“Are you sure, Father?”
Aila opened her eyes wide and asked in surprise.
Aila opened her eyes wide and asked in surprise.
"Freedom? It was truly an unbelievable story."
"Yes. Of course, it's dangerous to go alone, but with Laura and Cloud, there's no reason not to go out into the city."
Although Aila was truly delighted by the wonderful news, doubts soon began to creep into her mind.
It is unlikely that Byron would truly give her freedom.
No matter how satisfactory her recent actions may have been, Aila was the daughter of Byron's enemy.
But isn't he being too lenient these days?
He'll let her carry a weapon at all times, and he'll even let her go out when they go abroad.
It was a move that made one doubt its sincerity.
And that night, Aila suddenly understood why Byron had been so kind to her.
Besides that, she also learned another terrible truth.
It was thanks to Laura quietly slipping out of the tent while she was sleeping and eavesdropping on Byron and Cloud's conversation.
“...My lord. Are you serious? You are allowing that child to go out.”
"Oh, that's right. Even if they were the Dukes of Weishaffen, they probably couldn't have extended their reach overseas. So, wouldn't it be okay sometimes?"
Byron paused for a moment, and then the sound of someone drinking something could be heard.
"Originally, to tame a hunting dog, you need more than just harsh discipline. Sometimes, you also need to know how to let go of the leash."
"Well then, that's right."
"Yes. Of course, it's dangerous to go alone, but with Laura and Cloud, there's no reason not to go out into the city."
Although Aila was truly delighted by the wonderful news, doubts soon began to creep into her mind.
It is unlikely that Byron would truly give her freedom.
No matter how satisfactory her recent actions may have been, Aila was the daughter of Byron's enemy.
But isn't he being too lenient these days?
He'll let her carry a weapon at all times, and he'll even let her go out when they go abroad.
It was a move that made one doubt its sincerity.
And that night, Aila suddenly understood why Byron had been so kind to her.
Besides that, she also learned another terrible truth.
It was thanks to Laura quietly slipping out of the tent while she was sleeping and eavesdropping on Byron and Cloud's conversation.
“...My lord. Are you serious? You are allowing that child to go out.”
"Oh, that's right. Even if they were the Dukes of Weishaffen, they probably couldn't have extended their reach overseas. So, wouldn't it be okay sometimes?"
Byron paused for a moment, and then the sound of someone drinking something could be heard.
"Originally, to tame a hunting dog, you need more than just harsh discipline. Sometimes, you also need to know how to let go of the leash."
"Well then, that's right."
Aila swallowed a laugh inwardly.
She thought it was strange that he seemed to be treating her too well these days, but it seems like it's time to give her the carrot over the stick.
‘...Treating me like a hunting dog is nothing new.’
She's been through it so many times that she's used to it now.
"Look forward to the future where that dog will bite your neck off," Aila said, focusing again on the sounds coming from inside the tent.
"Why, Cloud? Are you afraid that the girl might run away? Surely that foolish girl, who so firmly believes I'm her father, wouldn't do that, but even if she did, what's the point? You know I put a curse on her, don't you?"
Byron said in a mocking voice.
And Aila, who overheard that story, felt her heart sink to the floor.
A curse. Hearing this terrifying story for the first time, Aila felt a chill as if someone had poured cold water on her back, and lowered her hands.
As if there was some cursed mark there that she didn't know about.
"I know that's unlikely, but if that child betrays me and leaves... I'll just kill her before shr even says a word to anyone. If I just activate the curse, that child, wherever she is, will be dead in an instant."
Aila felt like she couldn't breathe.
Yes, even if he had brainwashed her from a young age into thinking he was her biological father, he should have realized long ago that he couldn't have kept his enemy's daughter by his side without any of those shackles.
And, the thing she was most afraid of was this.
The fear that even after she returns to the Duke's household, she will be forced to follow Byron because of this curse.
Shouldn't Roderick be killed even though she knows he's her biological father?
No... That won’t happen. It would be wiser for her to die alone.
It was while she was making that pledge.
Inside the tent, a hopeful story was heard, like a ray of light in the deep darkness.
“As for that curse, I...”
Cloud opened his mouth, his voice slightly choked with pain. His voice carried a hint of guilt.
