“It’s really amazing, isn’t it? I didn’t tell him anything, and yet Michael really likes you. A child who had never once gone against my word lied to me for the first time — just to see you."
“...”
"Did a child like that look like a monster to you?"
Alicia bit her lips slightly and then released them.
It seemed like tears would break free at any moment, but she stubbornly held them back, determined not to cry in front of him.
For once, she wanted to meet his gaze properly and confront him.
“Cabelenus, you were wrong. My child isn't a monster. He is just a child. Nothing more.”
"I'm sorry, I—"
"Saying 'sorry' isn’t enough. That wouldn’t resolve anything. If I hadn't run away, you would have eventually killed my child."
Alicia’s eyes reddened as she fought back tears.
Cabelenus opened his mouth, then shut it tightly.
He knew whatever he said would sound like an excuse, so he remained silent.
"See? Even now, you can’t deny it."
“...”
"So don’t say anything more. That child from eight years ago — they’re dead."
“I’m not going to claim any parental rights at this point. I know I’m not worthy of that. Just, let me protect him.”
Cabelenus barely squeezed out his voice.
“Who’s really protecting who?”
"There are people targeting the child."
At first, he thought Alicia was the target.
But if the child from eight years ago were still alive, the story would be different.
Alicia wasn’t the one that Zerpheus and Herman were targeting.
They were after Michael, the one who inherited his blood.
"No one can lay a finger on my child."
"I understand you want to protect him. But think realistically."
"Realistically?"
"Those targeting the child aren’t easy opponents. You can’t protect him with your strength alone."
Cabelenus’s gaze fell on Alicia’s frail wrist.
She still looked so fragile, it was a wonder how she had endured until now.
He couldn’t let such a small body carry such a heavy burden.
If that were the case, it was better for him to bear several times the weight instead.
"No. I can protect him. I have until now, and I will continue to do so."
"Ali—"
Cabelenus instinctively tried to get up, but his vision swayed and he collapsed back down.
"Looks like the drug is finally taking effect."
"Drug?"
"I slipped a sleeping pill into your food, Your Highness."
Alicia muttered softly as she glanced at Cabelenus’s empty plate.
To get away from Cabelenus, she needed time to hold him back.
"...So you planned this from the start."
No matter how hard he tried to force his eyes open, his heavy eyelids wouldn’t obey.
Cabelenus let out a bitter laugh and quietly slipped a fork from the table into his pocket.
"I'm sorry. But this is the best way."
“The best? What do you mean by the best?”
"Just, everything."
Alicia struggled to keep her smile as she stood up.
Even knowing it didn’t suit the situation, she hoped the image Cabelenus remembered of her wouldn’t be too harsh.
"We were never meant to meet from the start."
Regardless of her feelings, the words she could actually say were limited.
Alicia quietly watched Cabelenus, and only when she was sure he had fallen completely asleep did she slump down.
Then, with a heavy heart, she lowered her head and muttered.
"I'm sorry for always being so harsh."
“...”
"Actually, I’ve wanted to see you all along."
“...”
“I resented you, but I missed you too — so much, actually. The truth is, that’s what I wanted to say.”
Words that always lingered on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say, finally slipped out under the pretext of a farewell.
・・・・・
Alicia, holding Michael close, hurried toward the forest behind the cabin.
There, James was waiting with horses, already prepared for their departure.
"Did you finish talking?"
“Just as I suspected, Michael’s pendant was with that person.”
"That means…"
"He knows who Michael is."
"We need to leave immediately. I’ll carry Michael; let’s go right now."
James quickly scooped Michael into his arms and mounted his horse; Alicia hurried to mount the other horse.
“I deliberately let His Highness’s horse loose. Without a horse, even if he comes to, he won’t be able to follow us right away.”
"Thank you for looking out for us."
"I’ll accept your thanks after we’re out of here. To completely shake him off, we’ll have to travel by boat for half a day."
"Okay..."
Alicia’s voice trailed off as she frowned.
"What’s wrong?"
“It’s nothing, I just thought I saw a light over there just now.”
