CH 22

I called the coachman and moved to the place I had promised with Ezette. It rained by the time I got off the carriage. Spring rain should be light, but for some reason, this one made me glum.

‘Maybe it’s because I’m nervous about escaping.’

As I went through the spring rain, I saw Ezette waiting for me outside the cafe.

Why is she waiting outside? To look miserable? I stood and waved my hand before Ezette. “You should’ve waited inside. Why are you here? I have a lot to tell you. Shall we go in?”

Ezette just looked at me with a puzzled face and didn’t seem to have any intention of going in. Even as I grabbed her hand to go in, she didn’t budge and just kept standing under the cafe shade.

“What’s wrong?”

I wondered if it was because the cafe was full, but since it was early in the morning, there were plenty of seats.

“You know we don’t have time for this. Go in.”

What’s wrong with this person all of a sudden? Feeling impatient, I tried to urge her, but Ezette did not take a step away from the spot.

I blatantly showed that I was busy and tried to push her inside by force.

“You don’t have to go inside.”

What was she talking about? I had something to give her, but she insisted on not moving.

I had no time for lame puns. I frowned and grabbed her arm again. And as I opened the door—

“All ships have been canceled.”

“… What?”

“The ships won’t be able to sail for another month.”

What is she talking about? My hand that was holding Ezette lost its strength. Before I could understand what she was saying, my body reacted first. It felt like my heart had dropped to the floor in an instant.

It can’t be. Is it because of the rain? But there’s no way the ships can’t sail in this spring rain. The world before my eyes shook, and I grabbed her arm tightly. “Explain so I can understand! What do you mean by the ships can’t sail?!”

“Last night, the sea monster Ketaclos appeared… I will repay the money you lent me.”

Why did the Ketaclos appear? That couldn’t be.

‘Because that’s the arc where the female lead’s brother dies.’

Ezette would grit her teeth, waiting to kill the monster, but it never appeared again after that.

My gaze stopped on “Ezette”.

‘Then who is this person?’

They should’ve already been on board if they were the female lead’s brother. And if they were the female lead, they would’ve gotten angry at the news that the monster had appeared and gone to subdue it instead of stopping me.

The sound of rain was deafening.

‘I don’t care who this person is.’

Whether or not the Ezette in front of me was the real heroine, no matter what changed from the original story, it didn’t matter to me now.

I recklessly came out of the cafe’s awning and ran in the rain. I had to get a rental carriage because I had sent my carriage back.

“Where are you going?!”

Ezette stopped me.  The rain slapped me in the face, and Ezette followed me through the rain without even opening their umbrella. Finally, they held my wrist and interrupted my walk.

I flicked my arm to be freed from their hand, but they grabbed my wrist and wouldn’t let go. It didn’t hurt, but it was annoying.

I clenched my teeth. “To the sea. I want to go to the sea. So let go of me!” I should check with my own eyes if the departure has been canceled.

“It won’t do you any good to go.”

“I will judge that with my own eyes.”

The rain got stronger. Despite my words, Ezette did not let go of my wrist. I prepared to kick them, wondering if they would let go if I kicked their shin.

Ezette unfolded the umbrella they were holding and placed it over me. The umbrella was completely tilted toward me, so they were still in the rain.

“I’ll go with you.”

Ezette’s stubborn eyes were saying that they would follow me.

“Do as you please.” It didn’t matter if we went together or not. It was more important to go out to sea quickly.

Only then did Ezette’s hand drop from my wrist. They dutifully put their umbrella over me and followed me around.

I might have suggested sharing the umbrella if I had been calmer. But now, the thought of caring for them had disappeared into the background, pushed by the thought that I had to go as soon as possible.

So I ran recklessly in the rough rain, making it harder for them to hold the umbrella.

As soon as I arrived at the carriage rental office, I stopped in front of the coachman, breathing unevenly, and spoke hastily, “Two people to the Rowal Wharf. I’ll pay you tenfold, so depart as soon as possible.”

“If you intend to sail, you’d better go back. Didn’t you read the paper this morning?”

The coachman bowed to me, who looked like an aristocrat. I ignored the kind coachman’s offer to save myself the trouble of returning.

“Nevermind that. Just tell me which carriage I can ride.”

The coachman stopped persuading me, who was urging him while I was soaking wet.

“… You can take the one in the front.”

As soon as I got the information I wanted, I ran straight to the carriage. The coachman stopped me as if I was about to get on the carriage.

“Gosh. If you sit down right away, the chair will be damaged. Wipe yourself with this, and sit on it after.”

The coachman who brought out a bath towel from somewhere gave it to the two of us. After roughly wiping off the water, we quickly climbed into the carriage.

***

Rental carriage was not suitable for pulling long haul. It rattled badly and occasionally slowed down as if it had fallen into a puddle.

