Chapter 19
Tap!
Something hit her face and fell to the ground. A raindrop? Thinking it might be raining, Evelyn snapped to attention, only to find that fog had already surrounded her. She jumped to her feet in a panic.
“Damn… the fog’s already here, and it’s only the morning.”
The summer sun rose early. It felt like she’d just closed her eyes for a second, but the eastern sky was already brightening. Evelyn tugged the exhausted horse toward her and climbed onto the saddle.
“Just hold on a little longer.”
She reassured the horse with little conviction, glancing around warily.
The fog alone was enough to put Evelyn in a bad mood. Instinctively, she drew the dagger from her belt, holding both the reins and the weapon in her hands. Attacking someone who could come back to life would be pointless, but this was the only way to ease her mind.
Fortunately, the fog dissipated once the sun fully rose. The thing she feared didn’t come to pass.
Without any issues, Evelyn was able to guide the horse and reach the grand gates of the city.
Two heavily armed guards stood blocking the entrance to Lovent. It was a problematic situation, as Evelyn had nothing to prove her identity, but with her hood pulled low, she dismounted from the horse with confidence.
Lovent… was a battle of momentum.
The city was filled with people who couldn’t prove their status. Evelyn was just another one of them.
“Identity badge. Certification. Money.”
The guard naturally offered the last option. Evelyn took a silver coin from the leather pouch she had brought along with her dagger.
“Is this enough?”
“Are you kidding?”
“Dammit, I’m giving you more than enough and you’re calling it a joke?”
“Don’t know the current rates, huh? Where are you from? The north?”
Evelyn didn’t answer. She didn’t even want to mention Brumfield.
“Talking about market rates? Fine, I’m selling my horse and leaving, so open the gate.”
At that moment, the guard who had been bickering with Evelyn was eyed carefully by his fellow guard.
“Wait a minute… aren’t you a wanted criminal?”
It had been years since she was locked away in Zelakent, yet she was still on the wanted list. It was frustrating, but Evelyn didn’t show it.
“Look at me. What crime could I have committed to get on the wanted list, huh?”
Her delicate frame and soft features were actually helpful in moments like this. After spending years quietly imprisoned in Zelakent, the infamous name of Evelia Locke, the notorious fugitive, had likely become less known.
“Hmm.”
Moreover, Evelyn understood why the guard was spouting such nonsense. He was stalling on purpose, trying to make her anxious and then extort money from her.
In the end, pretending to give in, she pulled another silver coin from her leather pouch.
“Is this enough?”
“No.”
“What more do you want? I told you, I’m selling the horse and leaving!”
Unlike the guard who quickly pocketed the silver coins, the other guard scrutinized Evelyn with sharp eyes before roughly grabbing her arm.
“She’s definitely a wanted criminal.”
“What?”
“Evelia Locke.”
The moment her name, which she hadn’t heard in a long time, was called, Evelyn realized something had gone terribly wrong.
“She’s the criminal wanted nationwide for the crime of regicide.”
“Regicide?”
She had killed countless people, but she had never dared to kill a member of the royal family…
“Evelia Locke! Hurry up and tell the captain!”
The guard who had pocketed two silver coins dashed into the gates. Evelyn, stunned by the absurdity of it all, yelled out in disbelief.
“I’m not her!”
But the guard who held her pointed at the wanted poster stuck to the wall. The poster clearly depicted Evelyn with her hair chopped off, her face drawn in great detail.
And beneath it were the charges.
Discussion
6 CommentsReactions
non-GMO vegetable
He set a trap. A cunning snake, now she is wanted throughout the country and only he can give her shelter on his territory! Manipulator!
Suckerforshipping
pickle3
wait what is the rest of the royal family doing then lol?
LemonBean
hiraheth
napatrappa