel path as it continued burning, the wood crackling as it came apart.

“We’ll take care of them, so stay back.” Auriana spoke roughly, pulling her lips back as she let out a snarl. Her figure disappeared as she charged towards the source of the attacks.

Ida was still coughing as she felt her lungs were still burning. Through her tears, she could see a barrage of arrows headed in her direction. Rael was still struggling to recover beside her, grunting in pain. She gasped, trying to push her body up when another figure appeared in front of her and slashed the arrows apart as they scattered.

“...Nikulas.” Rael groaned out.

Nikulas glanced back with a nod, his figure disappearing from the spot.

“I am sorry.” Rael told Ida, making her glance at Rael in confusion.

“What for?” Ida asked after she recovered from her coughing fit, clutching at her chest.

“It seems that there’s a mole within my people, and you were unintentionally dragged into this.” Rael smiled bitterly, a hint of guilt in his voice. “I wanted to keep my eye on you, but I did not have any intentions to cause you harm.”

“I won’t tell anyone, Your Highness.”

“...?”

“Your powers, and whatever I heard in the carriage,” Ida said, her tone was sincere without any hint of deceit. “I heard nothing and I saw nothing. I do not know anything, and I have never once met Your Highness.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that you were still there.” Rael raised an eyebrow.

“You saved my family and my home, along with Auriana and Nikulas,” Ida admitted with a solemn look. “I am not someone who betrays those I owe a debt to.”

“...”

“...”

The two stared at one another in silence, and Ida held an expectant look in her eyes. She didn’t expect Rael to trust her completely, but she was still hoping that her sincerity would lower his guard.

“Thank you, but you are still coming with me to the capital.”

The expression on Ida’s face began to tremble. “...you need me to take an oath to the spirit god at the temple.”

“You want me to trust you, don’t you?” Rael grinned, reaching out and patting Ida on the shoulder. “That is the least you could do.”

Ida sighed, furrowing her eyebrows.

That damn leader of all druids.

They were the cause of all this, and that isn’t the only problem.

June was flitting about in excitement at the chaotic scene as Auriana and Nikulas fought in the background. She was startled and concerned about Ida at first, but after realising she was protected by Auriana and Nikulas, she wasn’t concerned anymore. More than anyone else, June was anticipating the game she would be able to play once she reached the capital.

I can’t afford to anger June.

Ida sighed once more, leaning her back against the tree trunk. June hid her presence from Rael the entire time.

“I should prepare new clothes for the three of you in the capital as well.” Rael murmured, nodding in approval. “Yes, clothes from our best tailors would suit you all.”

“Whatever you wish, Your Highness.”

Rael grinned.

After a minute or so, Auriana and Nikulas dragged an assassin over who was clearly beaten until they were half-dead. They tossed the barely conscious assassins in front of Rael, and Auriana dusted at her blood-stained clothes. Meanwhile, Nikulas swung his sword once and sheathed it.

“Ugh…”

“Unnh…”

“They are not trained fighters.” Auriana remarked as the bloodthirsty aura from earlier faded, and there was no longer a transparent figure enshrouding her body.

“I expected that much, since most mercenaries have decided to extricate themselves from the battle for the throne.” Rael smiled, tugging the collar of the assassin and pulled it down, revealing a tattoo on the back of their neck. “The insignia of ducal Ravengard.”

Ida knew of that name, and she knew that Duke Ravengard were the relatives of the fifth prince. However, the fifth prince was only a mere child and from the novel, Ida remembered that Rael shared a good relationship with the little brother.

“Are you truly from Ravengard?” Rael questioned. “What a tasteless joke.”

The assassins ended up killing themselves without responding to Rael, and Rael shrugged his shoulders, standing up. He glanced at the three people awaiting his instructions, and he gestured towards the gravel path.

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

“Shall we take a long walk then?”

***

It has been two days since they were last attacked and Ida was no stranger to spending her nights in the wild. However, her current body was clearly not accustomed to it. Meanwhile, Auriana and Nikulas were seasoned veterans since they grew up in the Wastelands, and traversing through this dense forest was nothing to them. The one who surprised her the most was Rael, whom she assumed had grown up in a life full of luxuries and debauchery.

“For someone who lived at the borders of the Wastelands,” Rael commented, raising his eyebrows. “You have a weaker body than I expected.”

“Terribly weak.” Nikulas added.

“...” Ida had no words to say as she accepted the roasted fish from Nikulas with a word of gratitude.

It was evening as they sat by the campfire near the river. Their clothes were covered in dirt and grime, but it wasn’t long until they reached the capital. Ida glanced up at the setting sun in the distance, biting down on the roasted fish. Her tummy growled in approval as she bit and swallowed the succulent flesh down her throat, relishing in its taste.

“Ahhh!”

All three of them gasped as they heard screaming behind them, and they spun around. It turned out to be Auriana as she carried a small, white furball in her hands, lifting them up into the air as the setting sun casted a soft glow on it. The white furball turned out to be a rabbit who stared at the three humans with pleading eyes.

“It’s so cute! So fluffy!” Auriana exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. It was her first time out of the Wastelands and in a forest like this. “What exactly is this? Ida? Rael?”

“It’s a rabbit.” Rael answered.

