Time passed, and the day came when Rosena had to return to the empire.
Rosena said goodbye to Illian one last time.
Unlike usual, Illian told her not to rush and to go around with dignity.
After talking with Illian for a long time, Rosena boarded the ship only after hearing that it was about to leave.
The ship Rosena rode was larger and stronger than a normal ship because it had to carry not only the sailors but also the soldiers of Astania.
As she boarded the ship and headed for the empire, Rosena’s heart was troubled.
She didn’t expect she would go back to the place she tried so hard to get out of…
She had a plan, but she couldn’t sleep properly, wondering what to do if something went wrong and she couldn’t go back to Astania.
While Rosena quietly spent each day worrying, rumors circulated among the sailors.
It was rumored that every night, a child’s voice could be heard in the ship. It was a rumor that often came up while sailing, so everyone didn’t really care.
More than a month had passed after many twists and turns. The ship, which came out of the rough currents, stretched out smoothly on the waves. The helmsman looked at the compass and turned the rudder, and the sailor who climbed onto the mast’s pole saw something with a telescope and shouted.
“I can see the land!”
Sailors, who had been noisy at those words, calmed down.
They finally arrived at their destination, but they were not excited because of the heavy duty they had on their shoulders.
Rosena, who was staying on the inside of the ship, came out to the deck at the word of arrival.
Unlike the sea of Astania, as it got closer to the continent, the sea took on an emerald color.
Little by little, land began to come into view. It was incomparably vast with Astania. As she was looking at it, she could hear a pounding akin to drums from her chest.
The boat quickly crossed the currents and headed for the dock.
Little by little, as the land drew closer, what seemed small like a dot began to take on an outline.
At the dock stood knights in armor with flags representing the imperial family.
A man at the forefront of the knights came into Rosena’s eyes. It was the crown prince, Zigrit.
Wearing a red cloak, he raised his head stiffly. And his eyes met Rosena, who was standing on the deck.
Seeing Rosena, Zigrit raised his lips. It was as if he was seeing something he had been waiting for for a long time.
Rosena clenched her fists unconsciously. Then, with her head straight, she met his gaze.
The ship did not go to the dock, but stopped in the middle of the sea. Rosena, who was standing on the deck, slowly descended.
The condition Rosena put forward was to exchange the hostages at sea, not on land.
A sailor and an Astanian knight were the first to get on a small boat.
As Rosena lifted the hem of her dress and got into the boat, the boat moved forward little by little. Then a small boat departed from the crown prince’s side as well. Above them stood a boatman, a knight, and Kayla.
The boat slowly crossed the water. The calm surface of the water was split, and white foam scattered behind it.
The two boats that were advancing finally came together. As the boats stopped in the middle of the sea, the knights stood next to the hostages with their hands on the scabbard around their waists.
Kayla and Rosena looked at each other. In the blink of an eye, Kayla’s plump cheeks had shriveled up a little.
Tears filled Kayla’s big eyes when she saw Rosena. Guilt flashed in her eyes that Rosena had returned to the empire because of her.
Rosena, who was standing without expression, smiled at Kayla as if saying that everything was fine.
Rosena walked to the other boat. Kayla paused, but when the imperial knight pushed her back, she suddenly ran as if she was about to fall over to the Astanian side of the boat.
When the two hostages were exchanged at the same time, the imperial knight immediately ordered the boatman to row.
They didn’t even allow time for a brief conversation.
The boat carrying Rosena glided towards land. Kayla’s cries were heard from behind, but Rosena couldn’t calm her down.
Shortly thereafter, the ship carrying Rosena arrived on land.
As Rosena stood still, the knight grabbed her and tried to get her down. Rosena looked at the knight and said firmly.
“I will walk on my own.”
The knight stepped back at the vigor he could feel in her voice.
As Rosena reached out, the white sand was scattered. The land of the empire, which she had returned to after a few months, seemed unfamiliar and yet familiar.
Rosena raised her head, covering the sun with her palms. The sun’s rays reflected off the white sand, making her skin tingle.
