Chapter 210
If my prediction was correct, they had deliberately worn armor and revealed their identities. Perhaps their goal was to use the outbreak of war as a pretext, hoping the Third Prince, who was hiding somewhere nearby, would come to them on his own accord.
And to make our troops hurry toward Karnan.
I needed to meet with Luwen or my sister. If this conjecture was right, then all communications with Karnan would have been cut off.
If I could just confirm this, then…
‘I might be able to predict the Third Prince’s route.’
Since I knew where he had been discovered, there was a possibility of tracking him backwards. Rather than relying on chance and hoping he would be there, I might be able to find him myself.
“Um, I just remembered something urgent. Sorry I can’t help with the rest of the laundry.”
I left the man behind and half-ran toward the camp.
And it was when I was passing through the darkest path.
Whoosh-!
“Mmph!”
A dark shadow jumped out from behind a tree, covered my mouth, and seized my waist, making it impossible for me to move.
In that moment, I panicked and my thoughts became jumbled. My sister’s warning that someone might target me came to mind. Though we had taken measures to keep the secret from spreading, it might have leaked, and the thought sent a chill down my spine.
I had to escape.
With that sole thought, I was about to kick the suspicious person’s shin when a familiar scent cut through the smell of grass and touched my nose.
‘It’s Luwen!’
I was so relieved that my legs went weak. I leaned my head against him and calmed my startled heart.
“Why didn’t you resist more?”
I tapped the back of his hand that was covering my mouth in response to his grumpy voice.
“Because I knew it was Luwen. Anyway, I was so surprised that all my strength drained away…”
“Ugh, I’m sorry. I thought we shouldn’t be seen, so I tried to escort you quietly, but…”
He could have just called me, and I would have heard him perfectly well. Acting like a kidnapper was clearly deliberate. Judging by his question about why I didn’t resist more, perhaps he was trying to see how I would react.
“By the way, who was that person you were with?”
“A stranger.”
“Did he push you into the water?”
“No. A snake suddenly appeared, startling me, and I fell into the water.”
I casually mentioned a snake instead of a viper, afraid he might worry more.
“A snake? Were you bitten?”
“The person I was with helped me, so I’m fine.”
Luwen gazed beyond the direction I had come from, then looked at me and spoke.
“Well, that’s fortunate, but…”
“More importantly, I have something to ask you, ah-choo!”
“Let’s change your clothes first.”
“…Yes, we should.”
The chill of the autumn night was not appropriate weather for wearing wet clothes. While others might be fine, I was particularly susceptible to colds and needed to be careful.
It took quite some time to wash up and change clothes. My hair wasn’t completely dry, but there wasn’t time to wait for it to dry completely, so I hurriedly left the tent.
“This way.”
Luwen, who had been concealing his presence, called out to me. It was fortunate I already knew he was there; otherwise, I would have screamed.
“Let’s go.”
I followed behind Luwen. Whether he had moved the sentries in advance or not, there wasn’t a single soldier in sight.
The place we arrived at, avoiding people’s eyes, was Luwen’s tent.
“Huh? Sister?”
“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”
I hadn’t imagined my sister would be here first.
“Actually, the reason I sought you out was because today’s battle seemed suspicious. We discovered an enemy unit in a place where there was no reason for us to encounter them. So I was worried that perhaps Fei’s identity had been exposed.”
“Ah.”
So that was it. The two of them also felt that today’s battle was unusual. As if to prove this, my sister added:
“Communication with Karnan has also been cut off, so there’s a possibility it has fallen. But since it’s such a formidable fortress, we thought Fei might be in danger, but now that you’re safe…”
Communication with Karnan cut off.
Learning the information I was about to ask about, I became certain. However, since I hadn’t told the two of them about the Third Prince of Tuaso, I was torn about whether to explain this. To find him, I would need to move directly, and they would naturally oppose it.
But if I didn’t explain…
“As soon as day breaks, we should head toward Karnan at full speed. It’s suspicious that neither messengers nor carrier pigeons have returned.”
