As I was busy wearing my disguise. Someone entered my chamber. It was my aide and childhood friend, Laine.
"Are you really doing this?" He asked as he grabbed my sword. "You don't have to do it. We're already busy dealing with the other faction. If you leave now, they might strike at us."
I faced him. "I know. And that's why I should leave. Suppose the other faction got ahead of me. They will have the backing of Haplon Kingdom, and that's much more problematic for us."
"But what if the princess is already dead?"
I paused.
"That's for me to find out. Suppose I did find her dead body. Then I'll feed it to the ocean monster. We can't let them get to her first. Or else the balance with the power will shift again."
"But- " I took my sword from him.
"No buts. Don't let them know I left."
"That's easy for you to say..." My butler remarked as I jumped off my window.
"SUPPOSE THEY FOUND OUT?" He shouted at me
"THEN DEAL WITH IT!"
Dead or not, the princess of Louvelon is a problem I need to risk cleaning up.
My younger brother might not be aiming for the throne, but his supporters do. If they discovered the princess alive or dead, they could use her as a channel to get support from Haplon.
I'm not saying Lowell Empire is weak. It's just that Haplon been growing in power for th last 10 years.
I don't really know ho,w but they seemed to be gathering dark miasma all over the kingdom.
If they used that dark miasma in the empire, i dont know how much damage it could cause to the people.
I need to stop that miasma from getting smuggled here.
I ran towards my stable. My horse that was lying on the floor ,stood up as it sensed me entering.
"Sorry, buddy. I do want to bring you with me. But if they find out you're not here, they'll know I left. I'll be back, okay?"
Seeing me, my horse brushed its nose to my face, as if it were saying farewell.
I brushed his head for the last time, and then I continued my escape.
The last news I heard is that the boat the princess used to escape was sunk somewhere around the coast of Bevisto County and border of Marquis Horen.
Laine told me Marquis Horen was actively searching around the coast for one week. They've been expanding the search around the Devion County and Bevisto County as well.
Fortunatley, they found nothing from both coast and territory.
"Although Count Bevisto might be lying. Afterall, Count Bevisto supports me."
Marquis Heron Might still keep looking at Count Bevisto's territory. So it's dangerous for me to hang around the town near the coast.
Suppose the princess is alive, sunk her ship, and escaped around the Bevisto county, then she could be around Mesiah village.
"I mean if shes smart, she won't stay in one place."
That's left me one place to check. Heriondial Dukedom. Uncle Herion's territory.
"With my pace. I should arrive around midnight."
Continuing my travel. A friendly adventurer let me hop on his cart. So I arrived at Heriondial at noon.
"I'm pretty pent up from all the traveling."
I could feel my stomach grumbling. So instead of heading to the dukes, I decided to sit up and eat for a second.
Hearing a small commotion. I walked up to a food stall.
"Soupalizouz"
What a direct way of advertising.
"Come, sir! Take a seat and have a taste of the best soup in the capital!" Called by the owner
"I'll have one."
"Coming right up!"
I don't want to cause unwanted attention, so I sat near the corner, besides a white-haired man eating his soup.
The owner handed me my own food. As he leaves to prepare for the other customers
"Delicious," the person beside me said.
"I heard it's the best around here," I replied to him.
He jolted as he was surprised to see me.
Oh, right, I forgot to ask if I can sit here.
"Is that so? I never know. It's my first time here," he replied to me.
Hmm, thats true, based on his face. He doesn't look like someone you'll find here in Heriondial.
This place is packed with Adventurers, bandits, and mercenaries with robust builds and faces full of scars.
Meanwhile, this guy. Clean face, White hair, petite build, and not to mention his gem-like eyes.
You can easily Tell hesm't someone trained or living around here. Maybe a run-away noble? I heard its pretty famous for young nobles these days to elope with their lovers. Although I know all noble faces in the Empire, this guy does not remind me of anyone.
"I can tell," I replied to him.
I stirred my soup, thinking that maybe this guy is a spy from the Haplon kingdom. Specially that kingdom values beauty above else. It might be because they haven't had any monster attacks. After all, they're far from the Monster Island. Which is pretty much next to the empire. And not to mention that the dark miasma they've been creating. I think it's one of the reasons why they haven't had monster raids for the past years.
The man beside me suddenly took a spoonful out of my bowl.
It took me by surprise, but maybe he's just hungry? I mean his being petite might be because he always starves
"Hmm! Taste good," he exclaimed. Smiling ear to ear.
Because of the excitement he presents as he eats. I felt my grumbling stomach again.
I should eat for now and think later.
I took a spoonful.
"It is indeed delicious."
"Rigggghhht? Haha. Now I'm full."
Maybe he's not a spy from Haplon but a sad-looking fellow that is orphan who had no money and a place to stay.
Judging people without knowing them first is a bad habit. Also, I need to fix the empire so that people like him won't suffer. First, I need to deal with the corruption and the officials from the other faction.
I finished my soup. Drinking it to the last drop. With that done, I faced him.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Oh, me? I'm Leciro Green. I'm a traveler. Although, it's actually my first time traveling. I'm from Mesiah village," He replied.
Mesiah? Isn't that the village in the Bevisto County? It's good to hear someone from the town was able to leave without being watched by Marquis Herion.
Maybe Mesiah Village doesn't have the princess of Louvelon. I mean, if they did. Count Bevisto should have reported to me already.
"Nice to meet you, Leciro. Im Lucian lo--shlangx"
I bit my tongue to stop myself.
I'm in disguise! Who the hell uses his real name while undercover
"Wha, are you alright?"
"Yes. Im Lucian shlangx
I hope it does not sound like a last-minute-made-up surename. I can't have people be suspicious of me.
It's a good thing that Leciro didn't noticed. He smiled back at me, as he stood up from his chair.
"Nice meeting you, Lucian. Anyways, I'll be needing to go for now. Hope to cross paths with you again soon," He cheerfully said to me. I nodded at him as he greeted and paid for his meal and walked away.
I stood as well. Pulling out one gold coin from my pocket and handing it over to the owner.
"This! Apologies, sir, but I don't have enough spare change."
"Keep the change," I said as I walked away.
"Thank you so much, My Lord!"
The capital is packed with unknown bandits and mercenaries. Seeing the knight guards, I could tell that the security of the Heriondial capital is stricter than on normal days.
"Maybe Duke Herion has information regarding the princess."
I pull down my hood as I continue to walk to the Duke mansion.