Chapter 55

The carriage traveled through the night, leaving the capital behind, passing through the western Jemia territory, and finally arriving in a southwestern city of the Tulia Empire. From the river here, one could take a boat directly to a checkpoint near the border of the Kingdom of Astra. Since no railway yet connected the western empire to Astra, traveling by boat was faster and more comfortable than continuing by carriage.

Asla glanced sideways at the guard who had ridden with her in the carriage for protection. The Kingdom of Astra did not believe in any god—making it a place beyond the reach of divine authority. Not even the Pope could easily interfere in such a land. That was precisely why Asla had chosen it as her place of refuge. Deciding she was now safe, she gave the guard an order.

“You may return now. Go report to Vice President Robert that I’ve arrived safely.”

“I’ll escort you all the way to the Kingdom of Astra.”

“I feel like I’m being watched. I’m sure someone already arranged to meet me the moment I disembarked.”

“That is correct.”

“Then go. Thank you.”

Asla issued the dismissal firmly. As the Duchess, her command was absolute, and the guard could no longer protest. He gave her detailed descriptions of the person who would be waiting for her at the port, then entrusted the captain and crew with her safety before putting her aboard the boat.

As the vessel glided over the river, Asla laughed quietly in the breeze.

‘This is no time to be smiling.’

She watched the white birds fly above the blue water and let the fishy-smelling wind brush her cheeks. Free birds. How envious she was of them.

It was her first taste of freedom.

Though it wasn’t entirely accurate to call it freedom, not with so many unresolved issues still tangled behind her, she took a deep breath to calm the anxious beating in her chest.

“It’s going to be alright.”

Asla no longer prayed to the divine. Now, she chose to place her faith in herself and in those who stood beside her.

That they would all succeed—and endure.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

When Enoch opened his eyes, he blankly stared at the rays of sunlight streaming in like slanted threads.

The scent of roses filled the room.

His head felt heavy, and a burning, scraping sensation churned in his gut, but he used all his strength to sit up.

“What time is it?”

“You’re awake! It’s 1 p.m., sir.”

“Sleeping over twelve hours? How impressive.”

Enoch scoffed at himself, disgusted.

Talet rushed over to help him up, but Enoch irritably brushed the assistant’s hand away. Talet, used to this treatment, stepped back and called for Dr. Gabriel, who had been waiting on standby after treating Enoch.

“What’s the point of calling him?”

“Sir, it wasn’t twelve hours… You’ve been unconscious for over twenty-four.”

At that, Enoch’s frown sharply deepened.

That meant it wasn’t just the next day—it had been two days.

Dr. Gabriel approached the bed and examined Enoch with a stern tone.

“Your Grace.”

“……”

Enoch didn’t answer. He simply glared at Talet, who had done nothing wrong.

Gabriel let out a loud sigh and offered genuine prescriptions and advice: not to overexert himself, to rest more, to manage his stress, to take his medication.

But Enoch, sitting there like a soul that had vacated his body, responded with empty nods and quiet acknowledgments.

Once the worried doctor was finally sent off, Enoch rubbed his throbbing temple and asked sharply, “Asla.”

“Madam has safely boarded a boat heading to the Astra border checkpoint. She insisted the guard return, but Vice President Robert has already placed someone to meet her when she disembarks. Please don’t worry too much.”

Enoch let out a short sigh.

He understood why Asla had dismissed the guard.

“From the moment she decided to stay in Astra, she must’ve resolved not to rely on me anymore.”

“Pardon? But then her living conditions…”

“She was never fond of luxury, even when I tried to offer it. Don’t make her uncomfortable. I don’t want her to hate me more than she already does. Let her do as she wants—but discreetly plant someone to assist her. Someone she won’t notice, someone safe.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Focus on making sure the Pope’s people can’t trace her location.”

“……But if she finds out, she might grow even angrier with you.”

“Then don’t let her find out.”

Enoch answered flatly, then winced.

“I’ll send a telegram to the Crown Princess of Astra as well. She needs a clear guardian. I’ll write it myself.”

He stood. The room spun for a moment, but he quickly regained balance.

“Are you alright, sir?”

“……Do I look alright?”

“No.”

