18.
"Gueeeeh..."
"You're banned from drinking any alcohol starting today."
Marigold complained of nausea with every gallop of the horse as they moved through the forest.
Lancel wanted to stop immediately and let her regain her composure, but the situation wouldn't allow it.
"Catch them quickly!"
"Cut them off, flank them!”
Dozens of cavalrymen were hot on their heels.
If they stopped now, that number would swell to hundreds.
Even Lancel would struggle to face such a force head-on. These weren't disorganized rabble; they were all trained knights.
"Hyah!"
He spurred the horse onward.
Whoosh!
Something streaked past him with a piercing whistle. Seven crossbow bolts slammed into the trees and the muddy ground.
"Shoot them down!"
"Avoid hitting the woman! His Majesty ordered us to capture her alive and unharmed!"
‘That's a useful tip.’
In that case…
"Manager Mary, it's your turn to shine."
"Hyaaah!"
Lancel swiftly lifted Marigold and moved her behind him.
Suddenly, Marigold found herself pressed against his back, her arms wrapped around his waist.
"Hold on tight, my shield! No, I mean, manager Mary!"
"W-what are you talking about...? Ugh..."
He propped a wooden shield behind her bewildered form—the last bit of consideration Lancel could offer.
"He’s using a woman as a shield...!"
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"
"Th-th-that madman!"
"You dare call yourself a knight after that?!"
Lancel glanced back and shouted, "I never thought I'd be lectured on chivalry by rebels! I'm leaving!"
With a single surge, Lancel spurred his horse to full speed.
Fallen leaves kicked up by the hooves scattered in a flurry behind him, momentarily blinding the pursuing soldiers.
Seizing the opportunity, Lancel swiftly yanked the reins, vanishing from their sight in an instant.
"What?! Where did he go?"
"We lost him!"
"Damn it...!"
“Gueeeek!” Only the faint sound of retching echoed in their ears amidst the chaos.
.
.
.
"Just one person."
The Fifth Prince's expression turned icy cold upon hearing the news.
"You couldn't even capture one person and returned empty-handed? Am I hearing this right? You're telling me you botched the entire operation because you couldn't handle a single target? And you expect me to just accept this? You useless fools!"
The knights couldn't lift their heads. The Fifth Prince's tirade had been raging for over an hour.
"Incompetent fools!"
"Your Highness, with all due respect..." A low voice cut through the prince's fury.
"Is there a specific reason why manager Mary must be captured alive?"
"Count Runter."
The elderly lord approached and asked the question. The Fifth Prince ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm his anger.
"Because she's necessary. She's someone I need. That's why I want her alive and by my side."
"I see." Count Runter didn't press further.
"In that case, I'll order our troops to secure the perimeter immediately. Lancel Dante will have to show himself eventually. The only escape route for anyone who enters this forest is the granary."
"You mean..."
"We'll ambush him the moment he emerges onto the plains. There's nowhere to hide in the open fields, so securing manager Mary will be easy."
"...Right. That should work. There's no need to rush. Even someone like him can't escape across the plains."
The Fifth Prince seemed to regain his composure. This was their territory, a de facto new nation guarded by hundreds, even thousands, of soldiers.
No matter how skilled a knight Lancel Dante might be, escaping this land unscathed would be nearly impossible.
"We'll capture him soon enough. Unless Lancel Dante intends to live in hiding in this forest forever, he'll inevitably show up on the plains..."
.
.
.
"Should we hide here for a while?" Lancel muttered, stretching his back.
19.
"This is a rebellion, Sir Lancel."
"Now you tell me?"
It was the day Marigold finally recovered from her hangover.
On their second day living in the forest together, she suddenly declared this with a grave expression. By then, at least thirty hours had passed since the Fifth Prince had completely purged the imperial army
"A rebellion! It's definitely a rebellion! This place is perfect as a base—just block the train tracks and the mountain pass leading to the plains, and it's practically cut off from the Empire. That's why bandits have always thrived here. In other words, it's terrain where the imperial army can't easily project its full force."
"Well, that's true enough."
Marigold chewed on the hastily prepared stew Lancel had made, her mouth never stopping.
"Once winter passes, they'll undoubtedly send troops to the border to completely seize the western part of the Empire. We need to report this immediately before it's too late. The entire system will be thrown into chaos, mark my words! And I'll get another promotion!"
Though burning with ambition, Marigold was currently stuck in her second playthrough as the "natural woman" Marigold. She was trapped and utterly helpless in the forest.
A quick glance around the forest's edge revealed two or three guards patrolling the area on horseback, as always.
The Fifth Prince was deliberately waiting for them to appear, biding his time for the moment they emerged onto the plains from outside the forest.
Lancel didn't know why the prince was going to such lengths, but one thing was clear: the Fifth Prince was utterly sincere.
============
—Favorability event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia's affection has increased.
Current favorability level: Attachment.
============
Day one.
============
—Favorability event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia's affection has increased.
Current favorability level: Possessiveness.
============
Day two.
============
—Favorability event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia's affection has increased.
Current favorability level: Obsession.
============
Next week.
Even as Lancel remained in the forest, the Fifth Prince's heart was increasingly drawn to Marigold. Whether this could truly be considered affection or love remained uncertain, but the Fifth Prince's feelings toward her were undeniably genuine.
