The Rambouillet caravan entered into the desert without any issues. We could frequently hear the camels and the staff chatting outside the wagon.
– Gruuuuuuuunt!
– Clack, clack……
“How marvelous. Everything here looks so magical.” I constantly looked outside and gasped with admiration. Everything in this world felt new since I transmigrated here, but the progression through the desert was one of the most memorable experiences.
Sand, who was petting the sleeping Percy, smiled brightly while looking at me. The chimney bird’s silk nest was extremely colorful.
I had been worried because Prince Jesse’s body was terrible in the heat, but thankfully, the wagon the Viscount and his wife let us use had a cooling spell in it. It didn’t look as fancy as the Imperial family’s carriage, but it had everything necessary.
Unlike last year, I received Christelle and Sir Johann’s help as well. That was why there was a thick icicle floating above my head. The coldness coming from it was strong enough to cool all the way down to my neck while the Cardinal circulated the air inside the wagon to maximize the effect of this pseudo AC. Joanne mentioned how she had never experienced comfort like this before.
“The sky is so pretty.” It was so pretty that Eunseo would have probably taken at least fifty pictures already.
The blue sky without a single cloud greeted us. The sun was confidently blasting away in this land that did not have any shades or cities. Every so often, I would look out the square windows to see houses made of rocks in the same color as the sand. There weren’t many people but I did see some sharp plants growing close to the ground. I even saw some tumbleweeds you would see in the old westerns. Every so often, there were some green trees as well.
“Wow.”
“Those are called mesquite, your highness. They extend their roots deep underground to get water. They are great as firewood and the tips can even be eaten.”
“You really know everything, Sir Johann.”
“Even if I don’t, I promise to answer you as if I do, your highness.”
“Hahaha.”
The Holy Knight, who had once been a part of the Vatican and also originally a mercenary, kindly explained. I looked outside for a while before heading down. It was too bright to look for a long period of time. Once I did that……
– Plop!
“It’s time to study.” I put books and a map down on the floor and proclaimed.
Unlike Sand, who was nodding his head saying it was a good idea, Christelle and Joanne pouted. The two of them were eating butter cookies and having fun.
“Aarf.” Tithé, who was laying on the MC’s legs, sounded sad as well.
‘He’s still a baby. He shouldn’t be learning only bad things like this.’
“Your highness, I always knew you looked like a goodie-two-shoes, but you really were one? Who studies while on a trip?”
“Can’t we just rely on my grandma and grandpa? We should be safer than ever because the caravan is with us. There are even three Holy Knights here.” Christelle tried to squirm her way out of it.
She seemed to be trying everything so that she didn’t need to read. I scoffed. She had been using the excuse of, ‘let’s at least get out of the Empire before thinking about that,’ until we passed the border, but now she was acting as if we had never discussed this before. I felt like I could see Miss Ga-in’s school days in front of me.
“It is not that I do not trust the Viscount and Lady Rambouillet. However, there is not much we know about the neutral region or the desert. The two of them were nice and gave us a guide, so I think it would be good to read it together. We will also be meeting foreigners when we get to our lodging.” I said that and looked at the bed.
The Imperial Crown Prince was sitting haughtily, looking down, befitting his status as the highest ranking person here. One of his eyebrows moved up, which seemed to say that he was not against my suggestion. The divine beasts were rolling around with their bellies toward him by his side.
‘Based on the clothes he changed into earlier and what is happening right now, he looks like the sultan of a red panda harem or something.’
“If it is too boring to only read the book, priest Sand or I can add our stories as well.” Sir Johann chimed in. Sand awkwardly answered that he knew about nothing other than the Vatican.
My eyes sparkled and I looked toward the Holy Knight. He closed the diary he was writing in and smiled. Apparently he was recording everything to share with Gerrit upon our return.
It was only then that our two troublesome ladies showed some interest.
“I believe all three of you are going to the neutral region for the first time?”
“Yes, sir. His Royal Highness has never been there either,” Christelle quickly answered her teacher’s question.
Sir Johann’s white hair elegantly flowed down. “As you can see, this place is desolate and pretty open, but you have to be careful about the things that are hidden. There are many poisonous things as well.”
His soothing voice lowered even more than usual. Joanne gulped. The three red panda musketeers quickly jumped off the bed and into my arms.
