Chapter 21
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Diva Chapter: 21 Chapter Title: Demanding a New Campsite -----------------------------------------------------------------
He glanced back and forth between his superior's cold retreating figure and the faces of the citizens shooting scornful looks, then let out a heavy sigh and spurred his horse onward.
The 2nd Princess, who had been holed up inside the carriage as if staging a silent protest, finally made an appearance only when they had left the capital behind and were taking a break by the riverside, in the midst of setting up camp for the night.
The servants, busy pitching tents and preparing for the encampment, looked up at Talia with tense expressions.
True to her word about changing outfits multiple times a day, she was no longer wearing the dress from their departure at the imperial palace but a silk gown embroidered with golden threads.
Around her slender, pale neck gleamed an exorbitantly expensive necklace worth an entire castle, and on her birch-branch-thin wrists sparkled ornate jewelry studded with tiny diamonds.
Spotting her from afar, Edric's face fell in disbelief. They were about to have dinner and settle in for the night. What on earth was the reason for dolling up like this? He already felt drained by her utterly incomprehensible behavior.
Swallowing a sigh, he handed his reins to a squire and approached the princess. The woman, who had been scanning her surroundings, turned a fierce glare his way.
In that instant, Edric felt his throat tighten. Bathed in the fading sunlight, Talia looked like a being forged from fire and gold.
Her wheat-blonde hair, whipped by the fierce river wind, cascaded around her face in lavish golden waves, while her flawless ivory skin emitted a pale glow even amid the fiery sunset.
Unthinkingly, he took a step back. Everything about her seemed so fragile, as if she might shatter into sharp shards at any moment.
As a chilling premonition he couldn't put into words made him swallow dryly, a sharp voice slipped from her blood-red lips.
"I don't like it here. Move the campsite."
Her utterly absurd command snapped him back to reality.
He stiffened his spine rigidly. This woman was a poisonous mushroom disguised in glamorous finery. Lower his guard to her beauty, and he'd pay dearly.
Adopting a businesslike demeanor, he replied curtly.
"This is the campsite chosen by the Imperial Guard for safety. We can't scout for another location at this point."
"Who asked for your opinion?"
She shot him a gaze like icicles.
"I ordered you to move the campsite. Just obey my command!"
To muster his patience, he had to take a deliberate breath.
"Lord Sheerkhan holds all decision-making authority for this expedition. As I said, we cannot arbitrarily break formation."
"So if I get Barkas's permission, that'll be fine?"
She cut him off hastily and turned on her heel. It seemed she'd been looking for an excuse to pick a fight with Lord Sheerkhan from the start.
Edric hurriedly chased after the princess. He couldn't fathom why she was so desperate to stir up trouble on the very first day of the journey.
With wide strides, he overtook her in one go.
"Just what about this place is so displeasing to Your Highness?"
"Everything. I hate it all."
She clipped her words as she marched forward briskly.
"I hate being close to the water, and I hate being close to the forest. There'll be bugs crawling everywhere."
"How are we supposed to camp without water? Besides, griffons and harpies appear in this area. The forest serves as a natural barrier against large monster attacks..."
"What kind of safety is this? I've already been bitten twice by flying insects! Spending the night here means vermin will devour my skin. And what about those noises from the forest? I can't stand the rustling leaves, let alone birds screeching like that—how am I supposed to sleep?"
Edric stared down at the princess in stunned disbelief. Even a five-year-old throwing a tantrum wouldn't carry on like this. He desperately suppressed his rising irritation.
"We'll be camping like this for the next few days. If Your Highness doesn't adapt now..."
"Just move the campsite! Why should I have to put up with what I hate?"
She shrieked in a shrill voice and barreled across the camp like a racehorse charging ahead. He had to clench his fists to keep from stopping her by force.
"Everyone is exhausted after a full day of marching. We can't dismantle the tents and wander in search of a new site for such nonsensical reasons. Stop this childish nonsense and return to your carriage to rest at once."
Blocking her path, he spoke sternly on purpose, and her eerily beautiful face twisted faintly. Moments later, a stinging pain flared on his right cheek, accompanied by the crack of a whip.
He glared at her with a savage look. From the moment he was assigned as her guard knight, he'd braced for minor physical altercations. But it felt far worse than he'd imagined.
"How dare you give me orders."
Swallowing his humiliation with effort, he watched as she seized his collar and snarled right in his face.
"I'm the emperor's daughter, and you lot exist for my convenience. If I say march all night, you march till dawn—that's your fate. So shut your impertinent mouth and get lost."
She shoved him away hard and resumed walking along the riverbank.
Edric stared fixedly at her small nape with a hardened expression. Deep down, he wanted to hoist the insolent wench over his shoulder like his superior had done and toss her back into the carriage.
But he lacked the powerful backing to lay hands on imperial blood without repercussions.
Gazing piercingly at her receding figure, Edric let out a bitter sigh.
Could he endure this shrew's antics until the journey's end? His neck already throbbed.
She felt prickling stares on her back the entire time she walked along the river.
Talia whipped a sharp glance over her shoulder. Those who'd been peeking at her hastily turned away, pretending otherwise.
It was much the same as usual. People always treated her like a powder keg ready to explode. But today, those furtive, clinging gazes felt suspiciously off.
'There must be spies planted by Senevia among them.'
She scrutinized every face among her retinue. Perhaps they were all spies. Her mother was more than capable of that.
Her thoughts veered into wild speculation.
Senevia had spent years trying to dismantle Gares's support base. She might be using this chance to eliminate all obstacles in her son's path.
Her heart pounded unsteadily.
If her mother's targets were Gares or Aila, she wouldn't care. She'd even join the plan if needed. But if Senevia was after Barkas, even by a slim chance...
At that thought, Talia anxiously scanned the densely packed military tents.
She absolutely had to separate the campsites. Putting physical distance between them would make it harder for Senevia's spies to scheme overnight.
She quickened her pace. Soon, she spotted the gray stallion Toruk—Barkas's prized warhorse—tethered before a large tent, snorting noisily upon recognizing her. Passing it by, Talia stepped into the dimly lit interior.
The tent was impeccably neat, like a temple. She swept her gaze over the flickering candelabrum, the elegant storage chest, and the armor stand, then noticed a dark shadow behind the partition and strode toward it without hesitation.
"I want my campsite moved somewhere else. But my oh-so-noble knights say I can't go anywhere without Lord Sheerkhan's permission. It seems your men think the Roem Knights' commander outranks imperial blood. How did the Imperial Guard become such a pathetic, hierarchy-blind rabble..."
Brushing aside the partition and rattling off her grievances, Talia froze stiff the next instant. Barkas was shirtless, wiping water from his face with a towel.