Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 75 - 25. Last chance

Chapter 75: Chapter 25. Last chance

After the end of the family dinner, which did not go at all as originally expected, the dining room in the Imperial Palace was empty.

The emperor, who had been on the mend lately, felt unwell again, and even had to call a doctor. The Empress, who had turned terribly pale after serving the "meal," was also not in the best condition.

Kaena de Ronan was walking down the corridor, intending to leave the imperial palace. However, at that moment, she was called out.

— Kaena.

The girl slowly turned around.

The second princess was standing behind her.

— What’s the matter? — the heir to the throne asked casually.

— We need to talk, — Jerica’s tone was serious, — I’ll meet you at our place in half an hour.

And she left without even waiting for an answer. Kaena Gessen de Ronan watched her go with a grin.

"Our place?" Huh... Has there ever been such a thing? The girl was probably referring to the Lychee tree in the imperial garden, where the second princess often came as a child to disturb her peace.

"How annoying."

Kaena had no desire to have any small talk with her younger sister.

And yet, at the moment when she was about to just leave, the woman still decided to linger. She arrived at the appointed place with a slight delay. Jerica was already waiting for her there.

This place brought back old memories in the Crown Princess. Many years ago, when Kaena was still a helpless child forced to survive in the imperial palace, this secluded corner in the imperial garden was the only place where the princess could at least find peace for a while. It was rare for anyone to come here, so the Crown Princess’ abusers couldn’t get her here.

However, Kaena’s privacy was disrupted when the second princess began to come here often, trying to make friends with her older sister. However, her annoying attempts did not cause Kaena any feelings other than annoyance.

And now, many years later, they met here again.

— And what did you want to talk about? — Kaena decided not to waste time and get straight to the point. The thought that there was a man in her residence who was waiting for her return subconsciously made the girl want to get everything done as soon as possible.

— Kaena, what are you trying to achieve? — The girl with the blue eyes asked sharply, — Is this really your insidious plan again?

— hm... Could you be more specific? — The Crown Princess said lazily.

Jerica de Ronan exhaled loudly.

— Knowing what happened, I can’t believe you could just leave your father and mother alone. There must be something else I do not know.

«...»

— I’m asking you to stop and admit your guilt while you still have the chance,— the second princess said seriously, — It may not be possible to settle our differences peacefully, but at least Father may still recognize you...

Kaena laughed at her words.

— If you really called me just to say that, then you’ve wasted your time.

After her words, the clenched fists of the second princess trembled.

— In other words, it will never happen? — She concluded slowly.

Kaena de Ronan smiled icily.

— These pathetic attempts will lead to nothing. The man who now holds the throne should have thought in advance about the consequences of his actions. The fact that this family can still breathe the air is solely my merit.

— Are you saying that we’re still alive only because of your grace? — Jerica couldn’t stand it and grinned.

— My generosity knows no bounds. It has always been so. However, even that... It will end someday.

Having finished her monologue with these words, Kaena de Ronan left her under a tree and left. Jerica stared after the retreating silhouette, and she was filled with a feeling of hopelessness.

This was the last chance that the second princess gave her sister to come to her senses.

But in the end, it never happened. And if so... Then it didn’t make sense for her to hold back any longer.

"Unless there really is no other way... Then this time, Kaena, I really won’t spare you."

The girl’s blue eyes were filled with determination.

***

For Jacob Osman, the crown Princess of this Empire was more than just an employer, or a person to whom he swore allegiance. In a broad sense, he perceived her as the most important person in his life.

After all, it was only thanks to Kaena Gessen de Ronan that the life of a scum like him could change for the better.

Like most of the population of the eastern border, Jacob could eke out the same miserable existence as a rat in a gutter. Or perhaps he could have already died, having contracted some kind of disease or simply from banal exhaustion. However, the only reason this didn’t happen was because the Crown Princess became his benefactor.

In return for the loyalty he swore to the girl, Jacob gained something he had never even dared to dream of before. Namely, their place in this world. He had a goal worth waking up for every morning. Loyal comrades with whom he could stand shoulder to shoulder, fighting on the battlefield. After all, even bread and a roof over your head.

For all this, Jacob Osman was grateful to Kaena de Ronan, with whom fate had once accidentally brought them together in the slums, and who had allowed him to follow her.

And it was precisely because of how hard it was for him to get it that the knight was even more eager to protect what he had now.

