The horse galloped without rest.
Kyle avoided the main roads as much as possible, sticking to the paths between forests and fields. There was no telling when the House of Castel's pursuers might catch up. If word got out that the Lady of Valencia was still alive, they would hunt her to the ends of the earth.
To fully seize a territory, one had to completely sever the noble bloodline that held it.
It wasn't until the afternoon that Kyle stopped for the first time. They were by a small brook; both the horse and the riders needed water.
"We will rest here for a moment."
He dismounted and lifted Alicia down.
Alicia said nothing.
Since she had woken up that morning, she had hardly opened her mouth. She didn't even cry. She simply stared blankly into space as if her soul had been hollowed out.
Kyle led the horse to the water before returning to her.
"My Lady." He held out a leather canteen. "Drink some water."
Alicia looked at the canteen but didn't reach for it.
"...No."
"You must drink."
"I said no."
Kyle watched her for a moment, then pulled the canteen back. "I understand."
He didn't push her further, but his eyes never stopped observing her. Her lips were cracked; it was only natural, considering she hadn't taken a single sip since dawn. If this continued, dehydration would set in.
Forcing her now might backfire, Kyle reasoned. I'll wait a little longer.
The sun began to dip below the horizon.
They set off again, with Kyle steering the horse toward the west.
"Where... are we going?" Alicia finally asked, her voice raspy.
"The Estelle Duchy."
"Estelle...?"
"It is the Countess's maiden home. Once we arrive, they will be able to protect you."
Alicia fell silent. Her mother's home—the place her mother used to tell her stories about. A castle on a cliff overlooking the sea, a land where warm winds blew all year round. They were supposed to visit together one day.
"...How long will it take?"
"About two months."
"Two months...?" Alicia's eyes wavered. Two months—she had to spend that much time as a fugitive?
"It is a dangerous road," Kyle said matter-of-factly. "We must avoid areas where Marquess Castel has influence. We cannot use the main roads; we'll have to pass through mountains and forests."
"..."
"But I will ensure we arrive safely."
Alicia didn't reply.
Two months. The words echoed in her mind. Just yesterday, she was a lady who lacked for nothing. She slept in a silk bed, ate from silver platters, and had servants to attend to her every whim.
And now? She was clinging to the back of a blood-stained knight, fleeing through the woods. No food, no water, no place to sleep.
What is this life? Everything she knew until yesterday felt like a distant dream.
Night fell completely, casting a shroud of darkness over the land.
Kyle stopped deep in the forest beneath a rocky overhang—a natural shelter that protected from the elements.
"We will rest here tonight." He dismounted and helped Alicia down.
Alicia staggered. Her legs were numb from sitting on the horse all day.
"Sit here." Kyle took off his cape and spread it over a flat rock.
Alicia looked down at it. It was a dirty, blood-stained cape. Had she been the girl she was yesterday, she wouldn't have even touched it. But now, she had no choice. She sat down quietly.
Kyle gathered dry branches and started a small fire. The flickering light pushed back the darkness.
"Here." He pulled something from his pack: hard bread and dried meat. "Eat."
Alicia shook her head. "I don't want it."
"You haven't eaten since this morning."
"I said I'm not eating!"
"My Lady."
"Shut up!" Alicia screamed. "Who told you I'd eat this?! What even is this? Is this food for dogs?!"
Kyle looked at her, his expression unchanged. "This is all we have."
"Then I don't need it! I'm not hungry!"
"That is a lie."
"What?"
"You are hungry, and yet you are lying."
Alicia's face flushed. "Do you think you can just…"
"My Lady," Kyle cut her off softly. "I understand. You went through a horrific ordeal yesterday. You don't want to do anything. You don't want to eat."
"..."
"But if you don't eat, you will die." His words were blunt. "If you collapse, I cannot protect you. Do you wish to die here?"
"..."
Alicia bit her lip. Die. The word struck her heart.
Last night, her father and mother died. Martha died. So many people in the castle died. She had nearly died too. She was only thirteen. There were so many things she still wanted to do.
"...I'll eat. Fine," she muttered under her breath.
