Chapter 22
I called for a coach and headed to the location I had arranged with Ezet. When I got out of the carriage, raindrops fell steadily. It seemed like a gentle spring rain, yet an inexplicably grim atmosphere hung in the air.
‘Maybe I’m just on edge because of the escape ahead.’
Pushing through the rain, I spotted Ezet waiting for me outside the café.
Why wasn’t he waiting inside? He looked so forlorn standing there. I waved and approached him.
“You should be waiting inside. Why are you out here? We have a lot to talk about. Shall we go in?”
Ezet only looked at me with a troubled expression. He didn’t seem willing to go inside. I grabbed his arm, urging him in, but he didn’t move. He just stood silently under the café’s awning.
“What’s wrong?”
I wondered if the café was full, but it was early morning and there were plenty of empty seats.
“You know we don’t have time for this. Let’s go in.”
Why was he acting like this all of a sudden? I tried to push him impatiently, but Ezet didn’t take a single step.
Showing obvious frustration, I tried to force him inside.
“There’s no need to go in.”
What? I had something to give him—why would he say there was no need to go inside?
I didn’t have time for this petty wordplay. I frowned and grabbed his arm again. Just as I opened the door…
“All ship departures have been canceled.”
“…What?”
“For the next month, no ships will be able to sail.”
What? My grip on Ezet’s arm loosened. My body reacted before my mind could fully comprehend what she had just said. It felt like my heart had plummeted to the floor.
That can’t be. Is the ship unable to sail just because of the rain? But this spring rain shouldn’t prevent a ship from leaving. The world in front of me wavered.
I clutched Ezet’s arm tightly.
“Explain clearly! What do you mean the ships can’t sail?!”
“Last night, the sea monster Ketaclos appeared. …I’ll find a way to repay the money you lent me.”
Ketaclos appeared? That’s impossible.
‘That’s the incident where the heroine’s brother dies.’
Ezet gritted his teeth, ready to fight the monster, but it never appeared.
My gaze shifted from Ezet.
‘Then… who is this?’
If it were truly the heroine’s brother, he should already be on a ship. The heroine, enraged by the news of the monster, wouldn’t be stopping me but hunting the monster instead.
The rain’s patter sounded loud in my ears.
‘Who this person is doesn’t matter at all.’
Whether the Ezet in front of me was the real heroine or not, whether the story had changed, none of it mattered to me now.
I ran straight out from under the café awning into the rain. Since I had sent the carriage back, I needed to find a regular coach.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Ezet stopped me. The rain hit my face. She hadn’t even opened an umbrella and followed me through the rain, clutching my wrist to impede my progress.
I flicked my arm, trying to free my hand. She held it stubbornly. It didn’t hurt, but it was annoying.
Gritting my teeth, I said,
“To the sea. I have to go to the sea. So, let go of me!”
I needed to see with my own eyes whether the departure had been canceled.
“It won’t help to go.”
“I’ll decide that with my own eyes.”
The rain intensified. Even so, Ezet didn’t let go. I prepared to kick her in the shin just to free myself.
She finally opened the umbrella over me, tilting it so fully toward me that she still got soaked herself.
“I’ll come with you.”
Her stubborn eyes said she was determined.
“Do as you like.”
I didn’t care whether she came or not. Saying she was coming and rushing toward the sea was more important.
Only then did she release my wrist, continuing to trail behind me while holding the umbrella over me.
Had I been calmer, I might have suggested we share the umbrella, but my urgency to move forward left no room for consideration.
I ran blindly, making it even harder for her to hold the umbrella in the pouring rain.
At the carriage rental, I stopped abruptly in front of the driver, breathing heavily.
“To the Lowal Dock. Two passengers. I’ll pay ten times the usual fare. Please go as fast as possible.”
“If you plan to sail, you should turn back. Didn’t you read the morning paper?”
The driver bowed respectfully to me, looking like a noble. I ignored his polite warning.
“Never mind. Just tell me which carriage to take.”
Seeing me drenched and impatient, the driver stopped trying to argue.
“…Take the one at the very front.”
As soon as I had the information, I ran straight to the carriage. The driver tried to stop me.
“Oh, you’re soaking wet. Sitting immediately will ruin the seat. Wipe off a bit with this and place it under you.”
The driver handed us bath towels from somewhere. I wiped off roughly and jumped into the carriage.
The regular carriage wasn’t suitable for long distances.
