Fun trip

Sweat dripped from my forehead as my anger finally dissipated. I took a moment to admire the tapestry of blood I'd carved into the lowlife's flesh, reveling in its macabre beauty. Her body quivered gently—a detail I found rather pleasing. Allowing the whip to drop from my hand, I moved to the water basin in my bathroom to wash my face. I considered changing into fresh attire, but a quick glance out the window told me I'd lingered longer than I should. My father's midday departure deadline loomed.

I snapped my fingers, and the servant girl I'd just carved up walked over, head bowed low.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" she asked in a shaky voice, clearly more respectful now that I'd left my mark on her.

"Clean up this mess and straighten the room," I said, offering my usual courtly smile as though it were a trivial request. With that, I strode to the door.

The guards outside stood a bit stiffer than usual as they opened it, but I barely cared enough to wonder why. Moving through the halls, I noticed other servants quickly stepping aside, none daring to try my patience.

Stepping into the courtyard, my royal guards fell in on either side, guiding me to the waiting carriage. I noted how heavily it sagged on its axles. At first, I assumed it was from the weight of my luggage, but as I neared the door, it swung open, revealing Thorne's hefty figure. So it wasn't just the baggage—he himself weighed it down. Disgusting.

I quickened my pace, eager for this journey to be done.

"Princess," he said, his voice tinted with thinly veiled sarcasm. "It is my honor to ride with you. I hope you can accept this humble servant's presence."

I would have punished him on the spot if he weren't so close to Father. Besides, I still felt the residual calm from my earlier… distraction.

"Of course, Noble Thorne," I replied, letting my own sarcasm seep through. "Why would I ever refuse the company of such a refined, gentlemanly person?"

He responded in kind, his tone practically purring with mock civility. "It never crossed my mind that you might deny a gentleman's company, Your Majesty. I thank you for enlightening one such as myself."

My eye twitched, but I kept my smile from faltering. At least I was starting to see his angle more clearly.

"No need to thank me," I said. "It is a royal's duty to educate those less fortunate. Now, shall we dispense with the pleasantries?"

I climbed into the carriage, wrinkling my nose at the greasy odor within. Thorne settled across from me and shut his eyes, evidently content to avoid further conversation. The trip proved uneventful—our carriage blended with the usual travelers, and bandits seemed to find no profit in attacking us.

I watched as the mountainous forest near the capital faded, giving way to distant peaks. Then the Dire Forest came into view, even at a distance radiating a sense of being watched. Our route ran parallel to it for a time, climbing up and over a high pass before descending again. It was considered safer, though still treacherous when the snows came. If winter blocked the pass, we'd have no choice but to traverse the forest itself—a prospect I found as repugnant as the man dozing across from me.

Days stretched by in silence, which made sharing the carriage with Thorne that much more unbearable. But once we entered the dusty plains around his arena, he grew more talkative. I mostly tuned him out—he spouted drivel about journeying through the Dire Forest with a slave boy able to conjure fire, among other nonsense. I did perk up slightly when he mentioned contractors, though. Learning more about them could be useful—one could gain power by forging pacts with devils, or so I'd heard. The exact specifics were what I wanted to uncover, especially if it helped strengthen anyone loyal to me.

As we neared the town's walls, I noticed the guards stationed there appeared more heavily armed than I'd expected. They also looked like they'd seen recent combat.

"We've been under constant raids lately," Thorne said, noticing my gaze. "With our province so close to the border, it's inevitable."

I nodded, turning my attention to the looming gate. It didn't take long for the guards to wave us through the checkpoint.

While the city might impress some—certainly more than the mud-and-stick huts dotting the surrounding villages—it felt woefully small compared to the capital. Still, at least the buildings were made of stone and sported proper wooden-tiled roofs. The paved roads were also a modest improvement over the dirt paths that snaked around the countryside.

I leaned back in my seat, intent on catching a moment's rest before the festivities began.