Throughout their journey together, Jacob felt like he understood the Crown Princess well. Her ambitions and desires. The goal for which they have worked so hard for so many years. Jacob was ready to support Kaena in all this. However, their mutual understanding, which the knight thought they had, ended at the moment when something about the Crown Princess suddenly changed.

An unknown has appeared in an equation that previously seemed perfect. Something that Jacob Osman would never have thought of before.

Despite the fact that Kaena Gessen de Ronan always seemed so cool-headed and reasonable, there was something in her usual nature that was completely out of character for her. For the first time, the princess succumbed to a rush of emotions and fell in love. But, what is even more unusual, the object of her love was a pampered noblewoman from a noble family.

Previously, the girl had a special dislike for aristocratic society. Despite the fact that she herself had noble blood, the princess couldn’t stand the world of high society and their habits. It is possible that this was due to the origin of her mother, who was herself a commoner, and at one time was severely discriminated against by the nobility.

The Crown Princess considered them nothing more than scum who were arrogant because of their position.

For this reason, Kaena didn’t want to have anything to do with the nobles, much less maintain any kind of relationship with them. At least, that was the case until recently. Until the Crown Princess suddenly brought and declared her bride a woman who was that pampered noble lady.

Jacob Osman, of course, made inquiries about her first. Camille de Walt was the daughter of a duke, which already spoke for itself about her position. A girl who grew up in affluence and permissiveness since childhood. Jacob honestly couldn’t understand why Her Highness would fall in love with such a woman. And because of this, the premonition of impending disaster overtook him more and more.

"This woman shouldn’t be here." The knight was sincerely convinced of this. Otherwise, if she continues to stay here, she will only bring trouble to the Crown Princess and the entire Dark Army. As the people say: the ruddy face of a beauty is more terrible than any disaster. And it seemed to Jacob that this disaster was about to happen to them.

So wouldn’t it be better to avoid it?

— Let’s get out of here.

Jacob resolutely turned his back, without a shred of doubt. He was going to take full responsibility for his actions now. Even if the Crown Princess wanted to punish him later, he was willing to accept any consequences. Including even his own death. The knight was sure that he was doing all this for the benefit of his benefactress.

— B-but... But of course...

Mag froze in confusion, as it still seemed to him that what they were doing now was wrong.

Jacob repeated it again:

— It’s for the good of the lady. You don’t want Her Highness to get into trouble because of that woman, do you?

Mag swallowed.

— The fact that we’re going to let her live is more than enough. It’s better if she leaves here and never returns to the lands of Haylos... — As Jacob muttered this, he couldn’t deny that he’d been lying a little.

Getting out of here as a lonely, unaccompanied noble lady was more of a fluke. It is more likely that the girl will be abducted or killed before she even sets foot outside the village. Still, Jacob chose not to tell his partner about it.

After a moment’s hesitation, the knights left the street, leaving the duke’s youngest daughter to fend for herself.

***

"Have I been abandoned?"

This was the first thought that came to my mind as soon as I discovered that the Knights of the Dark Army accompanying me on a walk had suddenly disappeared. And since they couldn’t just disappear, that’s probably exactly what happened.

When I was convinced of this and stopped looking for them, I exhaled deeply.

"Well, even though I didn’t expect it, it’s better than it could have been." At least they just left me here instead of tying me up and killing me.

So is it really possible that I’m free now?

This exciting thought did not immediately fit into my head at first.

Could my escape happen even sooner than I expected? It looks like heaven is really on my side!

Even though I won’t be able to fulfill the promise I made to the main character, but in the end, who in their right mind would turn down such a chance? It is extremely difficult for a prisoner who has been untied to resist temptation. And I was the same.

Well, since everything turned out so well, then I have to get out of here as soon as possible! At the very least, I should have been able to leave the lands of Haylos before the Crown Princess returned here.

And then at the same time...

— What is such a beautiful woman doing here alone? — an unsightly-looking man who looked like a bandit, as expected, appeared next to me quite quickly. Without my bodyguards, I was left on this street like a piece of meat thrown into a hyena den.

— Are you talking to me?

— I see only one beautiful girl on this street, — he grinned nastily.

Well, that’s exactly what I needed.

— You seem lonely. Would you like to join me?

And, perhaps, this was the situation in which I answered without hesitation.

— Why not? — I smiled, — How about you show me the best tavern in your town?

«...»

The bandit stared at me as if he couldn’t believe that I had agreed so easily. But I’ve already developed my own plan.

— And if it comes down to it, I’m terribly hungry.