Chapter 5 - I Hope I’m Not Too Late (2) (1/2)

On the third day of their journey Sophie realized she was completely wrong. A carriage ride without any stops was so difficult that she could hardly keep her breath. Meanwhile, Elena looked none the worse. Elena was gracious enough to allow Sophie to sit next to her inside the carriage, for which she was thankful for, but it barely alleviated her discomfort.

‘How on earth can she stand this difficult journey?’

Exhaustion was written on everyone’s faces but Elena had not complained. Sophie thought Elena wouldn’t have been able to endure it.

Klak, klak.

Sophie gingerly nibbled on a piece of dried meat, her lips white with motion sickness. The food was terrible and even when she fell asleep the swaying of the carriage never stopped.

“My Lady, why don’t we stop in town for food? If you eat spoiled food, you may have stomach trouble….”

Elena froze when she heard Sophie words. A plan began to form. While they had been speeding as fast as they could, Elena’s mind had been filled with questions about how she could separate them and move on her own. But the answer seemed to be right there. Elena nodded in agreement with Sophie right away.

“You’re right.”

Sophie’s face cheered a little bit when Elena agreed to stop by the next town. She hurriedly opened the carriage window and spoke to the coachman outside.

“Lady Elena wants to stop by the next town for a while.”

“Town? Understood,”

the coachman answered briskly, but he also couldn’t hide his relieved expression. As soon as Elena given permission, the group headed for the nearest town. Elena had been so insistent on making haste that Sophie had expected to stop only for a short while then head back to the road, when something unexpected happened.

Elena, who seemed fine just a moment ago, had a sickly expression on her face.

“I think there was something bad about the food I ate. I don’t feel well. I think I need to take a rest.”

“I told you, My Lady! This was too much.”

The hard journey had made Elena sick and her health had gotten worst during the trip. They quickly made accommodations at the town and called the most well-renowned doctor in the area to see Elena. The trip hadn’t been particularly urgent from the beginning, and the group had agreed to wait until Elena’s health fully recovered. Additionally, the schedule had been extremely rough on them and everyone was eager for rest.

No men were allowed in Elena’s room, and instead the knights took turns guarding her door. Sophie, the only woman in the party, was in charge of Elena’s care. She promised the knights that she would inform them if Elena’s condition worsened, then put a cold towel over Elena’s forehead. Elena, pretending to be asleep in bed, pressed down a self-satisfied smile.

‘Yes, there is a way.’

She had first assumed she was bound to them, but in fact it was they who were bound to her. Her health was their utmost priority. Upon telling them she was ill, the knights could not leave town but none of them could go in her room. They could stay for a few days until she was judged to be well.

However, there was still one person who would notice if she disappeared. Her maid, Sophie. If Elena could deceive her, no one would else would notice her absence. Elena opened her eyes and spoke to Sophie sitting next to her bed.

“Sophie.”

“Yes, yes! I’m here, My Lady. Are you alright?”

“I have a favor to ask of you…”

“Please say it, My Lady.”

“There is actually someone around here who I love very much. My condition improved after I saw the doctor, but I still can’t help but feel sick.”

Elena let the lie easily flow out of her mouth. A story that appealed to the maid’s heart might be the most effective.

“Oh! What do you mean?”

Sophie’s mouth opened in surprise at the unexpected revelation.

“I tried to let him go because our difference in status, but I can’t forget his face after all this pain.”

“Oh, My Lady…”

“I’ll only see him for a while, so will you keep it secret from the rest of the knights?”

“But if something happens…!”

“Oh, but I don’t want to live without him anymore.”

Elena covered her face with her hands. Sophie looked at her helplessly, unable to decide what to do. Elena remorsefully spoke a line she had prepared in case Sophie needed a little extra push.

“I’ll die if I don’t see him.”