"That can’t be. There shouldn’t be a light at this hour. Maybe you’re mistaken?”
"I guess so?"
"There’s no time. We need to leave now.”
Alicia tried to nod her head, but instantly froze in place.
"...It’s not my imagination. Something’s coming."
"Alicia."
"There’s more than one."
"Alicia!"
James reined in his horse, blocking Alicia’s path.
Alicia instinctively frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"What are you doing in a situation where every moment counts?"
"It might be them."
"Them?"
"He said there are people after Michael. They might have already come looking for him.”
Alicia’s gaze shifted to the sleeping Michael.
Though Michael no longer held any special power, there was no way those people would simply accept that.
"In that case, we need to run even faster."
"Then, what about him?"
"His Highness is strong enough. He can handle it—"
"He’s asleep. Completely defenceless. If it really is an attack, we can’t just leave him like that."
Alicia tugged at the reins again, but James blocked her once more.
"And what will you do after that?"
"After that?"
"Don’t throw away your chance to start over with your own hands."
“...”
"You can’t use the same move twice. And after what happened once, his vigilance will only be tighter. Maybe he’ll even forcefully drag you all the way to Schwarhan."
James’s voice lowered into a warning.
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"You should prioritise Michael first. You said you’d do anything for him."
"Still, this isn’t right."
Alicia cut him off firmly.
They couldn’t leave Cabelenus behind without knowing how the enemies would strike.
"Alicia, we don’t have time."
"Then we have to act faster—"
Neigh–!
Suddenly, the horse Alicia was riding bucked wildly.
Alicia tightened her grip on the reins, trying to calm the horse, but frowned when she noticed the wound piercing its neck.
"Alicia!"
James reached out to steady the rampaging horse.
Alicia barely managed to keep her balance on the wildly bucking horse before throwing herself to the ground.
Her body ached from the fall, but since she landed in the bushes, she wasn’t seriously hurt.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I’m fine."
Alicia urgently scanned her surroundings, narrowing her eyes.
Despite the distance, the enemy’s attack had pierced the horse’s neck with deadly precision.
It was impossible unless the attacker was highly skilled.
“James, I need a favour.”
"But if we do that—"
“There’s no time to hesitate.”
Alicia reached out her hand toward James, but he hesitated, unable to bring himself to take it.
At that moment, a clear, ringing voice sounded from above.
“Hello.”
“...”
“We know each other, don’t we?”
Alicia reflexively swallowed hard.
The scarred face, the short hair that left the neck fully exposed — there was nothing left of the person she once knew, yet she recognised her at a glance. No, she could never forget.
The memories of that day were still vivid, even after eight years.
“...Princess Christie.”
"I haven’t heard that name in a long time.”
Veloa’s lips twitched into a crooked smirk.
“I thought you were dead.”
“Not dead, just barely alive.”
“Thanks to you.”
Veloa unwrapped the cloak that had hidden her body, boldly revealing her exposed skin.
Instead of the usual frilly dress adorned with layers of lace, she now wore light armour that left her arms and legs bare. Not just her face, but her entire body was covered in scars.
She looked less like a living person and more like a rag forcibly stitched back together.
“What happened—”
“What happened? Do you really think those words should come out of your mouth?"
Veloa growled and suddenly grabbed the back of her neck tightly.
Though the area around her neck throbbed, what bothered her more was that pale face.
Her life had fallen into such a pit, yet the real culprit, that slave wrench, looked perfectly fine.
That thought nearly drove her insane.
If she could, she wanted to tear that wrench to shreds and make them look just like herself — her fingers already itched at the thought.
“A slave wrench like you should have been killed back then before you could even make a sound.”
“...”
“Well, I’m busy, so I won’t waste my words. Give me that child.”
If it weren’t for Zerpenus’s orders, she would have killed without hesitation.
Veloa ground her teeth, forcing down her anger.
Disobeying a given order brought pain so unbearable it felt like her whole body was rotting — she had no choice but to obey like a well-trained dog.
"He’s my child. I won’t let you lay a finger on him.”
“You weaklings always just talk big.”
