Chapter 152
Lynette steadied her legs and gripped the reins tightly.
It’s the first time she had ever ridden a horse this fast, or gone so long without rest.
Her whole body ached.
But since it seemed she was the only one struggling, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
Sillian had been riding close beside her, keeping an eye on her condition, and had suggested several times that they stop and rest.
But after she refused a few times, he stopped insisting.
They had agreed to rest once they escaped the Imperial territory, but the lands were far too vast to simply cross in a day.
She’d heard that once they reached the fiefs granted to the nobles, the Imperial family’s influence would weaken significantly. But when would they ever get there?
She pressed her lips together.
Sillian, who had been riding beside Lynette, glanced at her.
Then, as if he could no longer put it off, he raised his voice.
“It would be best if we rested for a while.”
At those words, Euphen and Eshar turned back and gradually slowed their pace.
Gripping her aching legs, Lynette managed to dismount with Sillian’s help.
Her body still felt as if it were swaying, even though her feet were on solid ground.
Perhaps from the hours of relentless motion.
“Are you all right?”
Sillian asked as he helped her sit down.
“I’m fine.”
It wasn’t as though she could say she wasn’t.
Knowing how desperate Euphen and Eshar were to get away as soon as possible, she couldn’t suggest taking it slow.
Lynette took a sip of water and let out a quiet sigh.
Perhaps deciding that they might as well eat while resting, everyone began to take out something simple to eat without needing to be told.
Sillian handed her a piece of hard bread.
She stared at it for a long time, then grimaced.
She wasn’t hungry at all.
She didn’t even have the appetite.
In fact, what little she’d eaten that morning was still weighing uncomfortably in her stomach.
“I don’t want to eat.”
“It’s better if you eat something.”
“My stomach doesn’t feel good.”
“Then would soup be all right?”
“You’re going to make soup now?”
“It won’t take long.”
“It’s fine.”
As he began to prepare to light a fire, Lynette sighed and tore off a small corner of the bread, forcing herself to chew.
“Lynette, are you all right?”
Euphen, who had been hesitating a short distance away, took a few careful steps closer and asked quietly.
“I’m fine.”
“I know it’s urgent, but can’t we go a little slower?”
Sillian naturally stepped between them as he spoke, as if even having Euphen within Lynette’s line of sight made him uneasy.
‘I suppose it can’t be helped.’
Even if she told herself not to, her heart wavered the moment she saw him.
Right now, the joy of seeing him again was enough to sustain her, but there might come a time when that joy would turn into a wish to touch him again.
Just as Euphen once said, it might already be too late by the time she came to her senses.
Now that there was no way to relieve the pain once it built up, she had to be even more careful.
Euphen and Sillian were talking.
Lynette steadied her trembling legs and took a step closer to them.
“I’m fine.”
She’s already nothing but a burden.
She couldn’t let something like this hold them back.
Just as she had grown accustomed to the pain, she felt that if she endured a few more days, she could get used to riding like this as well.
“It’s better for me to endure a bit than to slow everyone down and make things more dangerous.”
“Lynette.”
Sillian frowned.
“And once we’re past the Imperial territory, you said we could relax a little.”
“Even so, there’s still a long way to go.”
Euphen sighed as he answered.
He looked worried but didn’t insist on resting longer.
He bit his lip and turned his head away.
“I’ll be fine. And besides, Miss Eshar only agreed to come with us after much hesitation. I don’t want to make her regret that decision by slowing everyone down.”
At that, Euphen gave a faint, bitter smile.
Sillian placed his hand on Lynette’s shoulder and guided her back to her seat.
“We won’t rest long, so take whatever little time you can to recover.”
She turned back.
Her gaze met Euphen’s.
The moment their eyes met, he gave a strained, bitter smile and quickly turned away.
As if it pained him to see her and Sillian standing so close together.
Lynette closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again.
“I don’t know if this was really the right choice, Lynette.”
The man muttered softly and let out a long sigh.
Would it be better to apologize?
But even if she did, she had no intention of parting ways now, so it would be meaningless.
“Thank you, Sillian.”
At her words, he smiled faintly.
“If there ever comes a moment when you and the Imperial Prince touch again, I’ll take you away by force if I must. And when that happens, no matter how much you beg or demand otherwise, I won’t listen.”
She nodded.
She knew all too well that if she didn’t do as he said, she would only end up in a far worse situation.
It wasn’t a statement she could, or should, argue with.
Once she finally finished the hard bread, everyone began preparing to depart again.
Lynette took a deep breath, firmed her resolve, and followed after the two men leading the way.
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