Yes, this is the conclusion they would reach. If I didn’t know about the Third Prince’s existence, I too would have interpreted it like my sister.
“Actually, I know some information I haven’t told you two.”
So I had to tell them now. I needed to find the Third Prince, and it would be problematic if the main force disappeared.
“I think the Third Prince of Tuaso is nearby.”
“…What?”
Surprised, my sister’s eyes grew round. Then they immediately narrowed, and she frowned and asked:
“How does Fei know that?”
Before I could answer, she seemed to realize the source and changed her question.
“Is this also information you learned in your past life?”
“Yes. But what I know is the location where the Third Prince’s body was discovered. If we can secure this person, couldn’t we end this war quickly?”
“That would depend on how the Third Prince responds, but it’s a possibility.”
I shared with my sister what I had been thinking earlier.
After hearing my full explanation, my sister lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment. Knowing it was best not to disturb her when she was deep in thought like this, I quietly drank warm milk and waited.
“I think it would be better for Luwen to handle this.”
“Huh?”
I was taken aback by Luwen’s sudden nomination and responded with confusion. I had naturally assumed it would be my task.
“Surely you weren’t planning to move by yourself, Fei?”
Though she was smiling, it seemed like she was angry, so I shrank slightly and shook my head, pretending that wasn’t the case.
“I also agree with the lady’s opinion. Fei, please remain at the camp. If you can describe the Third Prince’s appearance, I will search for him.”
The invisible pressure urging a response was immense.
After a moment’s consideration, I nodded. Certainly, it would be more effective for Luwen to search than me. He could cover a wider area more quickly, and he had the ability to move stealthily without being discovered by the enemy. It seemed like an appropriate selection.
“Alright. But you must never let your guard down. Avoid combat as much as possible. Can you do that?”
But now that I was about to send him, I became anxious. At this point, I wondered if I, like Luwen, had separation anxiety. Would I be okay once the war ended and I was certain all fates had been avoided?
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
“If you come back injured…”
“I will be careful, very careful.”
I swallowed and nodded.
“Let’s talk while looking at the map.”
We moved to the large table in the center of the tent. Below the southeast from where Kans village was located. The forest just before entering the wide plain.
‘Here.’
I marked the position where the Third Prince’s body was discovered with a blue tactical piece.
“Is this where the body was found?”
“That’s right. Sister, can you tell me anything you know about the Third Prince?”
“Like his personality or hobbies?”
“Yes. Knowing his personality might help predict his movement path.”
When people feel threatened, they unconsciously try to go to places where they feel safe. Or familiar places. Since he couldn’t use main roads as a fugitive, he must have crossed mountains.
“I don’t know much either, but firstly, the Third Prince is not athletically inclined. He likes art, is gentle, and calm. He particularly enjoys painting and playing musical instruments.”
If he wasn’t good at physical activities, he would have avoided steep areas. To go as far and as quickly as possible, he would have followed the most gentle paths. And he would have chosen paths with dense grass or trees where he could hide himself.
While pondering as I looked at the map, I suddenly realized I had overlooked one thing: the Third Prince’s purpose for coming here.
‘I understand he fled to enemy territory to hide, I would also go somewhere the imperial army couldn’t easily search if I were being chased by them.’
But given his status, he would try to hide rather than seek refuge with the empire. He would avoid contact with anyone and stay quiet until interest in him waned, then plan to move.
‘Where would he have chosen to establish himself until then?’
As the Third Prince, he would have had access to maps of the empire, so he likely had a rough understanding of the geography. Though not as detailed as the maps we had, he probably obtained maps at the level that merchants could easily acquire.
“Sister, do you know what kind of paintings he typically creates? Portraits or landscapes?”
“Landscapes, and among them…”
Had she thought of something? My sister, who had been looking at me while speaking, suddenly turned her head toward the map. Her eyes quickly scanned the map as if searching for something. Then, with a slight smile, she picked up the blue tactical piece and placed it back on the map.
“This is likely where he is.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
