If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 131
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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If, by any chance, Cain were to search for her, it would be inevitable that he would go through the register left behind at the station.
Then the only option left for Agatha would be to take a carriage.
Some passengers who had failed to board the train were already bustling about at one end of the station, seeking out the horses and drivers prepared for them.
Money was not an issue. The problem lay in the name and status that needed to be written down when renting a carriage.
She had prepared a plausible name for situations where she might be unable to take the train. However, with the royal knight order involved, things had changed.
Since Countess Duflo, the Emperor’s illegitimate child, was attacked by ruffians after visiting the eastern estates, the imperial family had heightened security across all fronts.
Even if she wasn’t traveling with them, the knight order wouldn’t let anyone or anything pass easily within the confines of the station.
Any suspicious detail would be thoroughly investigated, without question.
In other words, she couldn’t just make up a false name and identity for the carriage rental log.
She had to pick someone from the list of actual people. Agatha paused to think.
Traveling by carriage from the capital to Gulem, the boundary area between the central and western regions, would cost a considerable amount of money.
It was impossible for a commoner to spend such a sum solely on transportation, so she would need to choose a noble or someone with a title, at least, and use their name.
Whose name should she use? Agatha nervously tapped her fingers.
“What are you doing? You should hurry up.”
The station attendant, aware of the growing line of people, urged her on, warning that if she stood there dazed, the carriages would be taken by others.
At that moment, a name popped into Agatha’s mind.
It was the name of Charlotte, her nanny, who had been a reliable ally when she was still Lady Kristin.
She figured that using her name would be just the right kind of alias to avoid suspicion.
Although Charlotte had since retired and left the Duchy, her family still resided in the capital, so it wouldn’t be that strange.
With her decision made, Agatha walked toward the carriage rental office.
But she only took a few steps before she had to stop.
She had spotted a familiar figure among the knights.
“Why is he here?”
Flustered, Agatha quickly pulled her veil tighter and, blending in with the crowd, maneuvered her way through.
The man, with his gray hair tied back and commanding the imperial knights, was none other than the Palatine, who assisted the Emperor.
His short doublet with a peplum was a distinctive uniform he always wore as a symbol of his position. The gray hair was another unmistakable feature.
In the capital, there was only one person with such a look: Palatine Joseph.
Palatine Joseph Franz was a close friend of Cain and a companion on the battlefield, having fought together to repel the enemy for seven years. He once joked that had he not been injured and switched from active duty to administrative work, he would have easily endured another ten years on the front lines.
Though he now humorously longed for the days of riding horseback, he seemed to have adapted well to assisting the Emperor and managing documents, which made Agatha feel relieved. She remembered the drunken ramblings of Cain in Arta from back then.
Now, Joseph had appeared at the station, of all places, at this very moment when Agatha was attempting to deceive Cain and escape. Was it just a coincidence?
Her mind raced with confusion. She pulled her veil further down, making sure her face remained hidden, although it was already concealed below her chin. She adjusted her hat several times, her heart pounding, as her anxiety began to intensify.
“Are you renting a carriage?”
Fortunately, her turn came quickly. Agatha scanned the remaining carriages as people behind her started to form a line.
“Yes.”
“Do you have a coachman?”
“No, I’d like to request one, please.”
The coachman took out the papers to confirm her request. The station was unusually busy, likely due to the unexpected appearance of the imperial knight order, and the coachman seemed somewhat flustered.
She needed to get on the carriage quickly. Agatha glanced at the coachman and then over at Joseph, who seemed engrossed in his duties, commanding the knights.
Thankfully, he was focused on assisting the imperial family, much like the other knights, and didn’t seem to notice her. Agatha sighed in relief and let out a breath.
“I need one carriage and three coachmen.”
“Three?”
The coachman glanced at her attire, a woman draped in all black, asking for three coachmen, which seemed unusual.
“I believe it would be safer to have three, considering the distance to Gulem.”
“To Gulem? That would be quite expensive, just the coachmen’s wages alone.”
“I’ll pay half the fare in advance.”
As Agatha pulled out a purse from her waist and offered silver coins, the initially skeptical coachman was quickly swayed. His face brightened at the sight of the money.
“For a woman to travel that far alone, it’s only wise to have at least three servants. Alright, over here!”
Several coachmen who had been idly joking in the back walked up at the coachman’s call. Agatha picked three men who appeared strong.
“By the way, where are you from?”
The coachman handed her a paper and pen, signaling that she should write down her name and origin.
Agatha hesitated for a moment before taking the pen and quickly scribbling down something on the paper.
