To Harlington

A hundred knights are gearing up. There is no room for failure. They need to find their young master as quickly as possible before he gets out from Caushilbo County. Although they know his destination, they tried to avoid encroaching on other nobles' territory. Going inside another noble's territory without informing the lord can be a serious offence, especially with a large number of forces.

After some time, a hundred knights riding horses pour out from the mansions. Once they are all out of the mansion, they are all split beautifully into four teams and move toward their designated locations.

Count and Chester are watching them depart from the hallway on the second floor.

....

The horse-drawn carriage is moving at a high speed in the middle of the night. It is a race against time for Jack, Chester, Carl and the Count. Everybody has their own scheme, perhaps the one that is unaware of it is probably Carl and Reina.

"There!!", Carl happily pointed at the city gate of Weymewesto that began to appear in his sight.

He let out a sigh of relief. He has been uneasy during the entire journey. His father is most likely to realize their absence during breakfast but still, he couldn't help but think his father might send knights after them.

"Let's go inside the city first," said Jack.

"Huh? Why? We should just straightaway head to Bideford."

"The horses are tired. They can't keep running forever. We need to change the carriage."

"Just where we are going to find a new carriage?" In Carl's opinion, it is better to not stop anywhere.

They still have several hours before his father wakes up. By that time, they had long exited the Caushilbo territory. His father's influence will be significantly reduced in other territories. Jack however knows the real situation. He was pretty sure the knights are chasing them as they speak right now.

He replied, "I know some friends that can help us." As a Blackout elite member, he has substantial power to order the agent in the city.

He drives the carriage to the city gate. The guard there tries to stop them but Jack shows them the noble emblem carve with gold on the carriage's door.

They enter the city smoothly without any problem and head toward one of the inns. The city is void of light except for a few establishments.

Jack told others to wait outside while he was talking with the owner. He proceeds to the tavern part of the inn, located on the first floor. The inn's tavern emits dimly light from the outside. Jack feels relief that it signifies the owner is still awake.

He entered and saw the owner wiping out the table. The owner looked up at him and said, "I am sorry young man, the tavern has already closed. I can't provide you with any food until the next morning."

"I am here not for food but to request a delivery service," Jack said as he took out the Blackout badge with a black background that has a white spiral pattern on it and showed it to the owner.

The owner nods, a sign of understanding, "What kind of package do you want to deliver?"

"A high-quality but fragile package to the north. I want five or six carriages to transport it to another town as well. By the way, let me drive one of the carriages."

"Go to the stable, choose whichever you want."

Jack immediately goes to the stable. He drives one of the normal-looking medieval carriages to the front. He said to the three of them, "Jump in."

While others stare at the carriage. Carl is the first one to speak, "You want me to ride this thing?" He had a disgusted look on his face.

Jack replied, "Master Carl, this is not the time to complain. If you don't want to ride it, just wait here for your father to come."

"Jack is right, Carl. Hurry up and get it, now is not the time to argue." Reina interrupts.

Carl can only follow Jack's order, he currently needs Jack's help. He mutters inaudibly, 'Just wait until I teach you a lesson.'

The carriage begins to move, but Jack drives them in the wrong direction.

"Urm... Mr Jack, I don't think this is a road to Bideford." Reina said timidly. She is somewhat afraid of Jack. He is different from the male servants she has ever seen. He is kinda cold and calm with an intimidating gaze, like a seasoned warrior. She couldn't believe it when Vanessa told her that Jack is just twenty years old.

Jack calmly replied, "No, this is the right direction."

"Hey, servant!! What is the meaning of this?! We are supposed to head south, to Haugdak. Not to the north." Carl speaks, there is a slight panic in his voice. He clearly realised something is wrong.

Jack stays silent and keeps driving north.

"You f*cking commoner!! Don't you hear my ques-"

*Stab*

Before Carl finished his sentence, he felt a great pain in his chest. He looks down and sees he has been stabbed in his chest from the back. "Wha-"

Carl bleeds profusely.

Vanessa pulls out the dagger and stabs Carl once again, ending the life of the future Count.

"Aarggghhh!!!" Reina screamed. She stutters as she tries to speak, "W-Wh-What i-is the meaning of this,Vanessa!"

Vanessa looks at Reina with a calm face, "I just the following order from my superior, milady." Her eyes move toward Jack. His attention focuses on the road in front of him.

"Who are you guys? Why are you doing this?! Vanessa, tell me I am dreaming right now.", Reina asked while shaking Vanessa's body. Tears flow out from her eyes as her fiance just died in front of her. His killer didn't have a little remorse toward him as if his life is worthless.

"Nice to meet you, Lady Reina. As you already know, my name is Vanessa Viener, I am a member of Blackout. That man over there is my superior that I always talk about, Jack Cooper. As for the reason, well... we're going to take you to Barlia."

"Bla-Blackout?"

Jack helped Vanessa explain it to Reina, "It is an intelligence and assassination organization belonging to Barlia."

"So all this time... you have been deceiving me?" Reina is on the verge of crying again.

"Yes. From the very beginning." Vanessa coldly replied.

"How could you, I thought of you like my own sister."

"Pfft...Don't make such a joke, milady. We all here know you have no right to say that. You don't even care about your own blood-related sister, Rachel. Do you know how tired I am to keep up with my act?"

Reina stays silent. She has no way to refute it.

Jack breaks the silence, "As for the reason we are doing this is because we want you."

"Why? I don't think I'm a valuable hostage."

Jake explains, "Milady, you are more valuable than you think. Aside as a gift to the prince, your disappearance can also cause instability in the kingdom."

"Gift?" asked Reina, slightly shocked.

Jack reassures her, "You see...Prince Baldwin is looking for a bride candidate. After a rigorous search and evaluation throughout Bagyarosia, you have been chosen as the princess. Congratulations!!"

"Why Bagyarosia? Is there no noblewoman in your nation?"

"Because the prince said he wants his bride from Bagyarosia. It's as simple as that. Why do you sound uninterested? It's a princess! A position that many noble ladies desire. It's much better than being a countess."

"I am not interested in your prince or the title. I only love Carl."

As soon as Reina said that, Jack and Vanessa look at each other before bursting into a laugh. "Hahaha. Love? Vanessa, did I hear it right?"

"Milady, no matter how much you love him, He's dead." Vanessa shook her head as her legs stepped on Carl's corpse. She can believe Reina was this naive.

Jack added, "Milady, once you meet the prince, you will forget your love for that pile of dung."

Suddenly Jack talked with a serious tone, "Vanessa, made sure she didn't run. We have already arrived in Harlington."

Harlington is a tip of land bordering with Caushilbo County. It's formerly belonged to Bagyarosia before being conquered by Blandge in war. Now, they are no longer in Bagyarosia's land. Even if Count Caushilbo makes a fuss, he can't do anything.

"What are we gonna do with the corpse?" Vanessa asked.

"Just burn it. Together with the carriage."

"Wait!!" Reina shouted, "Why don't you just bury it? Can't you be more sympathetic?"

"No, he irritates me." Jack said.

Vanessa starts burning the corpse.

Reina watches Carl's corpse burn with tears in her eyes. She recalled all the memories she had with him. For her, that's the happiest moment in her life.

Jack's voice interrupts her thought, "Both of you, the ship is here. Hurry up, go on board."

Vanessa and Reina ride a ship which belongs to the Blackout and head north, to Barlia.

As for Jack, he still has a job to do in Bagyarosia.

Reina looks at the Bagyarosia that is slowly getting smaller in her sight. She didn't know when she would return or when her family was going to rescue her. Perhaps she will be abandoned altogether.