Chapter 18

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“Your Highness, you need to wake up.”

“Ugh… it’s cold…”

It was still dark—so early the sun hadn’t even begun to rise.

A blast of icy air struck my skin, and I instinctively curled up tighter beneath the blanket.

The culprit was Mia.

She had flung the windows wide open—and as if that weren’t enough, yanked the blanket clean off me.

“Come now. Didn’t the young master say he wouldn’t wait even one minute?”

“Haa…”

Right. He did.

Rubbing my face, I forced myself upright. Maybe it was because I’d grown younger again, but mornings felt particularly brutal. My mind refused to wake up.

“Mia… what time is it?”

“Four o’clock. If you start getting ready now, you’ll barely make it.”

She patted my back like she was coaxing along a reluctant child.

Back in the palace, no maid would ever dare lay a hand on the princess. But Mia handled me with the casual familiarity of someone dealing with her granddaughter.

It had felt strange at first.

Now, after a few weeks, I’d grown used to it.

It didn’t anger me anymore.

“Still… this is the first time you’ve left so early. Is the western route that difficult?”

“I haven’t heard that it is.”

“Then perhaps the young master is nervous—escorting royalty for the first time. Leaving at dawn and all.”

Mia smiled warmly.

I almost laughed.

Nervous? Him?

After ten days of training, I knew better.

Damian Carter wasn’t the type to feel “nervous.”

If anything—

He just wanted to annoy me.

Royal wake-up times tended to be late. In the palace, I’d never risen before nine.

He definitely knew that.

Ten days ago, I would’ve been furious.

Now… I simply accepted it.

As irritating as he was, he wasn’t cruel when it truly mattered.

…And perhaps I was even slightly grateful.

“Keep it simple. Just bring me water to wash.”

“It’s already prepared. I warmed it. And dress thicker—the dawn air bites.”

Mia bustled around, laying out clothes.

“How about this hooded coat? It’s light but blocks the wind. Perfect for you.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

I nodded and took it.

In the palace, this never would’ve happened.

Maids offering opinions on my clothing? Unthinkable.

I wore whatever I pleased—regardless of weather. The world revolved around my mood.

I shouldn’t get used to this.

The thought left a strange aftertaste.

Mia’s gentle nagging. The changing meals. Days without suffocating schedules.

It was… pleasant.

If I hadn’t been raised as a princess—

Could I have grown up like this?

As Mia flitted about, I glanced out the window.

Still dark.

By now, someone must be tracking me.

I had moved the departure forward as much as possible, but that didn’t make us safe.

And if my guess was correct—

The Emperor would have sent the First Prince.

I really don’t want to see that bastard.

To reach the western continent, we would inevitably pass a road that connected toward the capital—the same route I’d taken when fleeing to the Grand Duchy.

There was a detour.

But it would double travel time from three days to nearly six.

Right now, longer travel meant greater danger.

So there was only one choice.

Prepare to encounter him.

Decision made, I dressed quickly.

“Mia.”

“Yes? Do you need something?”

“There’s something I need you to prepare.”

5:00 a.m.

When I arrived at the front gate, Damian was already there.

He was checking the saddle, but when he saw me, his expression froze.

“…What are you wearing?”

He looked me up and down in disbelief.

What now?

Instead of a dress, I wore fitted trousers. A sheath hung at my waist. The hooded coat covered my shoulders.

Perfectly practical for travel.

“What’s wrong? We’ll be on the road for days. This makes sense.”

His face shifted strangely.

“…Fine. I’ll overlook the trousers.”

His gaze dropped to my waist.

“But did you seriously strap on a sword because you learned a little self-defense?”

Ah.

That.

“Yes. You never know what might happen. I’ll protect myself. Didn’t you say I shouldn’t trust you completely?”

“So you plan to swing a blade around?”

Damian sighed.

“Do you even understand how dangerous a weapon is in untrained hands—”

“I know.”

I cut him off.

“And I never said it was a sword.”

“…What?”

I pulled the “handle” from the sheath.

Instead of steel—

A simple tree branch slid free. Its tip dusted with pale pollen.

“…What is this?”

For once, Damian looked genuinely speechless.

Not irritated.

Just stunned.

“It’s early spring. There were plenty of birch blossoms behind the estate.”

“And?”

“I thought it might come in handy. Carrying a branch around is inconvenient. This is easier.”

“……”

He stared at me for a long moment.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“If your mind and body are truly this fragile, perhaps we should cancel the trip and let you rest.”

Ah.

So that was his polite way of asking if I’d lost my mind.

Normally, I would’ve exploded.

But right now—

It was amusing.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

I smiled.

“More importantly, shouldn’t we leave? It’s 5:03.”

I slid the branch back into its sheath and gestured pointedly at the time.

“You said you wouldn’t wait even a minute. If we linger, what was the point of leaving early?”

He looked as if he had more to say.

Instead, he exhaled sharply.

“…Did lightning strike you recently?”

I heard that.

Before I could retort, he lifted me effortlessly and set me onto the horse.

At this point, he treated me like luggage.

Unfortunately, with legs this short, I couldn’t argue effectively.

“I didn’t prepare a carriage on purpose,” he said. “Riding hard is faster.”

“That’s fine. I prefer it.”

If we were attacked, a carriage would be harder to escape.

Damian mounted behind me—then hesitated.

“…Should I have prepared a carriage after all?”

He sounded almost uneasy.

Clearly, he doubted a princess could handle the western route on horseback.

“It’s fine. You said we need to return quickly, didn’t you?”

I gripped the saddle tightly and tightened my core.

Ten days ago, I wouldn’t have been able to sit this steadily.

Training results.

I gave a small shrug to prove it.

Damian shook his head like a man already exhausted.

“…Let’s go.”

The gates of the estate opened.

We rode out into the pre-dawn road.

The world was still wrapped in darkness.

The air was sharp with cold.

And somewhere beyond that horizon—

Danger waited.