Franz muttered self-deprecatingly and stood up, looking down at Judith, whose height was barely up to his shoulders. A look of pity suddenly passed through his eyes, which had shown no emotion.
Although there is a two-year age difference, at seventeen, both women and men have almost completed their growth. Franz was not short, but even taking that into account, Judith's size was outrageous.
Not only she was short, but there was no fat on her shoulders or forearms. The wrist looked so weak that it would break if Franz squeezed it with even the slightest force.
The Queen will probably torture this frail bird-like Princess until she dies. In this case, she dried her blood and flesh so much that it would have been better to kill her, and when the little Princess cried in pain, the Queen was sure to get pleasure from those tears.
But he doesn't have the power to stop it. Franz just felt a little sad about it.
She was a person whose face he didn't even know until yesterday, but even though he couldn't love her in the future, she was still someone who became his wife. In a strange land where she had no relatives, the only person she could trust and rely on was him, but Franz did not have a single shield to protect Judith from the Queen's threats.
If he can let her run away. Franz thought. If he could make her run away and provide her with the means to live in hiding somewhere else, he would have done so. Or she just says one word that she doesn't want to go to the rotator.
“I’m fine now, so please get in the carriage, Sir. It will soon get dark, so we need to find a place where we can give the horses and people a rest.”
Judith said.
Queen Gilsis disparaged her, calling her not only weak but also a half-witted girl who couldn't even make eye contact with others. The Queen also said that Judith should be thankful that she allowed such a girl to live with her as the Prince's wife.
However, the Judith that Franz was seeing now was a completely different girl from what the Queen had said. It seemed true that she was weak, but the rest was completely different.
Franz didn't place his hopes on that. He was not happy or sad. He just thought that Judith was fortunate for herself. If she's as smart as she really looks, she'll have to trample on her own head to impress Queen Gilsis.
He thought that if Judith needed his head to protect her, he might be able to give it up. It was better for him to dry up under the Queen's shadow like this.
It was the afternoon of the second day since the carriage drove towards Rotair.
In about half a day, they would reach the Rotair border, but Judith was nervous the whole time.
Franz seemed to think it was politeness sickness, but in fact, there was another reason why Judith was nervous. This was because she knew that before reaching the border, as they passed near the Black Forest, a group of armed bandits would attack the carriage.
'I was sleeping at the time... I don't remember exactly where in the Black Forest we were attacked.'
Due to the arduous journey on her weak body and Franz not saying a word, Judith was frozen the whole time, so after the second day, she fell asleep as if she was fainting. It was only later that she found out that the place where they were attacked and almost died was near the infamous thicket called 'Black Forest' in the Kingdom of Rotair.
Judith thought about informing the Duke of Vergy's secretary in advance, but she soon gave up on it. The Duke's secretary was skilled enough to take down untrained thieves on his own. She decided that since no one would be hurt or killed in this attack anyway, the priority was to avoid anything that would unnecessarily raise suspicion.
'I only have to protect Franz. Mary Anne will be protected by the Duke of Vergy's secretary...'
The rattling of the carriage wheels began to get worse. Judith slightly lifted the curtain covering the window and looked out into the dark forest where darkness had begun to gather. Between the thick, unknown trees, the top of a spire rising like a spear blade was clearly visible.
Judith unconsciously shuddered at the eerie scenery she saw for the first time. Samona's words, which she had heard just before her death, spontaneously appeared in her mind.
- His Majesty Franz was imprisoned in the spire of the Black Forest...
It was Samona's words that pushed Judith, who had endured harsh confinement for a year despite her weakened body, into the deepest despair.
Judith, who had unconsciously turned her head towards Franz, lowered her gaze in surprise when their eyes unexpectedly met. She felt that Franz's eyes were looking at her very sharply. It was as if he knew what she was thinking and what she was worried about.
'No, that can't be happening. Let's calm down.'
A light-colored sunset began to shine on the floor of the carriage. It was when it was getting dark that the thieves appeared. Judith pretended to look out the window, pretending to have a calm expression and hiding her trembling fingertips between her knees.
Is it because her heart was pounding in shock and couldn't calm down? Judith suddenly felt anxious.
What if something goes wrong and Franz gets hurt or fatally injured?
Or what if he becomes like that?
'I can't do that.'
It was the moment when Judith silently bit her lip and closed her eyes as if praying.
Puck-!
With a sound as if something hard was hitting the carriage, the horses began to run wild and howl.
'Now!'
The moment the carriage shook violently, Judith hugged Franz, who was staggering as he was unable to keep his balance.
“Sir, lower yourself!”
Judith, who was holding him, fell to the floor of the carriage and at the same time, the soldiers shouted.
“It’s an attack!”
“They are thieves! Escort Prince Franz and Her Highness the Princess!”
The sounds of clashing weapons, screams, and the neighing of frightened horses were rampant. As the carriage tilted as if it was about to fall over, Judith screamed without realizing it.
"Oh!"
