I glared at them with a hard, hardened face.
"What do you think? Didn't you hang it up for us to see?"
The men who were clutching the bowl of porridge and staring at the words shot fiercely, awkwardly avoiding their gaze.
I snorted, pushed Barcas' arm away, and limped to the front of the carriage.
Barcas, who was chasing after me, grabbed my elbow. I looked up at him with a nervous face.
An ordinary lady would have collapsed in shock or looked away from the corpse. Is he trying to criticize him for showing inappropriate behavior as a Grand Duchess?
He gave me a wary look, but Barkas gently turned my back.
"From here on, you have to travel on horseback."
While I was frozen by the unexpected words, he led me to the place where the horses were lined up.
I spoke urgently
"I can't ride a horse!"
"Don't worry. Your Highness will ride with me."
He whistled lightly, and Tork, who was grazing in the pasture, approached him with a black mane.
I stared at the gray warhorse that looked like it was made of twisted steel, like a terrible monster.
Tork was a beast on a different level from the sweat-blooded horse of Nornek that Gareth was dragging for show.
He is more plump than a normal horse, has a violent personality close to that of a wild horse, and even has an arrogance that looks down on creatures other than Barcas...
I hated this ferocious word that Barcas was pampering. And it was the same with Tork.
As soon as I saw it, I hurriedly turned around to avoid the wild snort of the horse. However, he immediately grabbed me.
"From now on, the road will be difficult. You won't be able to last half a day in a carriage."
"It's better to fall down than ride such a dirty and smelly beast!"
A few Easterners who were being carried on the back of horses from a short distance gave me suspicious eyes. They couldn't believe that there were people in the world who hated horses.
They say they are a people who are crazy about horses.
I gritted my teeth.
"Why don't you let this go right away?"
Barcas let out a short breath and hugged me, and placed me on the saddle.
I screamed and clung to Tork's neck.
Behind me, Barcas pulled my stiff body into his chest. I forgot my shame and wrapped my arms around his waist. I felt like Tork was going to throw me to the floor right away, and my hips went numb.
"I, please put me down."
"Lean back comfortably. I won't drop you."
I raised my head tightly and gave him a fierce gaze. I wanted to put a stick on it, but I couldn't move because I wondered what would happen if Tork went on a rampage.
I spat out each letter with my teeth.
"Please get off immediately!"
Barcas pretended not to hear me and swung the reins. I hurriedly closed my mouth, fearing that I might bite my tongue.
My vision swayed unsteadily with the horse's movements. I felt a little dizzy and closed my eyes, but I heard a familiar voice from afar.
"All preparations are complete. Do you want to leave right away?"
He was a vassal named Darren.
Barcas nodded at him.
"Divide the unit into two. Half of them follow me, and the other half drag the wagon to follow."
According to Barcas's instructions, the cavalry moved in unison.
I, who was watching with my eyelids open, found several corpses hanging on one side of the town square and froze in my tracks. At that time, my vision was blocked again.
"Don't look at it."
I looked up at him with a firm face.
Barcas, who lightly spurred his words, spat out dryly.
"They have plundered this village many times. It was displayed to relieve the anger of the residents and to warn other looters, not to show it as a spectacle."
I turned my head away with my mouth shut. Barcas, who had been looking down at me for a moment, soon drove his horse up the hill.
As the square where the corpse hung gradually faded out of sight, a strange sense of relief came over me. I couldn't understand myself. Am I being drawn to death or feeling fear?
I looked at the seemingly peaceful scenery of the village. A wind that smelled of grass blew in from somewhere. The cries of the beasts that had been heard all night were faintly mixed into it.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
Will those sinners also be reborn as beasts and sing songs for someone?
Maybe someday I will too...
Looking at the lush forest shining blue, I immediately shook off my vain thoughts with a wry smile.
***
The tour of the territory was coming to an end.
After visiting all the large and small villages in the east and west, the cavalry turned north and advanced towards our final destination, Tarlin.
Soon after, the largest city in the East and West appeared over the horizon.
Seeing the magnificent gray walls, several cavalrymen let out loud cheers.
"You can spend a little more comfortably tonight."
Darren pulled the reins and slowed down, and shouted in a bright voice. Without saying anything, Barks turned his horse's head to look at the herd that followed. A luxurious travel carriage came into view among the long rows of wagons.
When they passed through the rugged area, he forced her to sit on the saddle, but she was so weak and scared that she couldn't last for two hours and fell off. In the end, he had no choice but to put her back in the carriage.
With a faint sigh, Barcas spurred his words again.
Eventually, the walls surrounding the city were so close to each other that they formed a continuous barrier. Barcas raised one arm to signal. The cavalrymen immediately raised a flag embroidered with the black horse's coat of arms. Soon after, the gates with iron frames opened wide, revealing a complex cityscape before them.
"You have had a lot of trouble coming a long way!"
As they moved along the main road, they were greeted by the city's security guards. Barcas accepted their welcome with a light nod.
"Who is in charge of this city?"
"This is Lord Temuran. He is a caretaker appointed by your father himself."
A middle-aged man who appeared to be the captain of the guard replied in a calm tone.
"My lord is currently in poor health and is recuperating in Tarlin Castle. He told me that he couldn't meet you in person and that he asked for forgiveness."
Barcas looked at the citadel towering in the center of the city. It looked quite magnificent, but it seemed a bit too much to accommodate hundreds of knights.
He gave instructions to Darren.
"I think we should leave the minimum number of people and find separate accommodations for the rest. See if you can rent the entire inn."
"I understand."
Darren left behind a dozen elite knights and Lucas Raedgo Sheerkan and headed to the outskirts of the city.
Barcas nodded at his brother, who had become visibly emaciated over the past few weeks.
"Don't stand behind, come to my side."
"Can't I stay at the inn with Darren either..."
"Don't let me say it twice."
His brother was killed, and he slowly approached. Barcas, who had been looking at him with cold eyes, turned his gaze back to the captain of the guard.
"Now let's take the lead."
"Oh... Please come this way."
The captain of the guard hurriedly walked.
As Barcas followed him into the city center, he saw a wide square and a huge citadel.
Barcas jumped off his horse and approached the carriage that stopped on one side of the clearing. As he carefully opened the door, he saw a woman limping on the seat.
He naturally supported her back. She rubbed her eyes and spat out a nasal beauty.
"...Did we arrive?"
Barcas nodded lightly, then slipped his other arm under her knee, gently lifting her ridiculously light body. Her slender forearms were wrapped around his neck as if it were a matter of course.
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