“Please… That man and Rikaion still don’t know that I’m a Nabi. They’ve kept me safe up to now just because we’re part of the same minority.”

Durant fell into thought for a moment.

In addition to bringing Nabi, the emperor’s command was to capture minorities wherever found.

Going against this would result in punishment for himself.

Normally, he would have followed his lord’s order without a second thought.

But the Nabi, who had come willingly to save them, was already suffering, and Rikaion, who had safely protected her, had virtually contributed greatly to the empire.

There would be no greater reward than sparing their lives.

Durant ended his contemplation and shouted.

“Aim for the horse, not the man!”

Fortunately, he was not a man devoid of compassion like the emperor.

The knights who were about to shoot arrows at him changed direction and aimed at the horse Jackal was riding.

No matter how skillfully Jackal avoided, it was difficult to dodge all the arrows shot by dozens of men.

Finally, the horse was hit by an arrow and fell forward, and Jackal rolled roughly off.

Asha’s eyes widened, and she cried out.

“Mr. Jackal…!”

Jackal, hearing her call his name as he fell, immediately picked himself up.

His face was contorted, his eyes bloodshot.

He did not give up but stubbornly chased after them with a bow in hand.

Should we attack or defend? As the subordinates wondered, Durant shouted.

“Just defend with your bows!”

They immediately raised their shields and protected around the horse like an iron fortress.

True to his wild horse nature, Jackal chased at an unbelievable speed, shooting arrows, but no matter what, he couldn’t keep up with the speed of the horse against many men.

The gap between them gradually widened.

Jackal, running at full speed, reached out one hand toward her and yelled.

“Asha…!”

Touched by his desperate voice and his woeful gaze, Asha’s eyes welled with tears.

Her heart felt torn, but this was the right decision.

He would be unhappy if they were together while she was in the organization.

‘Take care… Mr. Jackal.’

Asha mouthed the words to him, then showed a sad smile for the last time.

It was a farewell.

Durant shouted forcefully.

“Everyone, rush to the palace at full speed!”

Wild horse Jackal stopped staggering in his tracks as they got far enough away that they could no longer close the distance.

Even if he transformed into a horse now, he couldn’t beat them with a horse’s body that couldn’t use weapons.

He gasped, taking in his ragged breath, and roared into the air.

“Damn…!”

His voice resonated through the forest.

The sound was so loud that it reached Asha, who was riding a horse.

It was a voice as desperate as a beast’s howl.

Soon, a few members such as Sosa and Geb followed Jackal.

They could only gaze at Jackal, who was kneeling in the snow with his head bowed, and Asha, who had already left, with blank faces.

The Knights continued their descent and arrived at the capital of the empire, ‘Ferah.’

Before long, the brilliant sun was rising over the horizon.

As soon as they left the northern Herta region, a spring breeze mixed with a faint fragrance of flowers brushed past their noses.

Asha felt a strange feeling as if she had come to another world, but at the same time, she felt bitterness at the fact that she had returned to a place all too familiar.

The place had hardly changed since the last time she saw it, making her feel like she had been forcibly awakened from a sweet daydream.

But Asha desperately held back the urge to despair.

She hadn’t come back here to face the same ending.

She could no longer be swayed by the situation and had to try everything she could.

For Jackal and the minorities to be safe, she first had to win the emperor’s favor.

So, if she failed to enlighten him later, she had to win his heart in advance so that the emperor wouldn’t blame the minorities.

Like Jackal had protected her until the end, this time, she would protect him and Ricarion.

With a determined face, she walked on when Duran, walking ahead, calmly said,

“The palace is your first time, so let me give you some advice. Please behave as you did when you were caught in front of His Majesty. It will be good for your identity.”

Asha looked at his back, but he only looked forward and walked bluntly.

It was not a threat or an order but advice from the heart.

As the emperor’s closest aide, he knew the fiery character of Karaf and advised her in advance not to offend him.

But Asha had already planned and decided how to act in her mind.

She had seriously contemplated and contemplated until she arrived at the palace.

Duran’s advice was right in general, but following his advice alone wouldn’t win the emperor’s favor.

Asha knew Karaf’s taste in women better than anyone.

He had no interest in women who were as obedient as flowers. He liked women like wild, raw things that fluttered and writhed like butterflies.

To put it precisely, he liked to ‘subjugate’ such women and make them entirely his.

The time he showed the most interest and obsession with her was precisely when she ‘ran away.’

When she didn’t move at his will, ironically, he showed the most interest in her.