The inside of the carriage was silent, except for the noise of the carriage. There was no conversation until we went to the wharf. Occasionally, when the carriage shook so much that I lost my balance and almost fell, Ezette grabbed me and asked me if I was okay.

We arrived at the pier. The rain stopped for a while, but seeing the black clouds still remained, it seemed it would rain again soon.

I got off the carriage first and ran to the port as hard as possible.

I saw people busily unloading the ship. Paladins clad in armor were controlling the surroundings.

Seeing this situation in person, I realized that the ship really couldn’t sail. My damned fear had become a reality. My head spun.

“… No.” Unknowingly, I ran to the beach. Ezette caught up to me.

“Ladyship.”

“I have to go. Why can’t you do anything? You’re a paladin!”

“… Ladyship.”

“Let go of me! I’m going to float a raft!”

“It’s dangerous.”

Not even a single tear came out in this embarrassing situation. My body was completely exhausted, and I didn’t even have the strength to cry.

‘How did I last a week?’

When my legs gave way and I stumbled, Ezette supported me.

I gazed blankly over the sea. I had the ship, I had the money, and I only had to go. Then I could stay away forever.

But it was all in vain. I had no idea what to do anymore when things were so futile. I tore my body away from Ezette.

I looked at the sea for a long time and finally accepted reality.

“Let’s go home.”

But where was my home? It was a funny thing to say.

As if the coachman had been waiting for me earlier, he greeted me with a knowing look. Even when he said he would not take more money, I just handed it over.

I got into the carriage and leaned my head against the wall. When the carriage rattled badly as it started, I moved my head.

Little by little, I came to my senses but still didn’t feel motivated to do anything.

The carriage rattled, and my body almost floated in the air. Thanks to Ezette’s hold, I was spared from hitting my head on the ceiling.

They protected me and went back to their seat. I followed them with my eyes, whose signs I couldn’t read.

“… Sir Ronan Phylaxis.’

“Yes.”

I stared at Ezette. Now I wonder what their identity was.

“Can you show me your neck? I have something to check.”

Ezette was not quick to respond to my request to show their neck. But soon, they slightly lifted their collar for me, who now looked like a crazy person, to see.

There was nothing. I could only see a clean neck without a necklace.

I had expected that the necklace might not be there, but when I saw nothing in front of me, my head began to spin again. 

Without realizing it, I grabbed Ezette by the collar to look further. 

But there was nothing.

Ezette looked at me with a look asking if this was enough. The strength slipped from my hands, and I slumped in my seat.

Grasping my last hope, I asked, “… Do you ever carry a necklace in your pocket? Or maybe wrap it around your feet…”

“I don’t carry those things around.”

“How—? L-Let me check.”

Although “Ronan” looked at me with questioning eyes, they obediently complied with my request. They raised their ankle and showed me their empty pockets. There was really nothing.

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“Why is there… nothing?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

My head was dizzy. I felt like I had a fever.

I scanned Ezette here and there with my eyes but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I laughed in vain.

And I asked him one last time.

“Who volunteered? Someone is needed as a sacrifice for the Ketaclos.”

Ezette’s eyes sharpened. “How do you know that?”

“Answer my question. Who volunteered?”

“… Sir Betta Minota volunteered.”

Who is that? Tears welled up in my eyes as I laughed.

I couldn’t ask anymore and shut my mouth. I didn’t understand all of this.

“… Who are you?”

My question must have been strange, but he didn’t waver and gave a decent answer.

“I’m Ronan Phylaxis. My lady, you seem very agitated.”

My tears flowed. As I cried, Ezette— no, Ronan, who had been calm all along, began to break. Opening his eyes wide, he was at a loss.

‘Why not Ezette? Why?’

I questioned myself with questions I couldn’t bear to ask him.

I realized that things were wrong from the start.

I didn’t know why Ronan wasn’t chosen as a sacrifice, but he wasn’t. That meant Ronan wasn’t dead at all.

Ezette didn’t wear the necklace and hadn’t yet entered the story.

And as Ronan was not offered as a sacrifice, Ezette’s need to wear the necklace disappeared.

The story was completely ruined.

“I’ll find another way out to another country. So don’t cry.” Ronan, embarrassed, raised his hand and lowered it again. Then his hand hovered near my face.

When I was told not to cry, I became sadder and cried louder.

“Can’t I even cry as I want?” I knew arguing with him was useless, but I was so annoyed. How could I live in the future? He was not even the female lead.

“… Then you may cry so that I may soothe you,” Ronan said something strange. I couldn’t understand what he meant by soothing me, but I cried louder and louder when I heard it was okay for me to cry.

Ronan carefully wiped the tears from my face with his hand. The touch made me sadder, so I held his hand and cried as he patted me on the shoulder.