After easily dealing with the gang of thieves as if they were catching a swarm of flies, they surveyed their surroundings.
The cart was tilted in half and in disarray, stuck in the ground. The horses had long since fled, and aside from the gang of thieves who had gathered to plunder the carriage, there were not any shadows of people in sight.
Originally, the road to Aleister Territory wasn't that dangerous.
“What is the situation in Alastair’s territory that has brought the band of thieves to this extent?”
Clint looked around with a serious expression.
“Well… God is no longer around. It may not have seemed important when he was around… but having a framework around them and not having it makes a big difference.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
Clint felt a slight sense of responsibility for taking Saiki with him at that moment.
But at the time, going with Clint was the best option for Saiki. Even if she had stayed in the area, there were no sharp resources, and she would probably have starved to death. Moreover, she had to escape from Junior, who was a threat to Saiki at the time.
But the land without God soon turned into a place infested with bandits, where crime rates soared.
The Alister region, with its rugged terrain and rare plains, was a place where nobles, armed with knowledge of plants, used to help the peasants. But as this knowledge disappeared, people naturally suffered from hunger.
Hungry people resorted to joining bandits, and incidents such as stealing passing vehicles or attacking villages became more frequent.
It's been a vicious cycle in many ways.
“Hmm.”
عبس كلينت.
“Don't worry too much. The lady probably knew that too. There was no other choice.”
“…”
Clint inadvertently thought that when Saiki returned, they should revisit the area together.
Later, he once again realized that she was not by his side, and found himself in unnecessary complicated feelings.
“I heard that the lady did her best for the people of the region at that time. I heard that she suffered because the lord’s relatives did not help her… Don’t talk too much about this matter.”
Alexandro, quick-witted, noticed Clint's inappropriate mood and quickly added a reassuring note.
While Clint remained silent, turning his gaze elsewhere, Alejandro thought that there was no need to continue discussing Saiki's story, so he smoothly changed the topic.
Just to prevent sparks from flying into sensitive areas.
“It seems to be going rather well. What should we do now?”
“Search the surroundings. Carefully.”
He ordered.
When Clint ordered Alexandro to “search,” he meant none other than Saiki.
After all, she was the reason they had come to this place.
The knights they brought with them were in the process of clearing the surrounding area. When Alejandro heard this, he took the first step toward the carriage.
“Come here, I'll check the cart.”
Their actions were clearly captured in Saiki's eyes.
She felt like they were looking for her, she trembled in fear and covered her mouth.
“I can't be detected here!”
She screamed silently to herself.
Cloud, who was present, also felt the change in Saiki's atmosphere. Unlike before, she now wore a worried expression, pale skin and trembling eyes.
Cloud quickly realized that Psyche had some connection to the two men who had just appeared.
If Psyche had been here alone, she might have already revealed her presence to Clint and Alejandro.
Cloud was now trying his best not to reveal their presence in this place.
Although he did not know who the man in front of him was, he was certain that he was an extraordinary expert.
Taking advantage of Cloud's presence, Alexandro did not know that Psyche was here, so he put aside the sword he had drawn to deal with the bandits, and carefully inspected every corner of the carriage.
After he passed by unnoticed, he ran back to Clint and said: “It seems that the Duchess did not ride in this carriage!”
After hearing this, Saiki pressed her lips tighter.
“As expected, he is looking for me…!”
Somehow, it seemed even weirder that he wasn't looking for her.
A mentally ill man chases his wife who ran away with their child, abandoning her and leaving her to roam free.
Especially the woman who lost her child while fleeing.
Psyche thought he was going to arrest her and hold her accountable.
She thought that even the slightest sound might escape her, so she covered her mouth with one hand and held her breath.
Clint looked around with piercing eyes before frowning.
Are you sure? What if I ran in another direction?
“I'm not sure. I'll go ask if anyone has seen her to make sure anyone is still alive.”
“The lady has a distinctive face, so everyone should remember her after seeing her once. Check for witnesses. There might be people hiding near her.”
"concept."
Alexandru began by carefully searching the surrounding areas.
