Chapter 45

“I’m the only one who can properly verify whether this is truly the lily of the valley that blooms under the full moon.”

 

That was true. I nodded. Pat was good at finding poisonous plants, but he couldn’t always identify which ones they were. This scent would be new to him.

 

“And Young Lord Evan…?”

 

Pat must have been worried about Evan too; concern slipped into his voice.

 

“I told Evan I’d be leaving for a while on merchant business in the provinces. I think I need to see this myself. It’s the only lead we’ve found. I need to confirm it.”

 

“Y–you didn’t say you were going somewhere with me, right?”

 

“I just said I’d be away for work. We’re leaving tomorrow, so get ready.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Pat moved quickly, almost too eagerly. He packed a huge backpack—like a dog thrilled for a walk, begging to leave immediately.

 

I took the fully packed Pat and left the capital at once.

 

Inside the rattling carriage, I looked toward the direction of Duke Weiss’s territory.

 

‘I’ll be able to come back soon… right?’

 

 

***

 

 

The cries of seagulls and the salty smell of the sea tickled my nose.

 

The deep horn of a departing ship echoed. Waves crashed against the breakwater. We had arrived at Lyran, the port city.

 

Being at the far edge of the continent, it took a long time to reach it. I rolled my stiff shoulders and took in the open air.

 

“Young Lady, please step down.”

 

With the knight escorting me, I held down my hat shielding me from the harsh sunlight. Strong winds greeted us.

 

“The seaside really is windy.”

 

The moment I stepped off the carriage, I saw countless people and ships. Passenger ships were lined up at the docks waiting to depart. But we weren’t taking a large cruise vessel—we needed a small trading ship to freely move across the waters.

 

“Y–Young Lady! Isn’t this a port? Are we going overseas?!”

 

“Yes. Did I not mention that?”

 

Since the empress was watching my movements closely, I had kept the trip to find the full-moon lily of the valley—the crucial ingredient for the antidote to Alosi poison—completely secret. Only Ben, Pat, my parents, and I knew.

 

Fran, realizing he’d been tricked, shouted.

 

“This is my first time hearing it!”

 

He flailed dramatically. I stared at him, baffled.

 

“Are you afraid of water or something?”

 

“N–no, that’s not it…”

 

“Then what’s the issue?”

 

I patted his shoulder to calm him. He muttered that he was doomed, but I ignored him.

 

“Are we leaving right away?”

 

Pat tugged at my sleeve, pointing at a docked ship with barely contained excitement.

 

“Hold on. We need someone to protect us, don’t we? Ben and someone else are coming.”

 

“Ben? Where?”

 

The lily of the valley case was originally Pat and Ben’s responsibility.

 

Pat perked up at Ben’s name and looked around. Ben had arrived ahead of us; while I had been busy persuading my family, he had hired a mercenary group.

 

“He said he’d wait at the adventurers’ guild.”

 

I scanned the area. Everyone looked too busy to ask for directions. Then I spotted a child—not lost, not wandering—meaning only one thing: a runner for hire.

 

I approached.

 

“Hey, kid. I heard there’s an adventurers’ guild nearby. Can you guide us? There’ll be payment.”

 

I gestured to Fran. He took out a silver coin.

 

“Follow me!”

 

After seeing the silver, the kid bounced ahead enthusiastically.

 

“Pat, we’re leaving you behind! Hurry!”

 

At the guild entrance, I paid the child.

 

Fran opened the door, and an attendant approached immediately.

 

“Welcome. Are you here to request a commission?”

 

“I’m looking for someone. Ben—he hired people to sail with us.”

 

“Oh, that gentleman—”

 

Before she could finish, Ben spotted me from afar and waved. He had taken a seat in the corner.

 

“Hey, Young Lady! Over here!”

 

Around him were the mercenaries he hired. Ben stood up and pushed me forward.

 

“This is the young lady who commissioned the job. And these are the Kraken Mercenaries—specialists in sea combat.”

