The procession moved without rest for two days and arrived at Rendinium.
Lellia was dazed.
Honestly, it didn't feel like she had become a squire, but rather like she had become a young lady of noble birth.
Indeed, the knights didn't ask Lellia to run any particular errands.
On the contrary, they prepared food for her, gave her clothes to change into, and even patted her head.
When moving, she even rode in a carriage because walking would be burdensome.
Not a cargo carriage, mind you, but the finest carriage carrying the elderly noble who had saved her. She didn't ride in the cargo compartment but together with the elderly noble.
'Are they treating me well only to sell me off in Rendinium?'
She had heard there were those who secretly traded young slaves illegally.
'But Rendinium, the city of knights, has security as excellent as the capital, so slave trading shouldn't occur.'
The carriage entered Rendinium and headed toward the central bustling district.
Lellia gazed out of the carriage with anxious eyes. The elderly noble sitting across from her asked.
"Is there something you're worried about?"
"...No."
"You have such a frightened look on your face."
"...."
Lellia looked at the elderly noble with suspicious eyes.
'Is he really not planning to sell me?'
No matter that it was called the city of knights, there would certainly be those doing illegal things.
She had heard that the younger the slave, the higher the price. Because they had many years of labor ahead of them.
Lellia recalled the magical medicines she had prepared over the past two days whenever she had a spare moment.
'I made anesthetics and flame medicine besides sleeping pills... if it comes to that, I'll have to run.'
She hugged her bag tightly, making that resolution internally. The elderly noble looked curious about what exactly was inside that bag.
The knights who had been taking care of Lellia were also curious, but Lellia had never once shown them the bag.
None of the knights tried to force her to show it. Seeing that, the people of this knight order were excellent adults who knew how to consider young children.
'As long as they don't sell me, that is.'
Come to think of it, she still didn't know which family's knights they were.
She had seen the family crest, but Lellia didn't know much about Aurarian nobles to begin with, so it was useless.
As they entered the city, the carriage moved a bit more slowly. Then it stopped in front of a certain building.
Lellia poked her head out the window to look. A symbol representing a temple was drawn on the building.
It was a symbol she had seen enough to be sick of while staying in the neutral zone.
As Lellia stared at it for a while, the elderly noble spoke.
"One of our knights was poisoned, so we entered this city to receive treatment. A priest dispatched from the Central Temple is here."
"...Yes."
If it was a knight who had been poisoned, it was likely the giant knight with a splint on his ankle she had seen when she first hid in the carriage.
"He doesn't get along well with the priests in the capital and absolutely refused treatment there, so we came here instead."
"...."
"It won't take long. If I show my family's crest, the priest will heal him immediately. After receiving healing, we'll stay in this city for a few days before leaving."
"...Yes."
Lellia nodded. After waiting a short while, she saw the knight who had received treatment coming out with light steps.
The reason the five empires could not defy the Temple was not only because of the sacred oath.
The priests possessed tremendous healing power. It was light power twice as strong as the healing magic of mages who possessed mana.
The five empires had to respect the Kreuz Church if only to receive dispatched priests in each city.
The carriage departed again and arrived in front of an inn.
Lellia kept her guard up during the few days she stayed in the city. It was because she suspected the knights might sell her to slave traders.
However, fortunately, after a few days passed, Lellia was able to leave the city intact.
'I suspected them for nothing.'
Lellia felt sheepish as she watched the city of Rendinium growing distant outside the window.
The elderly noble laughed seeing Lellia like that.
This time too, Lellia rode in the finest carriage together with the elderly noble.
"Now we're going to my territory. The journey will be a bit more arduous. It's very far from here."
"...Where is it?"
Lellia asked the question she had been curious about all along. The elderly noble asked back with a smile.
"Have you ever seen a map of Auraria?"
Lellia shook her head. She had seen a map of the Drakanea continent at the Temple, but she had never seen a detailed map showing only the Aurarian Empire.
"Hmm...."
At those words, the elderly noble thought for a moment. He seemed to be pondering how to explain.
While waiting for the elderly noble's answer, Lellia looked down at the robe she was wearing.
This brown robe was one Sir Tethys had bought new for her while staying in Rendinium.
It was made of very light and soft material.
No matter how she thought about it, all the people in this knight order had good personalities.
She didn't remember seeing such kind adults in her life.
