Chapter 97

Rezette gently placed the hood over Elise’s head once more, his lips tenderly brushing against her nose bridge. “Will you manage on your own?” he inquired softly.

“I’m not a child,” Elise replied with a hint of amusement. “I’ll sleep well and eat well. Even if you miss me, endure it.”

“It seems the burden falls solely on me then,” Rezette remarked with a seriousness etched upon his face. “Enduring until the end of the month might prove to be quite challenging.”

Elise responded with a serene smile, resembling a doll in her beauty and as quiet as a prized possession.

***

As planned, Rezette cleared the castle of inhabitants. Until the moment of departure, he wrestled with his thoughts repeatedly. This time, the encroaching madness seemed more pronounced than anticipated.

Only Rezette himself could intuit the impending danger. It wasn’t merely a matter of allowing bloodshed to pass unchecked this time. The madness of desire presented itself in two formidable branches: the urge to kill and overwhelming sexual desire. A sinister premonition suggested the latter this time, perhaps a consequence of indulging excessively in carnal pleasures.

Regardless of its manifestation, Elise had to be kept at a distance. Even if it meant delaying the departure of the punitive force for hours, the decision remained unchanged. Rezette swallowed his curses relentlessly, grappling with his inner turmoil.

“Why am I like this…?” he lamented quietly.

“There’s nothing wrong; you’re handsome,” Elise reassured him, her words seeming to drift past his concerns.

“That’s not what I meant.” Rezette pressed a kiss to Elise’s cheek, her nonsensical remarks momentarily forgotten. The temptation to kiss her lips lingered, but he resisted, knowing he couldn’t stop once he started.

As he pulled away without succumbing to the impulse, Elise’s expression briefly shifted into one of curiosity before melting into a gentle smile as she waved him off.

It would be a while before the echo of his heavy footsteps faded into the distance.

***

As Rezette departed from Rotiara, those who had eagerly awaited his absence, stifled by the Duke’s imposing presence, surged in as if released from a dam.

It all began with a missive from the imperial palace. According to its contents, following the conclusion of the harvest festival and the punitive expedition, a period of leisure until the next spring was anticipated, prompting plans for extensive envoy dispatches to Rotiara.

Elise’s gaze skimmed over the letter from the emperor, a man who had long discarded any pretense of dignity. There had been no response to their last communication. Was it necessary to consult his beloved wife even for such trivial matters?

[“For the past six months, you have luxuriated in freedom without concern. It is now time to fulfill your duties and obligations to your master. Should you persist in ignoring my earnest missives, I may be compelled to personally visit Rotiara and retrieve the princess.”]

Taking me away personally… Did the emperor detect something amiss? Elise pondered. Noting the dispatch schedule, with envoys expected to arrive by early October, Elise solidified her escape plan.
“When Rezette returns, it will already be too late. Within the next week, at the first opportunity when the knights’ shifts provide a window, we must depart,” Elise insisted, urgency lacing her tone.

However, her movements were hindered by an unexpected ailment. Strangely, she hadn’t felt well since the conclusion of the harvest festival.

“Perhaps it’s because you were exposed to the cold that day. You seem to have a slight fever,” Ivetsa remarked with concern.

“Ah, really,” Elise muttered, unable to conceal her frustration. Her ire was directed not at Ivetsa, but at her own wretched physical state.

As the crucial dates drew near, despite her efforts to remain composed, tension coiled within her, manifesting as weakness and lethargy. Even the slightest exertion left her feeling drained. Minor digestive discomforts became more frequent, her hypersensitive body reacting acutely to any disturbance.

At such an important time, what good is this useless body… Elise lamented inwardly.

Thankfully, her steadfast servant Ivetsa proved to be a valuable aid. Packing was swiftly underway, although there wasn’t much to prepare.

As Ivetsa sifted through the contents of the dressing room, she remarked with a playful sigh, “What a waste these dresses are. You could wear one every day for months and still not use everything. Such a pity.”

“They were never truly mine to begin with,” Elise responded dismissively, though inwardly she marveled at the sheer volume of garments crammed into the closet, most of them gifts from the Duke.

“They belong to you, Your Highness. All gifts from His Highness, the Duke. Nevertheless, there’s nothing here truly worth taking,” Ivetsa concluded.

“…Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Elise agreed, her thoughts elsewhere as she contemplated the impending departure.

The array of gifts from Rezette left Elise feeling oddly unsettled. Though she had been aware of their presence in the dressing room, it was the first time she truly took stock of them.

In truth, the collection rivaled the opulence of her wardrobe back at Argan Palace, if not surpassed it. The fabrics were of the finest quality, the craftsmanship impeccable. As her fingers trailed over the delicate embroidery of a stunning blue dress, a pang of regret tugged at her heart.

“I’ll be leaving without even having tried most of them on. Yet, they’re all gifts…” Elise murmured softly, her voice tinged with melancholy.