Talet, startled by Enoch’s expression, quickly looked away.

Enoch glanced at the art supplies Asla had left behind in the room.

“Move all those things to the house.”

“Understood. Then… are you going to Astra now?”

Though Talet had asked the question himself, Enoch’s vacant, dazed look made him back away slightly. He had never seen his master like this before.

Enoch, laughing like a broken man, shook his head.

“No. I can’t. I’m nothing more than the person she discarded right now.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I want to be alone. Maybe if enough time passes, her hatred toward me will fade a little.”

Talet didn’t really understand what Enoch meant, but for the first time, he felt sorry for him.

To think there would come a day when even Enoch Ventus would seem pitiable.

Watching his master blankly stare at the things Asla had left behind, Talet clapped his hands together softly.

‘So he’s finally realized his feelings.’

Talet was glad, but also regretful.

What was the point? Asla had clearly misunderstood and gone off to Astra anyway.

‘I shouldn’t have gotten swept up with the President’s rage.’

It had been Talet who acted violently, following Enoch’s orders when he himself had lost control after seeing those vicious scandals. Now he deeply regretted it.

Feeling guilty, he glanced at Enoch.

Just then, Enoch jerked his chin.

“What are you doing? Move.”

“Me?”

“Asla’s left. I’m going to take my time finding the perfect excuse to crush them completely. We’re busy—come on.”

“Are we going to beat them up again?”

Enoch, already putting on his jacket and marching out the door, paused at Talet’s question.

“……If I do, Asla might leave me forever. I’ll let them sink slowly.”

Talet exhaled in relief.

Finally, his master was thinking rationally.

And yet, oddly, that made him anxious.

He swore he would find a way to bring the lady back.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

“Oh my.”

The ferry was far more pleasant and comfortable than she’d expected.

Since the Astra border checkpoint was the ferry’s final stop, Asla used the opportunity to finally get some proper sleep.

She’d braced herself for severe seasickness, but to her surprise, it never came. Instead, two days of sound sleep made her feel much better.

Even the unique river scent became familiar.

“So this is it.”

Amid the crowded deck, Asla scanned her surroundings discreetly.

Her first priority was to ensure that no priests from the Pope’s side had followed her.

Though her divine power was faint, it was still enough to detect if any holy presence was nearby.

After repeatedly and carefully checking, she confirmed there were none.

‘So it’s true—the Kingdom of Astra doesn’t believe in any god.’

She blinked in astonishment.

Born with divine power flowing through her, Asla found the absence of it in this land both unfamiliar and oddly liberating.

It was empty, yet freeing. Foreign, but refreshing.

Savoring the atmosphere, she looked around.

The border checkpoint wasn’t large, but it was elegant and beautiful.

In this western peninsula where Astra sat, autumn seemed to arrive earlier than in Tulia. Cosmos flowers were in full bloom, and dragonflies hovered lazily over them.

As golden sunlight fell gently on the chilly afternoon border, she scanned the area.

She worried someone sent by Robert might find her and try to follow.

‘I need to stay hidden. If I’m discovered, I’ll send them away.’

Asla desperately wanted to be alone.

After delivering such cruel parting words to Enoch, she couldn’t bear the thought of relying on him.

She pulled her hat low and slipped into the crowd.

Tense with fear, she still managed to slip away unnoticed.

She passed through the checkpoint by showing a forged ID Robert had prepared for her.

‘So this is Astra.’

She had longed for this country ever since she’d heard about it from the art shop owner.

After reading countless books about its geography, culture, and customs, Astra had become a land of fascination.

And now, standing within it, her heart beat like she was on a grand journey.

‘Snap out of it. This isn’t a trip. It’s an escape.’

She hated how excited she felt, despite the disaster she’d left behind in Tulia.

But now that she had come all this way, she resolved to forget her guilt.

She had to fill the void in her heart with something—anything.

Because she needed a place to walk on her own, with her own will.

Asla had already chosen a quiet rural village near Astra’s capital to stay.

Ruhanel Village.

She arrived by carriage in the tranquil countryside and visited a real estate agent.

“A house?”

A middle-aged woman gave Asla a sharp once-over, clearly suspicious of a young woman looking to rent.