Chapter 44
Ballinoor. The village they had just passed through.
Prince Declan was careful not to recklessly struggle again on the spot and draw Fionechta’s attention. Since the village was crowded, it might be the perfect opportunity to escape. It would be even better if he could get out and strike that scoundrel before then.
The estoc, the elaborately crafted sword he received as a gift on his fourteenth birthday, would be strapped to the saddle of the horse he rode. And regrettably, he was clearly loaded onto the horse Fionechta had ridden. A rabbit skin that Fionechta had hung over the horse’s rump was tickling the area around his cheek.
Fionechta started moving again. He came nearby, splash, splash, making sounds, and then tied something damp and dangling near Prince Declan, before moving away again.
If Fionechta knew he was awake, he would knock him out again without hesitation. Then, he didn’t know when he would be able to wake up next. The worst-case scenario would be waking up again only to find himself captured in a neighboring country’s castle.
Prince Declan recalled Princess Cayla, who would greedily light up her eyes and moisten her lips with her tongue every time she looked at him.
Ah, please.
My God.
How did he end up in such a state? Now, a deep sense of despair consumed him. Prince Declan feebly writhed, helplessly sprawled uncomfortably atop the horse.
Splosh, the sound of someone stepping on mud and approaching this way was heard again. The musty smell of mud and the chillingly close presence were felt right nearby. Fionechta was about to mount the horse Prince Declan was loaded onto.
Ugh, with a soft groan, Fionechta, who was about to mount the horse, suddenly stopped moving.
Thump-thump-thump, the faint sound of a horse galloping was heard from a distance. It was getting closer and closer.
Fionechta abandoned putting his foot in the opposite stirrup and jumped down onto the muddy ground.
Prince Declan held his breath. He heard Fionechta walking to the side with a splosh sound.
Then, he said this to the unidentified person approaching:
“Maeve.”
Prince Declan’s head went cold.
Maeve stared intently at Fionechta who was walking towards her, without dismounting her horse. And she swept her gaze over the damp lakeside that formed their background. It was a place that made one feel unpleasant just by looking at it.
Maeve sighed softly and then jumped off her horse. Fionechta, who was already close by, addressed her with a composed face.
“What’s wrong?”
Instead of replying to his question, Maeve looked at the two horses behind him. Prince Declan was sprawled across the rear horse like a piece of laundry.
Fionechta spoke, as if he knew what she was going to say.
“He suddenly passed out, so I had no choice but to lay him across. Of course, it doesn’t look good, but I had no choice if I wanted to move him quickly.”
“Passed out?”
“Yes. I think his illness has recurred.”
Maeve stared intently at him without a reply.
She scanned over Fionechta’s hair, which had white strands like premature graying in places, down to his beard, and his face, which was smiling as if he were appropriately troubled.
A moment of silence passed.
Just as she was looking at Fionechta, Fionechta was also staring intently at her. The maidservant had a few strange aspects, but she was neither foolish nor naive. She had probably noticed the strange atmosphere long ago. If necessary, he could simply strangle her and kill her. Fionechta concluded this indifferently and withdrew his hand that was about to reach for his scabbard.
“You lead the way. I’ll follow behind.”
The silence did not last long. Fionechta said, looking down at her.
And it was the moment Maeve was about to respond to his words.
From behind, the sound of a horse neighing was heard. Hee-haw!
Simultaneously, both of their heads turned towards the rear. The neighing sound came from the horse behind them. The horse impatiently stamped its hind legs alternately in place. As it did so, the figure of the person loaded onto its rump was seen squirming even more clearly.
Thud.
The figure abruptly fell down below the horse’s legs. Then, it rolled sideways along the sloped ground.
It then stopped with a thump, colliding against a rock placed close by.
“…”
“…”
Fionechta turned his head back to the front only after confirming this. Maeve also looked away from the rear and stared at him.
They stared intently at each other without a word.
“…Isn’t he dead?”
Maeve asked Fionechta. Fionechta smiled blankly, as if dumbfounded.
I’m screwed. That seemed to be the meaning of the smile. It was the moment Fionechta let out another hollow laugh and was about to reach for Maeve.
“…Get out of the way!”
The man who had been lying as if dead rushed toward them, scattering mud.
“Get out of the way, Maeve!”
Maeve did not meekly obey the Prince Declan’s words.
She calmly drove her fist into Fionechta’s stomach.
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