Episode 3: Stop, I Beg of You (5)

Isodor was the one who had noticed me first. He stood guard, placing himself before me and Lowe. 

“Why are you here?” He growled.

I looked at Lowe who was with Glenn. “I just thought I didn’t like the vibe of my team.” 

“...How did you find us?” His hand was on the hilt of his sword. How unreasonable.

“No comment.” I didn’t bother to explain. “However, I do have a few things to say.”

“Leave. I don’t need your advice.” He snapped.

“W-Wait, Your Highness. Let’s listen first… maybe it’s something important…” Lowe tried to persuade him, waving her arm in fluster.

He clicked his tongue, reluctantly complying. “Fine. So, what sophistry do you plan on dispensing this time around, princess?” 

“It will rain tonight, those flimsy tents won’t hope to last.” Vaguely, I gave them the clue that they should move. As for where to… if they search enough I believe they’ll stumble upon the cave which they did in the original. 

“Rain? And how would you know that?” 

“Secondly, it will be dangerous tonight.” It didn’t matter if Isodor didn’t believe in me. It was enough that Lowe heard it, she’ll definitely do something about him. “Something lurks in the dark. Something… menacing. It would be good if you beware at night.”

“Danger…? Then shouldn’t we…” 

“No. She’s trying to confuse us. If we listen to her rhetoric and initiate the beacon now, we’ll fail the exam.” Isodor opposed, glaring at me.

“…Maybe we should be careful. It’s the first time we’re staying overnight in the wilderness after all?” Glenn commented behind them.

“T-Then how about you Your Grace? Why come all the way here to tell us this?” Lowe, timidly behind Isodor, looked at me and asked. 

My goal? To disrupt Kairen’s plan and minimise the overall threat level of tonight’s ambush.

In that way, perhaps things would still play out as it would originally, but reducing the stake in their life…

Right?

But even if I didn’t come here to tell them this, wouldn’t they be fine in the end? It wasn’t part of my original plan to warn them about what would happen tonight. I only said to keep an eye out for Kairen. 

After all, the dangers which they’ll come to experience are necessary for their growth. Moreso when this scenario would become the turning point for Lowe. 

My interference would only cause variables… wouldn’t it?

I bit my lips.

No.

That wasn’t it.

That was an excuse.

Not gonna to lie, the reason why I came to their camp was because I didn’t want to stay back there where that bastard was flirting about so openly.

I had long grown used to depending on them whenever something alarmed me that I… unconsciously reacted this way.

… I wanted to stay here.

Between the camp where he stayed, and here, I would’ve preferred the latter.

I want to be protected, even if only a little. To confide in Isodor, Glenn, in their presence… as I did in my previous life but…

Such privileges, I had no allowance for it anymore.

It was my fault that things came to this.

I… can’t let these small yearnings ruin Lowe’s future.

 “If what you said were true, and… it’s going to be dangerous tonight then…” Lowe tremblemed.

“I… will be fine.” Thank you, Lowe... 

I turned around, leaving before my emotions got the better of me.

It was better for Isodor and Glenn suspected that I was up to no good than to realise I was afraid. Lowe’s kindness towards me would only serve as a fuel to boost her favorability.

I took a deep breath. Pushing through the dry leaves and vines as I traced back my old trail.

I felt unease deep down, somehow.

With so many unknowns, and the fear that everything could go wrong… I knew instinctively that a real threat loomed upon us. 

What was going to happen… it will happen regardless of how I feel. 

No matter how many times I’ve experienced a breakdown, my fears never went away.

Lowe had been warned. She, Isodor and Glenn would be fine.

But how about myself? I didn’t know what to do.

Before Tiffany winds up between his fingers, I better get back to camp and make sure Kairen doesn’t do anything weird… 

The wind blew.

I felt a slight sting on my right thigh.

Did a blade of grass accidently nick me?

The evening skies were dark, I conjured a light orb to see what had bitten me—the world spun.

My vision waned.

No… wait…

I staggered, leaning against one of the trees, hanging onto consciousness.

What was this…?

“So you’re the one who set my brother up huh?” A hoarse voice.

“You…!”

4th-tier magic, <Frostborne: Thorn Helix>.

I sent a wave of ice in the direction where the voice was heard. The leaves rustled;  hitting nothing. 

My head continued to spin, I struggled to stay awake.

I tried circulating my blood, using my bloodline to suspend whatever foreign poison that was affecting my body—but it was useless. This body hadn’t learnt how to do that. 

Silhouettes shuffled in from the trees above.

“Ugh?!”

Something like a rope wound round and restrained me. I was pressed to the ground. Immediately after, I felt two more pricks against my neck.

“Looks like someone is feisty.”

“Ugh….” His face was blurry. 

My consciousness was failing. I couldn’t cast any magic.

“Nice meeting you princess—rest well.”

Damn it, I should’ve expected this…

I remembered calling a guillotine on him—the guy who Kairen worked with.

Kairen’s aim had never been on Lowe from the start.

… It was me.

⌌✧ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ✧⌍

◃'◤⌌ Kairen’s POV⌍◢╨▹.

Ash and smoke lingered out in the night air; the smell of barbeque. 

