The forest region of old Kuscheperca Kingdom.
The sun illuminated the forest through the gaps between the tree leaves, and a group of riders and a carriage was advancing slowly. As the road wasn’t paved, it would be too much for the carriage to pass through the uneven path, so they had to move slowly. On top of that, the mistresses of the carriage had to keep a low profile, which meant that they had to travel inconspicuously.
As for the reason, it was clear by observing the people on the carriage— a girl who had a tired looking face, and was expressionless due to being worn out. She was the princess of Kuscheperca, Eleonora. Sitting opposite her was Martina, the wife of King Kuscheperca’s brother. While the one sitting beside Eleonora looking on anxiously was Isadora, Martina’s daughter.
“Eleonora, be strong. I am vexed by what happened to His Majesty too… But you will need to support this Kingdom now, and expel those people out of the nation.”
Even though Isadora was talking to her, Eleonora had no reaction, bobbing her head like a broken marionette. Martina frowned as she watched, and her expression grew stern. Eleonora had been like this during their entire escape. Her beauty that had been famed and likened to a blooming flower was now hollow and lackluster, similar to a lifeless doll to be toyed with. Isadora couldn’t stand it and kept talking to her, but it wasn’t effective.
That night, when Delvincourt was sacked by the Steel Wing Knights, they only escaped from the capital because of the King’s sacrifice. Their original plan was to head east, since that was the territory of Martina’s husband— Prince Fernando. There was no better place to hide the princess who survived.
But the Steel Wing Knights stopped their plans. As the late King Aukusti predicted, the Žaloudek army was laxed after defeating the King, but they discovered that the other royalties were missing shortly after. In the West, they had the practice of inheritance by bloodline, so leaving the scion of the King alive would be a troublesome matter. This was why when they extended their claws all over Kuscheperca, they also pursued for any trails of the escaped royalty.
Ever since they saw the ships flying in the sky, Martina’s group decided to prioritize secrecy on this journey. After all, along them was a person who inherited a noble bloodline, and was the last hope of the Kingdom of Kuscheperca, so they couldn’t take any risk. The escorting knights were also doubly cautious, careful to not let any news leak, limiting their contact with towns to the absolute minimum, choosing to travel through the forest far from any settlements. Such covert actions that drained resources and energy can only be maintained by force of will and hope. For a flower raised in a glasshouse, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had already forsaken hope.
… If this goes on, even if we escape successfully, her heart won’t be able to take it.
This escape had too many uncertainties, but the thing Martina was most concerned about was Eleonora’s condition. After reaching the territory, Eleonora who inherited the direct bloodline would need to become the symbol of Kuscheperca Kingdom and rebuild the nation. But she lacked the conviction to lead the masses.
Martina peeked at her daughter. Despite the dire situation, Isadora’s heart did not falter. Although she was concerned about Eleonora, Isadora did not show any signs of being depressed. Isadora had always been a tomboy who liked to mimic the knights, so this was a good quality to have under these circumstances. Martina couldn’t help but think that it would be great if Eleonora had a tenth of Isadora’s strength.
The carriage ferrying the individuals with their own woes stopped suddenly. There was a tense air about the knights so obvious that even those within the carriage could feel it.
“!... What’s going on!?”
Martina opened the window and asked the knights sharply. A knight mounted on the horse turned back and replied:
“Forgive me for not dismounting. Scouts reported sighting anomalies in front of us.”
“Is it the enemy?”
“It is uncertain. But to be safe, we should make a detour…”
As the knight answered and was about to turn back, they heard a sharp whistling sound. An arrow pierced the head of the knight. Before the gasping Martina, the figure of the knight fell off the horse and out of her sight.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
“How is that possible? Aren’t they further to the front!?”
“Anyway, let’s hurry. We will become targets...Hya!?”
The sudden attack threw the escorting knights into confusion. In the meantime, soldiers with crossbows appeared from the trees one after another, decimating them mercilessly. The ambushing troops all wore armour with the same design, with the emblem of the Žaloudek army on them.
While the number of their knights was decreasing, the driver of the royal carriage set off immediately. He was also a trained