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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: How to Avoid the Trap (2)
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As Ariana had expected, the carriage arrived in a small city that evening.
As the Bronte Ducal family's carriage entered the city gates, people gathered to watch.
It seemed news of the Bronte family hadn't yet reached this far, as Count Godion, the city lord, welcomed them warmly. Thanks to Count Godion's hospitality, they were able to stay at his estate.
The servants busied themselves unpacking the necessary luggage, and the coachmen led the tired horses to the stables to rest.
While everyone moved busily, Ariana stood still. The Duke and Duchess Bronte had gone into the estate with only their two daughters, leaving Ariana alone.
"Young lady, you should come inside too."
Rosalyn whispered softly, and Ariana shook her head.
"I think I'll be more comfortable just staying out here."
If Ariana were to enter the estate, the Duke and Duchess would have no choice but to pretend to care for her, given the onlookers.
Ariana herself didn't want to sit among them and play the role of a delicate, innocent daughter, not even on a day like this.
She longed to go outside the estate and explore the city, but with so many eyes watching, she couldn't.
Ariana sat on a stone bench in the count's garden.
"You should go rest too."
"I'll stay with you, young lady."
"It'll be uncomfortable. And cold."
"Ah, just a moment."
Rosalyn, who had disappeared for a moment, returned with a blanket.
Rosalyn draped the thick blanket over Ariana's shoulders.
"What about yours?"
"I'm fine."
"It'll get cold at night."
"It's alright, young lady."
Ariana lifted one side of the blanket and gestured to Rosalyn.
"Then come here. It'll be warmer if we sit close together."
Rosalyn gazed at Ariana with a subtle expression before speaking.
"You are truly kind, young lady."
Ariana smiled without answering, and Rosalyn carefully sat beside her.
With both of them wrapped in a single blanket, their body heat warmed the space inside. It had been so long since Ariana had felt the warmth of another person that her chest ached.
She felt pathetic for her heart softening at just the warmth of an unknown maid.
It was only the beginning, and she felt sorry for herself, craving the warmth of another so desperately.
'Don't wish for anything. Don't desire anything. In this life, there is only one thing I will obtain.'
To destroy those noble yet vulgar people who had dragged her into hell.
'I must not repeat that time again.'
She had wanted to be loved, had wanted to be acknowledged, and so she had lived and died without even knowing she was in hell.
She had been thrilled by a small piece of warmth, delighted by a smile that held no genuine feeling, and walked deeper into hell.
A woman who is beautiful but foolish, of good lineage but without anyone to back her, is perfect for exploitation. To break a woman who yearns for the warmth and affection of others is easier than snapping one's fingers.
So people used Ariana until she broke, then discarded her.
Rosalyn's body heat had briefly softened her heart, but it hardened again. Ariana raised her head and gazed at the stars adorning the azure night sky.
The faces of those who had pushed Ariana into hell were etched into each star.
Etching their faces into her heart, Ariana let the lonely night pass.
+++
From early morning, the servants were busy preparing for departure.
Ariana boarded the carriage just before it set off.
As she got into the carriage, she glanced sideways and saw Rachel staring intently at her. When Ariana offered her a faint smile, Rachel quickly closed the carriage door as if she had seen something unseemly.
The carriage departed, bidding farewell to Count Godion's family.
It sped in the opposite direction from which it had arrived, passing through the city gates.
Ariana closed her eyes inside the rattling carriage.
"You must be tired, please get some rest."
"Yes. Wake me when we get close to the mountains."
She couldn't sleep deeply, as she couldn't fully trust Rosalyn.
During her light slumber, she heard the sound of hooves and gravel rolling.
How much time had passed? Rosalyn gently shook Ariana's shoulder.
"Young lady, we are approaching the Wayfan Mountains."
Ariana's eyes snapped open, and she looked out the window.
A long, towering mountain range came into view. Ariana had crossed this mountain range many times before, on the orders of Victoria or the Third Prince.
'I hope nothing happens.'
There would be nothing better than arriving at the capital without incident.
If Rachel truly intended to kill Ariana here, things would become very difficult.
'If it goes wrong, I'll die.'
But she had prepared herself for that.
One who carries a sword must also be prepared to be struck by a sword.
Ariana quietly clutched her skirt.
The carriage continued to travel. Having entered the mountain path, the carriage shook more violently than before.
Ariana stiffened with tension, listening to the sounds from outside.
Had they been driving for about an hour after entering the mountain range?
Suddenly, she felt the sounds had changed. Rosalyn seemed to have felt the same, as she checked outside the window and said,
"The other carriages are pulling away."
"Yes."
Ariana answered calmly, but her mouth felt parched.
She could handle matters requiring intellect somehow, but she had no confidence in physical combat.
She recalled the incident a few days ago when Rounder had attacked her in the pergola.
Even though Rounder was not trained in martial arts, Ariana couldn't overcome his strength.
'It's okay.'
