Chapter 423: The Emperor’s Daughter 423
423 The Emperor’s Daughter
When I heard the term floating s.h.i.+p, I thought it seemed vaguely similar to an airplane. Well, I thought that if it could fly, it would be something looking alike, but I was clearly losing my sense of imagination.
However, the floating vessel I saw from up close was in the shape of a real s.h.i.+p. It was s.p.a.cious with a real s.h.i.+p’s structure and even had rooms for people to stay. However, I had to say, though, man, the facilities were good; now I knew why this was so popular.
I just wondered why they didn’t use it for military or commercial purposes, but I realized why once I rode it.
Unlike airplanes, the floating s.h.i.+ps soared and did not descend to the ground. Thus, we couldn’t go wherever we wanted; even if we did reach the place we wished to go to, the s.h.i.+p wouldn’t unload people or things.
It was also too high up in the sky, so it couldn’t hold heavy cargo.
Even if it could, it couldn’t hold much. It was made solely to carry people and their luxury items.
The speed wasn’t too slow when compared to an airplane. It took only three days to travel from Ancief to Schertogenbosch, which was supposed to take three years by land and three months by boat.
I realized how good it felt to win in such a civilization.
Having inventions was a good thing.
“Ah, fun.”
Sometimes the wind was strong, and the boat would move along with it, making me feel sluggish due to motion sickness, but the three days I spent on the s.h.i.+p was fun. It felt like I was on a cruise s.h.i.+p. It was also fun to look down from the deck.
Uhm, should I travel using the floating s.h.i.+p when I returned?
“This is fun to ride.”
“Right, Valer? It’s great.”
Unlike me and Valer, who were excited, Havel, who’s standing beside me, seemed tired. Meanwhile, my dear a.s.sisi stood beside me despite his motion sickness and pale expression. It didn’t seem like he was that kind of man, but it was true that riding s.h.i.+ps like this was enough to make his stomach churn
The dignity of a black knight.
“Shall I go over and find a place now?”
Valer asked while stretching.
Since we just descended from the floating s.h.i.+p, it was hard for me to believe that I had really arrived at the Northern Empire called Schertogenbosch.
Looking up to the sky, I saw a translucent s.h.i.+mmer right under the blue sky.
It was G.o.d’s Wall, protecting the place. It was the very guardian that made Schertogenbosch the greatest empire in the north.
I had always heard about it, but this was my first time witnessing it. Would it be okay if I admit how protected I felt on these walls?
“Where is this?”
“Lorlang, the satellite city, one of the busiest cities in the north. After a day’s wagon ride, we’ll reach the capital, Illumenain.”
At Havel’s question, Valer answered right away.
I looked at both of them.
Unlike a.s.sisi, who continued to be hostile, Valer didn’t hate nor like Havel. Still, it was nice seeing them behave.
Well, he might be a little stupid, but he was Ferdel’s son. Perhaps knowledge ran in their veins.
“The capital, huh. let’s just look around for a day and go to another city.”
Of course, the capital was the best place to visit, but it felt a bit scary to be roaming around close to the Imperial Palace. I was careful when it came to meeting people, and I didn’t see others often. It was more of a problem for Valer since people knew him because of his yearly visits.
At my words, Valer scratched his head.
“Okay. Ah, will you go to the Holy Land?”
“I’m already here, right? Of course I’ll go!”
It was like going to France; no one should ever miss the Eiffel Tower!
Valer smiled at my answer. It was like seeing a cute younger brother; I felt b.u.t.terflies in my stomach.
This guy! I was his sister!
“Then, while you’re traveling around the city with my uncle, His Majesty and I will look for accommodations and other things.”
“What is that…”
Havel tried to refute Valer’s one-sided declaration, but in the meantime, I walked away and left Havel with Valer.
“Right, great thinking. Come back safe!”
Without Valer, a.s.sisi and Havel would have been tough to deal with. He saved me. That’s good thinking, Valer!
Valer smiled at me and pulled Havel away. The king was clearly dissatisfied, but he didn’t refuse Valer. Havel’s bodyguards, too, went along with him, and in an instant, a.s.sisi and I were left on our own.
Uh? Uhm, this seemed very much like a date?
“a.s.sisi, can we take a look over there?”
The other side looked like a market, but I treaded carefully since I didn’t know the city well.
Looking back at a.s.sisi, I realized how hard he was staring at me with a stern gaze.
His gaze was too severe for me to bear.
“Miss Ria.”
“Huh?”
“Your Majesty must be worried.”
He spoke the truth; I sighed. I took a deep breath and turned back—a.s.sisi’s eyes met mine.
“a.s.sisi.”
a.s.sisi’s expression softened. He looked down and asked.
“Aren’t you worried about him, Miss Ria?”
“Hmm…”
It would be a lie if I said that I wasn’t worried.
To be precise, I was more worried about the people around my dad, the ones he would punish.
Above all, Serira and my maids would undoubtedly have to take responsibility for what happened.