"...Why? Oh, maybe you're doing this because you're afraid Ophelia will notice. That's all. Just lift the curse right before sending her to the Duke's house."
He mentioned her mother's name and said that he would lift the curse before sending her back to the Duke's house, in case her mother noticed.
‘...How did my mother notice?’
Aila bit her lip. She felt as if there was so much she didn't know about her mother.
As she was thinking about it, memories from her past life suddenly came to mind.
Just before entering the Duke's house, she remembered being taken to a shaman and having some unknown ritual performed to ensure her success.
'Was that a ritual to lift the curse?'
It wasn't certain, but after listening to the conversation now, it seemed like a pretty plausible guess.
If so, it was truly fortunate.
Her hands and feet were still shaking, and she was sweating coldly, but she felt as if she just held on a little longer; she could break this terrible curse.
'I should probably go back soon. Laura might wake up.'
If she woke up, it would be okay to make an excuse that she had to go to the bathroom, but if it was too late, it would be difficult to make an excuse.
Aila left Byron's tent behind and hurried back to her own bed.
It was late the next night when Byron's party reached the sea. It was not a dock, but a rocky shore.
For Aila, who had vaguely imagined a dock when she heard of a boat ride, this was a somewhat puzzling sight. It was her first time seeing the sea in person, but she had seen dockside scenes painted several times during her time as a Princess.
Although it was a little different from what she'd imagined, Aila found herself captivated by the seascape she'd never seen before. The darkness made it difficult to see far, but the white waves crashing in the moonlight were breathtakingly beautiful.
The sound of the waves sounded like a beautiful song.
That sound seemed to wash away the fear that Byron could die at any moment if he so chose.
The salty, pungent scent of the sea, the sound of the waves. Aila, entranced by these things, briefly lost sight of reality. She was brought back to reality when she saw a boat being prepared for smuggling.
She was so surprised that all other thoughts fled.
“You’re crossing the border on this boat?”
Aila had the exact same thought, but it wasn't she who brought it up. It was Laura, standing next to her, who spoke in a surprised voice.
That was understandable, for the boat was too small. It was a tiny ferryboat, nothing compared to the massive ships Aila had seen in pictures.
Going abroad on a narrow river or a small boat that's barely wide enough to cross? Is that even possible?
“No, this ship will only take us to the trade ship we were supposed to take to Inselkov.”
Cloud shook his head and answered.
The ship seemed too small and weak, but it seemed to be a temporary means of transportation.
Cloud continued his explanation, saying that because there are strict checks when boarding a trade ship heading overseas from the dock, there is no choice but to transfer in the middle.
“...Aren’t you going to leave? Are you planning to stay here all night?”
As Cloud's explanation became longer, Byron, who had been feeling uncomfortable, became angry and expressed his discontent.
“Excuse me. Please get on, Miss. We’re leaving now.”
Cloud held out his hand to Aila with a puzzled look on his face, and she took it and climbed onto the ship.
There were five people on board, including Aila. Byron, Cloud, and Laura were the only two. Aside from them, there was only one boatman.
Apparently, other people moved in different ways. Well, it made sense, since the five of them here were the only ones who were dangerous to others.
After ensuring everyone was on board, the boatman began to row. The small boat slowly moved away from the shoreline, and the land was soon swallowed up by darkness, disappearing from view.
Floating on the pitch-black sea on a dark night, relying on a small lantern, was a slightly eerie yet interesting experience.
How far along did they go? A bright light flickered in the distance. It was a signal from a trading ship.
“Can I go there?”
“Yes, please.”
When the boatman asked while looking at the light, Cloud nodded.
Soon, the small boat they were on reached the massive sailing ship. Upon seeing them, the sailors lowered a rope ladder from the deck.
Byron was the first to climb onto the boat, clumsily holding onto the ladder with his hooked prosthetic arm and his remaining hand, and then it was Aila's turn.
As everyone climbed onto the deck, a man who appeared to be the ship's captain greeted them politely.
"It is an honor to have you as my guest. Count Senospon has repeatedly told me to treat you well, as you are an honored guest."
Ayla studied the captain, intrigued by the unfamiliar accent. His tanned skin and distinctive speech suggested he was a foreigner, but his mention of Count Senospon suggested he was from the Inselkov Kingdom.
