Chapter 87

Chapter Sixty Leaving the City

I blinked my eyes.

The oryx carriage was accelerating, and the cabin started to sway.

“In fact, three years ago, I didn’t plan to kill you. Really, believe me. It was just an accident… Why didn’t you listen to me? If you had listened to me, things wouldn’t have turned out that way.”

Edward rubbed his hands, looking as if he wanted to touch my face or head. I glared at him, and he suddenly seemed to remember something, hesitantly lowering his half-raised hand.

Then he revealed a half-smiling, half-not expression.

“That day, I just wanted you to help me lure Lafayette out so I could talk to him about some important matters. You don’t understand these things, but you insisted on causing trouble, which led to that incident… I didn’t want that, and I was too afraid to tell Lafayette and Uncle…”

“Why didn’t you listen to me that time? You brought this upon yourself… After you fell, I thought you were dead. But fortunately, I prayed to the gods every day for the past three years, which is why you’re alive now… Later, I went to church every day to pray for you, and it must have been my sincerity that moved the gods.”

“Now that you’re back safe and sound, and your face isn’t injured. Look, I’ve always cared about you. You’re too beautiful, too perfect for anyone else to fit in… That fall must have been really severe, right? Who saved you? Tell me, I’ll reward them with a title… By the way, did you sustain any scars?”

The oryx carriage rounded a bend at high speed, and I could clearly feel the centrifugal force.

I looked at Edward, who kept talking, without showing any emotion.

This person… He seems to be trying to win me back with words.

His attitude was as if the events of three years ago — the helpless, painful, and dark moments experienced by the fifteen-year-old girl named Peyelo — were just a misunderstanding.

As if saying sorry would make everything forgivable.

He didn’t even apologize. Instead, he blamed me for not following his wishes, which led to serious consequences.

…Peyelo, was she killed by such a guy?

It’s really…

I felt too numb to even curse.

My body was trembling slightly.

I tried hard to control my emotions, constantly reminding myself that I needed to confirm Lafayette’s safety before making any unnecessary moves.

Blinking again.

My starry eyes shifted, revealing no emotion.

“Don’t look at me like that…” Edward’s brows showed a hint of helplessness. He stared at me for a moment, then turned to the golden-masked man beside him, “Mr. Langman, can you let her speak? I want to talk to her.”

“Your Highness is jesting. I’m only good at killing; healing is not my forte, and I can’t do such things.”

Edward waved his hand and immediately smiled, “No matter, it was just a casual remark. Mr. Langman, please don’t take it to heart. This time, we owe it to your knockout powder for allowing Pey to return to me… You’re impressive. Isn’t this stuff only available to the Church’s doctors? How did you get it?”

“Your Highness, there are many things we can do. Please don’t doubt us.”

“I’m not doubting… Forget it, how long will this effect last?”

“Given the amount she ingested, she probably won’t be able to move for a whole day under normal circumstances.”

“That’s great.”

Hearing this, Edward was very happy and looked at me again, his eyes filled with disgusting desire.

I had to avoid his gaze; otherwise, I might lose control.

“Your Highness, after dealing with Lafayette’s affairs, what do you plan to do with her?”

“Hmm? Deal with her? She’s my queen, why would I deal with her?”

The golden mask was silent for a moment, as if pondering his words, then spoke again.

“Your Highness, I’ll be frank. This girl’s power is too great. Keeping her around like this might be dangerous. My suggestion is to…”

Edward immediately interrupted him.

“No, she’s my queen.”

“Your Highness, there are many beautiful girls. If you need one, I can arrange a different one for you every day.”

“Can any of them be as beautiful as her?”

“…”

“Relax, it’s fine. I’m the future emperor of the empire. Pey is just a little girl, no matter how strong her power is… This world isn’t about who has the bigger fist.” He paused, then pointed at himself with his finger.

“Head,” he tapped his own head, “it’s about here, do you understand?”

Mmm…

I couldn’t help but feel that Gold Mask probably rolled their eyes at this moment.

