Published at 31st of December 2020 04:35:04 PM
423 The Emperor’s Daughter
When I heard the term floating ship, I thought it seemed vaguely similar to an airplane . Well, I thought that if it could fly, it would be something looking alike, but I was clearly losing my sense of imagination .
However, the floating vessel I saw from up close was in the shape of a real ship . It was spacious with a real ship’s structure and even had rooms for people to stay . However, I had to say, though, man, the facilities were good; now I knew why this was so popular .
I just wondered why they didn’t use it for military or commercial purposes, but I realized why once I rode it .
Unlike airplanes, the floating ships soared and did not descend to the ground . Thus, we couldn’t go wherever we wanted; even if we did reach the place we wished to go to, the ship wouldn’t unload people or things .
It was also too high up in the sky, so it couldn’t hold heavy cargo .
Even if it could, it couldn’t hold much . It was made solely to carry people and their luxury items .
The speed wasn’t too slow when compared to an airplane . It took only three days to travel from Ancief to Schertogenbosch, which was supposed to take three years by land and three months by boat .
I realized how good it felt to win in such a civilization .
Having inventions was a good thing .
“Ah, fun . ”
Sometimes the wind was strong, and the boat would move along with it, making me feel sluggish due to motion sickness, but the three days I spent on the ship was fun . It felt like I was on a cruise ship . It was also fun to look down from the deck .
Uhm, should I travel using the floating ship when I returned?
“This is fun to ride . ”
“Right, Valer? It’s great . ”
Unlike me and Valer, who were excited, Havel, who’s standing beside me, seemed tired . Meanwhile, my dear Assisi stood beside me despite his motion sickness and pale expression . It didn’t seem like he was that kind of man, but it was true that riding ships like this was enough to make his stomach churn
The dignity of a black knight .
“Shall I go over and find a place now?”
Valer asked while stretching .
Since we just descended from the floating ship, it was hard for me to believe that I had really arrived at the Northern Empire called Schertogenbosch .
Looking up to the sky, I saw a translucent shimmer right under the blue sky .
It was God’s Wall, protecting the place . It was the very guardian that made Schertogenbosch the greatest empire in the north .
I had always heard about it, but this was my first time witnessing it . Would it be okay if I admit how protected I felt on these walls?
“Where is this?”
“Lorlang, the satellite city, one of the busiest cities in the north . After a day’s wagon ride, we’ll reach the capital, Illumenain . ”
At Havel’s question, Valer answered right away .
I looked at both of them .
Unlike Assisi, who continued to be hostile, Valer didn’t hate nor like Havel . Still, it was nice seeing them behave .
Well, he might be a little stupid, but he was Ferdel’s son . Perhaps knowledge ran in their veins .
“The capital, huh . let’s just look around for a day and go to another city . ”
Of course, the capital was the best place to visit, but it felt a bit scary to be roaming around close to the Imperial Palace . I was careful when it came to meeting people, and I didn’t see others often . It was more of a problem for Valer since people knew him because of his yearly visits .
At my words, Valer scratched his head .
“Okay . Ah, will you go to the Holy Land?”
“I’m already here, right? Of course I’ll go!”
It was like going to France; no one should ever miss the Eiffel Tower!
Valer smiled at my answer . It was like seeing a cute younger brother; I felt butterflies in my stomach .
This guy! I was his sister!
“Then, while you’re traveling around the city with my uncle, His Majesty and I will look for accommodations and other things . ”
“What is that…”
Havel tried to refute Valer’s one-sided declaration, but in the meantime, I walked away and left Havel with Valer .
“Right, great thinking . Come back safe!”
Without Valer, Assisi and Havel would have been tough to deal with . He saved me . That’s good thinking, Valer!
Valer smiled at me and pulled Havel away . The king was clearly dissatisfied, but he didn’t refuse Valer . Havel’s bodyguards, too, went along with him, and in an instant, Assisi and I were left on our own .
Uh? Uhm, this seemed very much like a date?
“Assisi, can we take a look over there?”
The other side looked like a market, but I treaded carefully since I didn’t know the city well .
Looking back at Assisi, I realized how hard he was staring at me with a stern gaze .
His gaze was too severe for me to bear .
“Miss Ria . ”
“Huh?”
“Your Majesty must be worried . ”
He spoke the truth; I sighed . I took a deep breath and turned back—Assisi’s eyes met mine .
“Assisi . ”
Assisi’s expression softened . He looked down and asked .
“Aren’t you worried about him, Miss Ria?”
“Hmm…”
It would be a lie if I said that I wasn’t worried .
To be precise, I was more worried about the people around my dad, the ones he would punish .
Above all, Serira and my maids would undoubtedly have to take responsibility for what happened .