Even if they would have time to prepare, I couldn’t help but be worried about how violent Caitel could be. Of course, I was concerned about him.
“I am worried, but I don’t want to go back.”
Yes, I was worried, but I didn’t want to go back.
“Even when you are done playing around like this?”
It was what I honestly felt.
Thinking about what my dad would do was making me feel stuffy. I was cherished, and he pampered me, but then, I escaped from the palace and wandered around other countries.
“Your Majesty won’t sit still.”
Was a.s.sisi on my side or dad’s?
I knew it was childish to ask that, but I couldn’t help it; he was guilt-tripping me into going back. Besides, the water had already been spilled.
I sighed.
“That is right. Still, there are things called “face and prestige” in the Empire, and I already spoke about running away from home. Would he seriously look for me without alerting anyone and give up?”
“He won’t give up.”
a.s.sisi responded.
I spoke as much as I could, but I immediately realized how wrong I was wrong when I said it out loud; the probability of him not searching me was nil. I knew my dad too well to have such an unrealistic thought.
“Okay. Well, I think so too. If my dad would ever give up, I doubt that would happen until the world ends, but you know, I am in the North, dad might not be able to find me so easily.”
Even with my answer, a.s.sisi just looked at me. I smiled as brightly as I could while still pouting.
“Don’t worry. I’m just going to play a little bit and go back. Treat this sorta like a vacation. Okay?”
In the end, a.s.sisi changed his mind.
It didn’t seem like he was trying to persuade me. However, if he tried, I might be hurrying back home already. Suddenly, I felt curious about something.
“How come it didn’t take much persuasion to get you onboard, a.s.sisi?”
I was already curious about this before our escape, but I didn’t really ask him because I didn’t want to seem brutish. As if he knew what was bothering me, he turned back and gave me the answer.
“I heard something from Ferdel.”
Huh? Ferdel?
That’s a name I hadn’t thought of in a while; I was curious why he brought him into the conversation. Thus, I nodded for him to continue.
“He said that people who have clear self-control and curiosity shouldn’t be locked up; people like Princess should be released to seek the world while the others help them.”
I had never heard of this before. I was honestly surprised.
For Fardel to think of me that way…
“I think so too. After all, you always do your very best.”
That wasn’t true. Sometimes, I laze around. I felt nice to hear such a good evaluation about me. Of course, it was nice to receive praises, but since I always received them, such imperial compliments didn’t mean much to me anymore. I did what I wanted to do. Hmm.
“His Majesty will also know in time.”
a.s.sisi looked down.
“He just might have some trouble accepting it.”
I really wanted for my dad’s heart to be touched. Of course, a.s.sisi’s words weren’t out of line, but…
Would it be okay for me to say that I understood my dad’s logic for locking me up? Even then, I didn’t intend to live in his arms.
“He needs to accept the fact that his daughter has grown up and that he has to let her go, but he just hates that idea.”
I smiled. ‘Fool. Let whom go?’
I sighed for nothing. None of us were wrong; it’s just difficult for the two of us to get along.
We smiled, thinking that the heavy part of the conversation was done.
I smiled.
“Then, what about you, a.s.sisi?”
a.s.sisi raised his eyebrows.
Again, our eyes met.
“Isn’t a.s.sisi upset?”
“I am…”
a.s.sisi looked down. His speech blurred. It seemed like answering it was difficult for him.
What could it be? The answer?
I was staring attentively to hear his answer, but a.s.sisi moved ahead.
Huh?
“From here, I can guide you. This is a place I have been to before.”
“Uh-huh?”
I was confused when I realized how he was trying to avoid answering me. No, a.s.sisi, he shouldn’t leave me hanging like that! He should be more considerate of me; that was my first time there!
“a.s.sisi!”
Fl.u.s.tered after seeing a.s.sisi walk ahead, I ran until I b.u.mped into the person beside him.
Ugh.
Luckily, I only b.u.mped my shoulder at them, but the breeze made me feel dizzy as it hit my face.
Ah, my head.
Thanks to that, the robe I was wearing peeled off. I hurriedly fixed it and bowed my head.
“I am sorry.”
Since my hair color brought others’ attention, I tried to keep myself as hidden as possible. When I recovered my balance and covered myself up again, I looked up.
“…!”
“…!”
Oh, holy s.h.i.+t!
I stiffened. The other person was just as shocked and confused.
Although half of his face was covered in white cloth, I couldn’t check-in details, but I was sure I had seen those exposed eyes before.
It couldn’t be, right?
I knew it was impossible, but I still found it difficult to shake off my suspicion. A name was coming through my mind, but I didn’t want to believe it.
I met someone I was familiar with in the enormous northern empire?
What kind of person did I end up meeting?
No, it couldn’t be. No matter how wide Schertogenbosch was, how likely would it be to meet him?
“Miss Ariadna?”
However, at the next moment, I realized who it was.
“… uhhh?”
G.o.d had abandoned me once again. I was ruined!