Volume 2 Chapter 21 Escape
Dorothea and Eleonora stood at the front. Around Charles, a small group of elite soldiers formed a tight guard. Facing them ahead was John Paul, Dorothea's grandson, already in formation.
"Turn right at the next corner. Hurry."
"No matter how much you rush, it won't change anything, Your Majesty," Eleonora replied calmly.
"Who wouldn't panic if they heard the Suno people were coming?!"
Charles pressed the question—why were they even here? Eleonora answered without blinking.
"They're the best at amphibious landings. And skilled navigators. Even if someone escapes to sea, they'll chase them down."
"Guh... I can't even argue with that..."
Charles's speech slipped into his hometown accent from the rising tension. Dorothea quickened her pace, her sharp eyes reading him like a book.
"Protecting His Highness Arsène comes first, Your Majesty. If it comes to it... the queen consort may have to be left behind."
"I understand. But... I still want to bring Amelie back."
"Understood."
Just as they turned the corner, a loud voice shouted out. Two patrolling soldiers in uniform froze in shock when they spotted Charles.
"S-Sir Charles—!"
In an instant, Dorothea's fist struck upward, grazing one man's chin with a dull thud. At the same time, Eleonora slammed her sheathed sword down from her shoulder—there was a sharp crack of bone. Different techniques, same result: both soldiers fell unconscious.
"They too... serve Grandcud now," Charles muttered, turning his face away. These men once swore loyalty to the royal family. Perhaps now, they guarded the puppet king placed on the capital's edge.
No one spoke. In their hearts, they offered silent apologies for the timing.
Luckily, no more patrols appeared after that. Soon, they reached the royal residence.
John Paul stood before the sturdy door, already in position.
"Breach!"
With one strike, he shattered the lock. The hinges gave out, and the door crashed down with a heavy sound.
Immediately, four knives flew from inside the room—aimed straight at John Paul. With flawless motion, he caught all four between his fingers.
The throwers were two maids. Seeing their knives caught, they lifted their skirts and drew more blades from holsters hidden along their thighs.
"Stop! I'm your escort!" Charles shouted. "Can you hear me, Storyteller?!"
From behind a pillar, an old man stepped into view.
"Your Majesty. This way."
"Ah, you were guarding Amelie and Arsène. I'm grateful."
"You flatter me," the old man said with a bow. "With a coup underway, our strength is limited. Please, at least ensure their safety."
"None of us could have predicted such reckless betrayal. We'll escape from here. Bring them with us."
The Storyteller nodded and led them toward the door at the back of the room. The two maids received their knives back from John Paul, stashed them beneath their clothes, bowed, and stepped aside.
"Your Majesty!"
"Amelie!"
Charles ran forward. In Queen Amelie's arms, the young crown prince Arsène let out a cheerful cry.
"Is Arsène doing well?" Charles asked, lifting him.
"He's grown heavier."
"Drinking plenty of milk, then."
"Yes. He's healthy."
Their reunion was short-lived. Eleonora placed a firm hand on Charles's shoulder.
"We can't stay. Is there a way out of the palace?"
It felt like a scene from an adventure novel, but Charles shook his head.
"Not from this palace. Not in the Imperial City of Parisess."
Eleonora clicked her tongue. She turned to her soldiers.
"We'll exit through the front gate. Tie the horses to the carriage. Escort the King and Queen to the port. I'll stay and cover the retreat. Once you meet up with Narrow, follow his orders."
"General, if you stay, you'll be killed."
Some hesitated, but Eleonora cut off their protests with a sharp glare. Then Dorothea stepped forward.
"I'll stay as well. His Majesty's shadow will protect him. And with my grandson here, we'll be stronger together."
She gave John Paul a gentle push. The maids moved protectively around the Queen.
The elderly Storyteller turned to Dorothea and bowed.
"Lady Dorothea... the royal family will surely—"
"I get motion sickness in carriages," she said flatly, cutting him off.
Charles looked pained.
"Dorothea... I don't want to lose such a loyal retainer. Please, come back alive."
"Your Majesty. The one I've trained is much younger than this old woman. He's not quite at my level, but even my grandson received full mastery. You can rely on him."
Two horses were led from the stables and slowly hitched to the carriage, which began to roll forward.
Eleonora, the soldiers, and Dorothea moved faster than the carriage, heading directly for the main gate. A moving carriage stood out too much, and sure enough, the sentry spotted it and blew his whistle—but by that time, Dorothea was already in position.
She brought her palms together just below her navel, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
As the air began to stir around her, strands of her hair lifted in the breeze. A glowing orb formed between her hands.
"Go."
Dorothea whispered once, then thrust her hands forward without breaking her stance. The light orb shot out at an incredible speed, piercing the gate before the soldiers could even stop it, knocking them aside.
"What? Did you learn that from Master Turtle Hermit or something?"
"My master wasn't a hermit. Not sure about now, though. Now, go."