 

I smiled brightly and extended my hand. These people would be protecting my life. It was best to be as pleasant as possible.

 

“I look forward to working with you.”

 

“Yes. We heard you requested an escort.”

 

“That’s right. His Highness the Crown Prince is working hard to clear out the pirates, but we still can’t say the seas are perfectly safe.”

 

“Of course. Merchants often hire escorts during voyages. We’ll protect you.”

 

“Right, we’re veterans.”

 

Though I wore a friendly smile, inside I was sharply assessing them.

 

I trusted Ben’s judgment, but verification was necessary. Their weapons and armor bore the scars of many battles. Most importantly, they didn’t look like the sort to stab us in the back. Skill mattered, but character mattered just as much—some mercenaries fled at the first sight of danger.

 

Which is why I prepared a secret fallback. My fingers brushed the paper hidden in my pocket as I introduced everyone.

 

“This is Sir Fran, the knight my parents assigned to protect me. He won’t look down on mercenaries, so don’t worry.”

 

Some knights certainly did. And being alone at sea would be the worst place for conflict.

 

“Isn’t that right?”

 

“Of course! If anyone approaches the Young—”

 

I elbowed him in the ribs to shut him up.

 

‘Father’s orders? Seriously?’

 

“And lastly, this is Pat. He’s… a bit shy, but he’s kind. Very important, too.”

 

Pat hid behind Ben, though it did nothing to conceal him.

 

Ben nudged him forward.

 

“You’re still a scaredy-cat. Hard to believe you handle poison plants.”

 

“My boys are kind! Don’t scare him!”

 

Ben ignored Pat entirely. Pat fumed quietly.

 

“Nice to meet you.”

 

Thankfully, things went smoothly. The captain-like leader extended a hand—only for Fran to intercept it midair.

 

“Forbidden.”

 

“…Your protection is excessive.”

 

“…Please understand.”

 

I wanted to disappear.

 

The leader turned to shake Pat’s hand instead. Pat dodged it awkwardly, scratching his cheek.

 

“We should’ve brought some of our own men.”

 

Ben sighed.

 

“Too many people would be troublesome. This is perfect. Shall we go? I’ve already secured our ship.”

 

My plan was to leave immediately, return quickly, and stay unnoticed.

 

So I purposely rented a small, fast vessel. Limited supplies meant no overcrowding. Who knew how long our search would take?

 

But that choice ended up hurting me.

 

The pleasant breeze and excitement lasted only briefly.

 

Soon my stomach churned.

 

Yes. I had terrible seasickness.

 

“Ugh…”

 

“Young Lady, pull yourself together! Why board a ship when you get sick like this?! Should we turn back?!”

 

“No… ugh…”

 

I retched over the railing.

 

‘No one else knows except me…’

 

Even I didn’t truly know the flower—only the dried bookmark version from the book.

 

Pat patted my back, worried.

 

“Ben’s right. I’m here too.”

 

Staring blankly at the sea, I rubbed my temples.

 

“Air… I just need fresh air…”

 

I’d ridden countless carriages between my home and Evan’s without ever getting motion sick. But here I was, defeated by a boat.

 

Ben finally ran off to fetch medicine. Pat said he had plants that helped with nausea.

 

“That’s why your bag is so huge?! Full of plants?!”

 

“It’s my business!”

 

Their distant bickering reached me as I clung to the railing.

 

“You look fine, unlike when you panicked at the harbor.”

 

“I’m perfectly fine!”

 

Fran didn’t leave my side. He insisted danger could strike at any moment.

 

A sharp wind grazed my cheek. It stung, but felt good—anything to lessen the nausea.

 

Ben returned with medicine and a cup of water. I swallowed it with a gulp.

 

“…I can breathe again.”

 

I slumped.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

A mercenary at the helm called out.

 

None of us knew how to sail, so we had hired the mercenaries to handle it. They were true experts—checking bearings, adjusting sails, reading the waves.

 

It was worth the high price. Plenty of mercenaries could fight; far fewer could sail.