106. The Value of the Bracelet (1)

Why was she reacting like this? It was more extreme than I had anticipated.

I lowered my sleeve, intending to appear more pitiful, but her reaction suggested she had already been fooled.

No, she seemed excessively enthralled. Was my performance really that convincing?

She alternated her gaze between me and the crest, then finally spoke. With a loud bang, she slammed the desk and stood up, her chair toppling backward.

“What? You are the Prince’s…”

“Yes, I am the Prince’s…”

I bowed my head and answered quietly, but my words were drowned out by her next outburst.

She shouted so loudly it nearly covered my mouth. Her face flushed red.

“You are, you are the Emperor’s lover?”

Oh no.

It seemed I was the one who had been ensnared.

* * *

The woman, who had been shouting almost hysterically, sprang from her seat and circled the desk. Her previously indifferent expression was now filled with excitement, her neck turning crimson.

She raised her voice, veins bulging in her neck.

“That certainly is the current royal family’s crest! Outside the palace, only a few people working within would recognize this emblem, as it has been passed down. You possessing it means… Are you really connected to His Majesty?”

It was too late to back out now.

I stiffly nodded, my rigid movements likely going unnoticed in her excitement.

“I almost made a grave mistake.”

Her tone had shifted to one of respect. What to do now?

She continued, her face still red with excitement.

“I was planning to hand over the prisoners tomorrow and head to the capital, but it’s fortunate I realized this now.”

She made the decision so quickly. If I had been a bit later, I wouldn’t have encountered her.

I couldn’t tell whether to be pleased or dismayed by this news.

Given the current situation, perhaps staying quietly in a cell would have been the better choice. My mind was a jumble of thoughts.

Unaware of my inner turmoil, she kept moving excitedly. The bracelet in her hand caught my eye.

“You need to return the bracelet…”

“I will keep the bracelet for now. The journey back is rough, and it could get damaged. I’ll place it in a box and leave it with a trustworthy soldier.”

“Th-There’s no need for that.”

It’s not that valuable… I swallowed the words before they left my mouth.

How did things get so tangled? My plan was simply to borrow a horse and escape.

No, I hadn’t heard of any coronation taking place in the capital yet, so what was going on?

Whether she didn’t notice my anxious expression or was too excited to care, she kept muttering to herself, barely looking at me.

“One must handle it carefully. Someone might steal it.”

Who would steal it? Even starving bandits wouldn’t take this bracelet. Your subordinates, who are likely engaging in corruption, didn’t even bother with it.

She lifted the bracelet with both hands as if it were a precious artifact.

The bracelet, now transformed into a piece of the Emperor’s treasure, gleamed under the bright light, as if it had been passed down through generations for centuries.

Though cradled reverently in her hands, the bracelet appeared rather pitiful. Its worn, poorly maintained parts stood out clearly in the light.

“Until I safely deliver you to His Majesty, I will keep the bracelet. Unauthorized people will find it difficult to enter the royal palace, so you can wait outside briefly if necessary. You won’t mind that, will you?”

She was now choosing her words carefully, ensuring not to offend me.

“Please wait a moment. I will have a carriage prepared immediately.”

She hurriedly organized her papers as if she were running out of time. Her frantic movements only increased my anxiety.

“A single horse will suffice. Really.”

I waved my hand quickly. But she, as if not hearing me, took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wrapped the bracelet in it.

The positions had reversed.

Had I prayed too earnestly? I had wished for someone high up to save me, but not literally the highest in the Empire.

I wanted to remain composed, but her changed attitude made me uncomfortable. Moreover, my plan to borrow a horse and escape was now ruined.

It was a headache.

* * *

We stepped out of the tent together. The soldiers outside stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads in unison.

We walked across the grassy field, receiving their greetings. Each time they bowed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were going wrong.

The same path I had walked an hour ago now seemed much shorter. The soldiers stepping aside made the way easier, but the thought of facing Deon soon made me anxious.

Behind me, the soldiers whispered among themselves, wondering who this prisoner was to follow their commander. Even the soldiers bowing to her eyed me with suspicion. It was only a matter of time before rumors spread.

She led me to the iron-barred prison where I had first been held.

The soldier, yawning in front of the prisoner’s cage, rubbed his eyes. He had clearly been dozing off.

Wiping away the tears from his yawning, the soldier slowly opened his eyes at the sound of approaching footsteps. When he saw his superior, he sprang to his feet.

