Two hours later, the caravan arrived at a flat area beside a small river, where they halted and began to set up camp for rest.
Following Richard's instructions, they dug several shallow, winding trenches and cut down a few trees from a distance to construct rudimentary barricades.
After completing these tasks, it was time for dinner, followed by a rare period of free time.
Normally, the caravan's crew would engage in lively activities, finding various ways to amuse themselves.
However, today was unusually subdued.
They quietly observed the adjacent camp of the First Guard, inexplicably losing interest in their usual antics, opting instead for simple conversation before retiring to their tents for sleep.
Inside his tent, Emi tossed and turned restlessly.
He stared at the patched roof of the tent, feeling anxious for reasons he well understood.
In his view, regardless of the day's outcome, he had undertaken a risky venture to help Melissa.
Although it hadn't caused Richard to lose face, it had nearly cost him his life.
Melissa, in contrast, showed no acknowledgment of his actions, not even a word.
Poor Pascal had clearly lost his tongue due to Melissa, yet she hadn't even made the simplest effort to check on him.
Of course, Emi was also reluctant to dwell on Pascal's fate.
Despite some lingering guilt, the earlier attack had successfully quelled any remorse he might have felt.
For Emi at this moment, the most pressing issue was his own daring move, unreciprocated by Melissa as promised.
"Really, could she have forgotten?" Emi turned over, feeling incredibly agitated with no sign of sleep.
Eventually, he decided to sit up.
He looked out at the nighttime scene beyond the tent, listening to the chorus of insects in the wild.
Gritting his teeth, Emi got up and headed towards Melissa's tent.
Navigating his way, Emi approached Melissa's tent with a serious expression.
Seeing the light still on inside, he knew she was awake.
He immediately called out, "Miss Melissa, it's Emi. Can I come in?"
The interior remained lit, but there was no reply.
Frowning with some frustration, Emi took the next moment to open the tent flap and enter.
He was prepared to confront Melissa directly, to clarify whether she intended to honor her earlier promise.
If Melissa didn't agree, then he...
As he contemplated his next move, Emi suddenly froze upon entering Melissa's tent.
He saw her sitting there, lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the flickering flame of a candle before her.
She seemed deeply absorbed in some inner contemplation.
This...
Emi's eyes flickered.
Unable to resist, his mind wandered with wild speculation: Could Melissa be considering speaking up for him to the caravan bosses?
If so...
Emi's expression softened slightly.
He tried to muster a smile as he approached behind Melissa, asking in a conciliatory tone, "Miss Melissa, what's on your mind?"
Melissa was lost in thought, her mind involuntarily replaying Richard's swift actions from earlier in the day—his almost effortless draw of the sword, the precise swing, the perfectly timed pause...
It played over and over again.
Earlier that day, Richard's decisive act of violence had stunned everyone in the caravan, leaving Melissa with an unspoken impact.
She had grown up indulged and protected, never facing a threat.
Even in the capital of Muren as she matured, no one dared cross her; she was always the one who came out on top, never feeling any danger in life.
But today was different.
She had witnessed real danger, and for the first time, fear crept into her heart.
She recalled Richard's actions and realized that if he had turned that violence toward her, she wouldn't have stood a chance.
And if Richard truly wanted to kill her, no one in the caravan could stop him.
Would Richard actually kill her?
In Melissa's view, although Richard didn't seem likely to do so, she couldn't rule out the possibility.
After all, what happened during the day was related to her, and Richard didn't show his hand easily.
In other words, she wasn't entirely safe right now.
For Melissa, this was a trembling and novel experience—like the thrill of walking a tightrope.
Since childhood, she had inclinations toward violence and enjoyed risk-taking.
Seeing protagonists facing various predicaments in their adventures would excite her entire being, but she had never truly understood what it was like to face real danger.
Now, she understood.
At this moment, Melissa's emotions were complex.
For some reason, she felt a magnetic pull toward Richard, an urge to understand him, just like a warrior exploring a dragon's lair.
It was a sensation that quickened her heartbeat, accelerated her blood flow—a thrilling urge that made her palms sweat and her throat dry.
Lost in these thoughts, Melissa didn't hear anyone entering the tent until a voice abruptly sounded behind her, startling her completely.
"Miss Melissa, what are you thinking about?"
The voice came, and Melissa quickly turned around, still caught up in her reverie.
Without seeing who he was, she blurted out uncontrollably, "Richard!"
As the words fell, the tent fell silent suddenly.
Melissa saw Emi behind her, and he was slowly opening his mouth wide in surprise.
"You're thinking about that guy, Richard?" Emi asked incredulously.
Melissa didn't answer.
After a brief silence and a stare-down, Emi suddenly seemed furious.
His eyes widened, and he shouted loudly, "Miss Melissa, you're thinking about the man who almost killed me!"
"Look at this, look!" Emi lifted his head, his voice tinged with excitement as he pointed to the long gash on his neck.
"This is all thanks to that guy. I was just trying to teach him a lesson for cutting off Pascal's tongue, and Pascal only lost his tongue because of you!"
"Because of you, both Pascal and I paid the price, and not only did you not say a word of apology or thanks, but you're still thinking about the culprit behind all this—this guy named Richard! You... Miss Melissa, what are you up to?"
"I..." Melissa looked stunned by Emi's anger, mainly because she didn't expect Emi, who had always been eager to please her, to be this terrifying when he erupted.
But Melissa had seen a lot in her life and wasn't completely intimidated by Emi.
Instead, she felt a flash of anger after being provoked. In just a few seconds, Melissa looked at Emi, let out a cold snort, and rebuked him sharply.
"What I'm thinking about is none of your business. Don't forget your place, Emi! You're just a guard in this caravan, while I am the daughter of the caravan's owner! If you dare provoke me, one word from me and I can have you kicked out of this caravan!"
"Yes, you're injured, and it's indeed because of me that you're injured. But can you blame me entirely? Isn't it because of your stupidity! I only wanted you to keep Richard from losing face, not to attack him! So, your injury is your own fault, and Pascal losing his tongue is also your own fault!"
"I'm telling you, don't expect anything from me. If you can keep your current job, consider yourself lucky! And now, I want to sleep. Get out of my tent immediately! Otherwise, I'll shout for Uncle Mura to come and show him how you dared to barge into my tent in the middle of the night. You'll regret it!"