Chapter 222


    Silence thickly nketed the group, and it shattered in an instant.


    Carynne urgently called out to Ise.


    “Ise Evans.”


    “Now, what… <i>uh, umph!”</i>


    “Shh, Ise. Don’t make any sudden movements.”


    Carynne quickly covered Ise’s mouth as she attempted to scream. The sudden appearance of ‘Ise’ was unexpected for Duke Luthe’s group as well, preventing immediate disaster.


    Carynne covered Ise’s mouth and quickly exined.


    “Ise, these people are trying to kill us because they found us while they were fleeing. And Sir Zion is confronting them to protect us.”


    Carynne swallowed hard as she watched Zion, who was ready to throw the duke’s granddaughter out of the window.‘That’s too harsh a method.’


    While Zion’s skills weren’t quite up to par with Raymond’s, they were sufficiently good. Using a young child as a hostage for negotiation was extreme but it wasn’t the wrong move.


    The problem was how desperate Duke Luthe was.


    Carynne continued speaking to Ise after seeing a young man next to the duke fiddling with a gun.


    “Got it? If you promise not to move unexpectedly, I’ll let you go.”


    <i>“…Mmph.”</i>


    “Okay?”


    Ise quietly nodded. Carynne slowly removed her hand from Ise’s mouth.


    “Is the coachman a knight? You didn’t say that.”


    “Is that important right now…”


    “How do you know him?”


    “…….”


    Carynne considered covering Ise’s mouth again.


    “Ise Evans, right now, that’s not…”


    Carynne then realized.


    “No, I get it. It <i>is</i> important.”


    Precisely, other things weren’t as important to Ise.


    “I asked my father to send him here. But I was told he’s not a very reputable man…”


    “The knight… Is he single?”


    “Yes.”


    The men looked at Ise disdainfully. Zion, too, from the window, listened to the young women’s conversation with a look of disbelief.


    “Lady Carynne, you should keep your wits about you. And what did you just say about my reputation?”


    “Sir Zion, please put the child down.”


    “What?”


    “There’s no need to go that far.”


    For the first time in a long while, Carynne’s memories from her past life were useful. She smiled and pointed at Ise while speaking to Duke Luthe.


    “Do you know who thisdy is, Duke Luthe?”


    “So you knew who I was all this time.”


    “Yes. I know that you are Duke Luthe. But that’s not important right now.”


    In her previous life, Duke Luthe had revealed his name before attempting to kill Carynne.


    Carynne looked back and forth between the duke and Zion. If she had been alone here, if instead of Zion it had been Raymond here, the situation would have been the same asst time.


    Raymond would have killed everyone and left, but Zion didn’t have that level of skill.


    And there was another difference.


    Ise was here this time.


    “This is Ise Evans, the only daughter of Verdic Evans.”


    The young man stepped forward to scrutinize Ise’s face, but even he seemed unsure. He asked Carynne.


    “Can you prove it?”


    “That’s for you to figure out. But if you touch thisdy, it’s over for you. She’s Verdic’s one and only daughter.”


    Carynne replied, staring intently at him.


    Ise Evans was here. Duke Luthe needed Verdic’s help.


    The duke groaned. They were in the midst of fleeing. They were supposed to meet someone sent by Verdic at this tower and then be guided to a hiding ce, but they encountered unexpected people.


    They couldn’t just pass by.


    But the duke’s silence was short-lived because Ise began speaking to him.


    “I have my father’s seal. Wouldn’t that be sufficient?”


    “You’re truly Verdic’s daughter?”


    “Yes. I was on my way to the capital. Just let us go as we are and take my seal and letter to my father. Wouldn’t that settle everything?”


    “Indeed, as you say.”


    When did she even prepare that?


    Carynne found herself almost admiring Ise, thoroughly prepared for her departure, or rather, her escape.


    Despite some disturbances, Duke Luthe and Ise reached an agreement.


    * * *


    “Please deliver this to my father.”


    “I understand. Do you have any other messages?”


    Ise spoke firmly.


    “Tell him not to look for me until I return by myself. If he tries to take me back by force…”


    Ise drew a line across her throat with her finger.


    “It will only lead to death.”


    “That’s not something a child should say to their parents. But, understood.”


    Ise handed Duke Luthe a letter she had written. The duke took it, carefully tucked it into his coat, and then took his granddaughter’s hand.


    “May your journey be peaceful, Miss Ise Evans… and you as well Miss Carynne Hare.”


    “Thank you.”


    “Let’s go, child.”


    <i>Thud.</i>


    “…You’re incredible, Miss Ise.”


    Carynne muttered, looking down at Ise next to her. Ise nced at Carynne and snorted.


    “I had heard about it from my father, but I didn’t expect to encounter them here. Really, making a fuss over nothing.”


    It was truly astonishing.


    The situation was resolved astonishingly quickly. When the coachman threatened the duke with his granddaughter’s life, Carynne thought it was the end. However, once Ise revealed she was Verdic’s daughter, the situation turned around.


    Being famous due to her mother’s infamous association with the crown prince only added risks for Carynne. It was a stark contrast to Ise, who seemed quite pleased with her situation.


    “Being from a famous family doesn’t help much, does it, Carynne?”


    “You’re truly amazing, Miss Ise.”


    “You’ve seen enough.”


    “You really are incredible, Miss Ise.”


    “……”


    “Really.”


    Carynne responded with a bright smile to Ise, who gave her a vague look. Then, she turned to re at Zion with displeasure.


    “What are you ring at me for?”


    “Because of you, we were almost in greater danger. Can’t you do your job properly? It was only because Miss Ise was here that we managed to live.”


    “Had I not been here, both of you might have been dead while sleeping.”


    “Enough talking!”


    “It’s alright, Carynne. He’s right.”


    “…What?”


    “I won’tin anymore. Let’s head to the capital now.”


    Carynne shook her head, wondering if she had misheard Ise. But Ise seriously answered and began to gather her clothes to get up.


    Did the sorrow of heartbreak truly change Ise?


    Carynne pondered, ncing at Zion, who merely shrugged his shoulders. In the end, he didn’t know Ise, so he didn’t know.


    Carynne felt suffocated by not having anyone to share how much Ise had changed.


    This was a big deal.


    Ise taking the initiative in resolving the situation and not throwing tantrums was unprecedented.


    Carynne took a deep breath and grabbed her flowing red hair, which was fluttering through therge open window.


    Ise’s golden locks seemed to sparkle more than ever in the morning sun.


    * * *


    It’s spring.


    Even without a gardener’s care, flowers have bloomed. The roadside was full of flowers.


    The weather was pleasant, and the scenery was beautiful.


    The journey to the capital felt both short and long.


    Due to the nice weather, the three of them were not inside the carriage but sitting side by side on the coachman’s seat, looking at the scenery and chatting.


    “My goodness, that’s a story I’ve never heard before. Sir Zion, you really have a lot of experience.”


    “Not at all. Stories from within the army don’t usually get out. Miss Ise, do you know?”


    “Tell me, tell me.”


    “……”


    Strictly speaking, only two of them were exchanging stories.


    For the first time in her life, Carynne felt quite out of ce.