Chapter 228: Liyakade Targeted

Although the atmosphere inside the carriage had returned to normal, the air outside felt slightly off.

Vidar Slick was a noble whose territory lay within the Royal City.

However, despite his status, his wealth and influence there were nothing remarkable.

His family secretly dealt in a certain type of exotic plant.

These plants grew only near the Kingdom Border, in areas adjacent to the Magic Domain.

When ground into powder, they could be used as medicine, offering pain relief.

But at higher doses… they induced hallucinations.

And with prolonged use, they caused addiction.

A dangerous substance.

While it had limited medical use, it provided no benefit to one’s Level or physical ability.

Overall, the harm far outweighed any advantages.

Because of this, the Kingdom had strictly banned its circulation.

If such plants were discovered within the Kingdom, punishment was inevitable—

Even for nobles.

Yet Vidar’s family profited from this very trade.

For that reason, he chose to travel discreetly with a caravan toward the Kingdom Border, avoiding unnecessary attention.

However, during the journey, Vidar noticed something.

Another carriage.

A luxurious one.

It was the very carriage Liyakade and the others were riding in.

Judging by its decorations, the people inside were clearly of higher status than him.

Vidar hadn’t expected nobles of that level to be traveling with the caravan.

He didn’t know their purpose—

And more importantly, he hoped they wouldn’t interfere with his business.

While he was lost in thought, the curtains of that carriage were suddenly pulled aside.

Instinctively, Vidar glanced over.

And saw—

A small figure with silver-white hair.

Delicate.

Exquisite.

Her crimson eyes carried a faint trace of sorrow, making her appear almost fragile.

For a moment—

Vidar’s heart skipped a beat.

Just as he wanted to keep looking—

A hand suddenly appeared from inside the carriage and pressed against the window, pushing the girl down.

The curtains were immediately drawn shut.

Vidar froze.

Then, recalling the strange noises he had heard earlier, a realization dawned on him.

So that’s how it is.

As expected… the more powerful the noble, the more depraved their private life.

Even inside a carriage, they can’t restrain themselves…

Or perhaps… this is just one of their “hobbies.”

He clicked his tongue inwardly.

What a waste…

That girl had looked so young.

So delicate.

No wonder her expression had seemed so sorrowful.

But—

Vidar didn’t truly pity her.

What he felt was something else.

Regret.

If he were in that noble’s position…

He might have been even more excessive.

Her appearance lingered in his mind.

Too perfect.

Too alluring.

And slowly, darker thoughts began to form.

After all… those exotic plants weren’t only used for medicine.

Of course—

Everything Vidar imagined was completely wrong.

Inside the carriage, there were only three girls:

Liyakade, Alice, and Field.

The sorrow in Liyakade’s eyes came from her earlier dream—

Not from being forced into anything.

And Field, who had been pressing her down, was simply trying to get answers.

Nothing more.

Nothing like the twisted picture Vidar had painted in his mind.

After all—

To someone with a filthy mind, everything appears filthy.

However, Vidar wasn’t the only one who had noticed something unusual.

At the rear of the carriage rode another figure.

Natalia.

Dressed in a black-and-white nun’s habit, with a silver cross hanging at her chest, she rode a white horse, guarding the carriage from behind.

She was an apprentice nun of the Church.

This escort mission was part of her training.

Her assigned role was simple—

Protect the nobles in this carriage.

At first, everything had seemed normal.

Natalia was one of the stronger guards, and as a member of the Church, being tasked with protecting nobles was nothing unusual.

But earlier—

She had heard something.

Fragments of conversation carried through the slightly open window.

Words like—

“Demon King.”

“Sacrifice.”

That was enough.

Natalia’s expression subtly changed.

Within the Church, there existed records regarding the Prophecy of the Demon King’s Revival.

According to those records—

The Demon King could accelerate their resurrection through blood sacrifice.

And now—

High-ranking nobles from the Royal City were suddenly heading toward the remote Kingdom Border.

Combined with those words…

The situation was far too suspicious.

Silently, Natalia fixed her gaze on the carriage.

If these people truly harbored ill intentions—

She would stop them.

No matter what.

***

Inside the carriage—

Liyakade lay comfortably with her head resting on Field’s soft thighs.

As the carriage gradually slowed, she finally sat up.

“Hehe… you’ve been sitting or lying down the entire time. Are you still tired?”