“Thank you. Please take care of it.”
Byron grumbled and replied. It was understandable that the captain would be offended by such an arrogant, nameless stranger, but he bowed and tried to please Byron.
“I’ve prepared water for you to wash in the cabin. Please come down.”
“Yeah. I was already really tired and wanted to rest, so this is good.”
Byron nodded, and a sailor led them to their cabin.
The room where Aila stayed with Laura and her mother was a simple room with three small beds and a small table.
The crew apologized, saying that the room was shabby because it was hastily prepared on a cargo ship, not a luxury cruise ship, but in fact, it was a luxurious room that was incomparable to the suffering she had suffered while sleeping outside.
After a long, deep wash in warm water, sleep came over her, and she lay down on her soft bed. Strangely, she felt the floor ripple.
Looking at the cabin, it was hard to believe that she was floating in the middle of the ocean, but the swaying sensation made her realize that she was on the vast ocean.
‘...It’s amazing.’
Although she felt a little pathetic for being so excited like a child, having been out in the ocean in a situation where she could die at any moment, Aila focused on the sensation of the waves rippling beneath her back.
She wanted to feel the sea a little more with her whole body, but unfortunately, she couldn't overcome her fatigue and soon fell asleep.
She thought it was strange that he seemed to be treating her too well these days, but it seems like it's time to give her the carrot over the stick.
‘...Treating me like a hunting dog is nothing new.’
She's been through it so many times that she's used to it now.
"Look forward to the future where that dog will bite your neck off," Aila said, focusing again on the sounds coming from inside the tent.
"Why, Cloud? Are you afraid that the girl might run away? Surely that foolish girl, who so firmly believes I'm her father, wouldn't do that, but even if she did, what's the point? You know I put a curse on her, don't you?"
Byron said in a mocking voice.
And Aila, who overheard that story, felt her heart sink to the floor.
A curse. Hearing this terrifying story for the first time, Aila felt a chill as if someone had poured cold water on her back, and lowered her hands.
As if there was some cursed mark there that she didn't know about.
"I know that's unlikely, but if that child betrays me and leaves... I'll just kill her before shr even says a word to anyone. If I just activate the curse, that child, wherever she is, will be dead in an instant."
Aila felt like she couldn't breathe.
Yes, even if he had brainwashed her from a young age into thinking he was her biological father, he should have realized long ago that he couldn't have kept his enemy's daughter by his side without any of those shackles.
And, the thing she was most afraid of was this.
The fear that even after she returns to the Duke's household, she will be forced to follow Byron because of this curse.
Shouldn't Roderick be killed even though she knows he's her biological father?
No... That won’t happen. It would be wiser for her to die alone.
It was while she was making that pledge.
Inside the tent, a hopeful story was heard, like a ray of light in the deep darkness.
“As for that curse, I...”
Cloud opened his mouth, his voice slightly choked with pain. His voice carried a hint of guilt.
"...Why? Oh, maybe you're doing this because you're afraid Ophelia will notice. That's all. Just lift the curse right before sending her to the Duke's house."
He mentioned her mother's name and said that he would lift the curse before sending her back to the Duke's house, in case her mother noticed.
‘...How did my mother notice?’
Aila bit her lip. She felt as if there was so much she didn't know about her mother.
As she was thinking about it, memories from her past life suddenly came to mind.
Just before entering the Duke's house, she remembered being taken to a shaman and having some unknown ritual performed to ensure her success.
'Was that a ritual to lift the curse?'
It wasn't certain, but after listening to the conversation now, it seemed like a pretty plausible guess.
If so, it was truly fortunate.
Her hands and feet were still shaking, and she was sweating coldly, but she felt as if she just held on a little longer; she could break this terrible curse.
'I should probably go back soon. Laura might wake up.'
If she woke up, it would be okay to make an excuse that she had to go to the bathroom, but if it was too late, it would be difficult to make an excuse.
Aila left Byron's tent behind and hurried back to her own bed.
***
It was late the next night when Byron's party reached the sea. It was not a dock, but a rocky shore.
For Aila, who had vaguely imagined a dock when she heard of a boat ride, this was a somewhat puzzling sight. It was her first time seeing the sea in person, but she had seen dockside scenes painted several times during her time as a Princess.
