Chapter 3
Several soldiers dragged John forward, his hands tightly bound behind his back. Dirt stained his clothes, though he looked more irritated than frightened.
The Princess stared at him for a long moment.
"Are you an idiot?"
John wisely chose not to answer.
She turned toward Marco instead.
"Start the journey."
Then, after a brief pause—
"And put him in my carriage."
Marco raised a brow in surprise before grinning.
"As you wish, Princess."
━━━━━━━━━━
Inside the carriage, silence lingered heavily in the air.
The wheels rattled against the stone road while the Princess sat quietly by the window, her gaze fixed outside.
Across from her sat Esabell and John.
John shifted awkwardly before forcing out a laugh.
"So… I wasn't actually trying to escape. I just needed some fresh air."
Nobody responded.
His smile slowly disappeared.
Smooth.
Esabell leaned closer and lowered her voice sharply.
"Do you have any idea how lucky you are right now?"
John blinked.
"Lucky?"
"You could've been executed."
John shrugged weakly.
"I don't usually think things through."
Esabell stared at him for a second before laughing despite herself.
"You're strange."
"That's not the first time I've heard that."
She studied him curiously.
"But honestly… how did you catch the Princess's attention?"
John looked genuinely confused.
"Me? I didn't."
Esabell smirked slightly.
"If that were true, you'd already be dead."
John glanced toward the Princess.
She remained completely silent, staring out the carriage window as if none of them existed.
He leaned back again.
"Then maybe she likes annoying people."
Esabell snorted softly.
"Trust me. She doesn't."
John tilted his head.
"Then how did you survive?"
Esabell crossed her arms proudly.
"I'm useful."
"Oh?"
"I'm a Finder. I study the Books of Heaven and help locate Monesa."
John frowned slightly.
"The Books of Heaven?"
Esabell nodded.
"They contain knowledge passed down through the Messenger Bloodline."
John looked interested now.
"So only your family can read them?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Esabell answered immediately.
"Because God chose us."
John stared at her for a moment.
"…That sounds convenient."
Esabell rolled her eyes.
"You really know nothing, do you?"
"Not much, no."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Then explain something to me. How exactly are we supposed to find Monesa?"
Esabell hesitated briefly before answering.
"We found another Chosen Angel."
John blinked.
"A what?"
"You seriously don't know?"
At his blank expression, she sighed dramatically.
"The gods were once pure beings before they became cursed. Chosen Angels are humans personally blessed by a god."
Her expression softened slightly.
"They can sense divine presence. Some can even hear the gods speak."
John frowned thoughtfully.
"But… aren't the gods just stone now?"
Esabell stared at him in disbelief.
"You really are hopeless."
"I'm asking a reasonable question."
"The gods may be trapped," she replied firmly, "but they're still gods. Immortal beings don't simply disappear."
Her voice lowered.
"They were betrayed by humanity. Most of them would never help us willingly now."
John noticed the way her expression changed when she spoke about them.
Almost sympathetic.
"But Monesa is different," Esabell continued quietly. "If the Princess reaches her… if she can speak with her…"
A faint hope appeared in her eyes.
"Maybe the gods will listen again."
John studied her silently before sighing.
"You think about this stuff a lot."
"Of course I do."
Esabell glanced toward the Princess.
"Our Princess carries the Blood of Peace."
John repeated the words slowly.
"Blood of Peace…"
Esabell gave him another tired look.
"You truly know nothing."
"Apparently not."
She looked almost offended by his ignorance.
"Her bloodline is famous for choosing peace over power. Even when kingdoms fought wars, her family tried to protect humanity instead of ruling it through fear."
Her voice softened slightly.
"That's why I follow her."
John glanced toward the Princess again.
She still hadn't reacted once to their conversation.
Esabell smiled faintly.
"She may seem cold… but she's special."
Before John could respond—
BOOM.
The entire carriage lurched violently.
Wood cracked apart.
The horses screamed.
In a single motion, the Princess grabbed Esabell's wrist and kicked open the carriage door.
They leapt out just as the carriage exploded behind them.
John barely managed to throw himself free before the wreckage crashed across the road.
The Princess landed perfectly, cloak billowing behind her.
Calm.
Steady.
Untouched.
Then the air changed.
Cold swept across the road unnaturally.
The soldiers froze.
From the shadows beyond the trees, something emerged.
A monster.
Its body looked half-burned, blackened like living ash. Crimson flames leaked from the cracks in its skin, flickering like wounds that refused to heal.
The Princess slowly drew her sword.
The creature opened its mouth—
Flames erupted across the battlefield.
Soldiers were thrown backward as fire tore through the road.
Screams echoed instantly.
"Formation!" Marco shouted.
Arrows flew through the darkness, but the monster moved unnaturally fast, twisting around attacks before tearing through soldiers with burning claws.
The Princess narrowed her eyes.
"A higher-grade monster…"
Then she charged forward.
Her blade collided with the creature's claws in an explosion of sparks and fire.
The impact shook the ground beneath them.
The monster roared and swung again, flames spiraling around its arm.
The Princess dodged sideways and sliced across its chest.
Black blood splattered across the dirt.
Meanwhile, smaller monsters began clawing their way out from beneath the earth itself.
Dozens of them.
Marco cursed under his breath.
"Oh, perfect."
He immediately drew his sword and threw himself into battle.
John hesitated only briefly before grabbing a fallen spear and joining the fight.
Chaos consumed the road.
Steel clashed endlessly.
Flames illuminated the night sky.
Soldiers screamed.
Monsters howled.
The Princess fought at the center of it all like a storm.
Every strike was precise.
Every movement deadly.
Even surrounded, she never lost control.
John found himself staring at her more than the monsters.
Not because he was afraid.
But because she fought like someone carrying the weight of the entire world alone.
Finally—
The last monster collapsed.
Silence slowly returned to the battlefield.
The Princess stood motionless beneath the dark sky, blood staining her blade while smoke curled through the cold air around her.
Her breathing was heavier now, but her expression never changed.
John watched her carefully.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The Princess slowly turned toward the surviving soldiers.
Some were injured.
Some were dead.
Her gaze lingered there for a brief moment before she finally spoke.
"It's almost nightfall."
Her voice remained calm despite the destruction around them.
"We camp here tonight."
Marco nodded immediately.
The soldiers began preparing camp in exhausted silence.
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Night settled heavily over the camp.
Most soldiers rested around low-burning fires while healers treated the wounded nearby.
But away from the others—
The Princess trained alone.
Her sword cut cleanly through the night air again and again.
Slash.
Step.
Turn.
Perfect.
Sweat clung to her skin, strands of orange hair sticking against her face, yet she never slowed down.
Then a voice spoke quietly behind her.
"You're overworking yourself."
The Princess stopped instantly.
She turned slightly, sword still in hand.
John stood a few steps away.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You enjoy appearing where you shouldn't."
John scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Well… I figured our Princess wouldn't execute me tonight."
A faint silence followed.
Then she asked coldly—
"Why are you here?"
This time, his smile faded completely.
For the first time since meeting him—
He looked serious.
"…Because I think I know where Monesa is."
...CHAPTER 3ENDS...