Episode 49

Episode 49: Please Close Your Eyes for a Moment

Dawn had quietly crept in.

The cozy blaze of the campfire was dwindling to embers.

“Yaaawn.”

I stretched my arms long and wide.

Ah, I slept well.

Wait—slept?

I jolted upright in alarm.

When did I fall asleep?

I was sure we had agreed to stay up all night. Right—we were all sitting around the fire, promising that whoever dozed off first would lose.

Yet here I was, lying comfortably beneath a blanket, clearly having drifted off at some point.

“You’re awake?”

That familiar, pleasant baritone rang out.

Cedric, who had been standing near the cave entrance, turned and smiled at me.

How long had he been watching?

Had he seen me yawning and stretching like that?

An odd flush of embarrassment crept up my neck. I cleared my throat and asked:

“What about the rain?”

“It stopped not long ago.”

I glanced around.

One person was missing.

“Sir Leonard isn’t here?”

“He stepped out to check the path ahead,” Cedric replied. “With this much rain overnight, he said he wanted to make sure the road hadn’t been washed out.”

That made sense. In mountains like these, heavy rainfall could easily trigger landslides or cut off trails.

“Your Majesty. You’re awake.”

Speak of the devil—Leonard appeared at the cave entrance just then.

“You went to check the road? I guess it rained a lot overnight?”

“Quite a bit. But it let up near dawn, so we should be fine moving forward.”

“That’s a relief. Still, I feel a bit guilty—I’m the one who insisted we stay up all night, and I’m also the only one who slept comfortably.”

I offered an awkward smile.

Judging by their awareness of when the rain had stopped, neither of them had gotten any proper rest.

A wave of guilt washed over me.

“It’s fine,” Leonard said with calm composure. “This is probably your first long-distance journey. Better to rest well than to wear yourself out.”

“Aren’t you both tired, though?” I asked, glancing between the two of them.

They responded at the same time.

“Not at all.”

“I’m perfectly fine.”

Then, as if on cue, their eyes met.

There was… something about that look that didn’t feel particularly friendly.

“…?”

Was it just me, or was the atmosphere a little strange?

“Truly, not even the slightest bit tired.”

“Exactly. So please don’t push yourself from here on, Your Majesty.”

They emphasized their words with steely eyes and strained smiles. Something told me their resolve was not born of well-rested minds.

We set off on horseback once more.

The weather was brilliantly clear.

It was as if the torrential downpour the day before had never happened.

“How much farther is it to the Kingdom of Calus?”

“If we travel at a steady pace from the Imperial capital, it’s roughly a week’s ride. But if the weather turns foul like yesterday, it may take several days longer.”

Cedric answered calmly.

In other words, this journey was just beginning.

My shoulders slumped at the thought of that stormy fiasco we’d just endured.

“I checked the skies early this morning. Fortunately, we shouldn’t expect any sudden showers like yesterday.”

His reassurance helped my spirits lift a little.

Leonard added with his usual even tone:

“There’s a well-known inn at the foot of the mountain. We should reach it before evening.”

My previously drooping shoulders straightened at once.

Just picturing a soft, clean bed was enough to restore my energy.

“Let’s hurry, then.”

I gave my reins a small flick, eager to move faster, but Cedric raised a hand after glancing around.

“Wait a moment.”

He quickly brought the carriage to a stop and darted into the thick undergrowth at the roadside.

Moments later, he reemerged, holding a single delicate flower.

It was strikingly lovely, its small bell-shaped blossoms hanging in clusters.

“That’s such a beautiful flower.”

“It’s a lily-of-the-valley that grows only in this region. Locals call it the Bell of Hope.”

Bell of Hope.

The name suited its graceful form perfectly; it resonated with me right away.

“You really do know everything about flowers, Cedric.”

He shook his head modestly.

“There are still plenty I don’t know. For example, there’s a rare bloom found only in Dobel, a region of the Kingdom of Calus. I’ve yet to see it myself.”

“A flower even you haven’t studied? Now I’m curious. I’d love to see it someday if I can.”

“I hope for that as well,” he said with a warm, earnest nod.

“Beyond those valleys and mountains lies the Kingdom of Calus.”

It was our fourth day since leaving the Imperial Palace.

We’d made better time than expected, reaching the outskirts of Calus ahead of schedule.

Ever since that first night’s downpour, the journey had gone surprisingly smoothly.

Though long, it wasn’t as grueling as I’d feared—thanks to Leonard and Cedric’s constant, thoughtful care.

Without them, this trek would have been several times harder.

“So this is finally the Kingdom of Calus,” I murmured.

Crossing the Empire’s border made my heart flutter with excitement.

“Let’s hurry along.”

I clicked my tongue to get my horse moving—only for Leonard to abruptly tug my reins.

“Please, wait a moment.”

“What is it?”

His expression was grave.

“Is something wrong?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he pressed a finger to his lips, then gestured silently toward the thick brush ahead.