Crown Prince Zigrit stood a few steps away. In the sunlight, his blond hair crumbled like a piece of the sun. He was smiling, but there was a gleam in his blue eyes. Seeing him like that, Rosena hardened her expression.
“Long time no see, Rosena Estarot.”
When his gentle greeting was heard, Rosena responded coldly.
“I said it several times, but you still called my name wrong, Your Highness.”
Zigrit let out a dry laugh. He asked, touching his eyes as if he had heard a funny story.
“Are you saying that you’re still the third princess?”
Rosena didn’t answer. Even if Yerhan died, Rosena was legally his wife. She didn’t want to sever the connection between him and herself.
“Well, whatever it is, it’s fine. You are now in my hands.”
There was a sense of freedom in his tone and face. And he didn’t even look for Illian like Rosena had predicted. Even though Rosena was brought in under the pretext of kidnapping the imperial grandson.
Rosena looked up at Zigrit.
Even though it had been a while since she saw him, he had never lost his energy, rather, it got stronger.
“….What are you going to do with me?”
At Rosena’s question, Zigrit laughed.
“Don’t you know better?”
When Rosena didn’t say anything, Zigrit said calmly.
“The national funeral will be held in a week.”
Rosena’s eyes fluttered. She knew that Yerhan’s funeral would be held, but she didn’t know exactly when.
Rosena bit the inside of her lips slightly. She wanted to give Yerhan a flower for the last time, but Rosena could not attend. She’d be out of here before they got to the capital.
“Then we decided to go back to the Imperial Palace and share the deep story…”
When Zigrit waved, the carriage parked inside approached. He said, pointing at the carriage with his chin.
“Get on.”
As Rosena got on the carriage without a word, Zigrit naturally tried to follow along.
Seeing that, Rosena said firmly.
“I am a woman with a husband.”
It meant that she would not use the same carriage as an outsider.
Zigrit’s eyes narrowed. He looked at what might be the problem now, and then slowly backed away.
For now, he maintained the attitude that he would do what Rosena wanted. However, the moment they returned to the capital, he would not let Rosena off the hook.
As soon as the carriage door was closed, the sound of a lock was heard from outside.
Rosena let out a breath she had swallowed. Then she rolled up the curtains and looked out. Eight knights were standing on all sides of the carriage.
The security was so strict that she could feel that he would not give her even a single chance to escape.
After a while, the carriage began to rattle and move. As she leaned back on the chair, her heart raced nervously.
The Astanian knights must have gotten off the ship by now and secretly pursued the carriage.
The knights escorting the crown prince did not exceed 30, as Rosena expected.
Rosena slightly tucked a handkerchief into the window sill to signify that she was in this carriage.
After finishing her duty, Rosena completely relaxed and closed her eyes.
Anyway, is Kayla okay?
She seemed very surprised to be caught up in this….
Rosena regretted it. She shouldn’t have told Kayla the illusion of the empire. If she hadn’t talked about the empire, she wouldn’t have thought of attending the imperial academy.
But it had already happened, and Kayla was fortunate to be able to return to Astania. All that remained now was for Rosena to return safely.
The carriage quickly entered the city. The carriage was luxurious and the number of knights escorting it was 30, so it caught the attention of many people.
Rosena became anxious and looked around. They had to wait for it to pass through the main street and into the forest.
If she tried to escape when she was nervous, there was a high probability that she could not get out properly.
As the sun began to set, the landscape outside was filled with trees and many buildings disappeared. It seemed that they had finally left the city and entered the forest.
Rosena listened quietly. There was the faint sound of birds chirping. It meant that the Astanians were chasing behind the carriage.
The birds constantly asked Rosena for information. Then, at some point, the chirping of the birds completely stopped.
There was a rattle, then the carriage shook violently, and noises from outside began to tangle.
“It’s an ambush!”
The screams of surprised horses and the clash of swords came back as echoes.
The sun went down early, and the surrounding was dark and the imperial army was unable to fight properly because of the sudden attack.
A sharp sound came from the carriage door. It sounded like a piece of metal being removed.
As Rosena pushed her body inside, the door opened wide with a loud noise.
