Her red hair had somehow turned black, but there was no mistaking her face.
This was the thief from Kavala's warehouse.
The woman I'd encountered on that chaotic night—the one who'd nearly gotten me caught, the one who'd vanished into the shadows while I set the treasure vault ablaze.
I remembered her features clearly, even beneath the illusion magic that had changed her hair color.
My voice came out sharp—more accusation than question.
"You're the thief from before, aren't you?"
But instead of flinching or stammering excuses, the woman's expression twisted with indignation.
"Who's a thief? I didn't steal anything!"
Her voice rang with genuine offense, as if I were the one making unfounded accusations.
Well... that's technically true.
I knew she hadn't actually stolen anything—I'd been there. But that didn't change the facts.
"Even if you didn't steal anything, you snuck into the imperial palace with the intent to steal. That makes you a thief."
Her face contorted further. She let out a sharp, derisive laugh.
"Ha!"
"I was kidnapped. I didn't even know where I was."
Kidnapped?
I stared at her, trying to determine if she was lying. It sounded like the kind of absurd excuse someone would invent to wriggle out of trouble.
But I hadn't called her into this carriage to debate semantics.
I glared at her, my voice dropping to something colder.
"You tried to kill me. Do you have any idea what happened to me that night because of you?"
She met my glare without flinching—and then had the audacity to smirk.
"But you didn't die, did you?"
"...!"
I was momentarily speechless at her brazen, unapologetic attitude.
That's... true, but—no, that's not true!
I shook my head, steeling myself not to be swayed by her twisted logic.
"You tried to kill me, and yet you shamelessly followed me here, pretending to be one of my maids!"
But she'd already sensed that I was soft—that I wouldn't actually harm her.
While I lost my composure, her expression relaxed into something far more confident. Almost playful.
"I didn't know you were the Princess. For a Princess, you're quite skilled at burglary. Who's calling whom a thief?"
"What...?"
"I saw you rummaging through that treasure vault. And I saw you set it on fire."
How did you see that?!
She'd managed to hide in the palace undetected all this time—and had somehow infiltrated my retinue disguised as a maid. Judging by that alone, I could guess how elusive she must be.
Illusion magic. She must be using some kind of illusion magic.
I tried to keep my face neutral.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
But she leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Oh, but I turned the situation around, didn't I?"
Then she shifted her tone—no longer playful, but threatening.
"I heard you're not exactly treated well at the palace, even though you're royalty. I've been mingling with the maids—they talk. So here's a question: what do you think will happen if I tell everyone I saw you set fire to the treasure vault?"
How can anyone be this shameless and brazen?
I racked my brain, trying to figure out how to handle this infuriating woman.
But before I could formulate a clever response, she made her proposal.
"I don't want to make a big deal out of this either. How about this: you let me travel with you until I can safely escape the soldiers outside. In exchange, I'll keep quiet about what I saw."
She pointed out the carriage window.
Soldiers were moving through the fortress courtyard in groups of two or three, showing sketches to passersby. Wanted posters. At a glance, I could see they bore her likeness.
She extended her hand toward me with a brisk, businesslike gesture.
"I want to be your accomplice. What do you think?"
"..."
I looked down at her outstretched hand.
She grinned—bright, victorious, utterly unrepentant.
"Excellent, Princess Chloe. I am Lamia Yeblak. Please take care of me for the time being."
You're awfully cheerful for someone who just blackmailed me.
Lamia's freckled, snow-pale face was animated with mischief. She looked like someone who'd spent her entire life getting into—and out of—trouble.
She'd tricked me into taking her place when Kavala's soldiers came searching. And now she'd turned the tables entirely, threatening me with exposure.
But as I looked into her vibrant green eyes, I felt a strange, inexplicable surge of positive energy.
Why do I get the feeling she's not actually a bad person?
It made no sense. She was a thief. A liar. A blackmailer.
And yet...
Lamia clapped her hands together cheerfully, as if our confrontation had never happened.
"You should change your clothes now, right? I'll help you. I'm definitely better than those maids outside—they're completely useless."
"Useless...? What do you mean?"
"You know... they have no gaji."
What's gaji?
Lamia noticed my blank expression and muttered something under her breath about how sheltered I must have been. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she snapped her fingers.