It jolted violently, and occasionally slowed as if it had hit puddles.
Other than the noise, the carriage was silent. No one spoke until we reached the dock.
Occasionally, the carriage shook so violently I almost fell; Ezet caught me and asked if I was okay. That was all.
When we arrived at the dock, the rain had momentarily stopped, but the dark clouds suggested it wouldn’t last.
I jumped out of the carriage and ran toward the port.
I saw people unloading cargo frantically from the ship. Armored knights were controlling the crowd.
Seeing it for myself made it painfully real—ships truly could not sail. This cruel reality hit me, making my head spin.
“…No.”
I ran toward the coast without thinking. Ezet tried to stop me.
“Milady.”
“I have to go. How can I not? You’re a knight!”
“…Milady.”
“Let go! I’ll even use a raft if I have to!”
“It’s dangerous.”
I didn’t even have the energy to cry. My body was completely drained.
‘How did I survive a whole week?’
My legs wobbled; Ezet supported me.
I stared blankly at the sea. The ships were there, the money was there, I just had to go. Then I could finally leave this place forever.
It felt empty. Everything had collapsed so utterly that I couldn’t think of what else to do. I freed myself from Ezet’s grasp.
After staring at the sea for a while, I finally accepted reality.
“Let’s go home.”
Where was home for me? Saying it out loud made me laugh at myself.
The carriage driver, who seemed to have been waiting, welcomed me with a knowing look. Even when I offered to pay extra, he just took the money.
I leaned my head against the carriage wall. As the carriage jolted violently, I lifted my head.
I slowly regained some awareness but still lacked the will to act.
As the carriage jolted again, I nearly hit the ceiling, but Ezet caught me in time.
After making sure I was safe, he returned to his seat without showing any emotion. I followed his calm figure with my eyes.
“…Sir Ronan Philaxis.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him. Only now did I start to question Ezet’s true identity.
“Can you show me your neck? I need to check something.”
Ezet hesitated at my sudden demand but finally lifted his collar slightly, perhaps humoring my crazed state.
There was nothing. No necklace—just bare skin.
I had suspected there might be no necklace, but seeing nothing made my mind go blank again.
I unconsciously grabbed his collar to inspect more closely.
Still nothing.
Ezet looked at me as if to ask if that was enough. I released my grip and sank onto the seat.
Clinging to a last hope, I asked,
“…Are you not carrying a necklace in your pockets? Around your ankle…?”
“I don’t carry such things.”
“Why…? I just want to check.”
Ronan looked at me as if wondering why I was like this, but complied. He rolled up his pants leg and showed me empty pockets. Truly, there was nothing.
“Why… nothing?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
My head spun, feverish.
I scanned him, but found no anomalies. I let out a hollow laugh.
Finally, I asked,
“Who volunteered? Someone has to be offered to Ketaclos, right?”
Ronan’s eyes sharpened.
“How do you know that?”
“I’m asking, just answer. Who volunteered?”
“…Sir Beta Minota volunteered.”
Who was that? I laughed hollowly, tears welling up.
I couldn’t ask anymore and stayed silent. None of this made sense.
“…Who are you, really?”
My question should have seemed strange, but he answered calmly.
“I am Ronan Philaxis. Milady, you seem very agitated.”
Tears streamed down my face. Seeing me cry, the normally stoic Ronan—yes, Ronan, not Ezet—started showing signs of concern. His eyes widened as he seemed unsure what to do.
‘Why isn’t he Ezet? Why?’
I asked this question internally, unable to voice it.
I realized things had been off from the start.
For whatever reason, Ronan had not been chosen as the offering. That meant he wasn’t going to die.
Ezet wasn’t wearing the necklace and hadn’t entered the original story yet.
And because Ronan wasn’t the offering, Ezet had no need to wear the necklace.
Everything had completely fallen apart.
“I’ll find another way to leave the country. So don’t cry.”
Ronan raised and lowered his hands repeatedly, clearly flustered. His hand hovered near my face.
Told not to cry, I sobbed even harder.
“Can’t I even cry freely?”
I knew I shouldn’t scold him, but I was frustrated. How am I supposed to live now? You’re not even the heroine.
“…Then cry if you must, but let me comfort you.”
Ronan said something strange. I didn’t understand how he could comfort me, but he said it was okay to cry, and I did so uncontrollably.
Ronan carefully wiped the tears from my face. Feeling even more grief, I grabbed his hand and sobbed. He gently patted my shoulder.
