Chapter 6

"Lady, you still have that much strength, and yet instead of using it to save yourself, you attacked the one who just saved your life," the figure said as they approached her.

Despite the pain, Aina stared at the person who had spoken.

"You?!" Aina pointed at the person in shock. "How are you here?"

"Me?" The person pointed to themselves, smiled, and then replied, "I'm here because I was assigned by Lady Olivia."

"Olivia?" Aina asked in surprise.

"That's right. Next, I will take you to the carriage that has been waiting for your arrival. Come, Lady," the person said, bowing slightly to Aina.

Aina stared at the hand extended to her.

Hesitantly, Aina accepted the hand and was helped to her feet.

"I didn't expect Olivia to send you," Aina still didn't understand why Olivia would send this person.

"That's not important. What matters, Lady Aina, is that you need to get to the carriage immediately," the person, now identified as Alan, replied with a smile.

"Oh," Aina said, as though just realizing the urgency of the situation.

"Please follow me," Alan said politely and began walking toward where the carriage was waiting.

Aina followed, her eyes fixed on Alan's back as he led the way.

"Don't you want to explain? Is it a secret?" Aina asked, still curious about Alan's connection with Olivia.

"Hm? Explain what?" he responded, turning back to her.

Aina frowned, clearly irritated. "Of course, about how you ended up here."

"Because Lady Olivia sent me," Alan answered, not skipping a beat.

Aina, still not satisfied, continued her questioning. "And why are you working with her? Why would the Crown Prince's right-hand man betray his master? Your name is Alan, right? What kind of relationship do you have with Olivia?"

Alan stopped in his tracks at her questions, forcing Aina to stop as well.

"You're mistaken if you think I've betrayed the Crown Prince," he said, turning to face her. "I haven't betrayed him just because I'm helping you escape. Why would you think that?"

Aina's brows furrowed deeper. "Isn't it obvious? If I escape, Rose will replace me as the one to marry King Willise, and then Olivia will become the Crown Prince's partner."

"So?" Alan asked as if it wasn't a big deal.

Aina froze, realizing something wasn't quite right.

Wait. Something doesn't add up.

"She doesn't mind that?" Aina asked, trying to confirm her suspicions.

"You realize it now? It doesn't matter to her who becomes the Crown Prince's partner. As long as she becomes the next queen, that's all that matters to her," Alan answered, continuing to walk.

Aina quickened her pace to match his long strides, finding herself having to hurry to keep up. She began walking faster as she processed Alan's words.

Once again, Aina tried to strike up a conversation.

"You didn't answer my other questions," Aina said.

"My name is Alan. I am the right-hand man to the Crown Prince and one of the kingdom's commanders," Alan responded matter-of-factly. "As for my relationship with Lady Olivia, we simply work together."

Aina pressed further. "What kind of collaboration did you and Olivia agree on?" She suspected Alan didn't want to disclose the details of his and Olivia's relationship.

Alan gave her a sideways glance. "You ask a lot of questions. I'm surprised because Lady Aina is usually known for being quiet." Alan's tone was now more formal again, but Aina sensed a hint of sarcasm, almost as if he were mocking her in his subtle way.

"I get it if you want to keep that a secret. If it's that confidential, I won't push it. And one more thing, Sir Alan, people can change," Aina said, speeding up her pace, and leaving Alan behind.

"Wait, Lady!" Alan called out, trying to catch up with her.

"Do you even know the way? You don't, do you?" His words, though seemingly casual, made Aina even more frustrated because he was right—she didn't know the way.

"I'll tell you a secret," Alan added as if trying to placate her.

"I was the one who made the guards guarding you faint," Alan confessed, catching up with her.

Aina was momentarily surprised by Alan's revelation. She finally stopped walking and looked at him.

"I figured as much. There's no way Olivia could have taken them down by herself." Aina nodded, understanding now who had made it possible for her to escape without facing any guards.

"What else would you like to know?" Alan asked, offering to answer her remaining questions.

But Aina, despite her curiosity, didn't ask any more questions.

"Nothing," she said.

"Are you still mad?" Alan asked bluntly.

Aina rolled her eyes. "No."

"That doesn't sound convincing," Alan observed, picking up on the slight change in her tone.

Aina sighed and finally asked, "Is it far?"

They could now see the end of the stone path that was often used by vehicles.

"Oh, it's over there." Alan pointed to a small, simple carriage.

Aina followed his gaze and saw the carriage, its driver tightening the reins. They approached the carriage.

Before getting into the carriage, Aina turned to Alan. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Alan smiled. "No need to thank me, Lady. I'm just doing my job."

Aina nodded and climbed into the carriage, while Alan stayed outside, his eyes scanning the surroundings as though something was troubling him.

***

Aina moved the small curtain covering the carriage window and peeked outside. The view was adorned with many flowering plants. Audellian was a kingdom known for having the longest spring season. While other regions had already entered summer, Audellian still held on to spring, lasting until the beginning of autumn.

For Aina, this view didn't captivate her; perhaps because she had grown up in Audellian. It was all too familiar to her—neither particularly beautiful nor unpleasant. She neither loved nor hated the landscape of her kingdom.

Thinking about this, Aina wondered, after leaving the borders of Audellian, where would she go next?