* * *
“Where are you planning to go?”
The sudden question from Carlisle caught him off guard.
After a brief hesitation, he answered.
“To Sacre.”
“Why?”
“There’s someone there who knows where Jerome is.”
Not fully trusting Carlisle yet, he kept his response vague.
Carlisle pondered for a moment before pulling out a small key.
He unlocked the handcuffs binding his wrists and steadied him when he stumbled.
“Don’t look so grim. There’s still a way.”
“…What is it?”
“I brought reinforcements.”
As Carlisle stepped aside, a familiar face emerged from the shadows.
Cedrick stormed toward him, grabbing his shoulders, his voice trembling with emotion.
“You… You crazy… Wait, you’re not a girl anymore, are you? You’re a man? You’re saying you’re a man?”
“Wait, let me explain…”
“What was I supposed to think, huh? What was I supposed to feel…?”
Cedrick abruptly stopped, realization dawning.
Carlisle looked puzzled at Cedrick’s reaction, while both Cedrick’s and his faces filled with unease.
Cedrick’s ears turned beet red.
“…You?” Carlisle and he spoke simultaneously.
“You?”
“Shut up! Anyway… Is it true? You’re a man? I won’t believe it until you say it yourself. Is it true?”
Cedrick’s genuine confusion and turmoil struck him deeply.
After Jerome and Carlisle’s unnervingly calm acceptance, Cedrick’s raw reaction felt almost comforting.
With a pang of guilt, he nodded quietly.
Cedrick sighed in frustration.
“So it’s true. You’ve been deceiving my father and me all this time.”
“I’m sorry for deceiving you. I had my reasons. If you’re angry, you have every right to be. I truly am sorry.”
“Ha… you’re unbelievable.”
Cedrick seemed about to say more but stopped.
His gaze fell on the bruise marring his cheek, and his trembling fingers hovered as if to touch it.
Then, clenching his fist, he turned to Carlisle.
“I distinctly remember urging you to hurry, Your Highness.”
“Do you think decrees are child’s play? I did my best.”
“If you intentionally delayed…”
“If you keep this up, I might just change my mind.”
Carlisle smirked mischievously.
Cedrick, glaring fiercely at him, turned his head toward me and spoke in a gruff voice.
“I brought you clothes to change into.”
“Clothes to change into?”
“Yeah. If you go out dressed as the Duke’s daughter, you’ll definitely get caught. Besides, you don’t need to pretend to be her anymore, do you?”
His words made my lips part slightly.
He was right.
The fact that Jeanne’s secret was exposed to the world meant I no longer needed to keep up the charade of being the Duke’s daughter.
I was still processing the realization when Cedrick handed me a small travel bag.
Inside were a few items of clothing.
“Hurry and change in that corner over there. We don’t have much time, and even a small delay could mess up the plan. I’ll prepare the carriage outside.”
Judging by his mention of a “plan,” it seemed Cedrick and Carlisle had already worked out a way to free me while I was confined here.
Cedric stepped outside to get the carriage ready, and Carlisle also began to leave the room, turning his body away from me.
I called out to him abruptly.
“Carlisle.”
Carlisle hesitated for a moment before turning back with a blank expression.
It seemed he had no intention of offering a farewell.
Of course, it would have been odd for him to kindly bid goodbye to someone like me, who ultimately chose Jerome over him.
But there was something I still wanted to say to Carlisle.
“Thank you.”
“You’re thanking the man who made your life miserable?”
“Gratefulness is gratitude, no matter what.”
I knew that once I left this place, I’d never return to the capital.
This would be my last chance to see Carlisle.
If I didn’t say it now, I wouldn’t get the opportunity again.
Carlisle seemed momentarily startled, but then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“When you see Jerome, give him my regards. And…”
“…”
“Don’t think I’ve given up on you. This is just me taking a breather.”
With that, Carlisle left without hesitation.
I mulled over his words briefly before shaking my head.
This wasn’t the time to get lost in emotions.
While rummaging through the bag for clothes, I froze.
Besides the clothes, there was a dagger inside.
It bore the crest of the House of Efilia, the same one I’d seen in the Duke of Carlotte’s study.
Staring at the dagger, I reached out and picked it up.
Grasping my long hair, I brought the blade to a suitable length and began cutting.
