At the very moment Griffith harbored his doubts, Lellia was thinking this:
'I need to escape to the territory quickly.'
Lellia breathed roughly as she drove her horse.
As soon as the sun set and darkness fell, she slipped out of the imperial palace and obtained a horse.
Then she left the capital immediately.
She felt sorry for her friends, but there was no choice.
Given Princess Yuriana's personality, she would certainly report her once she discovered the sacred artifact was fake.
'The twin princes would also excitedly tear me apart.'
They would likely fabricate charges and pin them on her.
She didn't want to suffer at their hands anymore.
Especially with Griffith and Romeo already suspecting her.
Though passing through the capital late at night required very troublesome and strict procedures, Lellia passed through easily using an alchemical potion.
After reaching the forest area, she planned to use another alchemical potion.
It couldn't take her all the way in one go, but it was a potion that could transport relatively long distances in a brief moment.
Using that, she could reduce the time and arrive at the territory in just two weeks.
When coming from the territory to the capital, she had used the magic circle created by Emperor Perseus, but returning that way was impossible.
That magic circle could only be used by authorized trading guilds or individuals who paid an enormous sum.
Anyway, she had alchemical potions, so it didn't matter.
She didn't have the money to pay for using the magic circle, and if she used it, she'd have to share a carriage with others.
Being alone was more freeing.
Yes, it was fortunate to be alone.
"……."
Suddenly Lellia stopped her horse and looked back.
She should be driving her horse vigorously. But somehow she kept wanting to look back.
It must be because of the friends she left behind at the imperial palace.
Her heart ached at the fact that she had to leave behind friends she had barely met, even though they were under the same stars.
She had carefully arranged the clothes Romeo gave her in her room and left a letter of thanks.
And she had also made plenty of painkillers and sedatives for Calix and left them behind.
'It's a shame I couldn't see Griffith and Oscar more before leaving.'
Still, she was happy to have spent quite a long time with Romeo and Calix and made memories.
Lellia gazed toward the imperial palace for a while longer, then steeled her heart and began driving her horse again.