Recollections of the final day of the harvest festival flooded her mind, particularly the image of Rezette gazing at her with a rare display of admiration as she reluctantly adorned herself in finery. It was a departure from his usual stoicism, a glimpse of hidden depths.

“If only he had shown such enthusiasm before, I might have worn them more frequently,” she mused, lamenting the missed opportunities.

Now, those garments would never again see the light of day.

The following day, Ivetsa arrived with a selection of plain peasant clothes suitable for their impending journey. Meanwhile, Elise had spent several days meticulously preparing provisions, spare clothing, and other necessities for their escape and subsequent concealment, all of which were stashed in an abandoned mountain cottage nestled amidst the peaks.

“Thank you, Ivetsa,” Elise expressed her gratitude.

“It’s my duty to serve my mistress,” Ivetsa replied dutifully.

“…No. You’re not just serving me faithfully; you’re also involved in this conspiracy,” Elise acknowledged with a pang of guilt. She had always harbored reservations about dragging Ivetsa into their scheme.

“You needn’t accompany me into enemy territory. This is your homeland, after all,” Elise insisted.

Elise had made the difficult decision that Ivetsa couldn’t accompany her all the way to the southern lands. Her plan was to part ways with Ivetsa shortly after departing from Rotiara. She gingerly extended a jewelry box she had meticulously prepared in advance, intending it as a token of gratitude and support for Ivetsa’s future endeavors.

However, Ivetsa promptly declined the offering.

“Your Highness, if I’m caught aiding you by His Highness, the Duke, I’ll meet my end then and there,” Ivetsa asserted firmly.

“That’s… that’s…” Elise faltered.

“I am willingly risking my life to assist Your Highness, therefore you must also bear responsibility for me,” Ivetsa continued, her tone resolute. “Besides, I have no family to look after me. I hail from a fallen noble lineage. This frigid country holds no sentimental value for me. A move to a warmer southern locale wouldn’t be unwelcome, don’t you agree?” Ivetsa reasoned.

With Ivetsa’s refusal, the jewelry box Elise had prepared remained untouched, finding its place in a drawer instead.

“These rare jewels are practically like identification papers. The finest gems are cataloged along with the jeweler’s mark. The moment I attempt to pawn them, I’d be apprehended. It’s wiser to possess items like buttons or modest brooches; unassuming in appearance, yet crafted from pure gold and much less conspicuous,” Ivetsa explained sagely.

“I see… How did you come by such knowledge?” Elise inquired, impressed by Ivetsa’s insight.

“When I was young, my family fell into ruin, and I was forced to flee from creditors who sought to sell me off. It lasted for about three years. Eventually, a distant relative provided refuge, and I secured a position as a maid in the Duke’s manor in the capital. As long as I remained within its walls, the creditors dared not pursue me,” Ivetsa recounted with a wistful smile.

“Of course, His Highness likely never envisioned that a maid plucked from obscurity like myself would end up being used as a safeguard,” Ivetsa added with a chuckle. “But I cannot liken myself to those lowly creditors or His Highness. Nevertheless, I have witnessed mountains ablaze in the night, navigated rivers teeming with bandits, and traversed endless snowy plains. It is far better to journey with someone seasoned than to brave the unknown alone. Therefore, let us embark together, Your Highness.”

With tears brimming in her eyes, Elise tenderly offered the jewelry box to Ivetsa. Who could easily turn away from someone so visibly vulnerable? Ivetsa swallowed her words, silently acknowledging the innocence still preserved within Elise.

Elise paused to contemplate for a moment before reaching her own resolution.

“Then I’ll protect you too,” she declared firmly.

“Is that a promise?” Ivetsa inquired, seeking assurance.

“Yeah. I promise on my name that I won’t let anything harm you or allow you to come to harm,” Elise affirmed, her voice resolute.

Ivetsa smiled warmly, her expression conveying both gratitude and trust. Elise understood that Ivetsa’s reassuring smile and the anecdotes she shared were intended to ease her apprehensions.

An oath involving the name and honor of the aristocracy carried significant weight. Elise had never before pledged her name in agreement with another person. Yet, for Ivetsa, she was willing to make such a solemn vow repeatedly. Without the steadfast presence of this affectionate and courageous maid, Elise doubted she would have endured her trials alone. Ivetsa’s eyes glimmered with approval at Elise’s declaration.

“Then take care not to burden your heart unnecessarily, and focus on looking after yourself,” Ivetsa advised gently.

“Yeah. Thank you,” Elise responded, her gratitude evident.

Even in Ivetsa’s presence, Elise struggled to muster an appetite, but she persevered in finishing her meal nonetheless.

***

However, it wasn’t until two days later that Elise began to sense that something was amiss.

A heaviness settled in her chest, accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation. Initially, she attributed it to the soreness from the physical strain imposed by Rezette, but the discomfort persisted. Even the gentlest touch elicited sharp pains, as if something were constricted within both sides of her chest.

The symptoms bore a resemblance to those preceding her menstrual cycle, yet despite waiting patiently, there were no signs of its onset.