Even if they would have time to prepare, I couldn’t help but be worried about how violent Caitel could be . Of course, I was concerned about him .
“I am worried, but I don’t want to go back . ”
Yes, I was worried, but I didn’t want to go back .
“Even when you are done playing around like this?”
It was what I honestly felt .
Thinking about what my dad would do was making me feel stuffy . I was cherished, and he pampered me, but then, I escaped from the palace and wandered around other countries .
“Your Majesty won’t sit still . ”
Was Assisi on my side or dad’s?
I knew it was childish to ask that, but I couldn’t help it; he was guilt-tripping me into going back . Besides, the water had already been spilled .
I sighed .
“That is right . Still, there are things called “face and prestige” in the Empire, and I already spoke about running away from home . Would he seriously look for me without alerting anyone and give up?”
“He won’t give up . ”
Assisi responded .
I spoke as much as I could, but I immediately realized how wrong I was wrong when I said it out loud; the probability of him not searching me was nil . I knew my dad too well to have such an unrealistic thought .
“Okay . Well, I think so too . If my dad would ever give up, I doubt that would happen until the world ends, but you know, I am in the North, dad might not be able to find me so easily . ”
Even with my answer, Assisi just looked at me . I smiled as brightly as I could while still pouting .
“Don’t worry . I’m just going to play a little bit and go back . Treat this sorta like a vacation . Okay?”
In the end, Assisi changed his mind .
It didn’t seem like he was trying to persuade me . However, if he tried, I might be hurrying back home already . Suddenly, I felt curious about something .
“How come it didn’t take much persuasion to get you onboard, Assisi?”
I was already curious about this before our escape, but I didn’t really ask him because I didn’t want to seem brutish . As if he knew what was bothering me, he turned back and gave me the answer .
“I heard something from Ferdel . ”
Huh? Ferdel?
That’s a name I hadn’t thought of in a while; I was curious why he brought him into the conversation . Thus, I nodded for him to continue .
“He said that people who have clear self-control and curiosity shouldn’t be locked up; people like Princess should be released to seek the world while the others help them . ”
I had never heard of this before . I was honestly surprised .
For Fardel to think of me that way…
“I think so too . After all, you always do your very best . ”
That wasn’t true . Sometimes, I laze around . I felt nice to hear such a good evaluation about me . Of course, it was nice to receive praises, but since I always received them, such imperial compliments didn’t mean much to me anymore . I did what I wanted to do . Hmm .
“His Majesty will also know in time . ”
Assisi looked down .
“He just might have some trouble accepting it . ”
I really wanted for my dad’s heart to be touched . Of course, Assisi’s words weren’t out of line, but…
Would it be okay for me to say that I understood my dad’s logic for locking me up? Even then, I didn’t intend to live in his arms .
“He needs to accept the fact that his daughter has grown up and that he has to let her go, but he just hates that idea . ”
I smiled . ‘Fool . Let whom go?’
I sighed for nothing . None of us were wrong; it’s just difficult for the two of us to get along .
We smiled, thinking that the heavy part of the conversation was done .
I smiled .
“Then, what about you, Assisi?”
Assisi raised his eyebrows .
Again, our eyes met .
“Isn’t Assisi upset?”
“I am…”
Assisi looked down . His speech blurred . It seemed like answering it was difficult for him .
What could it be? The answer?
I was staring attentively to hear his answer, but Assisi moved ahead .
Huh?
“From here, I can guide you . This is a place I have been to before . ”
“Uh-huh?”
I was confused when I realized how he was trying to avoid answering me . No, Assisi, he shouldn’t leave me hanging like that! He should be more considerate of me; that was my first time there!
“Assisi!”
Flustered after seeing Assisi walk ahead, I ran until I bumped into the person beside him .
Ugh .
Luckily, I only bumped my shoulder at them, but the breeze made me feel dizzy as it hit my face .
Ah, my head .
Thanks to that, the robe I was wearing peeled off . I hurriedly fixed it and bowed my head .
“I am sorry . ”
Since my hair color brought others’ attention, I tried to keep myself as hidden as possible . When I recovered my balance and covered myself up again, I looked up .
Oh, holy shit!
I stiffened . The other person was just as shocked and confused .
Although half of his face was covered in white cloth, I couldn’t check-in details, but I was sure I had seen those exposed eyes before .
It couldn’t be, right?
I knew it was impossible, but I still found it difficult to shake off my suspicion . A name was coming through my mind, but I didn’t want to believe it .
I met someone I was familiar with in the enormous northern empire?
What kind of person did I end up meeting?
No, it couldn’t be . No matter how wide Schertogenbosch was, how likely would it be to meet him?
“Miss Ariadna?”
However, at the next moment, I realized who it was .
“… uhhh?”
God had abandoned me once again . I was ruined!
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