Fake Princess
CHAPTER 111
If I could, I would have hesitated and delayed telling him as long as possible. This time I had no lies to excuse myself; I deliberately had not thought of any lies because I felt, for some reason, that it could ruin my search. But I can't tell the truth either. However, finally, when all my things were packed, I forced myself to walk down the corridor to Paula's study and knocked on the door.
“ Login, log in! Look at this,” urges Paula as soon as I close the door. He grasped a snake skin long, thin, and like paper. “ Well, in my opinion, if we apply Abitha's law, we can—yah, it is difficult to explain, but I will show it to you and—“
“ I want to go. Paula,” I interrupted slowly. Paula fell silent, blinked once, then continued her words, “ Well, I have to say now a moment that is not right—I'd rather you stay here to help me with this experiment. In fact, I forced. You can meet Devan tonight.”
I shook my head and touched his skinny arm. “ Not. I mean, I'm going out of town. I have to—I have to do something. I wish I didn't have to, but I can't ignore it anymore. I have to go, and I don't know when to come back.” I fretted, alone, and eventually abandoned Paula.
Paula placed the snake skin on the table, then turned her bird-like gaze to me. His eyes were looking at my face, and I wondered if he could see the truth there. Melani will definitely look for facts from my mind using magic, but Paula just nodded. “ I understand,” he said. “ But never be afraid. All this”—Paula swing her hands to point her workspace—“ will be waiting here when you return.”
I doubt, not sure, to be on the verge between telling or not. But finally, when I should have opened my mouth, I didn't. Either for fearing for Paula's safety, or Devan— saying that I want to find the princess alone—or both, I don't know. So I just smiled weakly, nodding in agreement, and walked out of the study without making a sound like I did when I came in.
I took the bag from the room and went out of Paula's house to the stables where I had already booked the rented horse. I turned no more to look at the house, or behind it, towards the palace where the king lay dying and the second false princess sat worrying about him, and where Devan was walking in his hallway, wondering if I'm gone. I did not turn back at all. I was afraid, if I did, I would not have the courage to continue on the journey.
The Saremarch region is located just two days drive from Vivaskari. I wanted to go fast along the way, but I was worried that a girl in a hurry alone could tinker with unwanted attention. I also still have a little common sense about my weaknesses; the streets near V can be said to be safe, but avoiding the ones alone can still attract the attention of thieves and criminals or something. So I drove at a moderate pace, trying to stay near the peasants' trains and the merchants' caravans, people who could help me if I shouted. I know, had it really been attacked, I would have probably decided to turn myself in to defend me, but I don't think I could have relied on it.
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