'I did well to escape from the Imperial City.'
Lellia nodded, feeling proud of her own choice. She also felt sorry for having suspected them and thought she should treat them well in the future.
And there was one more good thing.
She had found a new ingredient for the 'Alchemy Lottery' at the inn where she stayed in Rendinium.
It happened last night, the final night she stayed at the inn.
Lellia woke up from sleep hearing a ringing sound.
Sir Tethys was sleeping on the next bed, snoring. Lellia was startled, afraid Sir Tethys might wake from the ringing sound, and fumbled for her necklace.
But fortunately, the sound seemed to be heard only by Lellia's ears.
Anyway, when she turned on the game screen, the Alchemy Lottery wiggled and floated a speech bubble.
[Ah! Σ(ʘoʘ/)/ A new ingredient is nearby!]
[system: New alchemy ingredient 'Dust Fragment from the Corner' discovered!]
When the system text appeared, a gold dragon appeared, moving with a flourish, and collected the item.
'What kind of ingredient name is that...?'
Lellia frowned, but looking closely, it was one of the ingredients used frequently in new recipes.
'Oh...!'
The 'Alchemy Lottery' game had a system where once you first found an ingredient, the dragon would collect it automatically afterward.
The saying was that finding it initially was difficult, but gathering it was easy.
She thought it was fortunate to have found a frequently used ingredient first. With that comfortable thought, Lellia fell fast asleep again.
Life with the knights was very peaceful. First, the knights had enormous appetites, so they ate huge meals.
Thanks to that, Lellia could also always eat her fill, just like when she stayed at the Temple.
So when night came, her full stomach made her even sleepier.
Recalling the memory of sleeping soundly last night, Lellia fiddled with the end of her necklace with a satisfied heart.
To properly make use of this necklace, collecting more ingredients was important.
It was then.
A small commotion arose outside the carriage.
"What is it?"
At the elderly noble's words, a knight guarding beside the carriage spoke.
"There is an inspection ahead."
At those words, the elderly noble went "Hmm..." and stroked his chin.
On the other hand, Lellia's expression turned pale.
'Inspection... surely not....'
Lellia fidgeted with her fingers, looking anxious.
They had moved away from the city and were about to pass through the gate at Rendinium's border, so if there was an inspection....
'They found out I disappeared.'
Emperor Perseus might have noticed her escape and was trying to find her.
Just then, a knocking sound was heard on the carriage window.
Lellia was so startled she almost screamed. She covered her mouth and trembled, and the elderly noble watched her with narrowed eyes.
When the carriage window was opened, a knight who had been standing guard informed the elderly noble in a small voice.
"They say they're looking for a ten-year-old girl who looks about eight or nine years old, on orders from the Imperial City."
"...."
At those words, the elderly noble's expression distorted slightly. At the knight's words, Lellia was so surprised she couldn't even blink.
The inspection proceeded quickly, and the turn of the procession Lellia was part of was approaching.
The elderly noble thought for a moment, then bang! hit one side of the carriage floor. Lellia watched without even being able to scream.
Looking closely, he hadn't just hit the floor but had grabbed something and opened it.
The perfectly fine floor instantly opened like a door, revealing a narrow space.
"Child, it would be best for you to hide for a moment."
"...."
At those words, Lellia hesitated briefly, then quickly entered the narrow space.
As she curled up like a shrimp, the elderly noble closed the door leading to the floor again.
Lellia hugged her knees and lay on her side, trembling. If she was caught like this and returned to the capital, she might really die.
'It doesn't end with the misfortune of being forced to marry a strange person, but truly....'
She squeezed her eyes shut and grasped the necklace. Even if she was caught, there was hope. She had items made with this necklace.
'But if they find out they hid me, these people might suffer harm.'
The problem was the elderly noble and the knight order people who had helped her. They might have to risk their lives because of her.
She wanted to prevent that at least. Lellia trembled, wondering what to do.
Finally, the turn of the carriage where Lellia was hiding arrived.
After hearing a brief commotion outside, someone spoke from outside the carriage window.
"By His Majesty's command, we wish to conduct an inspection. May we search the inside of the carriage?"
It was then.
Bang!
With an enormous sound, the carriage door opened as if it would break.
It wasn't opened from outside, but the elderly noble inside the carriage had kicked the door open as if to break it.
"Are you saying you dare to search my carriage?"
