### Chapter Sixty-Two: Just You?!
After that remark, the speed of the war chariot noticeably dropped.
Edward lifted the curtain of the carriage. Instantly, the temperature inside plummeted, a chilly breeze swept in, carrying tiny snowflakes that fluttered down and landed on my face.
It seemed like it was snowing lightly outside.
“Ha ha, we finally made it.”
Edward rubbed his hands together, a hint of excitement on his face, craning his neck to peer outside.
I squinted slightly.
Hmm, we’re finally here.
“Let me see, let me see~ Is that coward Lafael still hiding in that deserted tower, afraid to come out?”
Deserted tower? Is Lafael trapped in some tower?
I strained my eyes to look outside.
The light outside was somewhat yellowish; it must be close to dusk.
We seemed to be in a forest, surrounded by tall, unnamed trees draped in snow, reaching heights where you couldn’t see the tops, flying past the carriage. From my vantage point, I couldn’t see the deserted tower Edward mentioned at all.
“Your Highness, let’s resolve this quickly.”
“I know, I know! I want to see Lafael’s expression too… Valar, stop at the nearest defensive line to the tower.”
“Your Highness, it’s your call.”
Hmm…
From their intermittent conversation during the trip, I gathered the situation Lafael was facing right now.
He should have been intercepted on his way back, caught by Edward and the city guards. Just as he said, Lafael was eager to see me and left some of his guards behind, leading to a significant manpower shortage compared to the city guards, forcing him to hide in some nearby deserted tower.
So that’s why I was brought along… just like the old plan from three years ago?
The war chariot continued forward.
Gradually, noises started to accumulate outside the carriage. Tents flashing by, soldiers standing at attention outside, saluting the carriage.
They donned matching light armor, long swords at their waists, and crossbows slung over their shoulders. They started to overlap in my memory with the pursuing troops I recalled.
So this is the city guard.
After passing a simple wooden barrier, the war chariot came to a halt.
At that moment, a voice rang out from outside: “Is the Grand Prince back?”
Upon hearing this, Edward hopped off the carriage. A man, wrapped in a cloak and looking like a leader, approached and knelt before him on one knee.
“Your Highness.”
He slightly bowed his head. “Get up. What’s the situation now?”
“I’m very sorry, Your Highness, but we haven’t been able to break through Count Lafael’s defenses.” The leader of the city guard lowered his head with embarrassment, “He set up indestructible ice spikes around the deserted tower; we can’t destroy them with our steel weapons, and our crossbows can’t penetrate those sturdy tower walls… However, last night we intercepted a guard trying to get out to send a message, and I hung his head on the flagpole.”
Edward burst out laughing.
“You did great!”
Looking at his delighted expression, the leader of the city guard seemed puzzled and asked curiously, “Your Highness, should we continue to surround them like this? I believe in a few days, they’ll run out of food.”
Edward waved his hand dismissively.
“We don’t have time to waste like this; the Duke’s men could find this place at any moment. When that time comes, we’ll be the ones surrounded.”
Just then, the golden mask also descended from the carriage.
Seeing him, the city guard leader immediately became alert, reaching for the sword at his waist.
Noticing this, Edward chuckled and said, “Don’t be nervous; he’s my friend.”
“Your Highness, who is he?”
Clearly, the leader didn’t relax one bit; his gaze remained fixed on the golden mask.
Edward was starting to look a bit unhappy.
“I said, he’s my friend.”
“Your Highness, the King ordered me to accompany you, and I must ensure your safety.”
“I am perfectly safe right now. Sheathe your sword!”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
The three of them stepped forward, moving out of my view.
Probably feeling confident that everything was under control, no one cared about me still sitting in the carriage, and the soldiers around me didn’t glance my way.
So, I began to flex my fingers… they felt stiff, almost like they weren’t mine anymore.
I curled my knees slightly, wiggled my toes hidden inside my boots, rotated my wrists, twisted my neck, and turned to the side to wake up the left side of my body, which had gone numb after sitting for hours.
My body gradually came back to life. I let out a breath and leaned in to listen to their conversation.
“Is Lafael still inside?”
“Yeah, no one can escape from the city guard’s encirclement… Your Highness, should we launch a strong attack?”
“No, no… do you know why I left?”
“Why?”
“Of course, it’s to bring my dear Lafael a great gift!”
“Your Highness means…”
“Just watch, soon Lafael will walk straight into our trap and come out to greet d*ath.”
“…Your Highness is wise.”
“Your Highness, we need to hurry.”
“Okay, I got it. Commander Milton, blow the horn.”
“Yes.”
Inside the carriage, I slowly sat up.
I dropped my feet on the wooden floor and gently moved my ankles and shoulders.
Bong—
The deep horn echoed through the air, and the birds resting in the forest fluttered their wings in a frantic escape.
“Form ranks!!”
Countless hurried footsteps rushed in from all sides, making the carriage shake slightly. Soldiers gathered and formed ranks nearby, their voices swelling into a surreal chorus.
“Cold Moon——!”
“Cold Moon——!!”
The shouts surged like waves, with Edward’s crazed screams soaring above.
“Lafael!!!”
“Ha ha ha!”
“LA-FA-EL——!!”
“I brought you a big gift; aren’t you coming out to take a look?”
“Hiding in the tower doesn’t make you a man!”
“Guess who I brought for you! Ha ha ha!”
“Lafael——!”
Moments later, a deep male voice came from a distance.
“Edward, what do you think you’re doing?”
The man’s voice resonated with a magnetic charm I had never heard before. But…
A strange familiarity rose in my heart, and I realized that was Lafael—my brother’s voice.
The voice was coming from a high location, probably over a hundred meters away from me.
With the location of him in my mind, I continued to move every part of my body to quickly restore myself to optimal condition.
“Ha ha ha! Aren’t you eager to see your sister? I brought her to you!”
“What did you say?”
“I brought Pepé for you! Come on! How about that? You can thank me for letting you see her one last time before you d*e!”
“That’s impossible.”
“What do you mean, you don’t believe me?!”
“Where is she?”
“Right in the carriage behind me! She’s been drugged and can’t move at all!” After shouting this, Edward’s voice suddenly dropped as he clearly directed his next words at the city guards: “You all, go lift the girl from the carriage over here.”
“I want to see her.”
“Lafael! Now! Immediately! Tell your guards to put down their weapons and come out of that damned tower! You don’t want your sister to go missing again, do you? This time, she might never come back!”
“Edward, stop your pathetic bluff. You have no idea; my sister is not the same as she used to be; she’s no longer weak.” Lafael’s voice rang out, strong and unwavering, “Pepé’s current identity… is Pope Knight! The hero who slayed the Abyss all by herself! Bring her here? Just you?!”
In an instant, silence fell outside.
“…What did you say?”
“I said. I don’t believe you have the ability to get the current Pepé to follow you willingly.”
“No, you just said…”
Footsteps were approaching the carriage; it must be the soldiers Edward called to bring me out.
Sorry, you won’t be needed anymore.
Because I no longer had a reason to keep up the act.
I pulled back the curtain of the carriage, and with a light leap, I jumped down.
The snow beneath my feet felt soft.
I took a deep breath, raised my delicate arms above my head, stretching out, revealing a glimpse of my fair arm.
“Ah—”
After stretching comfortably, I looked up at the two city guards in front of the war chariot, who were momentarily stunned, and smiled.
“I can handle this myself.”
With a kick, a punch.
Their muscular forms flew back like they were made of paper, crashing down in an instant.