Chirping cicadas in the distance. The crackling firewood before me.

A reminder that we were in the woods. A reminder that we were outdoors—

The unironically soothing atmosphere of a laid back camping trip despite the possible dangers around us. 

I threw in another piece of dried wood and watched as the hungry campfire flames engulfed it.

“You’re different from what the rumours say about you.” Tiffany said after a long pause.

“Glad to hear that. I just hope the rumours will clear up sooner or later.” I said without lifting my gaze. “But it’s true that my sister turned into a slave.”

“S-So did you actually allow that to happen? I… don’t know…”

“It’s not like I wanted to. I couldn’t do anything to save her, that’s all.” I exhaled.

“So you didn’t…” Tiffany’s voice squeaked.

In the end, all my efforts were for naught.

She trembled. “I’m sorry.” 

Bringing Reene out of that hell hole and even getting into fights with the thugs—the last thing I had expected was for them to find her location and kidnap her.

‘Has the stress gotten to me?’

I wondered why I was even talking to Tiffany about this. I barely know who she was.

I pretended I didn’t hear her apology, saying nothing in response.

However, she spoke back regardless. “Even though you know that Lady Astraea was the one who spread the rumours, why do you still act so kind to her?”

Why was that? I was unjustly treated, no? 

‘Her Grace Astraea provided my sister with a stable place to live.’

“...To the person that saved my sister, why should I make an enemy out of her?”

“Huh? Lady Astraea did… wait, but… if that’s true then, isn’t this all just a big misunderstanding?” Tiffany gawked. 

“Even if it was, it’s too late to correct it.” I subverted her question. “It’s getting late. Did Her Grace say where she was going?”

The skies had already grown dark. It had been approximately half an hour since, yet she hasn’t returned.

I’ve faced her in combat before this, so I know she has some decent fighting ability. That was why I didn’t think to pressure her for an answer.

Even if her stamina was horrible, her ice magic proficiency should be more than enough to cover for it.

Though, knowing this only made things more complicated. I wasn’t sure why earlier she acted like some retarded, weak lady that couldn't walk. Maybe it’s her new way of making my life difficult? It appeared more cutesy than annoying, honestly.

I could’ve easily exposed her but… I thought it would be better to get back to her by simply playing along. I didn't want to create extreme variables to the canon story too. 

“She should be fine… let’s get packing.” I said.

“Huh? Packing? Why?”

“It’s going to rain tonight. There’s a small cave here we can make as shelter. We’ll move our stuff there. After that, I’ll stay here until she comes back to notify her of the base change…”

—Rustle.

“She’s back?” Tiffany turned to the sound.

“No.” I drew my sword.

It wasn’t Astraea.

“Broo! Long time no see!” 

‘...What the.’

This… wasn’t supposed to happen..

I thought I had already cut off the roots to this scenario? 

“Fabian…” I groaned.

An upstart business partner with a seething desire to rule the underworld.

One had the money, the other who had the dream. A businessman and his investor. 

‘You and Kairen had a deal with each other; not me.’

In my previous life, I was so dumb I didn’t realise this man was just exploiting me. By the time I realised it, he had me wound around his pinky, and I couldn’t escape even though I wanted to. 

I had the laundered money for sure, but he had the people. One wrong move and I was dead.

At some point in time, he proposed to kidnap Lowe. I denied, he insisted—I was forced to accept. 

‘I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but being so weak, that was my only option for survival.’

That was in the past, things happened differently in this life. I had cut ties with him very early on, as a result he sent his goons after me.

Fortunately they were never a threat to me.

“Bro! Chill out! Chill out! Look, I know you’re struggling right now, I came to help!”

Fabian the lunatic, the fool. 

Kairen’s ‘sworn brother’. 

Work together to build a dream empire? If you had such ambitions you might as well get crushed by Drew.

I pointed my sword at him.

“K-Kairen…?” Tiffany stood behind me.

I couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or crazy. 

“Get out of my sight. I already told you that things are over between us.” Assuming that this twisted scenario will happen similarly to what happened in my previous life, chances are that we were already surrounded by assassins.

“No bro! I know what I did wrong. I won’t make the same mistake twice, so please come back. Look, I even did you a favour.” Fabian held up a piece of torn red cloth.

My heart sank.

‘What the hell… how did she get done in by these fools…’

“Where… is she?” I asked in a frigid voice.

“I knew this would catch your attention! That duke’s daughter had been a huge headache for you right? If she dies here, you’d be in even more of a mess, right? Come on, I’ve brought her to my base. Follow me.” He turned his wagging tail.

“K-Kairen… w-what is going on…?” Tiffany shuddered. 

I didn't have the time to explain. “First calm down—wait for my signal later. I’ll talk once we get out.”

She bit her lips and nodded stiffly.

“Oh, and before I forget. Drop it.” Fabian suddenly remarked.

I threw my sword to the ground.

“Not that, the other thing.” He narrowed his eyes.

“What thing?” I raised my hand in surrender, getting my teeth.

“I’m sure you two have it too, don’t you?” He looked at us with those innocently crazed eyes. “The beacon device.”