Ara had planned to only bring a few people with her from the mansion. At least, that was what she believed until they stopped for a rest in a town, when she got out, she saw as many as seven additional family guards following her from far. Including the two men who had been guarding the carriage, a total of nine additional guards escorting her. When Ara showed her surprise, the lead guard standing beside her said.
"They were sent by master Henry, he believed there weren't enough guards with you."
"Henry my brother...Oh I see then." She murmured.
Her mind started to turn. How will she go to the battlefield to meet the crown Prince with all of these guards with her.
If she had known where exactly to find him, she might have been able to make use of her family guards, but all she knew is where the crown Prince went.
She may have to look around for a few days, and she couldn't take all her entourage there, Ara had came up with an excuse of attending Danielle's banquet, but what excuse could she come up with for going to a battlefield? That wasn't all, even if Ara managed to persuade some of the guards to help her, she couldn't reveal her fighting skills to them, that will be a big setback for her.
She had lived her whole life as an ordinary daughter of a general, and for her to suddenly reveal how good she was with sword? It would be a problem, not to talk about her father finding out about it, she'd rather keep it to herself.
Although she wasn't ashamed to say she's an expert sword fighter. She was willing to cut down tens or hundreds of people down in the future just to prevent the rise of king Cornell. The fewer people who knew about this, the better, she wanted her family to be as safe as ignorant as possible, in that way she would be able to laugh next to them like she doesn't know anything.
With that decision, she had to escape and complete her mission by herself. It was much more difficult to get away now that the number of escorts had dramatically increased.
'How do I leave this place with all these people?'
There were nine guards, a maid and a coachman, eleven people in all. Even if a daughter of a general couldn't go without an entourage, this number was ridiculous. Anybody could disappear without being caught or noticed by anyone, but if a member of the family were to disappear it would cause utter chaos. Is there a way she could deceive them and disappear like a smoke?
At the end of the day they stopped at a luxurious inn they were to stay for a night. When they walked passed the people of the inn, all eyes were on her.
She suddenly realized the inn had fallen silent, before gasps broke out among the crowd. A few men at a table glancing up at her in a daze said.
"Who is she? I don't think I've seen her before."
"So beautiful, she must be some kingdom's princess."
"True, true, if such beauty had existed in this kingdom, we'd have sure heard of her."
"She's like an angel, I wonder if she's already betrothed."
Laughter filled the table as they mocked the man who just spoke.
"Whether or not she's betrothed doesn't matter, the fact remains she won't spare a glance at you."
"Of course I can't dream that high, I'm just saying that whoever it is she's promised is such a lucky man."
Ara walked away from the inn's corridor, the men voices fell behind. Emma, her maid handed her the keys to her room, she entered the room she was given, Emma followed behind her and closed the door behind them.
"Get some rest, my lady." She said in a soft voice.
It would take some days to reach the battlefield, she had to figure out how to get there somehow.
The inn had the most luxurious rooms and services, making it a beautiful place to stay overnight for nobles, however her mood was low, it didn't matter how comfortable the night will be.
'Damn it, how am I supposed to leave this place.'
She was the esteemed daughter of a general and she was expected to act accordingly.
As time went by, she began to regret her decision and concluded that spending the night at the inn was a meaningless waste of time, she hadn't thought of a way to reach the battlefield yet, but she had to plan as she goes. She hoped it won't be too late when she get there.
If she had known she would waste time like this, she would have spent her precious time with Anne instead. She felt angry beyond control, now Ara had to use the rest of her time as efficiently as possible.
The next morning as soon as she got out of bed she did some pushups on the floor, then prepared the armor and sword inside the sack so that she could leave at any moment. Ara took a bath alone without asking for Emma's hand, and changed her clothes herself.
Emma who had been waiting outside the door for her mistress to call her and asked her to prepare a bath, stood there for awhile and decided to knock. She knocked at the door softly. She heard Ara's voice in reply, as if she had been expecting her.
"Come in."
Emma walked into the room and her mouth fell open in surprise when she saw her mistress was completely dressed. Even though Ara was diligent woman in everyday life, it was never to this extent.
"Ah- my lady, how long have you been awake? You should have called me when you woke up, I was just wai-"
Ara cut her off before she finished talking, and said.
"You don't have to take care of everything on your own while we're traveling, I brought you here with me for another reason...don't worry about me, I can handle most things by myself."
Emma looked at Ara with a confused expression. When Emma first left on this trip, she thought her mistress was going to give her a hard time, but she was surprised to see her doing everything by herself. Emma spoke in a friendlier manner without realizing it.
"Hold on my lady, I'll go get you breakfast, the food at this inn is famous for it delicious meals."
"There's no need for that, I've already eaten...tell The guards to prepare the carriage, we'll leave now."
"What? Right now?"
Emma's eyes widened into shock. It was still too early, everyone would have woken up by now, but she wasn't sure if they were ready to leave yet. Then Ara said something more shocking to Emma.
"Tell the coachman, we won't be making any stops from now on."
"Huh? How are you going to sleep my lady?"
"I can sleep in the carriage, there's no need to stop anywhere again."
Emma forced her mouth shut and didn't ask how Ara could sleep in such an uncomfortable place. There was no reason for Ara to Explain things to her anyway, she was just a maid, she bowed her head a little and said.
"Yes, my lady. I'll tell them right away."
Emma hurried to the room where the guards were staying.
On the second day of their journey, Emma couldn't take the discomfort anymore, it was so difficult that she couldn't even feel her legs from sitting for so long, she glanced at her mistress who look completely okay.
' How could she stand such difficult journey?' Emma thought internally
Exhaustion was written on everyone's faces but Ara had not complained one bit. Emma glanced at her mistress again and saw her eating the left over food in the basket, which doesn't look good and said with a worried voice.
"My lady, why don't we stop at the next town for food? if you eat spoiled food, you'll suffer from stomach problem."
Ara froze for a second when she hard what Emma said. It brought an idea to her, she began to form a plan in her head. She had be trying to come up with ways to sneak out without being noticed, she came up with none, but now that she heard what Emma suggested, it brought an idea to her. Ara quickly nodded in agreement.
"You're right, tell the coachman to make a stop at the next town."
Emma's face lit up when she heard Ara's words, she hurriedly open the carriage window and told the coachman outside.
"Lady Ara wants to make a stop at the next town for awhile."
"Okay, got it."
The coachman answered briskly, but he also couldn't hide his relieved expression. The group headed for the nearest town. Ara had insisted on making haste that made Emma think they were only going to stop to get food, and go back on their journey, but something unexpected happened.
Ara who seemed just fine awhile ago, now had a sickly expression on her face.
"I feel sick, my stomach hurt so badly, I think I need some rest." She said while holding her stomach.
"It's most be the food you ate in the carriage, I told you not to eat it my lady." Emma said with a worried expression. They quickly made accommodation at the town, and called a well-known doctor in the area to see Ara. Ara's health got worst with each passing minutes, so the group agreed to wait until her health fully recovered. However, everybody was tired from the long journey without rest, they were all eager to rest.
No men were allowed in Ara's room, and instead the guards took turns guarding her door. Emma the only woman in the group, was inside taking care of Ara. Emma sat by the bed side, and put a cold towel over Ara's forehead.
Ara who was pretending to be asleep, pressed down a self satisfied smile.
'I finally found a way.' She said internally. She had first assumed she was bound to them, but in fact it was they who were bound to her. Her health was their utmost priority, now that she was pretending to be sick, no guards will come in her room. They could stay for a few days until she is judge to be well.
'Well done Ara, What a smart girl you are, now is time to rock.' She praised herself internally.