Yasiris swore on her life, Kazan never stopped caring for her.
Even though he thought he should hate her, whenever she seemed a little sick, he would call the doctor and make a fuss about her.
He planted her favorite flowers in the garden, prepared meals with her favorite dishes, and filled the banquet hall with her favorite music.
However, Jasiris despised both them and Osiphia, so she did not take kindly to any of it.
In the past, he couldn't understand why he made such efforts.
He dreamed every night about her cheating on him.
The beginning and end of every day was filled with resentment towards her.
However, he still wanted to see her smile.
Even though it was already irreversible, he couldn't let go of the wonderful past they shared.
Kazan opened his mouth to speak but closed it again.
No matter how much he cared for Sisaris, it was irrelevant now.
Because he was clearly the culprit.
Kazan didn't answer in the end, and Yasiris closed her eyes again.
After that, the carriage continued to drive silently.
Until they arrived at a city near the border of the Hirti Kingdom for the mass transfer, the two had not exchanged a single word.
Three days after leaving the territory of the empire, the emperor's motorcade, accompanied by hundreds of guards, smoothly crossed into another country without any problems.
“Your Majesty, we will reach the first village of the Hirti Kingdom in about two hours.”
“Just on time”
Kazan looked at the darkening sky slowly.
Even though it was still summer, it felt like the sun was setting faster.
Maybe it was because he had so many distracting thoughts that he lost track of time.
No wonder he left the carriage to ride the horse since yesterday.
Although he used the excuse of getting some fresh air, Kazan knew that his actions were no different from escaping.
He was temporarily escaping from Yasiris' constant coldness.
“Ah…”
This was unbelievable.
Just because his thinking had changed, her indifference had become so exhausting.
Kazan frowned and ruffled his hair violently.
The knights around him tensed and carefully watched his reaction, but he did not notice any of it.
By a stroke of fate – or perhaps luck – Kazan learned just before leaving that he had misunderstood Yasiris.
However, he had no idea how to fix it.
Trying to have a conversation on the first day only to have it completely cut off was just the beginning.
After several attempts, Kazan realized that Yasiris and he could never be on the same wavelength.
Even simple questions about meals were misinterpreted, making proper communication impossible.
His attempts to clarify the misunderstanding were met with strong rejection.
Every conversation went like this.
Seeing her eyes filled with indifference and annoyance made Kazan close his mouth.
He never had a social life.
Even when he was Qin, Yasiris always approached him first, so he had no idea how to communicate with others.
Should he apologize for his past mistakes and ask for forgiveness?
Will this make Yasiris look at him?
“As if this would ever happen.”
She might have been more suspicious and wary of his intentions.
Or she may get angry, thinking he is trying to cover up the past with a simple apology.
Neither option was favourable, and Kazan's frown never left his face.
What was supposed to be a pleasant journey seemed like a journey through a field of thorns.
“We're almost there now.
We're almost there.”
One of the knights sensed the emperor's discomfort, so he reported anxiously.
Just then, Kazan woke up from his thoughts and nodded to the village that began to appear in the distance.
“Go ahead and prepare to stay the night.”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
Behind the quickly running knight, a huge mountain range appeared on the horizon.
According to the plan, they were to spend the night in the village in front of them and then cross the mountain range in one go via a shortcut tomorrow.
Once you get past that, the road will be smooth, representing the hardest part of the journey.
However, if they spent time together on this journey, their relationship would improve, even if just a little.
Urging his horse forward, Kazan forced himself to think of the famous tourist spots in the Herti Kingdom.
The time he spent thinking about how to win over Yasaris stretched out during their stay like a long shadow.
“Why?”
At Yasiris's question, Kazan stopped while putting on his pajamas and turned to look at her.
"What do you mean?"
His confusion was justified.
She had been silent since they arrived at the village, ate, went up to their room, and even while he was bathing.
Why are you asking now?
When he asked her again, sensing that it was a bit unexpected, Yasiris closed her mouth briefly before slowly answering.
“Why did you book the same room with me?”
“And you're asking this now?”
Kazan was puzzled, but Yasiris took that as a sarcastic response.
Thinking she had asked a meaningless question, she stared at him before turning away and lying on the bed.
“It's not important.
Rest well, then.”
She knew they would be sharing the same room.
She also knew they would be sharing the same bed.
She thought it was to cuddle her, but when it seemed like he was just going to sleep, she asked out of curiosity.
There was no need to know why.
She also wasn't interested in knowing why Kazan was acting so strange lately.
