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Idris gripped the horse's reins so tightly that the veins in his arms bulged.
As Azef had said, the flames were encircling the women and children.
'…Letizia.'
If he were alone, he could break through the flames with magic.
He wanted to rush in and check on the safety of Letizia and Rudian right away.
But he couldn't because…
"Our knights will have evacuated the women just fine. Think only of His Majesty's safety now."
Deon was here, at this moment.
'Maybe the purpose is to lure me into the burning forest, and then strike my brother in the gap.'
It was beyond absurd and almost comical that the very person who created this situation was offering such advice so brazenly.
'If I take that bastard hostage here and negotiate, wouldn't it stop their plan?'
Of course, if I threatened Deon without evidence, the pro-Deon nobles would protest, and I wouldn't be able to avoid infamy either...
But none of that mattered.
As long as Letizia was safe.
Just as Idris impulsively approached Deon,
"Idris."
Azef's voice stopped him.
"You can break through these flames, can't you?"
It was an tone that indicated that he knew Idris would enter the forest.
"Go."
Idris furrowed his brow.
Deon was watching this situation right next to him.
Azef, who had watched him all his life, couldn't possibly not know what he was thinking and what plan he was concocting.
"However, Your Majesty—"
"You have protected me for a very long time."
Azef's brow furrowed slightly as he said that.
As if just mentioning Idris's affairs was painful.
"You don't have to do that anymore."
"..."
"I have a duty to protect countless subjects and vassals, and you are also my subject and vassal."
"..."
"Now I will protect you."
Idris's eyes shook violently as he looked at Azef.
Azef added, as if to calm Idris's mind, torn between the responsibilities and emotions he had carried all his life.
"Go. It is the imperial order."
That word pushed Idris's back.
Idris glanced at Azef for a moment, then bowed his head briefly.
Then he immediately pulled the reins and jumped into the flames.
At that time, in the forest.
"Where did this rat-like bitch go... Where is she?"
The pursuers cursed as they searched for Letizia and Rudian.
'I thought they wouldn't notice because I even wore the Knights' uniform, but how did they find out?'
I deliberately dressed in the Knights' uniform so as not to arouse suspicion, and I also acted as a knight to Letizia when she asked about the situation.
I thought that they would naturally believe us and wait quietly in the carriage because they would not remember every single one of the knights' faces...
When they got to the carriage after dealing with the knights, the prince and the woman had already escaped.
'But it's only a matter of time.'
The prince was still young and unable to run through the forest path on his own, so the woman would have to carry or hold him.
Running through an already rough forest with even a burden was not easy even for an adult man.
"Now, where could our Crown Prince be hiding?"
The pursuers cut down the branches blocking their way with their swords and moved forward.
It was then that only the sharp sound of metal rang out in the quiet forest.
"There she is!"
The bushes shook over there, and Letizia, who had been holding her breath, appeared.
The men rushed towards Letizia as if catching prey.
The woman, even with a five-year-old child in her arms, used the terrain and objects to escape quite well.
But still, it was a game of tag with a predetermined outcome.
"Got her!"
One of the pursuers grabbed Letizia's tied-up hair.
"Ugh!"
Letizia fell helplessly in the wind.
Even in the midst of it, she was holding the blanket in her arms preciously.
The pursuers, who had finally succeeded in catching their prey, caught their breath and gathered in front of Letizia.
"Ha... You run around like a rat for a bitch."
The leader, approaching Letizia with an annoyed smile, pulled the blanket she was holding.
However, Letizia just glared at him with murderous eyes and did not let go of the blanket.
Her trembling hands desperately clutched the blanket.
"Do you think you'll be safe after doing this?"
The man sneered.
"We don't know anything. Today's incident will be a case where a wild animal, startled by a forest fire, ran wild and tore the Crown Prince and Lady Chloe to death."
All the knights who were escorting the Crown Prince's carriage were dead and thrown to the beasts.
Letizia and Rudian would soon be the same, so there would be no witnesses left to remember them.
Of course, a forest fire in the summer forest would be suspicious as it was not a natural occurrence, but that was none of their business.
It was the responsibility of the magicians, so there would be no problem for them.
"Well, it won't be as you wish."
There was a coldness in Letizia's eyes as she retorted without giving in, but the man ignored it.
'What can't you do before you die?'
He gestured to the subordinate standing next to Letizia.
The subordinate snatched the blanket Letizia was holding roughly.
But...
"What the... What is this?!"
In the blanket that Letizia was holding so preciously, there were not Rudian, but a bunch of inflated branches.
Letizia gave a knowing smile as she looked at the men who were uttering swear words.
30 minutes ago.
"Huff... Huff..."
I gasped for breath and headed inside through the forest path.
A little while ago, I succeeded in escaping from the carriage in the confusion.
Unfortunately, it seemed the attackers had won, and they noticed that we had disappeared and immediately pursued us.
At first, we quickly hid and got rid of them, but they soon noticed and narrowed the encirclement.
Young Rudian had a small stride, so I had to carry him on my back, so it was a game of tag with an obvious result.
'At this rate... I'll be caught soon.'
If I get caught, I will kill Rudian and myself.
The acrid smell of burning, the sound of approaching people all around, the increasingly labored breath...
Desperately searching for a way in a chaotic situation, I discovered a small dugout under a tree and came up with a way.
I put Rudian down there.
Rudia, who had been quietly hugging me without crying because she was afraid of being a hindrance to the escape, looked up with frightened eyes.
I tried to make a soft smile.
"Letizia...?"
"Your Highness. From now on, I'm going alone."
I explained the plan to Rudian, took off the blanket that was covering the child, and filled it with branches.
So that it would look like I was holding a child when viewed from a distance.
"I'm going to lure them away and get rid of them, so you have to hide here quietly in the meantime."
...In fact, I think I can lure them, but I don't know if I can even get rid of them.
No, to be honest, the probability of being caught is higher.
'But at this rate, we'll both die.'
I had no choice but to bet on the side that had a slightly higher chance of saving both of us.
"Hide quietly, and when Idris or His Majesty the Emperor comes, you have to ask for help then. You must not trust other people. Never."
Fortunately, Rudian seemed to understand my words right away and nodded, but tears filled her big eyes.
"Sorry, Letizia..."
"..."
"I'm sorry I can't help..."
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