“It’s good, but… … . “Isn’t it too much?”
She plans to stay by Ophelia’s side until she gives birth safely, so it would be nice to be able to live comfortably.
Candice thought she could survive for several months with only a bed or even a sofa next to Ophelia, but twisted her head in awkwardness.
She used to sleep in the same bed whenever she visited Ophelia’s house. They even stayed in the same dorm room together as students.
It might not be possible as it once was because they are both well over thirty, and Ophelia has been married and a mother for more than ten years.
She felt disappointed because it seemed like she was being too formal with her.
“Ugh, no. The current name is Candice Epocher, the director of the Tamora National Academy and the chair of the Tamora Republic Wizard Council. I have to give you this much.”
Tamora was a republic without a king or noble class, and it was a unique place where a council of wizards handled the big and small affairs of the country. A place where strong wizards gained even stronger power.
Candice, despite her youth, held the position of Chairman of the Wizard Council, making her the strongest person there.
“… … .”
Candice pouted her mouth with a sad expression. She felt really sad hearing those words from Ophelia, not anyone else.
Ophelia burst out laughing at her old friend’s pouting appearance.
“It’s a joke, a joke. I have something to ask you. I think it’s a bribe.”
“Ask… … ? “Other than using magic to take care of your health so that the child can be born safely?”
That was the intention from the beginning when she visited this far-away Empire of Peles. But she suddenly has something to ask of her.
Ophelia closed her mouth tightly and looked around. She even left a warning that no one should come in, which only made Candice look even more confused.
“… … “Candice.”
As the surroundings of the room became extremely quiet, Ophelia opened her mouth in a heavy voice.
Candice swallowed her spit, feeling uneasy since she had no clue what her buddy, who was clenching her hand gravely, was about to say.
“Ayla… … “ alive.”
“What?”
Upon hearing the news that Ophelia’s first daughter, whom she had lost 10 years ago, is alive, Candice’s eyes widen in surprise.
No matter how much they searched, they could not find any witnesses, so most people thought that she was dead, but Ophelia and Roderick did not give up and kept looking.
A child like that is alive.
“Did you find it? Where is it?”
“I don’t know. Where he is. All he said was that he would come back.”
Tears welled up in Ophelia’s eyes. Candice pursed her lips at the sad yet happy face of her precious friend, not knowing what to say.
“How can I help you?”
Candice asked with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
Regarding Ayla, Candice must have asked for help because she has something to help her.
“… … That child has a magic tool. A magic box.”
The box that Ophelia gifted to Winfred.
Although the highest level of security magic was applied, if we tracked that magic tool, we might be able to find Ayla’s location.
“You want me to track it down.”
“… … huh.”
She thought that Candice might be able to accomplish this difficult task. Ophelia had been waiting for her to arrive for several days.
“Who made this magic tool? No way… … ?”
“… … that’s right.”
Candice gaped at Ophelia’s answer. The young expression on her face was closer to despair.
A magic tool created by the world’s greatest wizard. No one could trace it to that extent.
Because it was such a shameless request to ask an old friend with whom she had only exchanged letters for years, Ophelia bowed her head.
If it seemed difficult, the words to pretend she hadn’t heard it came to her lips, but she couldn’t force them out. The words were kept from her in the hope that she would know where Ayla was.
“… … “I’ll try.”
Ophelia took some time to think before Candice spoke again.
“I’m going to try it. I’m going to try it.”
“Why not try it?”
When Ophelia had been looking at the floor with her head down until then, raised her head, Candice was smiling mischievously, showing all her teeth.
It was the same facial expression as the wax seal that sealed the letter to Ophelia.
* * *
“Miss, have you taken everything?”
“Yes, Laura,”
Ayla answered while wearing a furry winter coat. As expected, after wearing a furry hat, it felt a little hot indoors.
“We’re leaving now. Go quickly and get in the carriage.”
It wasn’t even dawn yet, but it was quite bright outside under the white snow.
There was only one reason for moving so early in the morning. Another reason was to leave this place and move to another place.
Due to the accumulated snow, she couldn’t go out at night for a while, so she couldn’t gather any information, but it’s likely that the Imperial regular army or Weishafen soldiers would appear nearby and run away in a hurry.