She reached out with a trembling hand and took the bread. It was hard—nothing like the freshly baked loaves at the castle. She took a bite. It was tasteless, just the flavor of flour and a hint of salt. But she was hungry. Her body craved the sustenance.
Alicia ate with her head bowed, and the tears began to fall again. She remembered the food she had eaten just yesterday, the smoked ham, the fresh fruit, her parents sitting across the table. It was a life she could never return to.
"Hic..."
The sound of her sobbing escaped. Kyle sat beside her in silence, saying nothing.
After some time had passed, Alicia finished the bread and drank some water. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but she looked a bit better.
"Now, sleep," Kyle said. "I will stand guard."
Alicia looked at him. "Aren't you going to sleep?"
"There is no one to take my place."
"Then when do you sleep?"
"I can rest in short bursts while you are sleeping."
"..."
Alicia fell silent. This man had been protecting her since last night. Fighting, running, getting wounded. He hadn't rested at all, yet he acted like he was fine.
"...Idiot," she whispered.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
She curled up and closed her eyes. The cape smelled of blood, sweat, and horses—an unpleasant scent. Yet, strangely, it was comforting. As long as she could smell it, it meant the man was still beside her.
Alicia slowly drifted into sleep. Once he was sure she was out, Kyle drew his sword and rested it across his knees. The long night had begun.
Near dawn, Alicia woke up screaming.
"No! No...!"
"My Lady!" Kyle was at her side instantly. Alicia was gasping for air, her body drenched in a cold sweat. "Are you alright?"
"..."
Alicia couldn't answer. She had been dreaming of the burning castle, the screams, Martha falling, and her parents...
"Haa... haa..." Her breathing was ragged.
"Calm down." Kyle knelt before her. "You are safe. There are no enemies here."
Alicia looked at Kyle's face. Even in the darkness, she could see his eyes, calm and solid.
"...It was a dream," she said, her voice trembling. "The castle was burning... Father and Mother..."
"..."
"I was so scared..." Tears streamed down her face.
She was thirteen. No matter how arrogant or spoiled she had been, she was still a young girl, far too young to carry the weight of such tragedy
Kyle hesitated for a moment. Then, he reached out tentatively and stroked her hair.
Alicia froze.
"It is alright," Kyle said softly. "I am standing guard. No one can hurt you."
"..."
"So rest easy and sleep."
His hand was rough. It was the hand of a man who had gripped a sword for a long time, covered in calluses and scars. Yet, it was strangely warm. Alicia let him comfort her for a while, and eventually, she closed her eyes again.
This time, the nightmares did not return.
The next morning.
When Alicia opened her eyes, Kyle was already packing their gear.
"Are you awake?"
"...Yeah." Alicia sat up, her body aching. She missed her soft bed.
"It's morning." Kyle held out the hard bread and dried meat again.
Alicia looked at it for a moment. Yesterday, she would have thrown a fit, asking how he expected her to eat such things. But today, she took it quietly.
"...Thank you." Her voice was tiny.
Kyle blinked in surprise, but he soon gave a small nod. "Eat slowly. We have much ground to cover today."
"...Okay."
Alicia began to eat. It still tasted terrible, but it was better than yesterday. Or perhaps, it wasn't the taste that had improved, but her own acceptance of reality.
They rode all morning, leaving the forest and crossing through open fields. A mountain range loomed in the distance. Kyle told her they had to cross those mountains to escape the sphere of Marquess Castel's influence.
"Will we be safe once we cross them?" Alicia asked.
"Not entirely safe, but it will make it difficult for pursuers to follow."
"..."
"In a few more days, we will reach a neutral zone. From there, the travel will be slightly easier."
Alicia looked at the distant mountains. They still seemed so far away.
"You."
"Yes?"
"What is your name?"
"It is Kyle."
"Just that? No surname?"
Kyle was silent for a moment. "I have none."
"No surname?"
"I was born a commoner."
Alicia's eyes widened. "A commoner?"
"Yes."
"Then how did you become a knight? I thought only nobles could be knights."
"There are exceptions. One can be knighted for distinguished service on the battlefield."
"So you were?"