Although it was a little different from what she'd imagined, Aila found herself captivated by the seascape she'd never seen before. The darkness made it difficult to see far, but the white waves crashing in the moonlight were breathtakingly beautiful.
The sound of the waves sounded like a beautiful song.
That sound seemed to wash away the fear that Byron could die at any moment if he so chose.
The salty, pungent scent of the sea, the sound of the waves. Aila, entranced by these things, briefly lost sight of reality. She was brought back to reality when she saw a boat being prepared for smuggling.
She was so surprised that all other thoughts fled.
“You’re crossing the border on this boat?”
Aila had the exact same thought, but it wasn't she who brought it up. It was Laura, standing next to her, who spoke in a surprised voice.
That was understandable, for the boat was too small. It was a tiny ferryboat, nothing compared to the massive ships Aila had seen in pictures.
Going abroad on a narrow river or a small boat that's barely wide enough to cross? Is that even possible?
“No, this ship will only take us to the trade ship we were supposed to take to Inselkov.”
Cloud shook his head and answered.
The ship seemed too small and weak, but it seemed to be a temporary means of transportation.
Cloud continued his explanation, saying that because there are strict checks when boarding a trade ship heading overseas from the dock, there is no choice but to transfer in the middle.
“...Aren’t you going to leave? Are you planning to stay here all night?”
As Cloud's explanation became longer, Byron, who had been feeling uncomfortable, became angry and expressed his discontent.
“Excuse me. Please get on, Miss. We’re leaving now.”
Cloud held out his hand to Aila with a puzzled look on his face, and she took it and climbed onto the ship.
There were five people on board, including Aila. Byron, Cloud, and Laura were the only two. Aside from them, there was only one boatman.
Apparently, other people moved in different ways. Well, it made sense, since the five of them here were the only ones who were dangerous to others.
After ensuring everyone was on board, the boatman began to row. The small boat slowly moved away from the shoreline, and the land was soon swallowed up by darkness, disappearing from view.
Floating on the pitch-black sea on a dark night, relying on a small lantern, was a slightly eerie yet interesting experience.
How far along did they go? A bright light flickered in the distance. It was a signal from a trading ship.
“Can I go there?”
“Yes, please.”
When the boatman asked while looking at the light, Cloud nodded.
Soon, the small boat they were on reached the massive sailing ship. Upon seeing them, the sailors lowered a rope ladder from the deck.
Byron was the first to climb onto the boat, clumsily holding onto the ladder with his hooked prosthetic arm and his remaining hand, and then it was Aila's turn.
As everyone climbed onto the deck, a man who appeared to be the ship's captain greeted them politely.
"It is an honor to have you as my guest. Count Senospon has repeatedly told me to treat you well, as you are an honored guest."
Ayla studied the captain, intrigued by the unfamiliar accent. His tanned skin and distinctive speech suggested he was a foreigner, but his mention of Count Senospon suggested he was from the Inselkov Kingdom.
“Thank you. Please take care of it.”
Byron grumbled and replied. It was understandable that the captain would be offended by such an arrogant, nameless stranger, but he bowed and tried to please Byron.
“I’ve prepared water for you to wash in the cabin. Please come down.”
“Yeah. I was already really tired and wanted to rest, so this is good.”
Byron nodded, and a sailor led them to their cabin.
The room where Aila stayed with Laura and her mother was a simple room with three small beds and a small table.
The crew apologized, saying that the room was shabby because it was hastily prepared on a cargo ship, not a luxury cruise ship, but in fact, it was a luxurious room that was incomparable to the suffering she had suffered while sleeping outside.
After a long, deep wash in warm water, sleep came over her, and she lay down on her soft bed. Strangely, she felt the floor ripple.
Looking at the cabin, it was hard to believe that she was floating in the middle of the ocean, but the swaying sensation made her realize that she was on the vast ocean.
‘...It’s amazing.’
Although she felt a little pathetic for being so excited like a child, having been out in the ocean in a situation where she could die at any moment, Aila focused on the sensation of the waves rippling beneath her back.
She wanted to feel the sea a little more with her whole body, but unfortunately, she couldn't overcome her fatigue and soon fell asleep.
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