"Konny?!"
Lara screamed. She decided to leave early in the morning on purpose because she was afraid Konny would cry and make a fuss about following her. But Konny, whom she thought was asleep, approached her after she had perfectly prepared for the trip.
"If you leave me behind, I will resent you for the rest of my life."
Isadora smiled to herself and called Konny.
"Konny."
Then, Konny replied loudly, putting down her bag and raising one hand.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Take care of Lara."
"Consider it done!"
Lara's sigh deepened. Then, what was the point of all the plans she had struggled to make over the past few days and the farewell that she had exchanged?
"Konny, it's going to be a dangerous and difficult journey. You might come across a bandit, there might even be demonic beasts, and the black sorcerers might come after us. Do you still want to follow me?"
"Milady."
Konny's resolution remained unchanged.
"You're my family. When I had nowhere to go, you kept me by your side and cherished me like your sister. You're not an honest person, so I have to be there for you!"
Lara had become speechless.
This time, Valentine dragged a huge suitcase in front of Lara.
"Valentine? I'm fine with Konny. But why is Valentine following me?"
Valentine crouched down and looked at Isadora. Then Isadora quietly turned away from Lara and made excuses one by one.
"You said you were going to open a store for him. Valentine said that he wants to make money. He wants to earn enough money that will last his whole life."
"And?"
"To do that, of course, he has to go to the Empire. How can he earn a lot with just one store in a small country like Hautean?"
"Mother…"
"I have decided to set up a store for him in the middle of Tarragon's capital."
No way. Lara looked at Valentine with her eyes asking if that was the truth. He nodded continuously with a pale face.
"I, I'm going to the Empire and make a lot of money."
"What's wrong with everyone?"
The last one to come out was Demian. He burst out into laughter when he saw Lara standing in the garden with a devastated face. Then he lightly greeted the mercenary wolves.
The two carriages were loaded with luggage and the passengers rode in. Lara, who had hesitated until the end, was the last one to come.
"Lara."
Just before Lara rode the carriage, Isadora approached her and stroked her daughter's hair.
"Be careful."
"Mother."
She knew how worried her mother was about her. Those who did not know she was a saintess thought she was going to study abroad in the Empire, but Isadora knew that Lara was going to help the war with the demon worshippers.
"Don't worry."
Lara whispered in Isadora's ears.
"The God of Fate will protect me."
"Can I trust him?"
"Yes, he's quite capable."
"That's a relief."
Isadora opened her arms. Lara jumped into her mother's arms and shared warmth by rubbing her forehead and cheeks for a long time.
"I will be back."
"…Yeah."
Lara got into the carriage. The two carriages moved away with the sound of heavy wheels. Isadora stood in front of the manor and looked at it for a long time with her arms folded.
"I always thought she was just a child. But one day, she suddenly became an adult and left me."
"Technically speaking, she didn't leave you."
"Shut up."
Sebastian approached Isadora and put a gown on her shoulder.
"It's getting cold. Ma'am, let's go inside."
"Sure. We need to take a good rest today. We will be twice as busy starting from tomorrow."
"Of course."
Thousand Gold Isadora. Her scarlet eyes that looked just like Lara's shone clearly.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
After being recorded in history, the Tarragon Empire was the country with the largest territory on the continent. To the east bordered three allied nations. To the west was the Gorgon Mountain Range, which was considered one of the most remote areas on the continent. In the north was the enemy country that had been at war for a long time. And in the south were small countries that lived under the shadow of the Empire, Hautean was among these small countries.
Tarragon's people were proud of the Empire, calling it the best man-made work. They believed that the Emperor was a gift sent from heaven. The same went for the Crown Prince, the successor.
"The weather is already dry."
"Do you want some water?"
"I have a dry booger inside my nose. If I dig it out, my nose will bleed, right?"
"Goodness gracious!"
The Crown Prince Acerus' aide was the best man of talent from the Imperial Academy. However, his job these days was to read old storybooks and fairy tales from morning to night.
"There's no such thing as a God of Fate, it's not written anywhere. Maybe you're wrong."
"It's written in the relics."
"There's only things like time, hope, and war."
"Go wet a handkerchief with water for me. I think I should dig it up."
"For God's sake!"
The aide put the book aside and went out to the hallway. He could be heard saying, 'His Imperial Highness has to pick his nose. Go wet a handkerchief.' and soon after, the ladies-in-waiting held back their laughter and disappeared.
"You bastard. Do you really have to say that openly? 'His Imperial Highness needs a wet handkerchief.' Can't you say it like this?"
The aide did not listen to Acerus' complaints. He just sat in his place and kept on reading the old fairy tales.
"When will she come?"
"Who?"
"Someone."
"Did you get another girl?"
The aide put down the book loudly and asked. It was also a threat saying that he would not let him go if he dated another girl and created chaos again.
"Whew, I'm bored of waiting. I hope she comes soon. I want to talk to her every night. I should just make a pretty house for her in the Imperial Palace.
"You must be crazy."
"Even her voice is amazing. It's been a while since my heart was beating this fast. What does she look like? What kind of charm does she have? What about her personality? I can't even be bored while imagining her."
"Crazy."
"Do I look like a crazy guy?"
"Is that even a question?!"
"I'm talking about the saintess, you bastard."
When Acerus smiled insidiously, only then did the aide sigh.
"If someone hears you, they will think you have fallen in love after only listening to her voice."
"That almost happened. It's fascinating. Usually, a person's voice will get distorted when you hear it through the lamp, but the saintess is different. Her voice echoed and rang through my ear and made my heart itchy."
"Hah! God should also let her know that you're a perv."
"Cease your nonsense!"
Well now, who's the one spouting nonsense here?
The aide looked daggers at the Crown Prince.
Acerus giggled. He put his legs on the desk and leaned against the chair. Soon after, the ladies-in-waiting appeared with a twitch on their faces and handed Acerus a wet handkerchief before going out.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome, pfft! Your Imperial Highness."
"Get out. I feel ignoble."
"Yes, Your Imperial Highness."
Instead of picking his nose, he wiped his face with the wet handkerchief. Then, he leaned back on the chair after feeling refreshed.
"This won't do!"
"What now?"
Acerus, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly sprung on his feet and grabbed the aide by his collar.
"Go investigate."
"About what?"
"Lara, the daughter of Isadora."
"Who is that?"
"The name of the saintess."
Acerus smiled widely. His face is full of slyness.
"I'm sure she has a nice heart because she's a saintess. She may have a talent for reciting sacred poems or she might have majored in theology. She could be a woman who grew up in the temple from an early age, or maybe she could make a miracle herself."
"So?"
"I can't stand it because I'm so curious. Do some background checks."
The aide thought. Who was the most pitiful? His own self, who needed to make this crazy guy the Emperor, or the saintess, who was involved with this crazy guy.