"Yes," Kyle said calmly. "There was a war years ago. I was knighted for my actions there."
Alicia watched him for a moment. She remembered his hands from last night—the callouses and scars—and the wounds all over his body. If all those scars were from war...
"That must have hurt a lot," Alicia muttered softly.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing." She turned her head away. Kyle looked puzzled for a second but didn't pry.
In the afternoon, the weather began to turn.
Clouds rolled in and a cold wind picked up. It looked like rain.
"We must hurry," Kyle urged.
But the rain came faster than expected.
Splash!
Suddenly, the sky seemed to open up, and rain poured down. They were soaked in an instant.
"Ugh...!" Alicia cried out as the cold rain stung her skin.
"Wait a moment!" Kyle looked around and spotted a large tree with wide, spreading branches that offered some shelter. He steered the horse under it. "We'll wait here until the rain lets up."
He dismounted and helped Alicia down. She was shivering uncontrollably.
"I-I'm cold..."
"One moment." Kyle pulled a small cloth from his pack. Using the parts that weren't completely soaked, he wrapped it around Alicia's head and shoulders. "This should help, if only a little..."
"What about you?" Alicia asked.
"I am fine."
"You don't look fine."
"..."
Kyle didn't answer, but it was true that his face was pale. Getting rain in his wounds wouldn't be good for him.
Alicia hesitated, then grabbed the edge of the cloth and pulled it toward Kyle.
"...Use it with me."
"Pardon?"
"I said, use it with me! You're getting soaked too."
Kyle's eyes widened slightly. "My Lady..."
"Stop staring and get in here," Alicia said, her voice laced with annoyance, though she couldn't hide the slight flush in her ears.
Kyle looked at her for a moment, then quietly stepped under the cloth. Because it was small, their shoulders pressed together.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence settled between them. The rain continued to drum against the leaves, filling the world with sound.
"...Kyle."
"Yes."
"You're a real idiot."
"...Why the sudden comment?"
"Why do you say you're fine when you're hurting? Why do you say you're okay when you're struggling?"
Kyle was silent for a long time. "Because I am a knight."
"What does that even mean?"
"A knight must think of the person they protect before themselves."
"..."
"As long as you are alright, My Lady, then I am alright."
Alicia bit her lip. What a strange man. Why would he go this far for her? Was it just the Count's order? Was that all?
"...Truly an idiot," Alicia muttered again. But this time, her voice wasn't angry.
She huddled under the cloth and leaned slightly against Kyle. He stiffened.
"My Lady?"
"Shut up. It's cold, so just stay still."
"..."
Kyle didn't say another word. The rain kept falling, and the two of them waited for it to stop under their tiny piece of shelter.
After some time, the rain began to taper off.
"My Lady, we should—" Kyle started, then stopped.
Alicia had fallen asleep, leaning against his shoulder and breathing softly.
"..."
Kyle looked down at her. Her sleeping face looked peaceful. There was no trace of yesterday's arrogance or today's grief—just the innocent face of a thirteen-year-old girl.
He hesitated to wake her. But they couldn't stay here even after the rain stopped; the pursuers could be anywhere.
"My Lady," he whispered.
"Mmm..." Alicia opened her eyes and realized she had been leaning against him.
"..." Her face turned bright red in an instant. "W-what?!"
"The rain has stopped. We must move."
"O-okay!" Alicia scrambled to her feet, glaring at Kyle. "Why didn't you wake me?!"
"You seemed to be sleeping peacefully..."
"Still! You should have woken me!"
"My apologies," Kyle said, bowing his head.
But a very faint smile flickered across his lips—one Alicia didn't see.
"Hmph!" She wrinkled her nose and turned away. "Well, let's go! What are you doing?!"
"Yes, My Lady."
Kyle led the horse over. A rainbow appeared in the post-rain sky. Alicia stared at it for a moment before turning her gaze back to Kyle.
"..."
It was strange. She was still sad, scared, and anxious. But when she was with this man, it felt a little bit better.
Why? Alicia didn't know the answer. Or perhaps, she simply didn't want to know it yet.
"Hurry up!"
"Yes."
The horse began to gallop again. Their second night together was approaching.