Please Die, Your Highness - Chapter 81

After spending about two more days, Maeve and Prince Declan finally reached the Lucen River. Seeing it in person, the winding waves were quite a magnificent sight.

Maeve pulled out the map and marked that they had reached the exact midpoint of Eloa. While Maeve made a small checkmark with the charcoal, Prince Declan was looking down, searching for a spot where they could cross the river.

The Lucen River, which cut a long path through the center of Eloa on the map, was not actually that wide when seen in person. This meant that if they could find a shallow spot, crossing would not be that difficult. Recalling what he had heard from Harold, Prince Declan searched for a spot where the current appeared a bit rougher.

“Maeve, how about over there?”

Maeve followed Prince Declan and stood beside him, looking down at the river from below the hill. Indeed, there was a spot where the current looked fast, situated at the ambiguous boundary between the forest and the plain. Just as Harold had said, there were large rocks positioned there, visible even from where they stood.

The two took the horse and the donkey and walked all the way down.

As soon as he reached the water’s edge, Prince Declan rolled up his sleeves. He sat down between the large rocks and washed his face first. The donkey, which usually approached to chew on his hair, quietly drank the flowing river water beside him.

The brown horse, Bebe, did the same. While Bebe stuck close to her side and drank water, Maeve pulled out the almost empty leather pouches and filled them with fresh water.

The river water was so clear that one could almost see right through it. Maeve focused on filling the remaining pouches, suppressing the impulse to gulp down that clear water right then and there. Looking to her side, she saw that Prince Declan, while washing his face, was already scooping up plenty of water and drinking it.

Even if it’s clear, it will give him a stomachache.

Thinking she would tell him later, she let him enjoy the cold water to his heart’s content.

Maeve called out to stop Prince Declan before he could attempt to bathe on the spot.

“Prince Declan, let’s cross now. Do that after we cross.”

Prince Declan swallowed a nod and approached her. After Maeve handed the reins of Bebe to the Prince, she walked toward the donkey and lifted it up effortlessly.

“Get on the horse and cross over.”

“Me on this horse alone? He’ll surely try to throw me off again.”

“I gave him a firm warning, so it will be fine.”

Prince Declan did not believe Maeve’s words. Once again, he glared at Bebe as if engaged in a fierce psychological battle through side-glances.

Prince Declan looked back toward Maeve. The maidservant, intending to enter the water, was already ankle-deep while holding the donkey in her arms.

“Wait a minute, I’ll do it! You’re small!”

Maeve tilted her head to the side. She seemed to feel a strange sensation, not having expected to hear such words from that man simply because she was short.

Regardless, Prince Declan quickly took the donkey from the much smaller woman and held it.

……It was heavier than he thought.

“It’s heavy. He weighs quite a bit more than he looks.”

“Even if the water is shallow, it will submerge you up to your head. For me, it will come up to my chest. Hurry and get on the horse.”

“The current is quite strong.”

“Which is all the more reason I must do it. You would be swept away immediately.”

‘I was trying to say the opposite.’

Maeve thought so, but she did not want to drag out this trivial argument. She let him have his way and climbed onto Bebe.

Soon, the two people and two animals began to cross the river. The young donkey chewed on Prince Declan’s sleeve, then cried out loudly as if in protest when the cold river water lightly touched its hooves.

“Be quiet, you pampered thing,” Prince Declan muttered gloomily, struggling not to lose his balance in the fairly strong current. Maeve, riding Bebe, came toward him as if trying to match his speed.

Before they knew it, the cold river water had risen to his chest. Maeve adjusted the horse’s speed with the reins so that he could cross easily, and they crossed the river slowly but side by side.

The width of the river was not that great, but it was enough to make one’s whole body shiver. As soon as they emerged from the river, Prince Declan took a wool blanket from Maeve and wrapped it around himself. As soon as Prince Declan set the donkey down, it shook its hind legs irritably and moved away as if trying to get as far from the water as possible.

Maeve brought the young donkey back so it wouldn’t stray from the group and looked around.

“According to Harold, there should be a cave nearby.”

“I’m fine.”

“It will be more troublesome if you catch a cold. Don’t be stubborn.”

Maeve ignored him coldly and held out her hand. Prince Declan eventually took Maeve’s hand as if reluctantly and climbed onto Bebe behind her.

Prince Declan now wrapped his arms around her waist without much resistance. The donkey trotted along behind the horse, which was walking at a moderate pace.

Maeve entered the forest with familiarity, as if she were someone who had been here before. Since they were near the river, visible paths trodden by people appeared, making it even easier to find the way. Maeve, holding the reins, furrowed her brows to read the small note Harold had made on the map.

“Give it here.”

Prince Declan took the map instead and read it for her.

“Continue inward along the stream; when a large oak tree appears, turn in the opposite direction of the water’s flow.”

“Keep going.”