### Chapter Sixty: Out of the City
I blinked.
The War Chariot was picking up speed, and the cabin began to jolt.
“Honestly, three years ago, I didn’t mean to k*ll you. Really, you have to believe me! It was just an accident… I mean, if you had just listened to me, none of this would have happened.”
Edward rubbed his hands together, looking like he wanted to pet my face or something. I shot him a glare, and suddenly he seemed to have a revelation, hesitantly lowering his half-raised wrist.
Then, he offered a smirk that was somewhere between a grin and a grimace.
“All I wanted that day was for you to lure Lafael out so I could chat with him about some important matters. But you didn’t understand and had to cause trouble, and look what happened… I didn’t want it to go down like that, and I certainly didn’t dare talk to Lafael or Uncle about it…”
“You used to listen to me, so why did you suddenly stop? Talk about self-inflicted wounds… After you fell, I thought you were dead. But thankfully, thanks to my fervent prayers to the deity over the last three years, you made it back… I’ve been going to church every day praying for you; that must have touched the deity’s heart.”
“Now that you’re back safe and sound with no injuries to your beautiful face. See, I’ve always kept you in my heart. You’re so beautiful, no way I could ever consider settling for anyone else; how could I bring myself to k*ll you? That fall must have hurt a lot, right? Who saved you? Tell me, I owe that person big time… By the way, you’re not hiding any scars, are you?”
The War Chariot whipped around a bend, and I could feel the centrifugal force pulling at me.
I stared blankly at Edward, who was talking nonstop.
This guy… it was like he was trying to use words to patch things up.
His attitude reminded me of three years ago—when a fifteen-year-old girl named Peilo, in her short life, faced her most helpless, torturous, and darkest moment, which turned out to just be a small misunderstanding.
As if all it took was an “I’m sorry” to sweep everything under the rug.
He hadn’t even said sorry. Instead, he blamed me, claiming it was my fault for not following his wishes that led to such severe consequences.
…Was Peilo, in fact, killed by a guy like this?
Frustrating enough to not even feel like swearing.
My body trembled slightly.
I fought to keep my emotions in check, repeating in my head that I needed to first confirm Lafael’s safety before doing anything rash.
I blinked again.
My starry eyes turned slightly, revealing no emotions.
“Don’t look at me like that…” Edward’s expression was one of helplessness. After a brief moment of eye contact, he turned to the Golden Mask beside him and said, “Mr. Longman, could you let her speak? I’d like to talk to her.”
“Your Highness, you’re joking. I excel at killing, but treating people isn’t my forte; I can’t do that.”
Edward waved his hand dismissively and quickly added, “No worries, I was just saying it offhand. Mr. Longman doesn’t need to take it to heart. Thanks to your anesthetic, I managed to get Pepé back by my side… You guys are something else! Isn’t this stuff only available to the church’s doctors? How did you get your hands on it?”
“Your Highness, we’re capable of more than you can imagine; please don’t doubt us.”
“I’m not doubting… So, how long does this stuff last?”
“Given her dosage, normally she couldn’t move for a whole day.”
“That’s fantastic!”
Edward’s face lit up, and he glanced over at me, his eyes gleaming with something I found detestable.
I had to look away to avoid losing control.
“Your Highness, once Lafael is taken care of, what do you plan to do with her?”
“Huh? Deal with her? She’s my queen; why would I deal with her?”
The Golden Mask fell silent for a moment, seeming to weigh his words before he spoke again.
“Your Highness, let me be frank. This girl is too powerful. Keeping her close could be dangerous. My suggestion is to—”
Edward interrupted sharply.
“Impossible. She is my queen.”
“Your Highness, there are many beautiful girls around. If you need, I can arrange a different one for you every day.”
“None can compare to her beauty!”
“……”
“Don’t worry. I’m the future Emperor of the Empire; Pepé is just a little girl, powerful as she may be, so what? This world isn’t about who has the bigger fists.” He paused for effect, then pointed to his head, “It’s about what’s up here, understand?”
Uh…
Not sure if I’m imagining things, but I think I saw the Golden Mask roll his eyes at that.
