We kept the small talk as he sneaked by my side and cuddled
"Oh right, You didn't do your morning training did you" I narrowed my eyes at him
"No I didn't! I was too busy making sure you don't disappear without me!" he confidently yelled
I mean I was the one who essentially raised him so him expressing his emotions makes me proud but at the same time...
Sigh....
"You'll have to get much stronger so you don't get in my way"
"Yessir" he did a noble's salute
I patted his head and looked out of the window
It's been two hours or so, and leaving the Marquisette Dorothy's land will take two days at most
Then we enter the Estienne Duchy
We need six more days in order to leave it as It's a huge territory and then we can sneak into the northernmost forest, We'll have to constantly camp and figure out the way to the unknown land
The biggest problem for people is the sneaking part because knights are often wandering there killing monsters
But since I have gravity it'll be light and easy
And for knowing the way, Albeit being bothersome I can roughly sense a big city's distance radius if I put my mind into it.
Hence we'll get to a city eventually
'I should now focus on if there are any monsters nearby'
●●●
*Slash!* *Slash!*
Harsh clashing sounds were heard everywhere, blood swarming all around far and near
"Aagh" yelled a young-looking boy who was bit by a fennec-like monster
Slash-
Another man cut the monster in half and uttered, "You retreat."
It was the Northern Grand Duke's heir Aravind Estienne
"As you command, Your Highness." retreated the boy right away
"Your Highness, There's only seven left" followed a man right behind
"Tell all the recruits to fall back" He ordered and then looked around
They slayed dozens of them, the ground was a bloody mess
He quickly finished the seven annoying B-grade monsters along with his aide Michiel
"I'll tell them to clean up" Michiel said right away
'I want to go home' Thought Aravind begrudgingly as he nodded
But he didn't have that luxury, This fresh young adult had the responsibility of all the lives residing in these rural areas
It's been half a month and they are almost done with the seasonal cleaning
They had to get rid of as many monsters as possible before the seasonal mating ends
This step is the most crucial and afterwards he can send a bunch of knights to do the rest
He was sitting facing a campfire lost in thought and suddenly
"Your Highness!!" A messenger arrived with what looked like an emergency
Aravind turned his gaze to the messenger "Speak" he ordered
The messenger stiffly held the paper
-To his Highness the Heir of the Grand duchy.
"Sicillia Theodosia, Daughter of The Theodosia Noble Lineage prosecuted for fleeing after inheritance theft and Kidnapping of Aneirin Theodosia is currently being held by Sir Nicolai Graham near the northern border.
We request your immediate presence as it is not within our authority to hold her for long."
He recited and then handed a small note that seemed private [She's a little weird, Hurry up. -Sincerely Nikolai]
"Haaa" Looks like his way home just got longer
•••
It's been approximately a week since we first started the journey and my back is about to fall off in this carriage
I used to ease it down by floating for a bit but I'm too tired for even that currently
I was playing with Rin's hair as he was laying his head on my thigh sleeping.
I was also nodding off in and out of sleep
Until...
'Hm..?' I raised my head quickly as I sensed a number of heavy masses
'They might be soldiers'
They were pretty close since I wasn't as focused on my surroundings, I am pretty sleepy you see...
I felt conflicted
Them catching me might be to my advantage because I got informed three days ago from a maid that they were preparing for my exile anyway
They uttered a clump of ridiculous allegations and decided to get rid of me and my job will get easier if I get formally exiled
The way exile works is that I will be comfortably escorted a very considerable distance and guided to a prominent deserted village
It will spare me much of the dreadful trouble
But the problem is...
I looked at my lap
It's Rin
As they got closer I decided
"Rin wake up" I gently called "You'll be in my pocket for a while"
•••
Sicilia decided to let herself be abducted as she hides Rin in her pocket.
'I will try but if they seem suspicious oh well, I can just knock them out and continue my way' As she had these obscene thoughts
She can't shrink a person for long since a still object is one matter but a living one requires her focus and concentration all the time
Fortunately laying a few knights senseless won't even require her to lift a finger even if she does have Rin in her pocket
As he's got organs, moving separately every single one doing a separate job though, a little mishap can grow him back to his original size
Thankfully it isn't life-threatening or anything
So she could get away anytime
•••
"Stop!!" Yelled someone cutting the way
The carriage stopped and the knights got closer
Sicilia got right out not wanting to involve the old man
Her weapons nowhere to be seen as she shrank them
"Hi" she greeted smiling calmly
The man in front of her was the strongest of the bunch with black hair and green eyes and a tall stature
Holding a paper in his hand he spoke looking at it
"Greetings, You seem to be matching the description of a wanted lady."
"Hmm let's see....Gold platinum hair and blood-red eyes" he muttered
"What do you think, not common right?" He smirked and turned the portrait paper to my face
"Uhm...did you just walk around with a bunch of knights in random desolate roads holding my portrait in hopes of finding me?"
"I'm afraid you are not that much of a priority, My apologies."
Well that was rude...
He afterward neck-trapped the dude who gave him the portrait
"He thought you were pretty so he kept it around, it was just your dreadful chance to meet us here" he joked
I chuckled, I like him
"Okay sure, Now what? Will you take me?" I casually asked
"Unfortunately" He answered, seemingly weirded out by my odd laughing "Do you have any other questions before we go, Young lady?"
"What's your name?"
His eyes widened not expecting the question
"It's Nicolai...Nicolai Graham."
"I think I should call you Nico"
"No? Why would you..."
"It's a got a nicer ton-"
As we were talking, Another knight started approaching the old man unpleasantly
I cut my words and instantly interrupted his way, My mood sank...
And I dropped the smiling face.
"He doesn't have anything to do with it, Do not involve him." I coldly excluded the carriage driver from this mess
He has been really distressed since earlier, and I feel sorry enough
I can't let him get more entangled
My change was sudden
So I was on guard, totally expecting to get into action
●●●
The tension was evident in the air and it was clear that she wouldn't just give up if they involved him
Although they were told she was as weak as a twig the distinct burnished red eyes were strangely intimidating
The sunset is probably contributing to the deep pressure she's giving
But the environment felt strangely suffocating as if she was the owner of air surrounding them
Nicolai was deep in thought while reminding himself how to breathe correctly
'Involving him won't get us much and we'll lose her cooperation in the process which will make the work a lot harder, she is still a high noble hence we can't just resort to force' He thought
"Fine, We'll leave him" He signaled the knight to back down
The atmosphere instantly relaxed and she smiled again
She then turned to the carriage driver
"Thank you for going with my ridiculous requests until now, Please go back safe"
She looked genuine.
"I always enjoyed your company"
And the old man just frowned hard,
It seemed to be a cover to hold his tears
"Whatever" He muttered and left with his carriage
"Shall we go now, Nico?"
'This is getting a little weird' thought Nicolai