I couldn’t help but chuckle while seeing their shaking tails. ‘He’s not even telling a scary story. Why are you so scared?’
“According to legends, the ruins of the ancient nation of Únĭo lies deep underneath the sand. That is why tomb raiders and bands of thieves roam the desert day and night. They would make a ton of money if they managed to find any treasure.”
“They just dig without any clues? Who knows what might be there?! Aren’t there demonic beasts out here as well?”
Our genius painter was also a fantastic spectator. The five-colored bandana that Lady Rambouillet supposedly gave her was shaking with excitement.
Sir Johann looked satisfied. “Great observation, Lady Baroness. There are many bodies of people who lost their lives like that. Oh, we happen to be passing by one right now.” He slowly pointed outside.
We subconsciously looked before gasping and falling on our butts. There really seemed to be something that resembled a human skeleton not too far away!
‘How could it show up right on time like this?!’
– Kiiiiii, kiiiiii.
“Don’t look at that. Don’t look at things like that.” I petted the whimpering Rhea and lowered my gaze.
Sand turned pale and covered his mouth with a handkerchief. As for Christelle, “This wasn’t a safari……” She mumbled blankly before sitting up straight.
‘Of course this is not a safari!’
“I guess someone has actually found treasure in the past?” Crown prince Cédric sharply asked. The Cardinal nodded his head.
“Yes, your Royal Highness. There are people who found ancient Holy artifacts or treasures to become nouveau riche. There are less than ten of them, but everybody jumps in believing in their luck.”
“But still, it is enough to put their lives on the line like that? I guess you have people crazy about money no matter where you go.” The young baroness chewed on jerky as she clicked her tongue.
Sir Johann asked for my understanding as he opened up a map at the center of the wagon. The curious Demy poked his nose out of my embrace. The Cardinal’s scar-filled finger moved following a red path.
“However, we are currently on the one and only trade route in the neutral region. We shouldn’t have to see such terrible things like that very often. We have access to water because we are not far from the Unité River and we will reach the Temple of Boundaries if we follow this path. There are large caravanserais overseen by the Vatican along the way, allowing us to make easy trades as we stop to stay for the night.”
“An expert, he’s a total expert.” Christelle was truly amazed. Everybody other than the crown prince nodded our heads.
Sir Johann laughed and added a joke. “We have Dame Christelle, so I guess we don’t have to worry about water even if we veer off path.”
“Yeeeeesssiiiiiiiir!” The MC’s hair fluttered as she smiled. Joanne scratched her cheek as she scowled.
“That caravanserai thing is like an inn, right? Then are there villages too?”
“I saw some houses earlier.” I answered her.
Sir Johann gently agreed. “There are some small villages around oases or streams. Because the caravanserais are maintained by the Vatican, large settlements do form around them as well. There are long standing markets as well because it is safe.”
“That sounds fun.”
I thought I quietly mumbled, but my voice must have been very loud as my friends looked toward me and snickered. I felt embarrassed and just rubbed the icicle. The Cardinal’s eyes curled up.
“The Grand Celebration has ended, but there should be a decent market if a caravan this size is headed over.”
“Ah……”
We blanked out for a moment. I got chills starting from my calf. Now that I thought about it, I was told that the Grand Celebration of the Advent of the Almighty God never went into March. The two weeks celebrating the Almighty God creating the continent was a time where battlefields experienced peace as well. But they had no idea how the situation would change next month.
“What day is today?”
“If I calculated it correctly, it should be March 1st.”
I asked in a serious voice and Christelle answered back in a just as serious voice. Joanne’s jaw dropped.
“What the hell? Then are the two nations fighting again at the border? Didn’t you say nothing has been resolved until now?!”
This was 100% true. I gasped many times at my own lack of attention to things. I was so focused on getting to the neutral region and the Temple of Boundaries that I had not even realized that it was already March.
‘How can you be like this, Jung Yeseo?!’
“How…… No, I get it.”
I calmly ran the calculator in my mind. If everything went as planned, we should have passed the border before February ended. However, things never went that smoothly. The fact that we got lost for a few hours once we left the Imperial Palace as well as being delayed by the inspection at the eastern regional portal both played a role. We did not speed up even after meeting up with the Rambouillet caravan. The caravan couldn’t move quickly like a regular carriage and they were carrying heavy specialty items, forcing the caravan to move slower than usual. I couldn’t even think about asking for something else when they were already helping us out.
