Chapter 118

“Pregnant? Do you mean some young woman has eloped with her lover? Or perhaps stolen the seed of a nobleman and fled?” 

“Something like that, it seems. From what I understand, anyone with silver hair, golden eyes, or a pregnant belly is being detained. The guards don’t appear to be violent, though…”

A chill ran down Elise’s spine as she listened to the exchange. Her pale lips tightened as she struggled to maintain her composure. 

“There’s a hefty reward for reporting such women,” someone else said.

As the line shortened and the checkpoint drew nearer, Elise noticed the blue anchor emblem on the knights’ armor guarding the gate. It was the symbol of the Duke of Irrien, ruler of Norella. Thirteen days had passed since her escape from Rotiara, and she hadn’t expected news of her flight to reach Norella so quickly.

The royal envoys were about to arrive in Rotiara when I left, she realized. That must be how the Emperor learned of the situation so swiftly. Given that the wanted notice described a woman with silver hair, golden eyes, and a prominent pregnancy, it was clear the Emperor had issued the order. He must be convinced she was carrying his child.

Is there any escape from this? Elise scanned the walls outside the carriage window, but there were no hidden paths. Her mind raced. Should she delay entering Norella until the inspections eased? Or perhaps find a way to sneak in? Could she trust Luisa or Ted? But they’d only known each other for ten days. Turning the carriage around would arouse suspicion. With a bounty on her head, she couldn’t afford attention.

Elise tore her gaze from the window to face Becky, who watched her with an unsettling calm. The fragility it had shown days ago was gone, replaced by an almost amused curiosity, as if anticipating Elise’s next move. In the end, everyone was an enemy. Cold sweat beaded on her tightly clenched palms. She should have been better prepared, should have found a way to disguise herself sooner.

Just then, a scene outside caught her eye. A young woman, supporting her ailing mother, pleaded with a knight, “Please, let us through. My mother is ill and needs a doctor!” The knight hesitated, his face etched with indecision before gesturing to a colleague.

Elise noticed the knight’s cursory inspection of the old woman’s face, and hope ignited within her. They showed mercy to the ill. There was no other option. Self-preservation was her only recourse, even if drastic. Elise clasped her hands together, channeling the magic swirling within.

After this, she would have four spells remaining. One was a self-destruct spell, effectively leaving her with only three. To use one so early in their journey, simply to bypass a checkpoint, was wasteful.

A knight’s indifferent shout echoed from outside, “Next!” 

“Here we go,” Ted replied, urging the carriage forward.

A faint glow emanated from her clasped hands. Her magic was rapidly absorbed, a familiar sensation. Undeterred, she continued to draw it out, forcing the flow to outpace the absorption. Soon, luminous threads wrapped around her palms.

It was their turn. A weary voice inquired from outside, “Total number of people?” 

“Six,” Ted replied. 

“Place of origin?” 

“Koseratie,” Ted answered. “Four of us, including the child, are mercenaries on a mission. The others are inside the carriage.” 

“What’s the mission?” the guard pressed. 

“Escorting young ladies for medical treatment in the city.”

As the interrogation continued, the magic Elise was channeling cascaded down her knees, forming a spell. Becky’s brow furrowed in recognition of the spell’s nature. It was a basic offensive spell, capable of unleashing a flurry of energy, though not deadly. However, using it here would attract unwanted attention. Instead, a more drastic plan formed in her mind.

The spell’s target would be herself. She intended to inflict multiple wounds. As the spell neared completion, Elise met the dragon’s gaze. “When I cast the spell, create a distraction,” she ordered. “Demand immediate entry, claiming I’ve been injured. You can do that, right?”

It took a moment for the dragon to fully understand her words. Finally, as a sigh escaped Becky’s lips.

“Open the carriage door,” the guard commanded. 

“Yes, sir,” Ted replied.

As Ted drew near, Elise called out her brother’s name, Andrei. The magic circle responded, absorbing the accumulated magic and beginning to glow. She reasoned that no one would scrutinize a dying patient’s face. This was her only chance. The resulting injuries would be painful but not fatal. Steeling her resolve, Elise closed her eyes, anticipating the flash.

Nothing happened. Confusion washed over her as she opened her eyes slightly. Becky stood over her, her gaze menacing. A telepathic message, not in Ivetsa’s voice, echoed in her mind, “Arrogance is the same for both ancestors and descendants. Isn’t it?”

The magic circle had been altered, transformed by the dragon’s power into a different spell. A brilliant flash erupted before rapidly fading.

The carriage door swung open, a frigid gust of wind rushing in. A guard, his beard frosted, glanced between Elise and Becky, who stood in front of her.

“Remove your hood and show your face,” he ordered.

Glaring at Elise with predatory intensity, the dragon yanked off her hood. The headscarf holding Elise’s hair tumbled free, and a gasp escaped her lips. No! 

Panic surged through her as she caught sight of the coarse, straw-like strands that had replaced her hair.

“Brown hair… All right, confirmed,” the guard muttered, scribbling on a parchment. He gave them a final look before signaling them to close the door. “Proceed!”

“Thank you, sirs. Appreciate your hard work,” Ted replied heartily.

The door closed with a soft click, and the carriage resumed its journey. The dragon roughly tossed Elise’s cloak aside, its voice laced with contempt. “You wield your frailty like a weapon, even threatening yourself. Such arrogance.”

Its facade of servitude had vanished, replaced by genuine anger. Elise, stunned by the hair color change, could only stare at the dragon.

“This is the last time I help you. You’re on your own from now on,” the dragon growled, its yellow eyes momentarily losing their intensity. 

“We’ll see how far you get,” it added with a final, irritated hiss before Ivetsa’s body stiffened and collapsed. 

Alarm surged through Elise as she caught her friend. “Ivetsa!”

The loyal maid’s body burned hot. The dragon had vanished. Panic momentarily gripped Elise as she checked Ivetsa’s breathing and pulse. Relief washed over her when she found them steady, despite the fever.

“Thank goodness,” she breathed. She had no idea what had provoked Sameshita to such a drastic measure, but for now, the immediate crisis had passed. They had made it through the checkpoint, and Ivetsa was alive. Now, the priority was finding a safe haven in Norella.

I should probably take her to a physician. Perhaps I should ask for a doctor named Harrison, Elise thought, wiping the cold sweat from Ivetsa’s forehead with her sleeve. She glanced nervously out the window. Despite having passed the checkpoint, the dense crowd slowed their progress.

After what felt like an eternity, the carriage finally crossed the city gate. Instantly, the magic cloaking Elise shattered under an overwhelming, invisible force. Her breath caught in her throat as her hair reverted to its silvery sheen.

The brief respite was over. A colossal, devouring magic surged through the city, a tempestuous force. Elise knew of only one person capable of casting such an expansive spell: Rezette. 

A shiver ran down her spine. He was here, in Norella, and dangerously close.