"B-but this is His Majesty's command...."
Lellia bit her lip, praying 'Please, please.' From outside the carriage, an angry-sounding voice mumbled.
She couldn't hear clearly, but it seemed a problem had arisen between the soldier trying to search the carriage and the elderly noble trying to stop it.
Lellia waited through that time with sweaty palms.
And at some point, when it had become quiet outside.
Thud.
She felt the rebound of someone boarding the carriage. At the same time, the carriage began to depart.
'Was I not discovered...?'
Then, the elderly noble's voice was heard from outside.
"We've passed the gate and come far, so I'll open the door now."
Bang!
Along with a gentle voice that reassured her heart, the door to the secret space opened.
"...My goodness."
The elderly noble clicked his tongue seeing Lellia's face ruined with tears. Then he reached out and lifted Lellia up himself.
"...Th-thank you."
Lellia greeted him while rubbing her eyes roughly with her robe sleeve.
The elderly noble closed the secret space door again with one hand, bang!
"You were frightened. Did you think you would be discovered?"
"Yes....
"Tsk tsk. I thought you were a brave child, but you're quite fearful."
At those words, Lellia's brow furrowed. The elderly noble smiled mischievously and handed a water bottle to Lellia.
Lellia accepted the water bottle without refusing and gulped down the water.
'Now what do I do.'
Lellia worried as she returned the water bottle. She had to think of how to explain, but her mind wasn't working.
Since she was caught having lied, he might get very angry.
'Or maybe he'll send me back to the capital to avoid getting involved....'
But for a ten-year-old girl to come up with a reason for being chased by the Imperial City was quite difficult.
No answer came to mind other than 'tell the truth.'
"Now where was I. Right, you said you hadn't seen a map of Auraria?"
"...Yes?"
But the elderly noble asked Lellia nothing. As if nothing had happened, he brought up the conversation they were having earlier.
'Is he not curious why I'm being chased from the Imperial City?'
Or perhaps he thought the person the soldiers were looking for wasn't Lellia. He might have just hidden a ten-year-old child who happened to be in the carriage to avoid troublesome matters.
'But....'
Even so, she had been caught trembling and crying in that narrow secret space.
'Anyone would suspect me in this situation....'
Lellia looked at the elderly noble with doubt in her heart. The elderly noble thought for a moment, then asked.
"Then have you heard of the Superion Duke family? We're going there now."
"...Yes?"
Lellia was so surprised her jaw nearly dropped. The elderly noble spoke as if it were nothing.
"The territory of the Superion Duke family is located in the northwestern part of Auraria. It's a border region, so it's the farthest from the capital."
"...."
Lellia gulped. So... the place they're going is the Superion family's territory?
Superion was the maiden family of Lellia's birth mother, Elizabeth.
'Then... surely....'
Lellia looked at the elderly noble before her with a dumbfounded face. The elderly noble with dark brown hair was smiling brightly despite his fierce appearance.
"Then... perhaps... perhaps...."
"That's right, I am the Superion Duke."
The elderly noble spoke as if it was of no consequence. Lellia was inwardly shocked.
'It can't be. He doesn't have red hair, so I never imagined....'
Perhaps the red hair of the current generation of Superion brothers was maternally inherited.
'No, more importantly. Then I'm going to the Superion territory right now?'
Sweat flowed from her clenched fists from unnecessary tension.
Moreover....
'...This person is my mother's father.'
Lellia looked at the elderly noble with different eyes than before. She examined his features delicately, observing closely.
Which part of his face resembled her mother, and did she not resemble her mother at all? She thought such things.
The elderly noble looked at the dazed Lellia for a moment, then spoke.
"...Actually, child, when I first saw you, I thought my dead daughter had returned to life as a young child."
"...Yes?"
"Your eyes... are very much like my dead daughter's eyes."
"...."
At those words, Lellia couldn't answer and just hesitated. It was hard to understand properly.
Before her mind could interpret those words, strangely, tears flowed first.
The elderly noble continued speaking calmly. With a very gentle voice.
"When you looked at me with frightened eyes the first time you saw me, my daughter came to mind. That child was always afraid of me. Because I was a strict father."
"...."
'I should have been a kinder father... that regret has been gouging my heart for a lifetime. That's why I couldn't turn away from you.'
Lellia bit her lip hard. She only shed large teardrops without making a single sobbing sound.