My hands trembled violently.
“Don’t be scared. You can do this.”
Locks of hair fell to the floor.
With my once-flowing hair gone, my neck felt oddly bare.
I tossed the cut strands through the iron bars and changed into the clothes from the bag.
Wearing a brown hunting cap, a shirt, and trousers made me fully realize that from now on, I would live not as Jeanne but as Jean.
After taking a deep breath, I began to move.
“I’m coming to save you, Jerome.”
After changing, I boarded the carriage Cedrick had prepared.
The moment I got in, the carriage set off hurriedly, moving through the dark mountain paths.
Inside, Cedrick handed me a leather pouch.
“Forged identification papers and some jewels. You never know when there might be an unexpected inspection.”
“Jewels? Why?”
“Are you stupid? If push comes to shove, we’ll need something to negotiate with.”
Cedric explained that the only carriages allowed to pass the southern border without inspection bore the imperial insignia.
And this carriage was one of them.
Carlisle must have pulled some strings for that to happen.
As I scanned the identification papers, I asked,
“Cedric.”
“What?”
“How do I look? Do I look like a boy?”
Despite changing my clothes and cutting my hair, my small, youthful build left me nervous about being discovered.
I leaned in close, prompting Cedrick to hold his breath.
After glancing around nervously, he blurted out in an exasperated voice,
“What boy in the world is as pretty as you?”
“What? So you’re saying I don’t look like a boy? Should I change into something else?”
“Don’t take anything off!”
Leaping to his feet, Cedrick grabbed my hand as I reached to remove my shirt.
His face flushed bright red, clearly struggling to accept the reality of Jeanne now being Jean.
Smiling wryly, I tried to reassure him.
“You don’t have to feel so awkward. Just think of me as your younger brother.”
“…”
“I thought you’d be happy. There are more things brothers can do together, you know. Like playing ball games or… taking baths together…”
The more I spoke, the paler Cedrick’s face became.
Just as I was determined to break the awkward atmosphere with my persistence, the carriage jolted violently.
Cedrick toppled over and accidentally placed his hand somewhere sensitive.
The pressure made me let out an involuntary groan.
“Ah…”
“…”
For the rest of the journey to the southern border, Cedrick seemed completely out of it, responding to me with only curt phrases like, “Sure,” or, “Do whatever you want.”
It was clear that my transformation into a man left him deeply uncomfortable.
I had no intention of forcing him to accept it, so I quietly let him be and used the time to catch up on sleep.
“Jean, wake up. We’re almost at the southern border.”
A gentle shake roused me, and I opened my eyes to find Cedrick avoiding my gaze.
Rubbing my drowsy eyes, I peeked out the window and saw the vast sea I’d once seen with Jerome.
“Hopefully, it won’t come to this, but if they ask to see your papers, stay calm and answer confidently. Got it?”
“What happens if we’re caught?”
“What do you think? We’ll both be dragged back to the capital and executed.”
Cedric’s words made my eyes widen.
It finally hit me that my escape put him in danger too.
If I were caught, he’d be punished as my accomplice.
The realization made me shake my head quickly.
“No, I can’t let you get in trouble because of me. I’ll get off here and cross the southern forest on foot.”
“Are you insane? Do you want to be ripped apart by the monsters living in that forest?”
“Then you should get off.”
“Have you lost your mind? I don’t want to be monster food either.”
My face darkened.
I couldn’t stop my thoughts from spiraling into worst-case scenarios.
Sighing, Cedrick spoke firmly.
“What kind of person do you think I am?”
“…”
“Even without magic, I can protect someone like you. Don’t worry.”
Cedric turned his head sharply, but I caught a glimpse of his reddened ears.
Just as a fleeting possibility crossed my mind, a loud male voice shattered the tension.
“Stop right there!”
The carriage halted abruptly, and the sound of many footsteps surrounded us.
Pulling my cap lower, I crossed my arms and curled up.
Peeking through the curtain, Cedrick asked,
“What’s the matter?”
“Apologies, but there’s been a report of a fugitive from the capital. We need to inspect your carriage.”
My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst.
A mercenary, glancing into the carriage through the crack in the curtain, spoke coldly.
“May we check inside the carriage?”
* * *
Now that I’m near the end of the story, I’m feeling nervous.