Or maybe I was the one who wanted to roll my eyes.

Seeing that Gold Mask did not respond, Edward continued.

“Uncle must know what I’ve done by now, but all he can do is kill a few informants for some relief. The Church won’t stand idly by while he opposes my father; those priests will also stop my uncle because it goes against the Church’s interests. As long as you stay by my side…”

He patted Gold Mask’s shoulder.

“As long as all of you stay by my side, Lafayette will be doomed… Once he’s dead, no one will be able to stop me. Don’t worry, I’m not that rigid; I won’t be like those old men in the palace, digging into your origins. Whoever it may be, as long as they wholeheartedly assist me, they will get what they want.”

“In a few years, when my father grows old, that position will be mine. Then, I will fulfill my promise and meet your demands, allowing the Holy Church to fade from the country’s attention. I always keep my word. You mice who have been hiding in the dark for so long can come out into the light.”

Edward’s eyes flashed with fervor.

“The great Vallon Empire is the result of our Winter Moon’s efforts over centuries. No one but us is qualified to possess it—not even the gods.”

That’s quite the ambition.

Given my understanding of this world, it’s almost impossible. I wonder where he gets the confidence from.

But Gold Mask seemed to believe it deeply. He straightened up and bowed lightly to Edward.

“Your Highness, I represent the empire’s assassins in offering you our loyalty.”

Edward was delighted and laughed loudly.

“Hahaha! With that said, I am relieved. If you work sincerely for me, once I become emperor, I will immediately grant you a title and the most fertile land.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The rhinoceros cart continued to speed forward.

Gold Mask wasn’t much of a talker. After expressing his loyalty to Edward, he fell silent, making the atmosphere in the carriage somewhat heavy.

Gradually, Edward felt bored and turned his attention back to me.

“Pepi, your brother really loves you. The moment he heard you were back, he couldn’t sit still. He hurriedly rushed back, even abandoning his guards. He’s thrown himself into chaos, and I seized the opportunity. Now, he’s stuck in the mud, unable to save himself!”

Though his words were not pleasant, I felt a slight relief.

At least, Lafayette hasn’t been in trouble for now.

“You’re truly my little lucky star.”

Hehe.

I closed my eyes, unwilling to see his face anymore.

The atmosphere became quiet again.

Soon, the carriage jolted sharply, startling me, followed by a sudden deceleration.

Edward’s smile froze.

“What’s going on?”

His tone was slightly panicked. The masked figure didn’t speak, listening intently to the sounds outside.

The rhinoceros cart gradually came to a halt, and Valar’s voice came from the front of the carriage.

“Open the gate, quickly open the city gate!”

Someone nearby responded, “Where’s the leader?”

“In the carriage.”

Edward lifted the curtain, and the towering city wall came into view.

“We’ve arrived at White Gate.”

White Gate was a small gate in the southern wall, usually opened only for night-arriving supply caravans. This was something I learned from Hoover and company’s idle chatter.

Now it seemed they were planning to leave through here.

Powell Street itself was not far from the city wall, which was one reason they chose it as an ambush site, to facilitate their escape at the fastest speed. And the person who just spoke was clearly the one responsible for meeting them.

But what about the hunters stationed here?

The sound of the city gate opening echoed, and Edward sighed in relief.

“Let’s go! Soon, the next batch of patrolling hunters will arrive here, and our plan will be exposed. The farther we get before then, the better.”

“What about the others?”

“Figure out how to get out of the city yourself; there’s no time to worry about them.”

“…I understand.”

“We’ll go first, and you all follow as soon as possible.”

“Alright, be careful on the way… Let’s go!”

After a brief exchange, the rhinoceros pulled the carriage through the gate at breakneck speed.

For a moment, I saw several hunters sprawled haphazardly at the corner of the city wall, their fates unknown.

And the people opening the gate all wore masks.

These scenes flashed by, then were obscured by the lowered curtain.

The rhinoceros cart jolted as it left the winter city.