In Time And Memories

Chapter Sixteen

I snuck out of the manor to avoid the eyes of our servants that will surely report me to my father. This may be my first time sneaking out but I know that I can handle myself. It's easy as calling a public carriage then taking me to the palace.

The hood of my cloak is hiding my face, just the tip of my nose an lips can be seen. Fortunately, none of the guards saw me going out of the gate.

Hopefully, Prince Urus is in the palace.

"Are you looking for a carriage, My lady?" A carriage stopped in front of me and the coachman asked.

The carriage looks pretty decent although it's not as grand as our carriages. But it will suffice, I don't need such lavish carriage. It will just caught their attention.

"Yes. To the Imperial Palace, please."

"Do you have five silvers?" He asked for my fare. My hands went to the inner part of my cloak and fished my pouch; full of silvers and golds.

"Is this enough?" I showed him one gold. His eyes twinkled with the sight of gold on my hand. A smirk appeared on his lips.

He nod. "That is more than enough, My lady."

Without any hesitation, I went inside the carriage. As soon as I sat comfortably, the carriage started to move.

I don't care how my father will react when they found out that I snuck out of the manor. It's not a lady-like action but who cares about that? All I know is that I need to talk to Prince Urus.

I'm still wary of him and I hate him to the core but he's the only one who can help me.

I want to stop Celestia's engagement with Prince Pierre.

My mind was wandering around that I didn't even noticed the carriage changed its route. This is not the route to the Imperial Palace... It's going out of the city!

There's a small glass window that leads to the coachman. I scoffed. Who knew that I will be abducted on my first time riding a public carriage. I'll just consider myself lucky since I have a dagger hiding on my dress.

I always have one with me to defend myself if ever something like this will happen.

I grabbed my dagger and use it to break the window. The coachman was surprised but it's too late for him-My dagger is already on his throat.

"Stop the carriage or I'll cut your throat," I threatened him.

His adams apple went up and down; gulping. I took it as a sign that he'll give up with this silly play of his but he suddenly turned the horse, making a hard turn. The carriage turned on its left and shook my body away from the window. I lose my grip on my dagger and it fell down.

"Ah!" I groaned when my body crashed on the other side of the carriage after it fell on the ground. My head bumped somewhere on its wall- I just felt something dripped on my temple.

"Damn it..." I muttered when I tried to stand up. My body surely hurts like hell and I'm pretty sure that it will leave some bruises on it.

I can't see the prince like this. I don't want him to see me in a pitiful situation. I don't mind getting all dirty but I don't want anyone, not even from the duchy, and certainly not from the Imperial Palace to see me like this.

My eyes caught my dagger and grabbed it with my hand. Even if my body aches, I still tried crawling out of the carriage.

I was surprised when the coachman is still here, trying to fight me. His eyes went inside my cloak; probably looking for the money I have in me. Then he stares back at me- His stare screams how much he wants to kill me. But I didn't falter. I even tightened my grip on the dagger and attacked him.

He's a skilled fighter, I must say. His fighting skills are on par with our highest knight and not to mention that he's a lot bigger than me physically.

Although I can fight him, I still ended up on the ground- A knife on my throat, ready to cut it.

"You are skilled," I commented while grunting. With his skills, I think he's a professional at this field. He will lure his passengers first, drive them out of the city and eventually kill them before stealing their money.

Oh. Is this the wanted man I've heard before?

I saw a poster saying that a wanted killer has been lurking around and the Imperial knights failed to track him. What a shame to the knights, I guess.

"I am indeed, My lady." He laughed evily while I'm still struggling to remove his hand from the dagger. One wrong move and I could die at this moment. With all of my strength, I kicked him on his crotch and in a moment, he lost his strenght but the dagger is still on my neck.

I dominated his left hand and turn the dagger to him- A little more push and I could kill him. But before it met his throat, someone pulled him away from me.

Steps of the horses can be heard as they approached my location. "Are you alright, Lady Laurenze?" My vision is still blurred because of what happened but I know that voice. I mentally punched and cursed myself.

The person I hated the most to see me like this is here.

Prince Urus are accompanied by his knights and are now surrounding me along with the wanted man. I winced when suddenly a pain striked my body. I could also feel that my energy is being drained.

"I... I'm fine..."

"You obviously don't look fine, My Lady."

My eyebrow arched. Then why would he ask me if I'm alright if I doesn't even look like one?!

I wanted to argue with him but my energy is drained; all I can feel is my aching body and I felt like my body loses its balance. Luckily, the prince catched me.

"Tie that man and bring him to the dungeon. Make sure that he can longer escape. Hurry up!" My vision is spinning and my consciousness is gradually leaving me.

"I'll bring you to the palace, My Lady." That's all I heard before my vision turns black.

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