“Don’t get weak. The princess has not left Glishia yet. Save those sentimental thoughts for after you arrive in the Grand Duchy of Wilboyer.”

Liam glared at Hall standing beside him.

As he looked around the inn and glanced up at the window of Ormia’s room, Hall approached with a smug expression. And he repeated exactly what Liam had said last night.

As he avoided it, Hall followed with a grin.

“I don’t intend to intervene in the princess’s affairs, but I must say this out of concern for your future, Lord Liam.”

“Don’t.”

“Ah, Lord Liam, you’ll need to get married eventually. Saying such things, you won’t be able to marry. What kind of comfort is that to a crying woman? Who consoles like that? You’ll get slapped.”

“The princess didn’t hit me.”

“Well, the princess isn’t an ordinary woman.”

“If not ordinary, then what?”

“A vicious Beltoa. Moreover, someone called the negation of God.”

“Hall, I’ve told you. Don’t refer to the princess that way.”

‘How much will you regret later.’

Liam had not told anyone about the secret of Ormia’s blessing. Not even Hall, his close aide and advisor.

Once they arrive at the Grand Duchy of Wilboyer and treat his sister, everyone will find out eventually.

Although the escorting knights are elites from the Wilboyer family’s Black Lizard Knights, there might be spies from the emperor or other families among them. Secrets must be guarded carefully, even from the closest confidants.

At Liam’s sharp warning, Hall averted his gaze.

“It’s no different.”

“But you treat the princess differently.”

“Because she’s a princess.”

“So you mean the princess seems like an ordinary noble lady, but approaches you differently?”

“Hall.”

“I absolutely oppose the two of you! Do you understand? I absolutely, absolutely oppose it! A Beltoa? I’ll risk my life to prevent it!”

Looking at him in disbelief, Hall ran away in fear. The reactions of other Wilboyers would not be different from Hall’s.

‘I’ll have to speak more strongly when we arrive.’

The accompanying knights did not openly express their emotions like Hall because of the princess’s status and Liam’s warning. Some looked at the princess uncomfortably, but fundamentally prioritized Liam’s orders.

“What kind of relationship with the princess.”

The princess is merely a savior who will save his sister. Liam looked up at the lit window of the inn.

Today, they had originally planned to camp. But Ormia’s face was pale from the continuous carriage travel.

“I’m fine.”

Ormia’s face, which looked like she might collapse at any moment, was more compelling than begging to rest comfortably at an inn.

In the end, they decided to spend the night at an inn in a nearby small village.

“She’d say she’s fine even on the verge of death.”

His brow furrowed involuntarily.

Liam let out a sigh rising from within. He hadn’t expected this when going to Glishia.

It was a place he went to confirm the faces he had to kill.

He thought it impossible to bring royalty, but Ormia approached first.

She is a precious person who deserves the utmost respect. A benefactor who will save his sister and the Wilboyer family. Gratitude was not enough.

“I know, but…”

Ormia’s words and actions subtly irritated him.

He should treat her well, but when he sees her indifferent face, his insides twist.

“What is she doing not sleeping?”

The light in Ormia’s room had not gone out.

There’s an advantage of moving quickly with few people, but it’s inconvenient at times like this without a maid.

“Lord Liam.”

As he was staring up at the window of Ormia’s room, a knight handed him a small piece of paper. It was a message from a carrier pigeon.

“So Benjamin has been caught up with.”

“Will it be alright?”

The knight’s gaze briefly turned towards the lit window on the second floor.

They were behind schedule because Ormia’s physical condition was not good.

“The guest’s safety is the priority.”

“Yes.”

Liam gave instructions for the night watch and entered the inn. With no other guests, they had rented out the entire building.

As rumors about outsiders spread quickly in a small village, they decided to depart early the next morning.

‘It’s time to sleep, what is she doing?’

He knocked on the door where light was seeping through.

“Ormia.”

Because of the villagers’ attention, they agreed to use her name instead of addressing her as princess.

It’s a woman’s room. It would be rude to visit at night, but Liam knocked again and called her.

It was quiet inside.

He recalled her stumbling up to the second-floor room, her face pale and bloodless. It wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed.

‘Surely not.’

“I’m coming in.”

As he opened the door, a soft air rushed out. A fragrance mixed with the dusty inn air.

Ormia was lying on the bed without even taking off her shoes. She had fallen asleep just as she was, collapsed sideways and breathing softly.

If he hadn’t seen the slight rise and fall of her collar as she breathed, he might have rushed over to check if she was alive.

‘Without even a maid.’

Everyone else was male, and knights. She hadn’t complained on the way, and had eaten diligently whatever was given, even sitting on rough rocks.

Always with words of gratitude.

The sincerity of those words made his chest feel heavier.

Liam slid his hand under the back of Ormia’s neck to lay her comfortably on the bed.

‘Is this really a person’s weight?’

She felt lighter than the practice shield he used to lift. So thin that if he used the same force as with the knights, she might break.

He should leave now that he’s confirmed she’s asleep, but his feet wouldn’t move.

When leaving the palace, she had looked like she might disappear at any moment.

He recalled the Glishian dukes who had chased them to the castle gates, belatedly coveting Ormia.

‘Trackers will catch up soon.’

Liam, who had been gazing down calmly, reached out his hand towards Ormia’s neck.

He wrapped his hand around her neck and pressed his thumb firmly on the pulsing vein.

A red light gathered at his thumb. He brushed her skin as if wiping off moisture.

Where his thumb passed, a faint text appeared and disappeared, leaving a red dot.