Moments later, a group of about a dozen people emerged from the direction he’d indicated.

Bandits?

Given past encounters, I felt anything but comfortable seeing strangers in the wilderness.

But fortunately, they weren’t thieves.

They were mounted traders, with heavily loaded wagons guarded by armored men.

“A merchant caravan, it seems,” Leonard noted.

I’d read about them in books—the Empire had active trade with neighboring nations.

Except with one in particular: the northern Kingdom of Calus.

Trade routes there were treacherous and remote, and the famously fierce northern temperament didn’t help matters.

Still, commerce hadn’t stopped entirely; the occasional caravan braved the passage.

These travelers must be one of those rare cross-border companies, returning with Calus’s regional goods.

“Are you travelers from the Empire?”

A middle-aged man, likely their leader, addressed us.

Leonard stepped forward to answer.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet countrymen in a place like this.”

“You’re returning from Calus?”

“Bought a load of wool, heading back home.”

“Winter’s still far off. You’re early.”

“Ha! That’s when you get the best deals.”

“Sounds like hard work.”

“There was quite a downpour a few days ago, wasn’t there? Did it hit your side of the border as well?”

“Just a brief shower. Sadly, it won’t help our drought much.”

“Ah… Over here it rained heavily. Streams near the border are swollen, so watch yourselves.”

“Thank you for the warning.”

“Think nothing of it,” he laughed, waving his men to move on.

Their wagons creaked forward.

What a kind man.

His unexpected courtesy brightened my mood in spite of the long journey.

But apparently, I was the only one reassured.

“Something’s off,” Leonard murmured once the caravan passed. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“What do you mean?”

“You saw the path yourself. There’s no proper road to Calus. It’s narrow, rocky, and steep.”

He continued coolly.

“Normally, you’d use pack animals like mules or horses. It’s far easier than a cart or wagon.”

“True… though we brought a carriage, didn’t we?”

“That’s only because Lord Cedric is an exceptional mage.”

I nodded.

Cedric’s magic had saved us more than once on this road, keeping the carriage from getting stuck or damaged.

“His coach is custom-built to handle this terrain, but…,” Leonard said, gesturing with his chin toward the departing wagons, “those wheels would shatter just crossing a couple of hills.”

Cedric added calmly:

“And besides… this isn’t even the season to buy wool.”

“But didn’t the merchant say buying it early makes it cheaper?”

I frowned, recalling the conversation.

Cedric smiled faintly.

“Do you know when wool is actually cheapest?”

“When no one needs it?”

He shook his head.

“It’s cheapest right at shearing time.”

He explained that sheep were shorn only once a year, just before winter, when the fleece was fullest and best.

“So right now, it would be more expensive—not cheaper.”

My eyes widened.

“Then that merchant caravan was…?”

Leonard picked up the thread grimly.

“Either naive traders who got swindled badly… or fakes pretending to be merchants.”

Pretending?

“Since they passed, I haven’t heard their wagon wheels at all,” Leonard said.

Sure enough, the road had fallen silent behind us.

“They’ve stopped. Not a good sign. We should get out of here at once.”

But we didn’t get the chance.

As we urged our horses forward, the ambush was sprung.

Armed figures leapt from the underbrush on either side of the trail.

Bandanas on their heads, heavy leather armor—they were the “merchants” from before, minus their friendly smiles.

Those grins had twisted into menacing, predatory sneers as their weapons caught the light.

Leonard and Cedric were right.

If they hadn’t realized the ruse, we’d be helpless now.

“Ride! Quickly!”

Leonard’s voice rang out sharply.

My hands tightened on the reins.

Whoooosh!

The wind roared in my ears as my horse surged forward.

Behind me, metal clashed violently.

Clang! Clang!

Leonard’s sword carved a shining arc through the attackers.

Last time with bandits, I’d only seen his broad back.

This time, I saw him truly fight.

He was unyielding, almost fearsome—yet there was an elegance in the way his blade flowed.

Each precise movement seemed to cut the very air, sending sprays of blood into the wind.

Cedric’s voice sounded beside me, breathless but steady.

“They don’t even scream as they die… trained killers, most likely.”

“Assassins?!”

Professional murderers.

Why would assassins…?

I didn’t have time to finish the thought.

“Your Majesty—watch out!”

Cedric’s shout snapped me forward.

Two assassins broke from cover, charging straight at me.

My breath seized.

Cedric sent a gale-force spell whipping one of them away, but the other vaulted onto my horse, blade aimed for my chest.

I froze.

His eyes were cold, murderous.

Then—

“How rude.”

A low, unruffled voice cut through the chaos.

Something warm closed over my eyes.

I knew instantly who it was.

Leonard.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. Please close your eyes for just a moment.”

His gentle voice trembled with deadly promise.

Shlak!

A wet, sickening noise.

“It’s not exactly a sight you’d want to see.”