Or maybe I just wanted to roll my eyes.
Since the Golden Mask didn’t respond, Edward continued.
“Uncle probably knows what I’ve been up to by now, but he can only k*ll a few spies to vent his frustration. The church won’t stand by and watch him go head-to-head with my father; those clerics will block him for me since it’s against the church’s interests. As long as you’re by my side…”
He patted the Golden Mask’s shoulder.
“As long as you guys are with me, Lafael won’t escape d*ath… Once he’s gone, no one will be able to stop my progress. Don’t worry; I’m not so rigid, I won’t dig too deep into your backgrounds like those old geezers in the palace. Whoever can wholeheartedly support me will get what they want in the end.”
“In a few years, when my father gets older, that position will be mine. At that time, I’ll keep my promise and meet your needs, letting the Holy Church fade from this nation’s eyes; I speak the truth. You hidden rats can finally come out and breathe.”
A feverish light sparked in Edward’s eyes.
“The great Valen Empire is the culmination of Winter Moon’s efforts over centuries. No one besides us deserves to possess it—not even deities.”
Such ambition.
With my knowledge of this world, it’s hard to say it’s anything less than impossible. Who does he think he is?
But the Golden Mask seemed utterly convinced. He straightened up, bowed lightly to Edward.
“Your Highness, I pledge my loyalty on behalf of the Empire’s assassins.”
Edward was absolutely ecstatic, bursting into loud laughter.
“HA HA HA! With you saying that, I’m at ease. As long as you’re dedicated to my cause, when I become emperor, I’ll grant you a title and reward you with the richest lands.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The War Chariot continued to speed along.
The Golden Mask wasn’t one for chitchat; after pledging his loyalty to Edward, he fell silent, and the cabin felt a bit dull.
Gradually, Edward grew bored and turned his attention back to me.
“Pepé, your big brother truly cares for you. The moment he heard you were back, he couldn’t sit still, rushed back without even his guards. What a mess he made, giving me the perfect opportunity! Now he’s stuck in a quagmire, trouble on his hands!”
His words still weren’t charming, but I let out a slight sigh of relief.
At least Lafael wasn’t in immediate danger.
“You really are my little lucky star.”
Heh.
I closed my eyes, unwilling to look at that face any longer.
The atmosphere turned quiet once more.
Just a short while later, the cabin jolted, sending a fright through me, and I felt the War Chariot slowing down rapidly.
Edward’s smile faltered.
“What’s going on?”
His tone was a bit frantic. The mask man remained silent, straining to listen to the sounds outside.
The War Chariot gradually came to a halt, and I heard Valar’s voice from the front.
“Open the door, hurry and open the city gates!”
Someone nearby replied, “What about the leader?”
“Inside the cabin.”
Edward lifted the carriage curtain, and the towering city walls loomed into view.
“We’ve arrived at White Gate.”
White Gate was a side entrance to the south city wall, usually only opened for supply caravans arriving at night. I learned that from Hoover’s chitchat.
It looked like they were planning to leave the city through here.
Bowell Street wasn’t far from the city wall, which was probably why they had chosen it as an ambush point, allowing them to escape as quickly as possible. The person who just asked the question was clearly someone responsible for picking them up.
But what about the hunters stationed here?
The booming sound of the city gates opening made Edward breathe a sigh of relief.
“Let’s go! It won’t be long before the next patrol of hunters arrives. Our situation will be exposed, so we need to get as far away as possible before that.”
“What about the others?”
“Let them find their own way out; we can’t worry about them now.”
“…Understood.”
“We’ll go first; you make your way over as quickly as you can.”
“Right, be careful on the road… go!”
After the brief exchange, the Horned Horse’s iron hooves thundered as it swiftly pulled the cabin through the city gates.
For a moment, I thought I saw several hunters sprawled haphazardly in the corners of the city wall, their fates uncertain.
And the ones opening the gates were all wearing masks.
These images flashed by and were immediately blocked by the lowered carriage curtain.
The War Chariot bounced as it sped away from Winter City.