Veloa curled her lips and swung her staff, and one by one, skeletons, mere bones, emerged from the ground.
Alicia clenched her teeth and reached out to James again.
“James, hurry.”
James’s face twisted as he grabbed — no, tried to grab — Alicia’s hand.
But Alicia’s body was thrown backward by the skeleton that charged at her.
“Don’t worry. You’re on the list to be collected too. No need to get involved — I’ll take good care of you, so just stay still.”
Veloa rested her chin on her hand and snickered.
“Alicia, are you okay?!”
“I’m fine, but more importantly, Michael…!”
They needed to make physical contact.
Alicia gritted her teeth and pushed the skeleton away.
The skeletons, made from ancient bones, weren’t very strong, but they tangled together recklessly, blocking her path.
“It’s a shame I can’t kill you, but seeing that desperate look on your face does make me feel a little better.”
“Shut up.”
“That angry face suits you, you know.”
Veloa leisurely wiped her lips and narrowed her eyes with a sly smile.
A wicked idea just popped into her head.
“Oh, right. Slave wench. Want me to tell you something interesting? Like why I was told to bring not only the child but also you.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
“That man is filthy and cruel, perfectly specialised in all things wicked. The moment he realised your child has powers, he started scheming to get a new child through you.”
"...He’s insane."
“Exactly. That bastard’s crazy. And thanks to working under him, I’ve gone crazy too.”
Veloa swung her staff, and the skeletons blocking Alicia suddenly shifted direction, charging toward James.
“Seriously, isn’t it infuriating? Even a slave like you is living just fine. Meanwhile, I — a princess, once a promising mage — am alive only as if dead, treated like a lab rat.”
“What are you doing?!”
"What else? Since I’m stuck carrying out this damn order, might as well have a little fun with it."
Veloa bared her white teeth and swung her staff fiercely once more, making the skeletons move even more violently.
James tried his best to hold on, gripping the reins with one hand and Michael with the other, but calming the frenzied horse while fending off the oncoming skeletons was nearly impossible.
“James! Michael!”
Unable to control the chaos, James fell off the horse, dragging Michael with him.
“Un-uncle!”
Michael, who had woken up and slipped from James’s arms, called out desperately.
Perhaps from the impact of hitting a tree, James was unconscious.
Tears welled in Michael’s eyes as he bit his trembling lip.
“Michael!”
Alicia gritted her teeth at the helpless Michael.
No matter what, she had to protect him.
She would never let her child fall into the clutches of those sinister hands.
Alicia shoved the skeleton roughly aside and stretched out her arm.
The impact sent broken bone fragments scraping her skin, leaving cuts, but she didn’t care.
The only thing she could see was the child’s pale, frightened face.
Nothing else mattered except for that.
If she just stretched a little more, she could almost reach him.
Alicia’s trembling fingertips strained as she struggled.
“Mum!”
At last, Michael spotted his mother and, tearfully, reached out his hand toward Alicia.
“Ah.”
They touched — just barely.
Alicia didn’t miss the moment and desperately reached out, gripping the small hand tightly.
Then her eyes hardened as she stared straight at Michael.
"Michael. Look at Mum. Make your wish while looking at Mum."
“Mu-Mum…”
“Hurry — wish for Mum to protect you! Now!”
“Mu-Mum, pro-protect...”
Michael stammered, fear written all over his face.
It was then.
A strong gust of wind blew suddenly.
Along with it, the force that had been pulling Alicia weakened.
Reflexively, she turned her head.
In the darkness, golden eyes gleamed.
“Who are you messing with now?”
The low voice sounded like a beast’s growl.
Alicia stared blankly at the man emerging from the shadows, then her face twisted.
Sword in hand and menace in his gaze, the man was no different from a ravenous beast.
He was the very wolf of Schwarhan that everyone feared.
Just looking at him dried her mouth and made her knees shake.
But despite all that, what caught Alicia’s eye was something else.
“Why on earth…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence and bit her lower lip hard.
Red stains marked Cabelenus’s thigh, vivid and unmistakable.
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