In fact, every time Kazan acted differently, she worried.
She carefully planned her escape, and if Kazan's unexpected actions ruined it, what would she do?
Keeping her temper sharp and maintaining the usual distance between them was exhausting.
She was so nervous that she barely registered Kazan's words the entire trip.
It responded almost automatically, as if it were on auto mode.
Tomorrow, when crossing the mountains of the Hirty Kingdom, will be the decisive day.
The moment of fate that would determine her life or death was approaching.
She needed to rest well to maintain her strength...
“Because we are married”
“Excuse me?”
“It is not strange that we share a room because you are my wife and I am your husband.”
Yasiris blinked as she felt the mattress next to her pelvis under Kazan's weight.
Thinking about his words, she realized that it was an answer to her previous question.
Since when did he answer her seriously?
Yasiris was in disbelief, but she didn't show it.
The first priority was to refrain from responding to his illogical explanation.
Sharing a room because they are married?
For her, who had never shared his arms morning after night, this was the most unconvincing excuse.
He was the man who would hold her until she was tired and then leave without a word.
He could have said it is to show a good façade in another country or to save costs.
“Okay”
Yasiris swallowed her words and gave a brief reply.
She had no desire to talk further with the hateful Kazan right before leaving, so she closed her eyes as if she wanted to sleep.
“...I understand”
Because of this, Yasiris missed the scene.
She did not see the expression on Kazan's face as he looked at her.
She couldn't tell the feelings with which he was watching her before he silently left before dawn.
Crossing the mountain by car was more difficult than expected.
“We'll have to camp here for the night.
Let's prepare a meal first.”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
Kazan looked up at the sky, where a drizzle of rain was beginning to fall.
It was dinner time, but the dark clouds made it seem like night.
They weren't supposed to stop halfway up the mountain.
They were supposed to have already reached the village behind them, but Yasaris' condition delayed their journey for a few hours.
Not expecting that the bumpy road would make Yasaris sick was a mistake.
Despite traveling in the most shock-absorbent carriage, she suffered from motion sickness, vomiting several times and needing frequent rest breaks.
The result was camping in the rain on the mountainside.
“The meal is ready, Your Majesty.”
“How is the Empress?”
“She is resting in the tent we set up first.
She said she had no appetite and chose to sleep instead.”
“Understood.
After the meal, Team 1 will set up camp, and Teams 2 and 3 will take turns observing.”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
The first Imperial Knights, acting as guards, moved with perfect coordination.
While they were quickly eating their rations, Kazan's gaze stopped at the tent where Yasiris was resting.
Is she in severe pain?
Undecided on whether or not to visit her, he turned away, shaking off his hesitation.
He knew very well how she would react and chose to let her rest in peace rather than cause her more stress.
He had no idea what plans she might hatch.
It's dark outside.
Yasiris breathed as calmly and slowly as possible.
She was sweating, afraid that others would hear her heartbeat.
She lay motionless for what seemed like hours, listening intently.
It was probably only a few minutes.
Every second felt painfully long for her.
Can I do that?
I have to do it.
What if I fail?
I still have to try.
Conflict and immense anxiety were eating away at her body and mind.
The dice have been rolled, but hesitation continues to creep in.
The sounds of the knights' repeated footsteps added to her anxiety.
I put all the sleeping pills in the big pot when I pretended to check the dinner preparations, but many of them were still awake.
Even though it was a month's worth of sleeping pills meant for just her, she knew that the effect would be diluted by a large amount, but she was disappointed.
“Ah...”
However, the night had fallen; The Emperor must be asleep.
After listening to the rain, Yasiris reviewed her plan one last time.
She successfully made herself feel nauseous from the snacks, which she claimed was due to morning sickness and their flight delay.
The mountains, rainy weather and dark night provided ideal conditions.
Even if the sleeping pills failed, she needed to escape now.
First, you'll pretend to go out for a quick bathroom break and intentionally get lost.
Second, she will pretend to fall or be attacked by an animal and hide.
Third, you'll head to a mountain village you saved on the map.
You will hire an escort with Jawaher and leave for a country as far away as possible.
The remaining plans could be summed up in three points, but they did not seem simple at all.
Her heartbeat became louder, beating hard against her head.
But she had to do it.
She needed that.
She can do this.
Now it's time to move...
“Ambush!”
“Huh?!”
Yasiris was startled from her thoughts and jumped to her feet.
There was nothing to hide; This definitely wasn't part of her plan.