“Your Highness!”
Someone reached into the open door. Rosena checked the button on his sleeve. It was the emblem of the knights of Astania.
Rosena immediately got up from her seat and ran like she was throwing herself out of the carriage. When she went outside, she set her eyes on the messy surroundings.
The Astanian side and the imperial knights were still fighting. But Astania was far superior.
The Astanian knights led Rosena’s escape while at the same time, defeating the imperial knights.
“Rosena Estarot!!”
A loud voice calling for Rosena could be heard from afar.
Rosena looked back. She saw Zigrit was running towards her with a sword in hand. There was no more time to delay.
“Please get on!”
The Astanian knight who was dealing with an imperial knight pointed to the horse. Rosena grabbed the hem of her dress to get on the horse.
At that moment, with a loud thump, Rosena’s body shook.
Rosena raised her head in surprise. The knights who were wielding their swords also stopped their actions for a while.
“Take my hand!”
The knight on horseback reached out his hand. Rosena came to her senses and tried to grab his hand to get on the horse.
“Where are you going!”
Zigrit grabbed the hem of Rosena’s dress and pulled it tight. Rosena’s hand leaned back, it did not reach the knight.
As Rosena fell onto the floor, Zigrit looked down at Rosena and asked.
“Do you think you can get away from me?”
Zigrit’s eyes gleamed with madness. Rosena looked into those eyes and pulled her lips apart.
“….You are crazy.”
As soon as Rosena finished speaking, he reached out his hand.
“Your Highness!”
The Astanian knights around them attacked Zigrit.
Zigrit let go of the hand that was holding Rosena’s hem and struck the blade that flew at him.
Realizing that this was her last chance, Rosena jumped up from the ground.
At that moment, as if the earth was split in two, a loud cry was heard from inside the forest.
Rosena, and even the knights who were engaged in the battle turned their heads toward the sound without exception.
In the darkness and with a strange glow, something huge came one step closer. The sound of the earth shaking was the sound of its footsteps.
Someone’s voice came out quietly.
“Mo, monster…”
Time passed, and the day came when Rosena had to return to the empire.
Rosena said goodbye to Illian one last time.
Unlike usual, Illian told her not to rush and to go around with dignity.
After talking with Illian for a long time, Rosena boarded the ship only after hearing that it was about to leave.
The ship Rosena rode was larger and stronger than a normal ship because it had to carry not only the sailors but also the soldiers of Astania.
As she boarded the ship and headed for the empire, Rosena’s heart was troubled.
She didn’t expect she would go back to the place she tried so hard to get out of…
She had a plan, but she couldn’t sleep properly, wondering what to do if something went wrong and she couldn’t go back to Astania.
While Rosena quietly spent each day worrying, rumors circulated among the sailors.
It was rumored that every night, a child’s voice could be heard in the ship. It was a rumor that often came up while sailing, so everyone didn’t really care.
More than a month had passed after many twists and turns. The ship, which came out of the rough currents, stretched out smoothly on the waves. The helmsman looked at the compass and turned the rudder, and the sailor who climbed onto the mast’s pole saw something with a telescope and shouted.
“I can see the land!”
Sailors, who had been noisy at those words, calmed down.
They finally arrived at their destination, but they were not excited because of the heavy duty they had on their shoulders.
Rosena, who was staying on the inside of the ship, came out to the deck at the word of arrival.
Unlike the sea of Astania, as it got closer to the continent, the sea took on an emerald color.
Little by little, land began to come into view. It was incomparably vast with Astania. As she was looking at it, she could hear a pounding akin to drums from her chest.
The boat quickly crossed the currents and headed for the dock.
Little by little, as the land drew closer, what seemed small like a dot began to take on an outline.
At the dock stood knights in armor with flags representing the imperial family.
A man at the forefront of the knights came into Rosena’s eyes. It was the crown prince, Zigrit.
Wearing a red cloak, he raised his head stiffly. And his eyes met Rosena, who was standing on the deck.
Seeing Rosena, Zigrit raised his lips. It was as if he was seeing something he had been waiting for for a long time.