Tears also welled up in the elderly noble's eyes. Moist tears flowed down his wrinkled eye corners.
"How could that expression of fearing me be so similar. Of all things... of all things...."
Lellia couldn't answer either, only letting large teardrops fall one by one. No words came to mind.
Just... because the words that she resembled her mother made her so happy, so happy and sorrowful. She could do nothing but cry.
The elderly noble looked at the young child who couldn't even sob aloud and asked.
"So I want to ask. Child, who are you?"
"...."
Lellia blinked anxiously.
"I am... I am...."
She should tell the truth, but her lips trembled.
She had never imagined someone would notice her existence before her nanny returned.
As Lellia couldn't answer and only shed tears, the elderly noble reached out his hand.
His wrinkled but large and thick hand brushed Lellia's cheek and wiped away her tears.
"There's no need to force yourself to speak."
When she raised her head, she saw the elderly noble's face smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lellia no longer felt afraid of the elderly noble.
She wanted to tell the truth.
That she was her mother's daughter, that she was our mother.
Somehow she felt he would believe her even without any evidence.
However, Lellia just cried silently for a long while without speaking.
The elderly noble stroked Lellia's cheek and head. With a very affectionate touch.
After a long while.
Lellia had unknowingly cried herself to sleep, and the Superion Duke laid the child comfortably on the soft chair.
Seeing the child whose cheeks had become smooth after eating well for just a few days, the Duke's expression was somehow cold.
"...."
At first, he had thought she was just a similar child.
Why did she have to have that expression of all things, he wondered if his dead daughter had sent this child resenting him.
He had said he would take the child as a squire purely out of guilt toward his daughter.
But gradually it became strange.
First. That child was far too similar to his dead daughter.
Looking closely, it wasn't just the expression and light green eyes with which his daughter used to look at him in fear.
The expression she made momentarily when eating something delicious, or the face smiling brightly while scrunching her cheeks.
Precisely speaking, she resembled Elizabeth's childhood.
Elizabeth had been quite a tomboy when young, but after growing up, she changed to have a completely different atmosphere.
When his daughter became a full-grown adult, he somehow missed that mischievous appearance from the old days and felt regret. At the same time, he also felt sorry.
The Superion Duke thought this was because of himself. That it was his own fault for raising his daughter too strictly.
Yet that child possessed that carefree smile like his daughter from long ago.
Whenever he witnessed the child's face smiling among the knights, the Superion Duke felt a sensation of his heart tumbling to the bottom.
After the cheeks that had been pitifully thin began to fill out, she seemed even more similar.
Just when he was thinking something was strange.
He heard news that they were looking for some child from the Imperial City.
Unlike Lellia, who had been greatly surprised at the inspection earlier, the Superion Duke had already known this news for some time.
He had thought it was a completely unrelated story, but seeing Lellia's expression turn pale at the mention of an inspection, a strange thought occurred to him.
'That makes no sense.'
However, when he took out the child who had been crying in the secret space of the carriage, that nonsensical thought became increasingly clear.
Perhaps it was an enormous delusion born of desire.
So he brought it up.
Lellia, you resemble my daughter very much.
The moment he saw Lellia crying as soon as he brought up the story, he became certain.
'This child is Elizabeth's blood.'
She clearly knew something. If not for that, there was no way she would have such a sorrowful face, unable to even make a sound, crying like that.
The Superion Duke curled his large hand into a clenched fist.
'Just how has my granddaughter been living, and why is she being chased by the Emperor?'
His eyes shone fiercely like a lion.
Suddenly, the words the child had said on the day he first found her came to mind.
"Actually... m-my father hates me. So I was running away."
"...Were you abused?"
"...."
Recalling those words, the Superion Duke squeezed his eyes shut.
'Emperor Perseus.'
When he opened his eyes again, his pupils contained deep resentment and sense of betrayal.
'Not only did he fail to protect my daughter...'
The Superion Duke had opposed Perseus's marriage to his daughter from the beginning. Perhaps he had instinctively foreseen his daughter's death.
He had helped Emperor Perseus's restoration solely for his grandchildren.
For the twin brothers, the last traces Elizabeth had left behind.
But what Elizabeth left behind was not only those children.
He didn't know the detailed circumstances, but clearly, the child said to have been stillborn shortly before Elizabeth's death had survived.