Chapter 222: Chapter 222

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

Carynne urgently called out to Isella.

“Isella Evans.”

“Now, what… uh, umph!”

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

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

Carynne covered Isella’s mouth and quickly explained.

“Isella, 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 Luthella was.

Carynne continued speaking to Isella 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.”

“…Mmph.”

“Okay?”

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

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

Carynne then realized.

“No, I get it. It is

important.”

Precisely, other things weren’t as important to Isella.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“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 Isella 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 Isella while speaking to Duke Luthella.

“Do you know who this lady is, Duke Luthella?”

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

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

In her previous life, Duke Luthella 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 as last time.

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

And there was another difference.

Isella was here this time.

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

The young man stepped forward to scrutinize Isella’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 this lady, it’s over for you. She’s Verdic’s one and only daughter.”

Carynne replied, staring intently at him.

Isella Evans was here. Duke Luthella 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 place, but they encountered unexpected people.

They couldn’t just pass by.

But the duke’s silence was short-lived because Isella 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 Isella, thoroughly prepared for her departure, or rather, her escape.

Despite some disturbances, Duke Luthella and Isella reached an agreement.

* * *

“Please deliver this to my father.”

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

Isella spoke firmly.

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

Isella 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.”

Isella handed Duke Luthella 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 Isella Evans… and you as well Miss Carynne Hare.”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go, child.”

Thud.

“…You’re incredible, Miss Isella.”

Carynne muttered, looking down at Isella next to her. Isella glanced 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 Isella 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 Isella, who seemed quite pleased with her situation.

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

“You’re truly amazing, Miss Isella.”

“You’ve seen enough.”

“You really are incredible, Miss Isella.”

“……”

“Really.”

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

“What are you glaring at me for?”

“Because of you, we were almost in greater danger. Can’t you do your job properly? It was only because Miss Isella 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’t complain anymore. Let’s head to the capital now.”

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

Did the sorrow of heartbreak truly change Isella?

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

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

This was a big deal.

Isella 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 the large open window.

Isella’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 Isella, 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 place.