Rosena clenched her fists unconsciously. Then, with her head straight, she met his gaze.
The ship did not go to the dock, but stopped in the middle of the sea. Rosena, who was standing on the deck, slowly descended.
The condition Rosena put forward was to exchange the hostages at sea, not on land.
A sailor and an Astanian knight were the first to get on a small boat.
As Rosena lifted the hem of her dress and got into the boat, the boat moved forward little by little. Then a small boat departed from the crown prince’s side as well. Above them stood a boatman, a knight, and Kayla.
The boat slowly crossed the water. The calm surface of the water was split, and white foam scattered behind it.
The two boats that were advancing finally came together. As the boats stopped in the middle of the sea, the knights stood next to the hostages with their hands on the scabbard around their waists.
Kayla and Rosena looked at each other. In the blink of an eye, Kayla’s plump cheeks had shriveled up a little.
Tears filled Kayla’s big eyes when she saw Rosena. Guilt flashed in her eyes that Rosena had returned to the empire because of her.
Rosena, who was standing without expression, smiled at Kayla as if saying that everything was fine.
Rosena walked to the other boat. Kayla paused, but when the imperial knight pushed her back, she suddenly ran as if she was about to fall over to the Astanian side of the boat.
When the two hostages were exchanged at the same time, the imperial knight immediately ordered the boatman to row.
They didn’t even allow time for a brief conversation.
The boat carrying Rosena glided towards land. Kayla’s cries were heard from behind, but Rosena couldn’t calm her down.
Shortly thereafter, the ship carrying Rosena arrived on land.
As Rosena stood still, the knight grabbed her and tried to get her down. Rosena looked at the knight and said firmly.
“I will walk on my own.”
The knight stepped back at the vigor he could feel in her voice.
As Rosena reached out, the white sand was scattered. The land of the empire, which she had returned to after a few months, seemed unfamiliar and yet familiar.
Rosena raised her head, covering the sun with her palms. The sun’s rays reflected off the white sand, making her skin tingle.
Crown Prince Zigrit stood a few steps away. In the sunlight, his blond hair crumbled like a piece of the sun. He was smiling, but there was a gleam in his blue eyes. Seeing him like that, Rosena hardened her expression.
“Long time no see, Rosena Estarot.”
When his gentle greeting was heard, Rosena responded coldly.
“I said it several times, but you still called my name wrong, Your Highness.”
Zigrit let out a dry laugh. He asked, touching his eyes as if he had heard a funny story.
“Are you saying that you’re still the third princess?”
Rosena didn’t answer. Even if Yerhan died, Rosena was legally his wife. She didn’t want to sever the connection between him and herself.
“Well, whatever it is, it’s fine. You are now in my hands.”
There was a sense of freedom in his tone and face. And he didn’t even look for Illian like Rosena had predicted. Even though Rosena was brought in under the pretext of kidnapping the imperial grandson.
Rosena looked up at Zigrit.
Even though it had been a while since she saw him, he had never lost his energy, rather, it got stronger.
“….What are you going to do with me?”
At Rosena’s question, Zigrit laughed.
“Don’t you know better?”
When Rosena didn’t say anything, Zigrit said calmly.
“The national funeral will be held in a week.”
Rosena’s eyes fluttered. She knew that Yerhan’s funeral would be held, but she didn’t know exactly when.
Rosena bit the inside of her lips slightly. She wanted to give Yerhan a flower for the last time, but Rosena could not attend. She’d be out of here before they got to the capital.
“Then we decided to go back to the Imperial Palace and share the deep story…”
When Zigrit waved, the carriage parked inside approached. He said, pointing at the carriage with his chin.
“Get on.”
As Rosena got on the carriage without a word, Zigrit naturally tried to follow along.
Seeing that, Rosena said firmly.
“I am a woman with a husband.”
It meant that she would not use the same carriage as an outsider.
Zigrit’s eyes narrowed. He looked at what might be the problem now, and then slowly backed away.
For now, he maintained the attitude that he would do what Rosena wanted. However, the moment they returned to the capital, he would not let Rosena off the hook.