‘If only he'd shown this much interest when aiming for the Empress ending.’
With each passing day, the guards and their pursuit grew more intense. By now, Lancel had been living a primitive life in the forest with Marigold for ten days.
There was no need to rush.
Nor were they without a plan.
"Sir Lancel! Look here! Winter strawberries! Hehehe!"
"Impressive. Where did you find these?"
"Hehe, winter strawberries are vines that grow on moss in shady spots. They're easy to spot if you look carefully!"
"Well done. Come here!"
Lancel ruffled Marigold's hair roughly as he popped strawberries into his mouth one by one.
Their shelter was a dugout beneath a tree root, so cleverly camouflaged that the guards patrolling the forest never noticed it.
The only problem was how cramped it was.
"Why are you lying so far away? There's barely enough room as it is."
"I... I thought I might smell... I haven't been able to wash for over a month now."
"My nose has already lost its sense of smell. It's fine."
"...What do you mean by that, Sir Lancel?"
"I’ll leave it to your imagination."
"That's so mean!"
Their only food consisted of dried rations, jerky, and whatever they could find raw in the forest.
Even lighting a fire required constant vigilance.
Their lives were filled with discomforts, but neither Lancel nor Marigold complained much.
Two weeks had passed.
"By the way," Lancel said.
"Yes?"
"You sometimes mutter to yourself. Why do you do that?"
Lancel, feigning ignorance, probed her.
The spirit Pina was invisible to everyone but Marigold, so it would be stranger if he knew about her.
"That’s... well, I have something like a friend... but only I can see her..." Marigold mumbled, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"I-it's weird, isn't it?"
"It is a bit strange."
"Ahahaha... No, Pina! Don't say such rude things about Sir Lancel... Ah! It's nothing! Yes!"
"......"
‘What the hell is that fly-brained brat saying?’ Lancel felt a prick of unease at the invisible entity's unheard insults.
.
.
.
============
—Favorability event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia's affection has increased.
Current favorability level: Very strong obsession.
============
One month passed.
Finally, Lancel witnessed a procession of flames engulfing the entire forest.
By his estimate, over a hundred people were now scouring the woods, torches held high. The acrid stench of burning beeswax and oil stung his nostrils.
He could hear the incessant panting of hunting dogs everywhere, their numbers seemingly endless. The Fifth Prince was determined to find them—or rather, to find Marigold specifically— even if it meant searching through the night.
‘It's time.’
Lancel and Marigold had finished preparing to leave their beloved hut.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes, Sir Lancel."
It had been half a year and a month since Lancel had set out on his campaign. He sensed that the moment he had been waiting for was drawing near.
"Enemy attack! Everyone, retreat to the main camp! Enemy attack! Return to the main camp immediately!"
Soon, a series of loud shouts erupted in succession. The soldiers who had entered the forest began retreating in confusion.
It was only then that they noticed the night sky was brightly illuminated by an inexplicable light.
"Manager Mary," Lancel said, turning to Marigold. "What's the highest rank an administrator who contributes to suppressing a rebellion can achieve?"
20.
"If no report arrives after six months, we should send a request for a Second Reinforcement Army... Today happens to be that day. What do you think?"
The Court Count bowed his head at the voice that drifted from behind the curtain.
"Your Majesty's judgment is sound."
"Don't just give me obvious answers."
The person behind the curtain crossed their legs.
"I'm asking for your honest opinion. If you were in my position, how would you view the letters from these impudent young knights and administrators? Would you heed their words, or dismiss them entirely?"
"If I were in Your Majesty's place..." The Court Count paused, considering his words. "The fact that all messengers sent to the western Empire have gone silent is certainly cause for concern. I would trust their letters, but if their claims prove false, I would hold the Dante family accountable."
The person behind the curtain finally uncrossed their legs and rose to their feet.
"My thoughts exactly. This impudent young knight likely considered that when he wrote his letter."
The person behind the curtain smiled.
"Send the Second Reinforcement Army. It would be about a month to reach them, I suppose?"
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.
.
"Enemies! They’re imperial troops! Why are they here...!"
The Fifth Prince's rebel forces.
The Second Reinforcement Army.
On the vast plains of the Runter territory, two armies stood poised for battle. The moment they laid eyes on each other, they recognized their enemies and drew their weapons in an instant.
"Charge!"
"Defend!"
The battle erupted without warning.
As soon as the war began, the Runter county's fertile granary burst into flames. The pitch-black night sky was swallowed by crimson fire, illuminating the land like a late afternoon sun.
The war had officially begun.
"Look at the state of this nation," Lancel muttered, utterly indifferent to who emerged victorious.
The conflict wouldn't be resolved today. The war would continue to rage for some time, until this entire region was transformed into a wasteland of death.
If they could just seize this opportunity to escape, that would be enough.
"Let's get out of here!"
"Yes, yes!"
Lancel and Marigold burst out of the forest in a single breath.
From now on, they would have to navigate the war-torn plains of Runter’s territory.
============
—Favorability event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia's affection has increased.
Current favorability level: Deep attachment, pure hatred.
※ The elite knights of the count of Runter are pursuing Marigold.
============
‘What's this now?’
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