I will die.

What they want is Princess Larratu, and the king, upon learning that the imperial spy is targeting Princess Larratu, will be furious and pursue them.

I will be used as a hostage to avoid pursuit. If that happens, I won’t be able to preserve my life.

But Karsatuna did not hesitate.

“Where are you trying to run!”

Shi-nu grabbed Karsatuna’s hair. Between the wet strands of hair, the man’s hands, with sharp knots, dug in.

A chilling terror froze her to the core. However, gritting her teeth, she shouted.

“Run!”

“Karsatuna!”

Princess Larratu, approaching with wide eyes, hesitated.

Karsatuna extended both hands behind her, grasping the man’s wrist and bowed her head.

Tears welled up in Princess Larratu’s eyes at the desperate gaze. Tears mixed with rainwater flowed weakly.

Princess Larratu hesitated, then turned away.

“How annoying!”

Without hesitation, Shi-nu pushed Karsatuna aside.

The important thing was not a noblewoman like her but the princess, the forbidden gem of the king.

A noble hostage!

Shi-nu’s eyes lit up. Ignoring Karsatuna, he took a step forward, watching Princess Larratu’s back as she ran away.

Karsatuna disappeared from her mind. As long as she could capture the princess, such things didn’t matter.

Leaving Karsatuna and about to run towards Princess Larratu.

Swish!

Through the rain, something sharp flew.

Despite the distracting raindrops, feeling a sinister force, Shi-nu leaned backward.

Passing through the chest, the dagger made a slight cut.

Despite the disorienting rain, Shi-nu sensed a chilling presence and shifted his body backward.

The blade lightly skimmed his chest.

As the dagger passed, a strange force emanating from it caused Shi-nu’s expression to change abruptly.

I must secure the princess!

Ignoring the possibility of another attack, Shi-nu turned towards the princess. At that moment, someone fell from the sky.

“……!”

The shock passed through the neck and spine. His face contorted, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Without uttering a groan, Shi-nu, instead, assumed an attacking stance toward the unknown man who had attacked him.

The man, covered in wounds, took out a sharply pointed bagh nak and slid it onto his finger.

Already at a disadvantage.

Without turning back, he swung the weapon.

It’s enough to just graze.

The beloved weapon, sharpened every morning, would take life and blood when the poison seeped in through the wounds.

But before Shi-nu could strike, the man immediately struck his wrist.

In an instant, his hand lost its strength.

Veins popped in Shi-nu’s eyes.

Someone stepped on his back.

“You’re a tough one. Even with broken bones, not a single sound?”

Karsatuna, sitting on the ground, widened her eyes.

The intimidating boatman, who had been threatening earlier, was now subdued by the newly arrived man.

‘Who is this?’

Due to the heavy rain, it was difficult to distinguish faces.

It was then.
“Kichep, did you catch them?”

‘Egrain!’

Karsatuna widened her mouth with joy.

Drenched in rain, Egrain ran towards Karsatuna and supported her, helping her to stand.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. But what about Egrain…”

Karsatuna fell silent when she saw the large man appearing behind Egrain.

Swoosh!

Even in the rare heavy rain in Riorza, the man’s presence didn’t diminish.

Much taller than her, with shoulders twice as wide, and a large build that seemed to surpass the people of the kingdom. A man who manifested his difference from the roots.

He was none other than the 5th Prince of the Empire, Giovanni Dovrakan.

Without realizing it, Karsatuna shifted her gaze to him and gasped.

He had stabbed a knife into the shoulder of the boatman trying to get up. The process was so natural that it sent shivers down her spine.

‘Are all people from the Empire like that?’

Unintentionally disturbed, Karsatuna tightly grabbed Egrain’s arm.

“Where is the princess?”

She urgently asked Egrain, who was untying the rope around her wrist.

“She ran away. With this much rain, if she slips on the mountain…”

“I’ll find her quickly. Karsatuna, wait here.”

Leaning against a wooden pillar, Karsatuna stared intently at Egrain, who pushed through the rain.

But something was strange. As she took steps, the rain seemed to weaken gradually.

A faint rainbow rose above her head as she moved away.

Karsatuna stared blankly at that beautiful rainbow. The nightmarish moment just before felt like a dream.

Suddenly, anxiety crept in.

‘Why? It feels like Egrain might disappear soon.’

Princess Larratu, getting wet in the rain, lay on a pile of fallen leaves.

“Princess.”

When I supported her, her weak gaze turned towards me.

Running recklessly, her pink dress was stained with mud, and the wrist entangled in the rope was reddened.

Her expression changed when she saw me. Slowly, venom rose in her tear-soaked, fragile eyes.

“Get up. I’ll support you.”

Tak, she brushed my hand away and stood up on her own. I cut the rope with a prepared knife and wrapped a blanket around her.