As soon as the carriage door was closed, the sound of a lock was heard from outside.
Rosena let out a breath she had swallowed. Then she rolled up the curtains and looked out. Eight knights were standing on all sides of the carriage.
The security was so strict that she could feel that he would not give her even a single chance to escape.
After a while, the carriage began to rattle and move. As she leaned back on the chair, her heart raced nervously.
The Astanian knights must have gotten off the ship by now and secretly pursued the carriage.
The knights escorting the crown prince did not exceed 30, as Rosena expected.
Rosena slightly tucked a handkerchief into the window sill to signify that she was in this carriage.
After finishing her duty, Rosena completely relaxed and closed her eyes.
Anyway, is Kayla okay?
She seemed very surprised to be caught up in this….
Rosena regretted it. She shouldn’t have told Kayla the illusion of the empire. If she hadn’t talked about the empire, she wouldn’t have thought of attending the imperial academy.
But it had already happened, and Kayla was fortunate to be able to return to Astania. All that remained now was for Rosena to return safely.
The carriage quickly entered the city. The carriage was luxurious and the number of knights escorting it was 30, so it caught the attention of many people.
Rosena became anxious and looked around. They had to wait for it to pass through the main street and into the forest.
If she tried to escape when she was nervous, there was a high probability that she could not get out properly.
As the sun began to set, the landscape outside was filled with trees and many buildings disappeared. It seemed that they had finally left the city and entered the forest.
Rosena listened quietly. There was the faint sound of birds chirping. It meant that the Astanians were chasing behind the carriage.
The birds constantly asked Rosena for information. Then, at some point, the chirping of the birds completely stopped.
There was a rattle, then the carriage shook violently, and noises from outside began to tangle.
“It’s an ambush!”
The screams of surprised horses and the clash of swords came back as echoes.
The sun went down early, and the surrounding was dark and the imperial army was unable to fight properly because of the sudden attack.
A sharp sound came from the carriage door. It sounded like a piece of metal being removed.
As Rosena pushed her body inside, the door opened wide with a loud noise.
“Your Highness!”
Someone reached into the open door. Rosena checked the button on his sleeve. It was the emblem of the knights of Astania.
Rosena immediately got up from her seat and ran like she was throwing herself out of the carriage. When she went outside, she set her eyes on the messy surroundings.
The Astanian side and the imperial knights were still fighting. But Astania was far superior.
The Astanian knights led Rosena’s escape while at the same time, defeating the imperial knights.
“Rosena Estarot!!”
A loud voice calling for Rosena could be heard from afar.
Rosena looked back. She saw Zigrit was running towards her with a sword in hand. There was no more time to delay.
“Please get on!”
The Astanian knight who was dealing with an imperial knight pointed to the horse. Rosena grabbed the hem of her dress to get on the horse.
At that moment, with a loud thump, Rosena’s body shook.
Rosena raised her head in surprise. The knights who were wielding their swords also stopped their actions for a while.
“Take my hand!”
The knight on horseback reached out his hand. Rosena came to her senses and tried to grab his hand to get on the horse.
“Where are you going!”
Zigrit grabbed the hem of Rosena’s dress and pulled it tight. Rosena’s hand leaned back, it did not reach the knight.
As Rosena fell onto the floor, Zigrit looked down at Rosena and asked.
“Do you think you can get away from me?”
Zigrit’s eyes gleamed with madness. Rosena looked into those eyes and pulled her lips apart.
“….You are crazy.”
As soon as Rosena finished speaking, he reached out his hand.
“Your Highness!”
The Astanian knights around them attacked Zigrit.
Zigrit let go of the hand that was holding Rosena’s hem and struck the blade that flew at him.
Realizing that this was her last chance, Rosena jumped up from the ground.
At that moment, as if the earth was split in two, a loud cry was heard from inside the forest.
Rosena, and even the knights who were engaged in the battle turned their heads toward the sound without exception.
In the darkness and with a strange glow, something huge came one step closer. The sound of the earth shaking was the sound of its footsteps.
Someone’s voice came out quietly.
“Mo, monster…”