“My goodness.”
That was how it ended up like this. Reality was different from a novel, and nothing ever went as planned. I gasped at this timeline where everything that could go wrong went wrong.
‘Would it have been a bit different if the MC and the crown prince punk were leading this journey? Are we screwed……?’
“P, Prince Jesse. It will be okay. Please relax.”
All of our heads instantly turned. Sand flinched but slowly continued.
“Her Majesty…… I’m certain that she has noticed his Royal Highness and your absence by now. She should be well-aware of the fact that you are headed to the neutral region, so there shouldn’t be any reasons for her to start battles at the border…… Mm. What I’m trying to say is…”
“You are saying that she would not create any reasons to put us in trouble in a distant land.”
Sir Johann knew what he was trying to say. I blinked my eyes. Sand’s face lit up as he clapped.
“Yes, exactly that! There won’t be that special air of peace because the grand celebration is over, but still…”
“He does make a point, your highness. Since things ended up like this, wouldn’t her Majesty be cheering us on as well? There is no way she would personally come to capture us.” Christelle looked at the crown prince as she said that.
The man slightly tilted his head. His calm gaze seemed to be saying that he agreed. My head automatically nodded.
“And it is not like the Vicarius Generalis set a specific negotiation date. Her Majesty and her Eminence may be stopping any clashes until we return.”
‘Mm, I guess I was the only one overthinking it. But I did get scared earlier.’
I looked at the young priest and asked with concern. “Then Sand, you going to the Temple of Boundaries……”
“Hehaha, I’m okay, your highness. My father just ordered me to use that as the reason to leave the Empire. Plus, the pilgrimage itself continues until the middle of March. If I really want to, I can meet my father at the temple and then slowly join in.”
“That’s a relief.” I smiled at the innocently smiling priest.
Basically, even if we didn’t have the merit of the Grand celebration…… There is no way Empress Frédérique did not know that we were here, so she should maintain the peace until there was some sort of result. In that case, it was not the peace of the Almighty God but the peace of the Empress. I tightly grabbed the Holy Staff my teacher gave me.
‘……I’ll make sure we don’t disappoint them. Seeing the paten in person is important, but let’s make sure to settle things with the Royal family of the Holy Kingdom. Calm Elise down as well.’
“Now that I think about it, there is something important I forgot to address.” Sir Johann put a blanket on Tithé as he spoke in a casual tone. The man’s side view was already looking out at the sunset. “Ghosts of the Ruined Kingdom roam the desert. This is not a legend but the truth.”
“Huh?” The jerky dropped from Joanne’s mouth.
Christelle quickly put it back in Joanne’s mouth. We all innocently followed the Cardinal’s gaze before we all turned into shocked bunnies. The red pandas raised their tails up as well.
“Holy Almighty God.”
“Wow……”
We saw a pillar that seemed to rise all the way to the sky. It might be a bit exaggerated, but it looked thick enough for twenty adults to wrap around it. There was probably a roof at some point but there was nothing there now. The pillar that was buried deep in the sand was slightly tilted, and it was hard to imagine what it originally looked like because it was worn down and broken from age. Right behind it was a pillar laying completely on the ground.
My jaw dropped at the magic and size of this world inside a novel. I had never seen such large ruins before. It seemed to have been made for an existence larger and greater than humans……
– Ooooooooo!
“Eek.” Flinch! I gasped and looked around.
‘Am I the only one who saw that? Or did I mistake it? There was a red shadow walking around……!’
“No. You saw properly, your highness.” Sir Johann spoke as if he read my mind.
While Christelle let out a silent gasp, he slowly raised his gaze and observed the crown prince. Behind the colorful curtains, his sunset-like eyes could be seen squinting like a predator in the grass.
“People who still believe that they are living in Únĭo…… They are some poor unfortunate souls. They roam around the ruins whenever the sun starts to set. Please be careful so that they do not get you.” The Cardinal quietly warned us.
“Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimper.”
Our scaredycat, Rhea, whimpered again. I couldn’t quickly console her this time. This time, it really seemed to be a horror story.
—
Translator’s Comments
I love myself a good horror story…