The rabbit was still pleading with its eyes as Auriana squealed, and she leaned down, rubbing her cheeks against its soft, white fur. The rabbit widened its eyes, and its eyes seemingly glistened with desperate tears.

“It’s so adorable! I have never seen anything like this!” Auriana giggled.

“I pity the rabbit.” Nikulas said with a blank stare.

“I should offer it a silent prayer.” Ida muttered.

Rael couldn’t help but snort at their apathetic words. The rabbit was clearly dying in Auriana’s overzealous embrace, its soul drifting out from its body. It had fully given up on escaping.

Even June, who was resting on Ida’s shoulder and keeping herself hidden, tilted her head in confusion. “That tiny one is scared of the strong, tall one.”

“I want to keep it as a pet!”

“...!” It seemed as if the rabbit understood Auriana’s intentions and it began to struggle in Auriana’s arms.

“Hey, wait, little rabbit–”

“...!”

“Ugh!” Auriana was kicked in the face by the rabbit.

The three of them could only watch on speechlessly, and Ida never thought she'd see the proud heroine of the world fighting with a rabbit. Eventually, Auriana was defeated by the constant resistance from the rabbit and reluctantly let it go. The rabbit huffed indignantly, hopping its way back into the bushes.

“Why does it hate me…?”

Auriana trudged back to the campfire with her head hung down. Her first trip out from the Wastelands had become a disappointing one. She sat down beside Ida, a sullen expression on her face. Seeing this sight, Ida couldn’t help but be reminded of an adolescent girl who lost the attention of the stray dog she was petting.

“Wild animals don’t take kindly to other species.” Ida smiled in amusement, patting Auriana on the head.

“Hmmm…” Auriana whined, looking back at the forest with sad eyes. “It was so cute, I wanted to hug it for a while longer…”

Rael let out a laugh, covering his hand with his eyes. “You haven’t changed a bit, Auri.”

“That’s just how she is whenever she is fixated on something.” Nikulas sighed, shaking his head.

“But I have never seen such a creature before! The monsters in the Wastelands were disgusting and ugly!” Auriana bared her teeth, trying to mimic the monsters she encountered in the Wastelands. “Their teeth were rotten and they smell horrible! Their fur was never this soft or white either!”

“Just what kind of creatures did you encounter in the Wastelands, other than those ugly mutts?” Ida asked curiously.

“There’s too much to talk about.” Auriana blinked.

“The creatures we have seen and fought are endless.” Nikulas nodded.

“I’m curious too, so tell us about it. It’s not everyday I get to spend my time like this.” Rael grinned, his tone light-hearted.

Just like that, the adventures and memories of the Wastelands continued long into the night. It was filled with laughter and horror, but the atmosphere was warm and joyous. Despite being excluded from the conversation, June listened with rapt attention on Ida’s shoulder, closing her eyes and falling asleep. Ida never thought she would be able to sit alongside these people and chat with them like friends would.

***

Surprisingly, other than the uncomfortable sleeping experience, the “long walk” to the capital was a peaceful journey. With just a flash of his emblem he kept within his clothes and an amiable smile, Rael was immediately allowed entry to the capital as the flustered guards guided him in. Out of nowhere, his personal guards and his attendants revealed themselves with a carriage.

“Your Highness!”

“Stand down, and don’t make a fuss,” Rael ordered, accepting the coat and stepping into the carriage with the attendant. “Did anything happen while I was away?”

Auriana, Nikulas and Ida naturally joined him inside the carriage. The carriage traversed down the crowded streets slowly as the people made way for the royal carriage.

“That is…the funeral has been pushed forward.”

“What?” Rael frowned deeply. “On whose orders?”

“...”

“It’s my uncle, isn’t it?” Rael clicked his tongue, his eyes deepening. “That useless old man.”

Ida glanced out the carriage window as she heard their conversation, and there was a contemplative look in her eyes. She knew the hidden motives behind the funeral, and she knew it wasn’t because of a war over the throne.

If I do not step in, many people will die.

Many…innocent people, including the ones that Rael treasure.

The past few days she had spent with Rael had formed a sort of camaraderie around them. The Crown Prince of Grenyth Empire, and the future Emperor but that wasn’t who she saw in the past few days. He was simply an average man named Rael, albeit his gorgeous appearance. He was someone with a family, friends and a story to share like any other human. She didn’t want to watch people die before her eyes, and she also didn’t want to watch a companion suffer something she could have prevented.

Whatever it is, I will need to take a gamble because I still want my vengeance.

That spirit mage is the one behind this attack. Even then and now, I am not the type to let my enemies off easily.

After a moment, she turned back and opened her mouth, interrupting the conversation between Rael and his attendant.

“Your Highness.”

“...?”

“I recommend heading straight to the temple to make our contract first.” Ida suggested.

“What’s the hurry? It’ll be better to head there in clean–”

“The funeral is a trap. Many people will die, including those you care deeply about.”

All of them stiffened at Ida’s words, giving her a look of disbelief. The dubious feeling that Rael held for Ida emerged once more, and he looked askance at her.

Ida adorned a wry smile on her lips, unfazed by their dubious expressions towards her. “Trust me when I say we have to move quickly, Your Highness.”