MCFATTKM

33

It was the morning of the fifth day since the carriage left the capital.

Only two more days left before they'd reach Rendinium.

Outside, the servants that were driving the carriages took turns to eat and rest.

The knights gathered in groups, they chewed on jerky and polished their swords.

Lelia, who lifted the cloth slightly and spied outside, rubbed her hands helplessly.

[Why is my body so hot?...]

Lelia lay still where she first hid.

For the past few days, she snuck in and out late at night when everyone was sleeping.

Usually when they neared a river, or stream, they would rest. So she was able to get enough water to drink.

In order to not be noticed by knights, who were sensitive to sounds, she deliberately went to places where the servants were sleeping.

Maybe because she didn't eat at all, she didn't have any strength left in her body.

There was also a limit to taking medicine. She needed to open the screen again and take medicine out of her inventory, but she didn't even have the energy to do that.

She felt like her whole body was on fire.

[Don't tell me I'm going to die like this...]

Lelia tried to reach out to her pendant, but lost consciousness.

***

When she opened her eyes again, the whole world seemed strangely bright. She was sure it'd normally be dark because she was hiding in the carriage's luggage compartment.

"......!"

The moment she felt something was off, Lelia opened her eyes and raised her upper body like a surprised animal.

Despair filled Lelia's eyes as she checked her surroundings.

"...what in the world is this?"

"Where did she come from?"

"I told you I saw her. I saw her in the capital itself."

"So she followed us from there? She didn't get caught? Does that make sense?"

"I don't know... I don't know..."

"She's a child... doesn't have a living... how do we know?"

The knights in blue armor were talking around her.

Everyone's brows were creased, a constant frown on their faces. It was enough to scare Lelia.

[I can't believe I got caught....]

Lelia unknowingly clutched her bag in fear.

"She looks scared."

"......."

The knights were confused on seeing Lelia in such a state.

Frightened, Lelia was not thinking straight. She was about to cry like a child. It was all the more so because she had been starving for a while.

As tears began to gather in her eyes, the knights began to panic even more.

In that situation, Lelia was barely able to reason properly.

[Sleeping gas spray...]

The thought of running away instinctively came to her mind, and she hastened to get the sleeping gas out of her bag.

But her body didn't want to move like her mind wanted. Just moving her hand made her feel weak.

At this rate, even if she took it out, she wouldn't be able to spray it at the knights.