Ariana tried to calm her agitated mind.
'It's okay. I know these mountains well. As long as I don't panic, I can survive.'
Ariana checked the dagger in her pocket.
She had learned during the last incident that a dagger was useless if one wasn't trained in martial arts. But it would be better than nothing.
As she anticipated what was to come and visualized it in her mind, Rosalyn spoke in a low voice.
"They're coming."
At the same time, the carriage stopped.
"The coachman is fleeing."
Rosalyn's eyes changed.
From the gaze of an innocent, delicate maid, it transformed into the gaze of a beast tearing at its prey's throat. Her voice also lowered more than usual.
Ariana's eyes widened in surprise at Rosalyn's sudden change.
The truly astonishing thing happened next.
Rosalyn pulled a long sword from inside her voluminous skirt.
"Young lady. Follow closely behind me."
"You...?"
Ariana, who was about to ask about Rosalyn's true identity, realized this was not the time.
"To the left. We have to go left."
"Understood."
The moment Rosalyn opened the carriage door, the rough shouts of men echoed.
"It's a noble's carriage! Attack!"
+++
Rachel closed her eyes, trying to maintain a serene expression, but inside, she was anything but calm.
When she decided to travel to the capital, Rachel had sent a lady-in-waiting to contact a mercenary group. Though they called themselves mercenaries, they were a disreputable group who would do anything for money.
"You must kill her. Kill her on the spot. Don't even think about capturing her to sell."
The mountain paths of the Wayfan Mountains, while not extremely dangerous, were sometimes frequented by bandits. That's why it was necessary to hire several knights or mercenaries when passing through them.
Jacob, who was sitting next to her, placed his hand on Rachel's.
"This time, nothing will go wrong, will it?"
Rachel had informed Jacob about this plan. He had to play along, after all.
As soon as they emerged from the mountain range and entered the next city, they planned to rush to the guards, feigning urgency, and claim they needed help.
They would say they hadn't noticed due to the long line of carriages, but their second daughter's carriage, which had been following last, was now out of sight. It seemed their second daughter might have stopped her carriage for a moment, and they needed someone to go check.
The guards who rode back up the mountain path would find a broken carriage, ravaged by bandits, and the corpse of a maid killed by a sword. And the body of their poor second daughter.
"Nothing will go wrong. I gave the coachman a hint, but he won't get far before he dies. They'll kill everyone and the bandits will disappear without a trace, so all we have to do is play the role of grieving parents who lost their daughter."
"We can't enjoy parties after losing a daughter, can we? Wouldn't it be better to return as soon as the death is confirmed? We have to at least pretend to hold a funeral."
"The funeral can be held at our villa in the capital. We can say that Ariana desperately wanted to visit the capital once, and we wanted to send her off on her final journey from there."
Then everyone would pity the Bronte family.
Rachel, who lost a daughter, and Victoria and Helena, who lost a sister.
Everyone would come to offer condolences, and invite them out of sympathy. Even nobles with whom they had no close ties would try to show kindness to them, having lost a family member.
"It's even an opportunity to catch Her Majesty the Empress's eye. We'll be the center of attention this social season."
+++
Men with grim expressions, weapons in hand, surrounded the carriage. Ariana could see over 20 of them.
Rachel was far more meticulous than Ariana had anticipated. She had proceeded with this plan, fully intending to kill Ariana this time.
Ariana subtly shifted her gaze to check the forest stretching to her left.
"They are off their guard."
Rosalyn whispered softly, her sword in hand, glaring ahead.
As she said, the enemies showed no signs of tension whatsoever. They clearly believed that a mere maid, even with a long sword, couldn't inflict a single scratch on them.
Ariana shared the same thought.
"Rosalyn, you don't need to save me..."
"I will break through the left. Stay close behind me."
Rosalyn spoke resolutely and moved.
Ariana hastily followed behind her.
As Rosalyn moved, the men didn't stay still. The men standing to the left of the carriage approached, menacingly swinging their swords. They clearly expected Rosalyn and Ariana to freeze and burst into tears.
But neither Rosalyn nor Ariana acted as they expected.
Shing!
The sword glinted in Rosalyn's hand.
Where the silver trajectory passed, a crimson spray of blood erupted like a fountain.
Ariana couldn't tell what had happened, but she didn't hesitate. She simply stared straight at Rosalyn's back and ran after her.
It was the mercenaries, disguised as bandits, who were flustered.
They had been told they would only be dealing with a noble lady and a maid, not someone who knew how to wield a sword.
Though their martial arts weren't exceptional, they were still mercenaries who had lived through all sorts of hardships. Therefore, they could tell how skilled the maid with the sword was.
They couldn't even follow the trajectory of the maid's sword with their eyes.
However, they couldn't just let these two women, who had killed their comrades, get away.
They had the advantage in numbers; one woman alone couldn't possibly take on all of them.
The mercenaries' eyes gleamed with cruelty.