"You know—they're unlucky! Luck! Do you know what that is? Those maids have absolutely terrible luck. They're total... lucky bastards."
"Pfft—"
I couldn't hold it in. Laughter burst out of me before I could stop it.
Lamia laughed too, her grin infectious.
She's a thief and a liar... so why does she seem like someone I could actually like?
It was something I truly didn't understand.
After changing into the northern clothing Rhonda had provided, I waited for Callius in the carriage.
When he finished paying the merchant and climbed inside, he stopped mid-motion, staring at me.
"..."
I averted my eyes, looking anywhere but at him.
My fists clenched involuntarily.
It's not weird!
I hadn't wanted to listen to Rhonda and Lamia's commentary, but I'd had no choice.
What was I supposed to do? There were no other clothes that fit me!
Even if I'd protested, it wouldn't have mattered.
I spoke without looking at him, my voice sullen.
"Don't laugh."
"I won't."
"You're laughing!"
When I whipped around to glare at him, Callius didn't even bother hiding his amusement.
"I just remembered a joke one of my subordinates told me."
"Liar."
He didn't deny it. He just kept smiling—not mockingly, but with genuine, almost playful warmth.
Who knew he could smile like that?
It reminded me of Karl. The way Karl laughed when we played together as children.
Thinking of Karl made my heart soften slightly.
Callius's smile wasn't unpleasant to look at.
But it still felt embarrassing that he was smiling at me like this.
"It suits you well."
"You might as well not say anything at all."
I turned my head away from him, crossing my arms.
This is mortifying.
Now I understood why Rhonda had asked so many times if I was truly comfortable wearing children's clothing.
According to her explanation, the garment I was wearing was made from the hide of an animal called a nyak—a northern beast whose leather was prized for its waterproofing and insulation. Northerners considered nyak hide the highest quality material available.
It was definitely warm. In fact, I was already starting to sweat.
But there was a problem.
I tried to cover myself by wrapping the cloak Rhonda had draped over my shoulders more tightly around my body.
But my clumsy, mitten-wrapped hands made it nearly impossible.
"I'll help you."
Callius reached out, still smiling softly, and grasped the edge of the cloak.
I glared at him and yanked it away defensively.
"I can do it myself!"
I wrapped the cloak around myself like a cocoon, hiding as much of the ridiculous outfit as I could.
Callius spoke again, his tone more sincere this time.
"It truly suits you well."
"Please. Don't say things like that."
He seemed to sense my genuine mortification, because he wiped the smile from his face.
"Just bear with it for now. I'll get you properly fitted clothing as soon as we reach Ronheim. This is the best we can do under the circumstances."
I nodded reluctantly.
Better to be embarrassed than frozen to death.
The carriage set off shortly after, moving toward the teleportation circle.
As we approached, I peered out the window, curious despite my embarrassment.
Callius's voice came as a warning.
"You should close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Because the teleportation magic might make you dizzy."
Even as he spoke, the air around us began to brighten.
The magic circle was activating.
I opened my eyes wider, watching in fascination as strange, glowing patterns spread across the ground beneath us.
Then I immediately regretted not listening to Callius.
In an instant, the entire world—objects, backgrounds, people—blurred together into a nauseating swirl of color and motion.
"Ugh... uhhh..."
A strange sound escaped my lips without my permission.
After that, I remembered nothing.
Callius watched as Chloe's body tilted toward the window, then silently extended his arm to catch her.
"Ugh... euaaa..."
She collapsed against him, unconscious.
"I told you to close your eyes."
He patted her nose gently, his expression fond.
It was a common reaction for first-time travelers using teleportation circles—the disorientation overwhelming their senses. She'd wake up soon enough once the cold northern air hit her.
Callius looked down at her sleeping face and smiled again—softly, tenderly.
His gaze never left her.
Then he let out a quiet sigh, tinged with concern.
Why are you so light?
Nyak leather was notoriously heavy. The fact that he could barely feel her weight even with her wrapped head-to-toe in the stuff was troubling.
I'll need to make sure she eats properly.
His hands were extraordinarily careful as he adjusted her position, laying her gently upright against the seat.
An unlikely alliance forged through blackmail.
A husband who smiles more easily than expected.
And a journey into the frozen North—just beginning.
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