Chapter 5
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to simply abandon her at the camp?”
“Do you intend to ignite a war with the Marquis’s family by letting wild animals devour her?”
The knights’ debate intensified until a young one cut in sharply.
“That’s going too far! How dare you speak of a noble lady in such a manner?”
Yes, put them in their place, you callous brutes!
From my hiding spot behind the carriage, I bobbed my head enthusiastically in support.
But the triumph was short-lived. A presence loomed next to me. I whipped around and recoiled. A stern middle-aged knight with a commanding presence fixed me with a quiet, piercing stare.
Oh no! I wasn’t eavesdropping… not exactly…
He brushed past without a word, striding toward the group.
The knights snapped to attention at once.
“Vice-Captain!”
“You’ve arrived, sir!”
The man, revealed as the vice-captain, cast a quick look at the rundown carriage before demanding, “What’s the situation?”
Perel, my escort and the one leading this detail, paused before replying.
“…We’re accompanying Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, to Blenheim.”
An uneasy quiet stretched out, heavy with the vice-captain’s apparent disapproval. At last, he cleared his throat—a subtle cue for me to emerge.
Feigning innocence as if I hadn’t overheard a thing, I strolled out with practiced nonchalance.
“I greet Your Highness.”
The knight inclined his head in formal respect, his face a mask of neutrality.
“I am Hedrick Gastant, Vice-Captain of the Blenheim Knights.”
“Oh, p-pleased to meet you, Sir Hedrick,” I managed, pasting on a strained grin.
Up close, he embodied the ideal of a noble, steadfast warrior.
“So, Sir Hedrick, does that mean you’re joining our party?”
“I received word of your itinerary. I’ll guarantee your protection en route to Blenheim.”
Whether sincere or not, he didn’t strike me as the sort to ditch me in the wilderness. Relief washed over me in a soft exhale.
“Where are we stopping for the evening?”
“We’re aiming for Marhen. There’s an inn nearby, and we can pass through the gate the following day.”
The gate—a colossal enchanted gateway enabling swift transit across vast distances—was essential to our path.
“Marhen? Isn’t that rather distant? Sunset’s already upon us.”
“No other lodgings lie ahead. Miss it, and we’re reduced to roughing it in the open.”
“What about the Rowgee Inn? I hear it’s exceptional.”
Perel, visibly uneasy, ventured a careful objection.
“With respect, Your Highness, it sits right by the city gates and fills up early every evening.”
I flashed a winning smile.
“One can hope. Let’s detour and see for ourselves.”
“But Your Highness, the odds are—”
Perel appealed to Hedrick for backup, yet the vice-captain regarded me steadily and, to everyone’s surprise, inclined his head.
“We’ll make for the Rowgee Inn.”
Perel gaped, flabbergasted by the ready assent.
“But Sir Hedrick, even if rooms exist, they won’t suffice for our numbers.”
“Her Grace gets a room. The rest of us camp.”
“And should none be free…?”
“We press on to Marhen per the original plan.”
“Detouring from Rowgee so late means reaching Marhen deep into the night!”
Hedrick remained resolute, unmoved. Perel yielded with poor grace.
“Ready the departure for Rowgee Inn,” Hedrick commanded.
No outright rebellion surfaced, but I caught the resentful stares from more than a few knights. My push to inspect a packed inn had irked them.
As Perel guided me back to the carriage, he lingered, words on the tip of his tongue, then closed the door in silence.
Such a gentle soul.
Perel plainly pitied me. I wasn’t oblivious; to them, I was the unwelcome Grand Duchess. He likely fretted that my willfulness only deepened their disdain.
Hedrick’s quick capitulation nagged at me, though.
He’s no doubt reasoning, “If you choose this, face the fallout.”
My confidence held firm.
At the Rowgee Inn, it’ll all fall into place.
A smug curl touched my lips as I gazed from the carriage window.
They’re in for quite the shock.
“We’ve arrived, Vice-Captain.”
“Any rooms open?”
“Afraid not, sir. A big party’s taken them all.”
Leon, the freshest knight, reported back with a sheepish look. The same one who’d spoken up for me before, his zeal undimmed by inexperience—son of Marie, or so the whispers went.
From horseback, Hedrick eyed my carriage.
This so-called notorious Grand Duchess defied the tales. No wild recklessness or vapid folly—just youth and green innocence.
Stubborn, though. Was her fixation on this famed inn mere whim, or a bid to assert dominance over the knights? Hedrick couldn’t tell.
Better than tantrums demanding a return to the capital, at least.
With a weary sigh, he accepted the inevitable.
“We’ll dine here, then push on to Marhen.”
The troupe readied to enter the lively Rowgee Inn.
Perel neared my carriage to break the bad tidings.
“Your Highness, no vacancies. We’ll eat, recuperate briefly, and continue to Marhen.”
Will she descend gracefully, or dig in her heels about exhaustion?
Hedrick passed his reins to an attendant and subtly tuned in for the Grand Duchess’s reply.
“What? Oh… I see!”
Her words jolted Perel; he bolted inside without delay.
Soon, the aide dashed back to Hedrick, agitation plain.
“Sir Hedrick, Her Grace the Grand Duchess… she’s secured rooms for us.”
“Come again?”
The Grand Duchess booked rooms?
“Explain.”
“She reserved accommodations at the inn—for everyone. Rooms and supper too.”
“…?”
Hedrick and the knights swiveled toward the Grand Duchess, stunned.
She met their shock with a crafty grin.
Curiously, that impish smile—uncommon on noble faces—fit her to perfection.
“Plenty to go around, so seconds are no trouble.”
The jovial innkeeper set down a tempting array of starters on the broad table. Trailing him, staff delivered roasted meats, savory pies, and crisp vegetable accompaniments.
The knights eyed the bounty, faces inscrutable.
I figured they’d show some awe… Did I misjudge?
Swallowing my letdown, I spoke as their commander.
“Delighted to meet the renowned Blenheim Knights at last. I anticipate a fine collaboration.”
Leon, the rookie, betrayed his ravenous state, gaze flicking hungrily to the dishes like a famished stray.
“No lavish feast, but eat your fill and recharge for the night.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Hedrick voiced calm gratitude amid the strained hush.
“Her Grace has arranged this for us—partake without restraint.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Grateful, ma’am!”
Hedrick’s permission broke the ice; the rigid knights at last tucked in.
No overt joy or thanks emerged, but appetite won out as they attacked the food with gusto.
Fresh from the capital that morning, they’d paused only at the Duke’s residence before racing to the cathedral—no real respite or meal in between.
They’re famished, poor things.
Watching them devour was heartening, at least.
Leon, cheeks bulging with steak, lunged for the chicken platter beside me. Our eyes locked; he halted, flushing at his lapse in decorum.
I preferred this raw honesty to the stilted noble suppers, all fork-flourishes and pretense. I nudged the dish his way encouragingly. He nodded thanks and claimed a generous helping.
His valiant chew-through-the-chaos was strangely charming.
So you’re my earlier champion. Stuff yourself silly.
My private amusement faded as Perel ventured tentatively, “Your Grace, how on earth did you secure the rooms?”
“Oh? I dispatched a runner ahead to handle it.”
“But how did you anticipate…?”
“That we wouldn’t turn back tonight?”
“…Precisely.”
I shot him a teasing sideways look.
“I did some homework on your group.”
The knights’ utensils stilled.
In a heartbeat, the table’s budding warmth chilled to frost.