The window of the carriage was violently broken along with the sound of a bow splitting the air. Judith, who was crouching over his shoulders to avoid the fragments, felt something flutter down on her head. Judith, who had opened her eyes to see what it was, raised her head in surprise. It was the jacket Franz was wearing.
"Lower your head! It's dangerous to stand up...!”
It was then. Franz, who had raised his body and hastily smoothed the corner of the carriage's ceiling, bit his lip and tore off a piece of wood from the ceiling.
However, the Judith that Franz was seeing now was a completely different girl from what the Queen had said. It seemed true that she was weak, but the rest was completely different.
Franz didn't place his hopes on that. He was not happy or sad. He just thought that Judith was fortunate for herself. If she's as smart as she really looks, she'll have to trample on her own head to impress Queen Gilsis.
He thought that if Judith needed his head to protect her, he might be able to give it up. It was better for him to dry up under the Queen's shadow like this.
***
It was the afternoon of the second day since the carriage drove towards Rotair.
In about half a day, they would reach the Rotair border, but Judith was nervous the whole time.
Franz seemed to think it was politeness sickness, but in fact, there was another reason why Judith was nervous. This was because she knew that before reaching the border, as they passed near the Black Forest, a group of armed bandits would attack the carriage.
'I was sleeping at the time... I don't remember exactly where in the Black Forest we were attacked.'
Due to the arduous journey on her weak body and Franz not saying a word, Judith was frozen the whole time, so after the second day, she fell asleep as if she was fainting. It was only later that she found out that the place where they were attacked and almost died was near the infamous thicket called 'Black Forest' in the Kingdom of Rotair.
Judith thought about informing the Duke of Vergy's secretary in advance, but she soon gave up on it. The Duke's secretary was skilled enough to take down untrained thieves on his own. She decided that since no one would be hurt or killed in this attack anyway, the priority was to avoid anything that would unnecessarily raise suspicion.
'I only have to protect Franz. Mary Anne will be protected by the Duke of Vergy's secretary...'
The rattling of the carriage wheels began to get worse. Judith slightly lifted the curtain covering the window and looked out into the dark forest where darkness had begun to gather. Between the thick, unknown trees, the top of a spire rising like a spear blade was clearly visible.
Judith unconsciously shuddered at the eerie scenery she saw for the first time. Samona's words, which she had heard just before her death, spontaneously appeared in her mind.
- His Majesty Franz was imprisoned in the spire of the Black Forest...
It was Samona's words that pushed Judith, who had endured harsh confinement for a year despite her weakened body, into the deepest despair.
Judith, who had unconsciously turned her head towards Franz, lowered her gaze in surprise when their eyes unexpectedly met. She felt that Franz's eyes were looking at her very sharply. It was as if he knew what she was thinking and what she was worried about.
'No, that can't be happening. Let's calm down.'
A light-colored sunset began to shine on the floor of the carriage. It was when it was getting dark that the thieves appeared. Judith pretended to look out the window, pretending to have a calm expression and hiding her trembling fingertips between her knees.
Is it because her heart was pounding in shock and couldn't calm down? Judith suddenly felt anxious.
What if something goes wrong and Franz gets hurt or fatally injured?
Or what if he becomes like that?
'I can't do that.'
It was the moment when Judith silently bit her lip and closed her eyes as if praying.
Puck-!
With a sound as if something hard was hitting the carriage, the horses began to run wild and howl.
'Now!'
The moment the carriage shook violently, Judith hugged Franz, who was staggering as he was unable to keep his balance.
“Sir, lower yourself!”
Judith, who was holding him, fell to the floor of the carriage and at the same time, the soldiers shouted.
“It’s an attack!”
“They are thieves! Escort Prince Franz and Her Highness the Princess!”
The sounds of clashing weapons, screams, and the neighing of frightened horses were rampant. As the carriage tilted as if it was about to fall over, Judith screamed without realizing it.
"Oh!"
The window of the carriage was violently broken along with the sound of a bow splitting the air. Judith, who was crouching over his shoulders to avoid the fragments, felt something flutter down on her head. Judith, who had opened her eyes to see what it was, raised her head in surprise. It was the jacket Franz was wearing.
"Lower your head! It's dangerous to stand up...!”
It was then. Franz, who had raised his body and hastily smoothed the corner of the carriage's ceiling, bit his lip and tore off a piece of wood from the ceiling.
Clink!
What came out of the torn ceiling with a sound was a sword.
Judith's eyes widened. She had no idea that the sword was hidden in such a place. Moreover, she never thought Franz would bring it up.
"Stay here!"
Franz kicked open the carriage door. At the same time, a man wearing what looked like black rags swung his hatchet at his head.
“Keuuk!”
Judith, who was looking at his back without being able to scream in shock, wondered if what she had just seen was really real. The moment the man lunged at him, Franz, holding the sword upside down, struck the man's uvula with the blunt part of his handle. When the man dropped his ax and stumbled, holding his neck, Franz took the opportunity to pull out his sword. It was a lightning-quick attack.
“Sir, be careful!”
