If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 134
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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The carriage was more comfortable than expected. And the distance to Gulem turned out to be farther than she had anticipated.
As she gazed out the window at the passing scenery, Agatha unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
“Hey, we’re here. Wake up, come on.”
At the coachman’s rough voice, Agatha woke from her deep sleep. Recently, she had been unusually sleepy.
“…Where are we?”
“This is Gulem. The weather’s been good, so we arrived sooner than expected. Let’s hurry and get off. Didn’t you say you had to go to another area from here? We need to hurry if you want to reach your destination before nightfall.”
The coachman opened the door and spoke as Agatha got out of the carriage with his help.
Gulem. It would take a long time to get from here to Arta.
Two knights, whom Agatha had contacted in advance, were waiting to greet her in Gulem.
These two, former knights of the Kristin Order, were older men who had retired several years ago.
Since Arta was on the border, traveling there alone was extremely dangerous. That’s why, even though Cain’s knights had been stationed there during the last procession, they hadn’t brought a large entourage.
What face should she put on when she arrives?
With a darkened expression, Agatha began walking.
“It’s been a while, Miss.”
Two elderly knights, their hair graying, greeted her.
Karon and Rubens. After the Kristin family had fallen into Stella’s hands, they retired and returned home to rest. But when they received the summons from the new master, now a full-fledged Duchess, they dropped everything and hurried to meet her.
“It’s been a while.”
It had been a while since she last saw these people, her voice trembling slightly.
These two had been core members of the Kristin Order and had a very close relationship with the late Duke. Sometimes they were friends, sometimes loyal vassals, and occasionally, they felt almost like family.
“It’s been so long. You’ve become even more stunningly beautiful, Miss.”
“Miss? She’s now the official Duchess.”
“Ah, right. My apologies. I extend my greetings to our new mistress. Please forgive the rudeness.”
The two elderly knights, who had watched over Agatha since she was an infant, were now seeing her grown into a graceful young woman. It was a moment of nostalgia for them, as it had been over ten years since they had last seen her.
Recalling those days, Agatha smiled brightly, though she didn’t realize it was a smile she hadn’t shown in a very long time.
“Now, hurry and get into the carriage. The road to Arta is quite long, and unlike the smooth roads of the capital, it’s rough and dangerous. If we don’t hurry, it could get risky.”
“I’ve prepared two coachmen and five attendants just in case. Let’s go, Duchess.”
At the sound of Karon’s voice, who was worried about a delayed departure, Agatha snapped out of her thoughts.
“Yes, let’s depart quickly.”
She couldn’t understand why she kept revisiting memories of him, even after abandoning everything and leaving. But what could she do? Thoughts were not something one could control at will.
Sighing quietly, Agatha climbed into the carriage.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The road to Arta, as Karon had warned, was even rougher than she had imagined. They had taken a detour to avoid being seen, which made the journey even more difficult.
The unpaved dirt road was littered with gravel and stones, and every time the carriage wheels rolled over them, the body of the carriage bounced up and down. Had she been even a little more sensitive to motion, she wouldn’t have been able to stay seated because of the nausea.
Every time the carriage tried to speed up, the wheels would hit a stone, and there was a risk that the carriage might overturn. Yet, slowing down too much wasn’t an option either—the distance was still far.
Once the sun set, these mountain roads could easily become a haven for bandits. Especially with a carriage carrying an outsider unfamiliar with the area, it would be a prime target for bandits, putting them in great danger.
Even though the carriage had experienced knights and strong attendants, if a group of bandits surrounded them, their position would be strategically disadvantageous, making it hard to escape.
That was why Rubens had recruited a local hunter, someone who knew the mountainous terrain well. He believed that even as darkness fell, the hunter, skilled at navigating the mountains by moonlight and hunting wild animals, would be able to guide them safely to their destination.
This trip was very different from when Agatha had traveled to Arta before, accompanied by attendants and knights as the head of the Kristin family. Now, she was on the run, secretly escaping after sending her husband divorce papers.
She suddenly felt both pitiful and pathetic, and she couldn’t help but sneer at herself.
“Your Grace, are you alright?”
“Hmm, I’m fine.”
Agatha nodded while covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
It was her first time traveling such a rough road, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe toward the two elderly knights, who seemed unfazed by the bumpy journey.
She began to understand, even if just indirectly, how much physical strength it must take to become a knight, and how hard it must be to rush into battle even after becoming one.
“So, what business do you have in Arta?”
“You’re quick to ask. You didn’t even know that, and yet you got into the carriage?”
“Of course. For a knight, what’s needed is not questions or doubts, but loyalty.”
“That’s not a question, but a proper understanding of the mission.”
“So, have you properly understood the mission?”
“Of course.”
