The Courtesan

Chapter 90

Third Person POV

A nondescript carriage arrived at the border between Zerramond and Casella. The passenger was a young woman who looked too young to be traveling alone. The General was concerned about this and invited the young woman to stay the night.

They ate dinner alone and the silence was awkward.

“How is his highness?”

“He’s doing quite well. He says to extend his apologies for not being able to stay longer the last time.”

“No, it’s fine. I heard about the church. I see he finally decided to act on his frustrations.”

“I was also taken by surprise.”

“Seeing you here, I’m sure he has another crazy plan in the works.”

“No, he just wants me to pay a visit to the spies here.”

“Hmm, that’s wise. It would be better for you to be more careful.”

“I’ll take your advice to heart, General Imogen.”

The next day, the carriage was off. Instead of taking the main path, they took the path through the forest. It was rougher than the main path and much more dangerous but the lady would not budge.

They were a few hours into their journey when the carriage pulled to an abrupt stop. The young lady heard a loud noise from outside, a few screams, and then, it went completely still. When she came out, there was nothing else outside except from the still horse. There was a small red spot on the rear of the horse.

She slid her hand into her dress pocket as she slowly watched her surrounding. The moment she heard a strange sound, she slid out a dagger with a golden handle, countering an invisible weapon.

Her hands never stopped moving as she pulled out yet another dagger. Her eyes were alert, weaving through the empty air as her daggers slashed through it. She didn’t escape unharmed as there were cuts on her dress and scratches on her arm.

“Show yourself, coward!” she growled, slashing even more. Tired of swinging her arms, she pulled out a pistol from her pocket, c****d it, and fired it in a random direction. Getting no response, she continued firing. She finally caught a movement in the trees and began tracking the person who was attacking her.

She stopped firing and brought the pistol low to refill it. At that moment, another invisible weapon launched at her head but she was ready and deflected it. She threw the second dagger and heard a ‘thud’. She pocketed the pistol and headed towards it.

Pinned to a tree was a person in all blacks. Already annoyed, she walked towards the person and removed the mask. Their face was filled with black veins. They had already died before they could be questioned.

“Well, aren’t you cautious, King Mival? Sending a whole reception for me? How generous. Well, if you think that can stop me, then you must be mistaken.”

The young lady unloaded her carriage, tied her luggage to the horse, and continued her journey, ignoring the corpse of the horseman that hung in the trees by an invisible thread.

She stopped at a town that was just before the capital, stepping into a mansion straightaway. The men that guarded the mansion trembled when they sighted her, all disappearing when she had finally entered the compound. An old butler came out to greet her and it was unknown whether he was trembling due to her presence or old age.

“Welcome, Princess Kanna.”

“What a dull reception.”

“W-We weren’t expecting you.”

“Susanne asked for a favor and I couldn’t say no. She has to keep an eye on my stupid brother.”

“Then, right this way, your highness.”

“The weather is still cold here? I really don’t like this country.”

Princess Kanna of Zerramond. She was the second princess, famously known for her cruel and impulsive nature. Many doubted Prince Kalvin was the crazy one when compared to his sister.

She was also immensely gifted in the art of the sword and combat but unlike her brother, she had total control over her strength. Nobody could even tell what she was thinking.

Kalvin was surprised to find out Kanna had been sent instead of Susanne going herself. He immediately went to question her but was shot down with one question.

“Would you rather she came here?”

“... No.”

“I sent her there to keep her busy. Don’t worry, she’ll behave.”

“If Kanna gets annoyed by just one thing, she might start a war. This is why she never leaves the palace.”

“Kanna is not that bad…”

“The last worship day, she sent one of the priests on fire for touching her tongue. She doesn’t even hate the church. Kanna is a horrible person.”

“She’s your younger sister.”

“Which is exactly why I know she’s a horrible person. Send someone else. Send…”

Now, it was at this point that Kalvin remembered, that of all his siblings, he was the only sane one and he wasn’t even totally sane.

“Susanne, why is our country still running smoothly?”

“Because his majesty is a good person, despite being a henpecked husband and overzealous?”

“... We’re actually doomed.”

“You’re being dramatic. If anything happens, I could take over the throne.”

“Yeah, you’re not off the hook either.”

“I am saner than any of you combined.”

“Sure, of course. Keep telling yourself that.”

“You don’t get to insult me!”

“I do and I would. Now, we have a war to prepare for.”

“Why?”

“Kanna’s obviously going to start one. But if we’re going to war, we’re going to have to watch out for Perimas too. Who did you send there?”

“Okay, don’t be upset…”

“Susanne, what did you do?”

“I sent Kon there.”

“Why, just why, for the love of anything you believe in, did you send my brother there?”

“He offered to help and I couldn’t say no. He was just too cute!”

Kalvin covered his face with his hands, shaking his head.

“I swear, you will be the end of me.”

“Oh, you’re just being dramatic.”