Only then did Liam turn around reassured and leave the room.

* * *

“Ormia.”

Consciousness returned slowly, as if my body was being pulled up to the surface of water. The low voice calling my name from afar became clearer.

“Ormia.”

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Liam Wilboyer.

Just like when he looked down at me on the day I was confined in my third life.

He was a dry and cold person, like a bronze statue.

Back then, he was soulless, as if only his form remained after being completely burned out.

“We need to leave early. Get up.”

The current Liam was full of vitality. His eyes were straightforward and sparkling.

As I tried to get up by gripping the bed frame, my elbow buckled. Liam caught my body as it tilted towards the floor.

“Thank you.”

Sitting upright in the shaking carriage had left my body feeling heavy, like right before a severe cold.

“Can you get up?”

“Yes.”

I answered, not wanting to rely too much on Liam. My arms, legs, and waist felt heavy, and even the slightest movement caused pain throughout my body.

The schedule is already delayed because of me.

‘When did I take off my shoes?’

I don’t even remember taking off my shoes, I was so exhausted. I fell asleep without the energy to change out of my dress.

“Do you want to wash up?”

“A wet towel will do.”

“Here.”

Before I got up, Liam handed me a damp towel. He bent down and placed indoor slippers at my feet.

“These aren’t shoes.”

“This isn’t the royal palace. No one will criticize a princess for wearing indoor slippers.”

My feet had swollen in the afternoon from the tight shoes. He’s right. There’s no one to see anyway. I slipped my feet into the soft slippers.

“My, my, aren’t you busy serving. Why don’t you just spoon-feed her while you’re at it?”

With a clatter, Hall placed a bowl of soup on the bedside table.

I ended up receiving Liam’s care because he naturally took care of me.

“Hall.”

“Come down. There’s an uninvited guest. The princess should come too.”

“An uninvited guest?”

This is a small village we stopped at unexpectedly. There shouldn’t be any guests for me.

Liam checked outside the window and then urged me.

“The princess is eating.”

“I’ll go too.”

Hall wouldn’t say such things without reason.

I don’t know the situation, but it’s clearly related to me.

Liam didn’t try to stop me anymore.

Following them downstairs, I saw the knights surrounding an elderly priest in white robes. The priest’s face was wet with tears.

Despite the early hour, some villagers were peeking in from outside the inn, curious about what was happening.

“What’s going on?”

“Princess! You must not go to the Empire!”

The elderly priest recognized me. Our eyes met briefly with Liam’s.

Liam quickly looked at a knight, and three of them went outside to chase away the gathered people.

“Hall.”

“No trackers have arrived. The news of the princess heading to the Empire has been reported, and many people know. They must have come looking after seeing our group.”

“Princess!”

The elderly priest pushed past the knights and ran towards me.

Liam blocked him, but the priest fell to his knees and grabbed the hem of my dress.

“Don’t leave! Princess, you are royalty of Glishia!”

“Let go!”

“Princess! Please don’t abandon Glishia!”

Even as Liam pushed him away, the frail priest’s hands didn’t release my dress. I stopped Liam as he placed his hand on his sword.

“It’s His Majesty’s order. There’s an imperial edict.”

It’s the king’s order, which even the temple upholds. Priests valued the king more highly than the pope or high priests. The king was also called God’s representative.

Yet the elderly priest did not back down.

“Please, Princess.”

The king’s edict is in my bag upstairs.

As I was about to go get it to show him, the priest wailed.

“Princess, if you leave, this country will burn. Glishia will perish.”

I got goosebumps.

Has this person also returned from the future?

“God has given me a revelation in a dream. Oh, it was such a terrible sight.”

The elderly priest trembled, shedding tears.

“I was standing on a mountain overlooking the capital of Glishia. The houses in the capital were burning, and people’s screams were endless. It was so horrific… The capital of Glishia was like hell.”

I saw it too.

I saw it directly.

They screamed, and blood soaked the ground. My parents’ heads rolled before my eyes.

“I woke up crying in shock, and lo and behold, knights had come to this village. With a precious woman with hair the color of flower petals. I knew it was the princess. God has given me a revelation to stop you.”

The elderly priest in his worn and shabby robes was quite a devout person.

A proper priest for God to give such a prophetic dream.

But even with high faith, he has no power.

Not enough political influence to be pushed out from the center and settle in a small village.

The elderly priest’s words carry no weight, so no one will believe God’s revelation.

“If the princess leaves, this country, Glishia will perish. Please don’t abandon Glishia.”

“Drive him out! We’re leaving now!”

“Princess! Princess!”

People are gathering due to the commotion. It’s dangerous to leave traces while evading pursuit.

I bent down towards the priest kneeling on the floor.

“I’m not abandoning it. Glishia abandoned me.”

“Princess, that’s not true. God said He gives great trials to His beloved children. If you just overcome this trial…”

The elderly priest looked at me desperately.

How many more of these trials must I endure? How many times must I die before it’s worth it?

Is it a faith worth ruining one person’s life to protect?

When I was unhappy.

When I wasn’t happy.

“There’s something the priest didn’t see.”

I told the truth to the elderly priest.

“Even if I stay, Glishia will fall.”

My smiling face was reflected in the priest’s eyes, filled with terror.

“Ah… You know? If you know, why don’t you prevent it? When you could save those poor people, why?”

“Why should I prevent it? When Glishia abandoned me.”

In my second life, I was praised as a saint.

They said I had immense power to bestow blessings on all ability users.

I wonder how I appear to the priest now.