The entire imperial army camp, which had been asleep in the dark, was turned upside down.

The prisoner, personally held by the commander, had disappeared.

And that, right in the middle of the camp, from the commander’s tent.

Find the missing prisoner.

It was a new order given to the imperial soldiers following the commander.

Not only the soldiers on guard, but also the soldiers who were sleeping, were all mobilized and searched the camp thoroughly.

Soldiers coming to report the search results busily went in and out of the tent.

“There is no one near Tent 2.”

Aaron, leaning on a chair, supported his chin with one hand, listening attentively to the incoming reports.

Lost in some thought, the long fingers of his other hand tapped the armrest to a steady beat.

Aaron’s cool, ashgrey eyes were staring at Delia’s robe, which was finely spread on the table.

Seeing the commander immersed in his deep gaze, everyone stiffened and stood straight.

It felt like walking on ashcolored ice that seemed to break at any moment.

“There is no one near Tent 5.”

“There is no one near Tent 7.”

With another round of fruitless reports, Aaron’s fingers stopped their movement.

The small tapping sound that had been resonating stopped, and at the same time, everyone in the place held their breath.

The imperial camp had been breached by a single prisoner.

No one could be free from the commander’s scrutiny.

All the command staff held their breath and observed the commander’s mood.

“We have searched everywhere in the camp but could not find her.”

Even while listening to Dyke’s report, Aaron was still staring at the table.

On the table, a robe soaked in alcohol still lay.

It was the only trace left by Aaron’s prisoner.

The strong brandy scent from the robe irritated Aaron.

“Cannot be found…”

Repeating Dyke’s words, Aaron slowly looked around the tent.

It was not a camp set up to attack or defend against enemies.

It was a temporary camp set up to spend the night in the forest.

The commander’s tent was not covered with sturdy iron bars, but with fluttering tents.

Moreover, there were no measures in the camp to prevent enemies.

It was a loose prisoner of war camp that could easily escape if one wanted to.

Aaron, because he was personally guarding it, thought he could handle it.

He had been stabbed in the gut by the prisoner.

He was so charmed by her cute act of pretending to be drunk that he lost his prisoner.

“Mobilize all personnel and expand the search beyond the camp.”

“Yes, commander.”

She was a prisoner who wanted to go to the royal capital so badly.

If she went, she would have moved towards the royal capital.

Aaron, who made the judgement, added a new order to his subordinates who were about to move.

“Focus on searching the routes heading towards the royal capital.”

Sasaak.

The rustling sound of leaves in the night wind echoed along with the neighing of horses.

The sound of brushing through the bushes woke up the sleeping mountain.

When over a hundred soldiers lined up in a row and surrounded the forest, startled birds flew up.

The shadows of trees created by the red torches shivered eerily.

Aaron was looking down from his horse at the soldiers searching for the prisoner.

“How could she escape in such a short time? Dodging the eyes of many guards, and without a horse.”

Dyke, who had been following beside Aaron, cautiously raised a question.

“She must have had help.”

“But who could it be?”

“Subordinates foolishly loyal to the point of folly.”

At Aaron’s coldly spat out words, Dyke let out a small sigh.

“They helped her escape.”

Those vigilant energies that always circled around whenever he took the prisoner out.

Because the prisoner was in the hands of the empire, they couldn’t attack recklessly, but they also couldn’t just leave.

They always put the imperial soldiers following the commander under constant tension.

They finally snuck the prisoner out.

Despite this, Dyke tilted his head as if something was not convincing.

“But there is no trace of contact with them. The prisoner had absolutely no time to share the escape plan with them.”

Aaron stared into the pitchblack darkness where there was not a single speck of light with his cold eyes.

He thought that if he confirmed their movements for the prisoner, he could confirm the prisoner’s identity.

So, even when he went hunting, he took her with him and showed them that the prisoner was safe.

But to have the prisoner snatched away like this.

It was his mistake to be fooled by the cunning prisoner.

“The suspicious thing would be… the flower. There must have been something with the flower.”

“Ah. She always asked for flowers. I thought it was strange.”

Aaron looked at dozens of torches spread out in front of him.

The silhouette of a prisoner eating flowers amidst the light flickered like an afterimage.

The flowers contrasting with her red lips seemed to flutter before his eyes.

It could have been easily confirmed from a distance.