The surroundings were pitch black, and breathing was difficult. Realizing the damp and nauseating smell, Roselia quickly composed herself, sorting out her thoughts.

The abductors had placed something on her head. It was challenging to breathe, and discerning the surroundings was difficult, instilling fear in her. Despite the fear, Roselia intentionally pretended to be quiet, not provoking the abductors, in case an opportunity for escape arose.

“Why bother waiting for the useless Lapelios noble brat? Shouldn’t we just check by stripping her here?”

“Leave her be. It’s the order we received. What strength do we have?”

Lapelios noble… Stripping her clothes to check… It seemed like they wanted to expose her as a member of the Lapelios faction’s nobility. In other words, they were waiting for nobles affiliated with Lapelios.

Conversely, it meant that until Lapelios’s nobles arrived, she was safe. When the wooden door opened, someone entered.

“Have you arrived!”

Behind the militarily dressed voices of the men, someone approached Roselia and removed the hood she was wearing.

Finally free from the stifling hood, Roselia blinked her eyes to discern her surroundings. Soon, she looked down and saw a man with an unpleasant smile gazing at her. The man was undoubtedly the one who hid the potion herbs at the school. Once again, the involvement of the Grand Duke’s family was apparent.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Roselia.”

Roselia, in her disguise as Antonio, didn’t go unnoticed by the man. A shiver ran down her spine as she saw the man twisting his lips into a creepy smile.

It meant that Duke Rubeleo also knew her true identity.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Trying to protest, Roselia shouted, but due to the gag in her mouth, only a pathetic groan echoed.

While Roselia glared at him with a chilling look, a voice from outside reached them.

“Lapelios’s carriage is coming.”

Upon the man’s announcement, the man, who had been peering outside, stood up.

“Prepare to welcome the guest.”

“Yes!”

Roselia bit her lips and quickly turned her head. Crossing over to the Lapelios nobles would make her chances of survival even slimmer once her female identity was revealed.

Somehow, she had to escape before surrendering to them.

At that moment, an unexpected scream resounded from outside. Both startled Roselia and confused men were seen rushing out.

“What’s happening!”

Shadowed man’s shout echoed, and a subordinate, who had rushed inside in a panic, shouted with a terrified face.
“The people who got off the carriage are suddenly attacking!”

“What?”

Roselia glanced around with a puzzled expression.

Judging by the situation, it seemed that they were supposed to meet Lapelios nobles in this cabin. Did Lapelios nobles attack them?

Along with the clashing sounds of weapons, screams and shouts mingled. Soon, the entrance burst open, and knights in white armor rushed in.

“Stop them! Stop them somehow!”

A man who pushed away approaching knights shouted. However, mere mercenaries stood no chance against skilled Lapelios knights.

The man who had just shouted curses turned and yelled at Roselia, eyeing her.

“Move the hostage!”

Following the man’s orders, frightened men started approaching Roselia.

Just as Roselia was trying to avoid being caught by them, the man who had been approaching suddenly stopped.

“Cough…!”

The man collapsed lifelessly to the side as if a broken wooden doll.

Amidst Roselia’s surprise, a figure appeared from behind him and rushed towards her.

“Roselia!”

“Marquis…?”

Was it Johannes, the Lapelios noble who had attacked them? Without giving Roselia time to react, a blade swung towards Johannes from behind.

“Marquis, watch out!”

At Roselia’s shout, Johannes quickly turned around and raised his sword.

Clang! A loud noise rang out as the blades clashed, and sparks flew.

It was the shadowy man who had led the group that kidnapped her.

The man exerted all his strength to press the sword, veins bulging on his face to prevent Roselia from being taken away.

“Argh…!”

Johannes, who had been sitting while checking on Roselia, gritted his teeth to withstand the pressure from above.

Roselia anxiously looked around. Other knights seemed occupied with dealing with lingering remnants and were unaware of the ongoing struggle.

Her hands and feet were tied, limiting her movements. Quickly scanning the surroundings, Roselia spotted a bucket filled with water and, as if by instinct, kicked it towards the man.

While not a threatening action, it momentarily captured the man’s attention. Thanks to this distraction, Johannes, who had parried the man’s sword, swiftly got up and began to counterattack.

In a turn of events, the man, who had been fending off Johannes’ attacks, staggered back.

“Argh…!”

Unlike Johannes, who extended his sword leisurely, the man was retreating unsteadily.

Looking around, most of the remnants also seemed to be gradually controlled by the knights. Realizing the situation, the man shouted.

“Retreat! Anyone left alive retreats!”