It seemed he hadn't discovered which side Cloud was on yet, but it was only a matter of time before it was revealed.
Once the knights following the Duke start searching the area, it will happen quickly.
The soul became increasingly disturbed.
ثم حدث ذلك.
The baby she was holding in her arms began to move.
The sedative effect seems to have worn off.
Psyche quickly cradled the child in her arms.
She didn't want to be caught here and forced to return to the Duke.
“It looks like the baby is waking up.”
Cloud whispered very softly in her ear.
“How did you manage to escape...!”
My mood calmed down.
If the baby wakes up and cries, all the effort you have made so far will be in vain.
'What should I do...!'
Psyche looked alternately at the child and the Duke.
Alexandro changed his direction towards her.
“……Hmm……”
The baby in her arms, seeming to wake up, let out a soft moan, as if he was about to cry at any moment.
‘No!’
She suddenly remembered the stories she used to tell the maids during her pregnancy.
“When a well-fed baby sometimes wakes up and seems to be crying, giving him something to suck or bite on occasionally can get him to sleep soundly again.”
Listening to the words of a middle-aged maid who raised five children, Psyche took notice.
After all, she would soon be a mother.
"Oh, really? That's interesting."
Yes, sometimes, they want to suck on something to sleep, and it's not because they're hungry.
“Ah, I see.”
Psyche took advantage of the appropriate conversation that came to his mind, and he contacted me.
Since the child had just eaten...
“Oh, oh, oh…! Oh!”
Psyche quickly put her index finger into the baby's mouth, which was moving as if it was about to cry.
Hoping the baby stays calm.
With his eyes wide open, the child initially seemed to think that what had entered his mouth was milk, but he soon realized that it was not so.
وفي وقت قصير، أصدر الطفل تعبيرا على وجهه يوحي بأنه قد يبكي مرة أخرى.
"Hello…!"
A shadow fell over Saiki's face.
"my lord!"
And it was then.
Someone hiding in the bushes on the other side of Saiki revealed himself.
At first, he seemed to be a member of the same group of thieves, hiding and seeking help from the Duke's group to deal with the thieves.
“There's someone here!”
Upon hearing the sound, Alexandro's steps, who was about to walk towards Psyche, stopped.
The knights brought the person who was noisily hiding.
Alexandro also naturally redirected his steps towards this direction.
“...Fuu.”
Psyche breathed a sigh of relief after holding her breath.
The child, who looked like he might cry again, was satisfied with having something in his mouth and was smiling happily at Saeki.
Looking at the kid now, he was undoubtedly cute.
While Psyche was turning her attention to the child, someone who was hiding approached the Duke.
It was the old man who was in the carriage.
It seemed like he was well hidden, fortunately.
لقد بدا مرتبكًا، لا يعرف ماذا يفعل عندما يواجه شخصًا نبيلًا.
"This is Duke Valentine. Show some respect."
One of the knights spoke threateningly, and Clint raised his hand to stop him.
"Respect? No need. Don't bother with unnecessary things. Alex."
As if annoyed, Clint pointed at Alexandro, who had approached.
He quickly approached and asked the old man in front of him.
“Have you seen her this tall, thin, silver-haired woman?”
Alexandro pointed to his chest.
“She has fair skin and is easily noticed...”
As he blurted out the end of his sentence, the old man seemed to be thinking hard.
He showed deep thought.
He remembered that there was a beautiful lady in the carriage, but he thought carefully as her face and head were partially covered by a robe, and he could not tell if she had silver hair.
Since the old man looked like he needed some time, Alexandro added.
“Speak properly. It is the Duchess.”
The old man's face became contemplative.
Then he quickly prostrated on the ground.
"Oh my God! I've never met someone so great!"
He had not even dreamed that the lady he was riding with was that Duchess.
Psyche, who had not noticed her robe falling during the escape, realized this and looked confused.
At the same time, the gaze between her and Cloud met.
With this height approx…
A beautiful lady with shiny silver hair.
"seriously."
Cloud's skin turned pale.
With piercing mercenary eyes, he quickly realized who the woman standing before him was – the “Duchess” the nobles were searching for.