Cried the Duke's secretary from afar. However, Franz cut down the hordes of thieves who were approaching in black color, one after another, as if he had not even heard his voice. Yet he never left the carriage. He did the best he could within the extremely narrow travel route.
‘This person, now...'
The jacket he took off slipped down from Judith's head. Arrows were still flying from the forest, and some of them hit the carriage that Judith was riding in, but she did not realize the dizzying situation as she only watched Franz swing his sword.
Judith did not know why Franz did not leave the front of the carriage. No, there was only one reason that could be said, but it was hard to believe that that was really the reason.
To protect Judith.
"Your Highness! It’s on the right!”
The Duke of Vergis' secretary shouted, running towards Franz. At the same time, Franz swung his sword to his right and struck down an incoming arrow. The arrow shaft, which was roughly carved from wood, broke and splinters flew everywhere.
As the thieves who had attacked earlier were killed by the Duke's secretary and Franz, the remnants who had been watching retreated into the forest.
The soldiers did not deliberately chase them. If they chased them into the forest and lost their way, it would be a loss, and since they suffered this much damage, they knew that they would be discouraged and hide for the time being.
“Sir, where you were injured..."
“I’m fine, so please take care of the Princess.”
Franz said, skimming his cheek with the end of his sleeve.
“Your Highness, are you hurt anywhere?”
"It's okay. Nowhere... I wasn't hurt. You...”
Because he protected her. But the words never came out of Judith's mouth. Instead, Judith, who was only blushing, saw blood forming on Franz's cheek, which was turned at an angle.
"Your Highness! Blood... !”
Judith's eyes widened. She had no idea that the sword was hidden in such a place. Moreover, she never thought Franz would bring it up.
"Stay here!"
Franz kicked open the carriage door. At the same time, a man wearing what looked like black rags swung his hatchet at his head.
“Keuuk!”
Judith, who was looking at his back without being able to scream in shock, wondered if what she had just seen was really real. The moment the man lunged at him, Franz, holding the sword upside down, struck the man's uvula with the blunt part of his handle. When the man dropped his ax and stumbled, holding his neck, Franz took the opportunity to pull out his sword. It was a lightning-quick attack.
“Sir, be careful!”
Cried the Duke's secretary from afar. However, Franz cut down the hordes of thieves who were approaching in black color, one after another, as if he had not even heard his voice. Yet he never left the carriage. He did the best he could within the extremely narrow travel route.
‘This person, now...'
The jacket he took off slipped down from Judith's head. Arrows were still flying from the forest, and some of them hit the carriage that Judith was riding in, but she did not realize the dizzying situation as she only watched Franz swing his sword.
Judith did not know why Franz did not leave the front of the carriage. No, there was only one reason that could be said, but it was hard to believe that that was really the reason.
To protect Judith.
"Your Highness! It’s on the right!”
The Duke of Vergis' secretary shouted, running towards Franz. At the same time, Franz swung his sword to his right and struck down an incoming arrow. The arrow shaft, which was roughly carved from wood, broke and splinters flew everywhere.
As the thieves who had attacked earlier were killed by the Duke's secretary and Franz, the remnants who had been watching retreated into the forest.
The soldiers did not deliberately chase them. If they chased them into the forest and lost their way, it would be a loss, and since they suffered this much damage, they knew that they would be discouraged and hide for the time being.
“Sir, where you were injured..."
“I’m fine, so please take care of the Princess.”
Franz said, skimming his cheek with the end of his sleeve.
“Your Highness, are you hurt anywhere?”
"It's okay. Nowhere... I wasn't hurt. You...”
Because he protected her. But the words never came out of Judith's mouth. Instead, Judith, who was only blushing, saw blood forming on Franz's cheek, which was turned at an angle.
"Your Highness! Blood... !”
“I was only grazed by a piece of debris. Are there any wounded or dead among the soldiers?”
“There were no serious injuries and no deaths.”
“Then let’s set off as soon as the horses calm down. The border will soon be here. It would be much more dangerous to spend the night near here.”
"All right."
The Duke's secretary answered. He lowered his head and tried to turn around, but this time Judith caught him.
“Mary Ann... What about the child I brought with me? Is she okay?”
“Yes, Your Highness the Princess. Miss Mary Anne is fine. I will tell her that the Princess is safe, so don’t worry.”
When Judith nodded, he greeted her with one more glance and disappeared to lead the soldiers. Franz got into the carriage, threw the piece of wood from the ceiling that he had torn off to remove his sword, and closed the door.
“Sir, the bleeding continues. Even a handkerchief...”
"How..."
Franz, holding the sword, looked at Judith.
“How did you know it was an attack just because the carriage was shaking? How did you know to tell me to humble myself?”
“...Sir, what are you saying? Of course, I didn't know that. However, it would be a serious problem if the carriage overturned, so I am telling you to lower your body so that you can be at least a little safer.”
“You’re not surprised? The horses ran wild and shook the carriage so much that the wheels were half lifted, but the wall was bigger than I thought.”
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