The carriage sped off, and the elite soldiers of Eleonora's squad ran alongside, forming a shield wall to protect the royal family and maids inside from any arrows.
John Paul, the coachman, skillfully guided the carriage to avoid hitting enemy soldiers.
"Alright then, time to show them some chaos. Don't chicken out, old lady."
"This is nothing. Like a morning walk for me."
The soldiers who were kicked aside groaned in pain. Reinforcements arrived, holding their spears ready.
"Capture the intruders!"
"Wait! That's Lady Dorothea!"
"Haha, we all have our positions, so don't hold back."
Dorothea smiled and kicked off the ground. She soared into the air and landed in front of the guards. Pressing her palm against one man's chest, she pushed him gently.
Blood spurted from every hole in his face, and he collapsed.
"Seven-hole bleeding. People can handle outside wounds, but internal ones are deadly."
The guards, terrified by such an unnatural death, shifted their aim to another target.
"Nooo!"
Eleonora caught the spear easily with her right hand and stopped it. The guard struggled with her grip as she lifted the spear—and the guard—with ease.
"Wh-what?!"
The panicked guard lost his grip and dropped to the ground. Eleonora then drove the spear into his throat.
"Next."
The guards felt helpless. How could they fight two monsters like these? They hesitated and slowly circled at a distance.
(Our goal is to stop anyone chasing the carriage. Even this standoff is fine.)
A long time passed, but no one dared to attack. The guards feared death; Dorothea didn't want needless killing and hoped the two sacrifices would be enough; Eleonora simply hadn't been the type to attack first.
Then, the unexpected guest moved.
"Yahaha!"
Axes flew over the guards' backs, piercing their armor and knocking several down.
"What's going on?"
"They're Suno people!"
Lightly armored Suno warriors raised their round shields and charged, swinging axes at the fallen guards' necks.
Among them, a tall man waved to Eleonora.
"Friend! I'm here!"
"Prince-King Haral!"
Haral, carrying a huge battle axe over his shoulder, ordered his Huskarls to slaughter the fleeing enemies. Smiling, he patted Eleonora on the shoulder.
"War is on! Treasure is ours!"
"Sorry, King Charles."
Eleonora casually handed over someone else's wallet and explained the situation to Haral. The carriage had fled toward the port, which was the worst case. There was even a chance of friendly fire.
"I recognize that flag. It's fine."
"Good. Let's trust them. Now, all that's left is the Duke of Grandcud."
As for the Duke of Grandcud, upon learning the royal family had fled, he had already left Teanuki. Soon, he would be declared an enemy and could only rely on the nobles gathering as shields to defend his stronghold.
By luck, he slipped away without being caught by either the Suno or Eleonora's armies.
But about a week after the rescue, the combined forces of Eleonora's 3,000 troops and the Suno's 5,000 had looted Teanuki Castle and updated their weapons and armor. The allied army now stood before the capital, Rubia.
Notes:
• John Paul - Male. Dorothea's grandson. A skilled escort and fighter, he is agile and capable of catching thrown knives with ease. He assists in the escape, showing bravery and loyalty to the royal family.
• Dorothea - Dorothea de Wafor. An elderly warrior and former member of The Twelve Sacred Blades, known as [Rock Breaker]. Her appearance is not detailed, but she is described as someone who has served for 3 generations. She has a respectful relationship with Bertrand and is considering retirement.
• Charles - Male. King of the West Clanf Kingdom. He has brown skin and a regal appearance, often seen in royal attire. His speech is accented due to his southern roots. He is melancholic and pragmatic, prioritizing economic stability over territorial expansion. He has a newborn son, Arsène, and a sister, Elodia. His relationship with his lords is strained due to his passive governance.
• John - A man who follows Eleonora, previously worked in security in Japan before being reincarnated. His connection to Eleonora is that he and his group have been following her to hunt and defeat bandits.
• Arsène - Male. Charles's newborn son, who ascends the throne after Charles is dethroned. His appearance is not detailed, and he is an infant, so his relationship with Charles is minimal.
• Amelie - Female. The Dowager Queen and daughter of Duke Grandcud. Her appearance is described as beautiful. She is resentful towards her father for confining her husband and taking her son. She has a strained relationship with Duke Grandcud.
• Narrow - Male. A former Viscount's son who severed ties with his family to serve Eleonora. Wears an iron mask due to past leprosy, now cured. Skilled in military strategy, governance, theology, and heraldry. Speaks formally and is determined to prove his worth. Has a distant relationship with his family. His combat style is unknown, but he is entrusted with leading a platoon of 300 men.
• Haral - The Chief of the Suno people, a tall and imposing figure. He values strength and generosity, prioritizing land, gold, and resources for his people.
• Huskarls - Heavily armored warrior skilled in melee combat, fighting as a frontline defender, similar to a knight.
• Teanuki - The royal capital of Dolbor, located in a bustling commercial area. It is a major port city with a castle overlooking the streets. The city is known for its economic prosperity and strategic importance.
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