The moment she shook the snow off the soles of her boots and was about to get on the carriage, a grumbling voice was heard from behind.
When she turned her head, she saw Byron appearing loudly, with a glaring expression of dissatisfaction in his eyes, as if he didn’t like being moved while he was still sleeping.
Even though he was wearing a thick coat made of high-quality fur, he was shivering because it was cold, and his hair and eyes were brown today as if he had taken a magic potion.
“Miss. “What are you doing if you’re not riding? It’s cold. Let’s get inside quickly.”
As she was looking at Byron’s quiet appearance, Cloud spoke quietly to her. Ayla nodded that she understood and sat down in the carriage.
The weather was definitely warmer just inside the carriage. Even the winter wind that was blowing so fiercely that it seemed like it would cut one’s skin couldn’t penetrate the carriage.
Not long after she sat down in the carriage, their procession departed.
Because it was snowy, the speed was very slow. This was because we had to melt the snow little by little using a magic tool that emitted hot air in front.
A few days passed like that, moving slowly and little by little.
As they were only trying to go to places with few people, they had to go around even short distances, so the group was gradually getting tired of the long journey.
‘… … Why did the carriage suddenly stop?’
The carriage was moving at a slowpace and suddenly stopped, so Ayla, surprised, looked outside through the small window of the carriage.
Not far from the carriage, people dressed as regular soldiers of the Peles Empire were standing guard.
“What should I do, Cloud?”
“Why is there a checkpoint in a place like this?”
Byron’s embarrassed subordinates were restlessly asking Cloud for his opinion.
Because he chose a route that few people normally take, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
It was impossible to go back the way we came. This was because the knights had already found their carriage.
If the procession that was on its way discovered the checkpoint and turned back, it was clear that they would be suspicious and chased after them. It was impossible to run away quickly due to the snow.
“… … Can not help it. “There is no choice but to attack head on.”
He had a fake ID and had also consumed a magic potion.
At Cloud’s words, the carriage began to slowly move towards the checkpoint again.
“Where are you going in this snowy weather? Let me check your pass for a moment.”
After spending so much time tracking a route that hardly many people use, he must have been exhausted. Sighing, the imperial soldier requested his ID card.
“It’s the top that goes to Slackster.”
“This is a store that specializes in fur, so now is the season. Do you want to get one, soldier?”
The most clumsy of Byron’s subordinates naturally made up a lie.
Slackster was a small town that you could find if you went straight along this road. Of course, they were not going there, but it was a fake pass made in case they encountered a security check.
The statement was believable because everyone was wearing warm fur, befitting the claim that they were fur merchant. If it were normal, they would have just sent it to us.
“… … That’s okay, I guess I’ll have to open up some carriages.”
He couldn’t figure out why they were doing this. If it were a normal inspection, they should just check the pass and send it to him.
Even the person who was joking about opening the carriage couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed.
“Why are you doing that?”
“It’s none of your business to know. Is there any reason why you shouldn’t open it?”
When asked why it felt really bad to stand at the checkpoint on a cold day, a cold answer was given.
He kept his mouth shut because it wasn’t something he would tell anyone about, in fact, the soldiers were looking for the person who attempted to assassinate the crown prince. So, they had no choice but to tighten the inspection.
“Hey. There’s a guy with a scar around his eye. “How did you get that scar?”
Upon hearing that the criminal who tried to assassinate the crown prince had a wound around his right eye, one of the soldiers who was looking closely at the rugged men pointed at Cloud and asked.
“… … “When you work as a mercenary, you are bound to get big and small injuries like this. It’s like a medal.”
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been around for a long time.”
“It’s an older wound than it looks.”
Although he calmly spoke in a blunt voice, the soldiers’ suspicions gradually grew. It was because his tone and gestures were too polite to be considered a mercenary.
Doesn’t he seem like a noble knight?
“Open the carriage when you have good words to say.”
The soldiers even drew their swords and spoke. As the commotion grew, even the soldiers in the temporary rest area near the checkpoint began to join in.
“… … “Please open it.”
He had no option but to open the carriage now. Since Byron had also consumed the magic potion, he was left with no choice but to pray that he would make it through safely. Documents and other objects that should not be seen were well covered with fur.