His pants and sides were white with sand. He must have been leaning against a tree, sleeping, instead of standing guard.

“Nothing to report during my watch!”

The soldier saluted and hurried over.

“What brings you here at this late hour…?”

“You’re the one who released this prisoner, assigning her to serve as a maid, correct?”

For a moment, regret flickered across the face of the soldier who had brought me to the tent.

When our eyes met, his suspicion turned into certainty. His face grew pale as he continued to look at me.

“Did she displease you, Commander?”

The soldier rubbed his hands together as he approached, his attitude now one of urgent flattery. He bowed deeply, groveling low.

“I knew it. Untrained prisoners often behave this way. Please forgive her. I will train her properly.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Indeed, there’s no need to train her. Shall I take care of this immediately?”

The soldier reached for the sword at his waist, fumbling awkwardly as he grabbed the wrong side before finally finding the hilt on his left.

But before his fingers could even touch the sword, the commander cut him off.

“Good job.”

“…Pardon?”

The soldier hesitated, looking up at her.

“Do not speak of this lightly and treat her with utmost respect. She is a very important guest. Isn’t there a carriage nearby? Have it prepared immediately.”

“…Pardon?”

The soldier’s eyes widened as he asked again, glancing between his superior and me with a look of utter confusion.

It was understandable. Even I was struggling to act nonchalant amidst this sudden, unfortunate turn of events.

I gently tugged on the commander’s sleeve and whispered softly.

“You don’t need to change your schedule for me. Please, take your time.”

It was a desperate plea disguised as courtesy. I wanted to delay the judgment for my lies as long as possible.

My low voice, trembling with fear, was easily concealed. Given the quiet surroundings, my words reached her without issue, but the problem was what came next.

“You are very considerate. However, we were already planning to leave promptly. And please, lower your speech. As a guest of His Majesty, there’s no need to speak so formally to me.”

The soldiers around us were startled by her words.

This is actually more uncomfortable.

The thought echoed in my mind, but I swallowed it back. I licked my dry lips nervously.

I mustered the courage to release her sleeve. My hand felt cold.

As the chill spread, my forced smile trembled.

* * *

“Ugh.”

The carriage jolted. It had been a long time since I last rode in a carriage, and I felt nauseous and queasy.

Although my senses had begun to forget my past as a noble, my nose vividly remembered the capital.

The scent in the air grew stronger as we approached the capital, where many flowering trees were planted. The increasing floral fragrance was an ominous sign that we were getting closer.

As the capital drew nearer, my anxiety grew. I clutched my chest in frustration.

“The carriage is rather shaky, isn’t it? I should have arranged for a better one. My apologies.”

The commander, seated across from me, stood up and handed me a water bottle after unscrewing the cap herself.

I stared blankly at the bottle before taking it. The water inside swished around.

“Is it dirty? If you give it to me, I can wipe it with a handkerchief.”

As I hesitated to drink, just staring at the water, she offered again.

“No, it’s fine.”

I had told too big a lie.

What started as simply knowing him had escalated into claiming to be his forlorn lover, forcibly separated from the Emperor.

I had planned to deceive her and escape, but now I was trapped, walking towards Deon’s palace on my own accord.

Instead of riding a horse, she decided to accompany me in the carriage, ensuring my safety and protection. Her multiple sets of eyes watching over me felt more like surveillance. It was more confining than the cell bars.

The soldiers’ curious eyes were more about seeing the supposed lover of the Emperor than showing respect for a noble guest. Their personal interest lingered longer than it should have.

Whether I got off the carriage for a break or ate a meal, those intrusive gazes followed me everywhere.

Rumors had already spread, even though it wasn’t officially announced. Everyone knew my whereabouts. The soldiers guarding the carriage exchanged secretive glances.

At this rate, my identity might be exposed before even reaching the palace. If the rumors arrived in the capital before the carriage did…

“Thank you. I’ll take it.”

I handed the water bottle back to her.

My nausea and tight chest weren’t just from the carriage’s motion but also from this excessive protection. The sudden change in the soldiers’ attitudes contributed to my discomfort.

“Please let me know if you feel unwell. I will attend to you immediately.”

She seemed determined to ensure I met the Emperor, her resolve clear in her firm expression.

Her speech had shifted from formal to deferential. It was driving me mad.