The Forgotten Field - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 21
He alternated his gaze between his superior’s cold silhouette and the faces of citizens casting reproachful glances, then released a heavy sigh and urged his horse forward.
The Second Princess, who had been sealed away in her carriage as if staging a silent protest, finally emerged once they had left the Capital and reached the Riverbank to rest.
The servants, who had been in the midst of dismantling the tents and preparing the campsite, regarded Talia with tense eyes.
Her claim about changing clothes multiple times a day proved to be no exaggeration—she wore a silk dress embroidered with golden thread, not the gown she had worn when departing the Imperial Palace.
Around her pale, delicate neck hung a necklace so expensive it could easily purchase an entire castle, and her wrists, thin as birch branches, were adorned with elaborate jewelry studded with diamonds.
Edrick, observing her from a distance, wore an expression of utter disbelief. They were about to have dinner and settle into camp. What possible reason could she have for such elaborate adornment? He felt his energy draining away at this incomprehensible behavior.
He swallowed a sigh, handed the reins to a groom, and approached the Princess. The woman, glancing around, cast a fierce look in his direction.
In that moment, Edrick felt his throat tighten. Surrounded by the light of the setting sun, Talia appeared as if she had been crafted from fire and gold itself.
Her honey-colored hair, swept by the strong river wind, created waves of golden light around her face, and her flawless alabaster skin emanated a pale radiance even within the fiery glow of the sunset.
He instinctively stepped back. Everything about her seemed so delicate that she might shatter at any moment, scattering sharp fragments in all directions.
He swallowed dryly at some inexplicable premonition he could not articulate, when a petulant voice emerged from between her crimson lips.
“I don’t like this place. Move the campsite.”
Only then did her absurd command snap him back to his senses.
He stiffened his spine rigidly. This woman was nothing but a beautiful poisonous mushroom. One moment of carelessness, dazzled by her lovely appearance, and he would face dire consequences.
He adopted a businesslike demeanor and responded curtly.
“This campsite was chosen by the Imperial Guard for safety reasons. We cannot search for another location at this point.”
“Did I ask for your opinion?”
The woman cast a gaze sharp as frost.
“I am ordering you to move the campsite. All you need to do is obey my command!”
He had to pause and collect his breath to summon his patience.
“All decisions regarding this expedition rest with Commander Barcas. I must remind you once more—you cannot abandon the column on a whim.”
“So all I need is Barcas’s permission?”
The woman, interrupting his words hastily, immediately turned away. It seemed she had been looking for an excuse to pick a quarrel with Commander Barcas from the start.
Edrick hurried after the Princess. He could not fathom why this woman was so eager to cause trouble on the very first day of the journey.
He covered the distance in long strides, quickly overtaking her.
“What exactly about this place displeases you so much?”
“I simply hate everything about it.”
The woman strode forward with sharp, clipped steps.
“I hate being close to the water, and I hate being close to the forest. There will be insects swarming everywhere.”
“How are we supposed to camp without water? Moreover, griffins and harpies have been spotted in this region. The forest serves as a natural defensive barrier against large monsters’ attacks——”
“Safety, my foot! I’ve already been bitten by flying insects twice! If I spend the night in a place like this, leeches will devour my entire skin. And what about those sounds coming from the forest! I can’t even stand the rustling of leaves, so how am I supposed to sleep with birds screeching like that!”
Edrick stared down at the Princess with a look of utter bewilderment. Even a spoiled five-year-old would not throw such a tantrum. He desperately suppressed the irritation rising within him.
“We will need to camp for several more days. If you don’t begin to adapt now——”
“Then just move the campsite! Why should I be forced to endure something I hate?”
The woman shrieked in a shrill voice and dashed across the camp like a racing horse, heedless of obstacles. He had to clench his fists tightly to prevent himself from physically stopping her.
“Everyone is exhausted from the day-long march. We cannot dismantle the tents and search for a new campsite for such an absurd reason. Stop this childish nonsense and return to your carriage at once to rest.”
As he stepped into her path and spoke with deliberate severity, her stunningly beautiful face twisted slightly. Immediately after, came the sound of a whip cracking, and a sharp pain flared across his right cheek.
He glared at the woman with a menacing look. From the moment he had been assigned as her personal knight, he had braced himself for light slaps. Yet the reality felt far more repugnant than he had imagined.
“How dare you give me orders.”
He barely swallowed his indignation when the woman seized him by the collar and snarled directly in his face.
“I am the Emperor’s daughter, and you exist for my convenience. If I command you to walk through the night, then you must walk until dawn—that is your fate. So stop your presumptuous talk and get out of my sight.”
She shoved him away forcefully and resumed her walk along the Riverbank.
Edrick stared coldly at the small back of her head. He longed to do as his superior had done—hoist that unruly woman onto his shoulder and throw her back into the carriage.
But he lacked the backing necessary to lay hands on imperial blood without facing censure.
As her retreating figure grew distant, Edrick exhaled a bitter sigh.
Could he endure this wicked woman’s tyranny until the end of this journey? His head was already throbbing.
As I walked along the river, I felt a sharp gaze boring into my back.
Talia shot a cutting glare over her shoulder, and I watched those who had been stealing glances at me suddenly turn away in feigned innocence.
It was no different from usual. People had always treated me like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Yet today, those furtive gazes—cautious yet persistent—seemed oddly suspicious.
‘Surely Senevir has planted spies among them.’
I scrutinized each member of my entourage. Perhaps they were all spies. Mother would have done exactly that.
My thoughts spiraled in increasingly wild directions.
Senevir had spent years undermining Gareth’s support base. This opportunity might be her chance to eliminate every obstacle standing in her son’s path.
My heart raced with unease.
If Mother’s target were Gareth or Aila, it would matter little to me. I would even consider joining her scheme if necessary. But if—even remotely—Senevir were targeting Barcas….
At that thought, I surveyed the densely arranged military barracks with anxious eyes.
I had to separate the campsites. If I put physical distance between us, Senevir’s spies would find it harder to scheme through the night.
I quickened my pace. Soon I spotted Torque, the prized warhorse that Barcas doted on, tethered before a large tent. I passed the gray stallion, who recognized me and snorted loudly, and stepped into the dimly lit tent.
The interior was organized with monastic precision. As I surveyed the candlestands casting faint light, the elegant storage chests, and the display racks holding armor, I noticed a deep shadow cast behind a partition and walked toward it without hesitation.
“I wish to move my campsite to another location. But apparently your esteemed knight won’t allow me to go anywhere without the permission of the Lord of Sierkan. It seems your subordinates believe the commander of the Roem Knights outranks the imperial family. How did the Imperial Elite Guard become such a disorganized rabble….”
As I pulled back the partition while rattling off my grievances, I suddenly froze. Barcas stood there shirtless, wiping water from his face with a towel.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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