Chapter 4.2

Chapter 4.2

Leaving the worried soldier behind, Rosette began to head towards the oasis. She walked endlessly in the direction the soldier had pointed. Perhaps because she had been sleeping outdoors in the desert for several days, her body seemed to emit an unpleasant odor from not washing. Of course, it might have been her imagination, but after living a clean life every day and suddenly being unable to wash, she intended to dip into the clean water, wash off the sand from her hair, and rinse her face after a long time.

How far had she gone? Just as her legs began to ache, she spotted a large oasis in the distance, surrounded by trees of various sizes. Rosette’s heart quickened, and she hastened her steps towards it. When she arrived at the oasis, with its many intertwining trees, she gasped at its unexpectedly large scale.

“Wow…”

It wasn’t a small spring but resembled a large lake. A beautifully curved crescent moon and stars in the night sky shimmered gracefully on the mirror-like water surface. Facing this beautiful scene, Rosette slowly looked up at the night sky, which she had been too preoccupied to notice these past few days.

“It’s beautiful…”

Brilliant stars intricately adorned the dark sky. Faced with this stunning vista, she lay down sprawling on a flat stone and began to truly appreciate the scenery.

It was the Hersia Kingdom’s night sky, which she might not be able to see for much longer.

“I used to go see it so often when I was a child.”

She had loved sitting by the hill behind the royal palace and stargazing. Then, gradually, overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility given to a princess, she had forgotten that sight. Now, after a long time, she was able to admire it again. Rosette reached out her hand towards the sky, as if to touch the stars. Thousands, tens of thousands of stars seemed about to pour down on her.

After admiring the view blankly for a while, Rosette quickly stood up and approached the water’s edge. Her appreciation was over; she now had to contemplate the future that awaited her. As if trying to distract herself, she dipped her hand into the transparent, mirror-like water, finding it surprisingly cool. Rosette splashed around by herself, then plunged her sand-rough face into the water.

“Phew… that’s refreshing.”

The clean, cool sensation made even the lingering thoughts in her mind feel like they were flying far away. Rosette repeatedly washed her face, then finally submerged all her silver hair, meticulously rinsing her hair and scalp. After a thorough wash, a thought occurred to her…

Since no one else is here, should I just go in for a quick dip?

She felt incredibly sticky after not washing for days while traversing the vast desert.

Moreover, the old her might have hesitated due to shyness and concern for appearances, but the current Rosette knew her tragic future. Having resolved to live her future life more proactively, there was no reason to hesitate.

The soldiers were probably busy building tents or preparing dinner by now. No one would come at this hour, so Rosette quickly stripped off her dress and underwear, layer by layer.

Rosette’s naked body, thus revealed in an instant, glowed with a transparent light under the moonlight. The coolness of the night air made her shiver for a moment, but then, having made up her mind, she began to walk deeper into the water, step by step.

The blue sea near the Hersia Royal Palace had been another playground for her. Rosette recalled the jewel-like sea, imbued with a blue-emerald light. She repeatedly praised herself for entering, feeling the coolness penetrate to her bones. Submerging her head completely, Rosette floated idly, fully enjoying the moment.

To be swimming naked in such an outdoor setting with such joy! This unreal situation felt absurd, yet a strange sense of liberation enveloped her. For now, she felt like a forest fairy.

How much time had passed? It was getting chilly. Realizing she had delayed longer than expected, she began to head for the shore to return.

But there was a problem. She began to hear soldiers chatting in the distance.

“Looks like we’re heading home earlier than expected this time.”

“Tell me about it. Who would’ve thought the war would end like this?”

At the same time, Rosette’s mind went completely blank.

What if she ran into them like this? Her entire body instantly tensed with anxiety. She was merely a hostage from a small kingdom. If the soldiers set their minds to it, doing something to a single woman would be nothing.

Furthermore, her beauty, referred to as the flower of Hersia, was said to be the kingdom’s finest. Any man with a working mind would desire her. Alarmed by the sudden situation, she immediately headed behind a large rock, visible in the distance, to hide.

Perhaps due to the unexpected situation, or maybe because she had been in the cold water for too long, her limbs wouldn’t obey her and thrashed in the water. The noisy voices of the soldiers were getting closer and closer. If she didn’t hide soon, she would be discovered. Her instincts blared a fierce warning. And just as they entered the edge of the forest,

A strong grip pulled Rosette’s wrist, making her squeeze her eyes shut. With that immense force, Rosette’s body overcame the water’s buoyancy and was pulled away swiftly, helplessly.

And the person she met was…