Chapter 8: Prepare for divorce

[…. For the first time, I have a “dream of the future.”]

Rishe once told a friend she made in another country.

[All this time, I’ve only had the title “ The Crown Prince’s fiancee” and “The Duke’s daughter.” What I aim for in the future is to be worthy of those titles…. I’ve traveled in caravans, enjoyed the countless sceneries of different countries I’ve never known before, and for the first time, I want to turn that dream into a reality.]

[Really, so who’s the guy?]

The king of a desert country listened to her with a gentle smile on his face. So, Rishe also responded with a smile.

[I want to go to every country in the world. I want to walk every city on my own feet, look at the markets and see the smiling faces of the people living there!]

This scenario seemed to have happened long ago.

****

[– !]

Rishe opened her eyes with a snap and drew about half of the sword on her side.

Sitting opposite her in the carriage is Arnold, a former enemy in her previous life.

The hand he stretched out was on top of the hilt of the sword that Rishe has drawn.

[…. What’s with your hand?]

Rishe shrank back as far as possible when she saw his hand stretched out.

This is the fifth day of their trip back to Garkhain.

There are five carriages in all, with knights on the front and rear, and Arnold’s servants second from the front.

His luggage and other servants are loaded in the carriage behind while the huge royal carriage is in the middle.

Rishe, who will become the Crown Princess, must take the same carriage as Arnold, even if she was unwilling.

For this reason, she reminded him, “Don’t touch even just one finger.”

It’s a serious dilemma for the Crown Prince to not touch his Crown Princess. But since Arnold promised to “listen to everything Rishe says”, he acquiesced.

—- And yet, the promise was easily broken.

In contrast to Rishe’s scowl, Arnold was staring at her meaningfully without losing his composure.

“Don’t look so scornful. I was just reclaiming what you snatched from me.”

“……?”

When she looked down, she saw that indeed it wasn’t her sword. Or rather, as a Duke’s daughter, it’s impossible for Rishe to carry her own sword.

The sword has the emblem of Garkhain engraved on the hilt and golden decorations forged against its black scabbard.

“Gyaa!”

She screamed in spite of herself and pushed it back to Arnold.

“Uhm, haha, I’m very sorry!!”

“Uhm, kekeke…. Oah, I thought we were in trouble. I was dreaming of rowing a boat so I grabbed your sword unawares. I must have slept soundly and rolled it up as a pillow.”

Arnold chuckled while receiving the sword, and placed it beside him.

Rishe pressed her beating heart beneath her dress and took a deep breath.

(I’ve done it… oh my gosh, I just used the sword that stabbed my heart as a pillow…)

If nervous or vigilant, having a sword at hand would give a knight a certain relief. Nevertheless, Arnold’s sword that she hugged to herself unconsciously was the worst.

“You indeed slept soundly, but still instinctively grabbed a sword and lay it closely. There’s no way you’ve never held a sword before.”

Arnold smiled curiously, resting his cheek on his right arm that was resting on the window frame of the carriage.

“To reach that kind of level, you must be trained harshly in the battlefield. As a lady, have you been exposed to such a life?”

“Hmm, yeah.”

In fact, it can be said that she lived more like a man rather than a lady.

“… But, I didn’t devote all my time only on swordplay, I’m also fond of flowers.”

Arnold’s gaze was drawn by the baggage placed beside her seat.

Rishe’s handkerchief were embroidered with rows of small, lovely flowers.

She has also picked some flowers along the way while the horses were resting by the lake. The flowers she collected today were still fresh, but the ones she picked five days ago are now starting to wither.

“These flowers are not for admiration.”

“?”

Rishe blinked and looked down at the flower in his hand.

It smells a little sweet and fills the heart. It’s mild and sweet smell is smack of spring wildflowers.

Looking out of the window, there are blooming flowers gracing the woods heading to Garkhain, which Rishe had never seen.

She wanted to get off the carriage and pick some up, but she can’t delay the journey just to satisfy her own whims.

However, the eyes trained outside remained melancholy and dismayed.

Looking silently at her, Arnold suddenly said.

“By the way, I’ve sent a servant on the swiftest horse. I’ve sent a message on your behalf to the firm you wanted to be responsible for our wedding to come for a negotiation.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you’re taking me into account.”

“It’s an emerging firm with a reputation I’ve been hearing about these days. Have you always favored them?”

“No, but I’ve heard from a friend that their goods are of high quality.”

Rishe is relieved that Arnold is making good of his promise.

A typical royal family has merchants in their midst. It would be impetuous and tough to request their removal and instead trade with other merchants.

(However, I want to establish contact with those people as early as possible.)

The merchant Rishe commissioned was the peddler who picked her up in her first life and also trained her into a seasoned merchant.

Two years ago, Tully, the chairman of the trade company established the group, which is still growing at present. But in a few years, they will become the largest trading company in the world.

She managed to get in touch with them when she concocted new drugs when she lived as a pharmacist and they became her distributor.

At that time, pharmacist Rishe struggled hard to win credit, but this time, it would be easier.

(I think this marriage isn’t going to last long. So I must make sure that I can escape anytime once trouble gets in. To do so, I will use all means that the title Crown Princess is capable of.)

She isn’t sure what Arnold is plotting, but there’s no way she’s going to end up being used. Whether she’s going to divorce or escape, she’s got to make her days meaningful.

She must survive within the next five years, to live a leisurely life then on.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

“Uh….”

Rishe basked unblinkly at his perfect handsome face in spite of herself.

Somehow, she felt like her eyes were burning and she couldn’t look straight at him.

His outrageous beauty is not a metaphor but a destructive force.

Even more so, because this same beautiful man killed her in the past.

“Er, it’s nothing…..”

Before her words fell, the agitated neighing of the horses echoed.

“Stop! Oi, stop the carriage!”

A scream echoed in the front carriage. The knights, who were guarding left and right of the carriages rushed forward.

“You bastard, who do you think you are — Gu, aahhhhh!”

An ambush! Rishe sensed the anomaly, but before she could jump out, Arnold got off the carriage with his sword in hand.

“Hey!”

“Stay here, be quiet.”

Arnold locked the door from the outside and headed towards the danger.

(Even if he’s a knight, as the Crown Prince, should he approach danger by himself?!)

Rishe was left astonished and standing on the shelf about to jump out too.

They were probably attacked by bandits.

The carriage has separate locks inside and outside the door, and Arnold locked the outside, mainly to keep Rishe safe from the scuffle.

(Is he trying to keep me from running away?….He told me to be quiet.)

This carriage must be the primary target. Even if she’s locked inside and keeps quiet obediently, the glass windows can be broken and she still could be dragged out.

However, since the door is locked outside, it’s impossible for her to move out of the carriage freely.

After a sidelong glance at a coachman running deeper into the forest, she searched the interior of the carriage for something that can be a weapon. Then, noticed the ornamental hairpins on her hair.

(…. pins, I missed you!)

Rishes’s eyes sparkled as she removed a hairpin from her hair, twisted it, and then inserted it into the keyhole.

(When I was a maid, my lady would lock herself in rooms because she hated studying, so I would often forcibly unlock doors this way …)

Jiggling the pin up and down, the simple carriage lock finally gave way.