Chapter 102
Prince Declan returned to being a noble prince and gave a generous evaluation. He pulled the bread in both directions to tear it so he could dip it in the potato porridge.
The tough bread did not tear but stretched.
Prince Declan did not show his struggle and tried to tear the bread elegantly again.
The bread stretched like rubber, as if determined never to lose.
“One might lose a tooth even while chewing this.”
Prince Declan muttered, grunting with a flushed face.
Maeve watched the scene in silence before holding out her hand. Prince Declan reluctantly handed it over to her.
She split it exactly in half as he wanted and handed it back to him.
“This is unfair. Bread that can only be eaten if one is strong.”
“I did not use strength or anything. I just tore it along the grain.”
“Liar.”
Maeve looked at him as if she were flabbergasted.
Prince Declan intentionally ignored her gaze and chewed on the rubbery bread.
It felt like his teeth might fall out.
As soon as they finished breakfast, they packed their belongings and stepped out of the house. Bebe, who had been tied nearby, recognized Maeve and greeted her gladly. Maeve stroked the horse’s nose while looking for the young donkey.
Ambrox was squeezed among the children, running around brightly just like yesterday. Maeve soon whistled sharply toward that direction! The young donkey’s ears stood up straight, and it soon came running this way excitedly. From behind, the sound of a child bursting into tears could be heard.
Sure enough, Prince Declan looked back toward the children as if it deeply bothered him.
“Am…… could we perhaps leave the donkey behind? The children like him so much. It seems this fellow enjoys playing with the kids too.”
Maeve agreed with his opinion to some extent. Unlike the horse, which was usually gentle and obedient, the donkey was not old enough and frequently slipped out of control.
Maeve spoke while stroking the head of the donkey approaching them.
“If the boss here agrees to exchange it for a compass.”
As if they had been waiting, the village boss, Billy, appeared from over there. Several village youths were behind Billy. They glanced at Maeve and Prince Declan with awkward faces, then nodded and scattered once Billy spoke to them.
“Are you leaving so soon? I thought you would stay for a few more days.”
To Maeve’s reply that they had no choice as it was not a leisurely trip, Billy nodded as if understanding. He then spoke as follows.
“I would like to take you to where the bridge is, but unfortunately, there is somewhere I must go right now.”
At Billy’s words, Prince Declan replied instead.
“Is there one more bridge? We plan to head straight through the path that leads behind this village.”
Billy raised his eyebrows at Prince Declan’s words.
“No, there is only one bridge. Behind here? It’s all submerged because of the rain. The river overflowed and everything is underwater. You’ll see when you get there. You wouldn’t even dream of swimming across.”
Only then did Maeve understand the meaning of what that man had said when they first arrived—that there was more than enough water here.
In any case, it was unexpected. This was because they had intended to pass through this village and head straight toward the West. From where they originally came, the road split into exactly three directions. The collapsed bridge they had seen before, the second path that goes through this village, and the last was going through that ominous forest where red water supposedly flows.
Billy, listening to the words exchanged between Prince Declan and Maeve, turned pale in a different sense.
“Wait, what? What happened to that bridge?”
“It appeared to be an old bridge already. The bridge was snapped clean off.”
Again, Prince Declan answered instead.
Maeve spoke while observing Billy’s expression as it stiffened hard.
“Did you people not do that on purpose? I thought you intentionally blocked the road so that travelers or peddlers would be unable to come or go.”
Billy’s expression stiffened even further.
“We don’t go that far!”
After shouting abruptly, he huffed as if he could not contain his anger.
Before she knew it, Prince Declan was standing in front of Maeve, blocking her. Maeve only looked at the broad back blocking her way.
“Calm yourself. That is how it was when we saw it two days ago.”
Prince Declan spoke in an exceptionally calm, soothing tone.
Only after a few seconds did Billy huff and puff to catch his breath as if trying to calm down, and soon apologized for shouting.
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