Tracking

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

"We should part ways here, Captain," said Eileen on the street of a coastal town as she bid farewell to the captain of the Fortune.

"Miss D'Arshi, are you sure you don't need me to send someone to escort you?"

He looked speechlessly at the two ladies, who were supposed to be delicate but were now each mounted on a tall steed.

After disembarking at this town, "Miss D'Arshi" had used her money to buy two swift horses and all the necessary equipment. She and her attendant had transformed into dashing female riders.

The image of the "Miss D'Arshi" who claimed to be skilled in swordsmanship was vastly different from the image the captain had of an educational supervisor.

Despite this, the captain remained uneasy about letting these two young ladies leave on their own.

What if something happens? Will the lord blame me?

This concern lingered in his heart.

"Captain, really, there's no need. Thank you for your care along the way. Lydia and I are familiar with this area and can seek help from acquaintances in the towns on the way to Crystal Light. You still need to organize the transport of goods to the destination, so it wouldn't be right to trouble you further."

Eileen's tone, though polite, conveyed her determination.

"Well, then... please be careful on the road, and I wish you a safe journey."

The captain confirmed that they genuinely did not want any assistance.

"Thank you, and I wish you all the best as well. Farewell."

Eileen and Lydia mounted their horses, waved goodbye to the captain and others, and left the town.

"It's been over a year since we left home, and so much has happened in the kingdom!"

After riding for a while, Eileen remarked from her horse.

"Our kingdom... really seems to be plagued with disasters."

Eileen suddenly felt choked up, "While Father and Sister have been working so hard, I ended up hiding in the Northwest Bay..."

She wondered if she regretted leaving home.

Lydia quickly came to comfort her. "Your Highness, you weren't hiding in the Northwest Bay. Earl Grayman's ability to supply so many resources to the kingdom's army is partly thanks to you. Think about the schools you established; how many talents have you cultivated for the Earl?"

Eileen shook her head. "Don't flatter me. Isn't Paul always saying, 'It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person'? The education system in Alden is just beginning, and it's too early to see results."

She gave a self-deprecating smile. "I probably don't compare to Hansel, at least he's managed to bring a large number of literate people from the capital..."

Before she could continue, Lydia suddenly made a shushing gesture.

"What's wrong?"

Lydia's face turned serious. "Your Highness, prepare your weapon." She drew her own sword.

Eileen's face turned cold. Her mood was already not great, and this only made it worse. "Hmph, are we being targeted by some small-time thieves?"

She reached for the wrist-mounted crossbow, a gift from Ladia for protection on the journey.

Lydia glanced back. "Notice the group behind us? At first, it didn't seem suspicious, but I just realized they have been following us closely."

"Could they just be traveling the same route?"

"Even if they are, we move faster and they match our pace. When we slow down, they slow down too, keeping a distance neither too close nor too far. What does that mean?"

"You're right!" Eileen became alert.

The two women did not urge their horses to go faster. They turned around and stood still, sternly watching the followers.

There were eight people in that group. Seeing that they had drawn attention, they also stopped moving.

The atmosphere became tense as both sides stared at each other from a distance of several meters.

After more than a minute of this standoff, Lydia finally couldn't hold back. "Your Highness, I'll go and ask them."

"I'll come with you."

"No, stay here. If they make a move, ride away quickly."

Eileen squinted, with a hint of teasing in her voice. "Hah! Are you really telling me to run from a few petty thieves? Has your year of teaching made you so cautious, my knight?"

"Alright," Lydia sighed, understanding the princess's temperament.

Eileen wasn't too worried about her guard. The people on the other side were dressed in civilian clothes and didn't seem to carry any weapons. The power gap between knights and commoners was significant, and even though Lydia was weaker than men, her training and long sword would make her more than a match for ordinary robbers.

Unexpectedly, the group on the opposite side started rushing toward them.

Lydia tightened her grip on her horse and pointed her sword downward, ready for action. Eileen raised her crossbow towards the group.

The leader of the group waved his hands repeatedly, shouting, "Don't misunderstand, we're on the same side, on the same side."

"Huh? The voice sounds familiar."

Eileen was puzzled but did not lower her crossbow.

When they got closer, Lydia called out, "Who are you? What's the meaning of following us?"

"Don't be in a hurry, Lady Lydia Lambert, let me explain slowly." The leader said while pulling at his fake beard.

The two women were astonished. He actually called Lydia by her full name, and to their greater surprise, the beard was a disguise, revealing a face they did not expect—merchant Velos, who had been on the Fortune.

The others in the group also removed their disguises—indeed, they were all passengers from the Fortune.

"Velos, it's you! I knew you had ulterior motives!"

Eileen was somewhat annoyed and aimed her crossbow at him. This merchant had been hovering around her on the ship.

"Lady Eileen, please let me explain."

Clearly, he knew Eileen's identity, but Eileen wasn't surprised. After all, he had addressed Lydia by her full name.

Velos raised both hands with a defeated look on his face. "We were sent by Lady Ophina to keep watch over you and ensure your safety."

What? Eileen was startled.

Velos dismounted and handed her a scroll. "This is my proof; please examine it."

Eileen reached out to take it but was stopped by Lydia, who took it herself and carefully examined it.

She nodded to Eileen. "Indeed, it bears Lady Ophina's handwriting and confirms what he said."

Eileen stared at Velos. "So it was Lady Ophina? That means it was the queen's directive?"

Velos lowered his head, which was a tacit acknowledgment.

Eileen suddenly realized something and asked urgently, "Tell me, when did you start following us?"

"Uh... please don't be angry." Velos hesitated and stammered, "We started following you from Stone Pillar Fortress and have been trailing you all the way to the Northwest Bay."

He suddenly knelt on one knee. "We were negligent during the encounter with the black-striped tiger in the forest. Please forgive us."

At that time, they were also unfamiliar with the terrain, and Eileen and Lydia had gotten separated and lost until Paul and Ladia came to their rescue.

"Stone Pillar Fortress? That's not far from Crystal Glare, right?"

Eileen felt inexplicably disheartened. It turned out her movements had been under the queen's surveillance all along.

(End of the Chapter)

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