Chapter 46. Leaving Bratz

“I wish you were dead.”

Mrs. Mary muttered as if she had almost lost her mind. Chel, seemingly shocked by her mother's appearance, stood frozen at the back of the bed. Ian glanced at her and relayed to the warrior.

“Bring Chief Kakantir and Lord Nersarn.”

“Yes, Sir Ian.”

“I wish you were dead. I wish your existence in this world, even the fact that you were born, could be forgotten.”

“Mother, you should calm down. The investigation team is still in the mansion. If they find out, we’ll have no choice but to hand you over.”

At his words, Mrs. Mary hesitated. Was it because her head was spinning? It seemed as if Ian was saying he would save her.

“Ian, are you going to save us? What about Father?”

“Brother Chel, it’s a mess. Father has already been captured by the Central Army, and there’s nothing we can do. Do you have any luggage to pack?”

Upon hearing that Deurga had been captured by the Central Army, Mrs. Mary’s legs gave out, and she collapsed. Chel was in the same state. Though it was dark, it was clear she was shocked and on the verge of tears.

“I will save Father.”

“Pardon?”

A trembling voice that didn’t match the content of her words. The warriors only gave a faint smile in response. Who was going to save whom, really?

“Brother Chel, pull yourself together. Can’t you grasp the situation? Theo is dead, the butler is dead, and most of the mansion’s staff are dead. Not only that, the people of the estate blame Deurga for the battle’s aftermath. If you and Mother want to survive in Bratz, this secret room is the only place.”

The harsh reality seemed unbelievable. Chel flinched repeatedly and looked around the dark room. Could they really spend their whole lives in a place like this? Absolutely not.

Ian turned his head at the sound of people outside.

“Sir Ian, Chief Kakkan and Lord Nersarn have arrived.”

“Good. We’ll leave soon, Mother and Brother Chel.”

Ian paused for a moment, then snapped his fingers as if he had made a decision.

“Your only destination is your mother’s family. Prepare to leave with the warriors. We’ll depart as soon as it’s deep into the night.”

“Sir Ian, where is her mother’s family?”

“Who knows? I don’t have a clue.”

Mrs. Mary was shocked twice: first by the term 'that woman,' and then by Ian’s indifferent attitude. Mrs. Mary, who couldn’t speak, was replaced by Chel.

“...Fontrol.”

“Fontrol? Ah, it’s to the north of Bratz. We’ll have to go around Mereloph, so it will take about two weeks. Not only the distance, but the rugged mountains as well.”

“We should go through Mereloph. We can get some clothes and food there...”

“The gates of Mereloph are completely closed. They killed the butler, and to avoid being implicated, they’ve declared a self-imposed lockdown until the situation is resolved.”

At Ian’s words, Mrs. Mary turned her head in disbelief.

It was understandable that they didn’t help during the standoff with the Central Army. They might have been implicated as traitors. But the butler being killed was something that couldn’t possibly happen.

“Mereloph killed... the butler...?”

“Why are you surprised, Mother?”

“That woman, she can’t do that. She can’t do that to me...”

She gnawed on her nails while muttering, which was both bizarre and chilling. The warriors looked at Ian with uneasy expressions, but he had no idea why.

“...We’ll go to Mereloph.”

Mary nodded as if she had made a decision.

“Ian, before we leave Bratz, I need to go to the main house.”

“Are you out of your mind, Mother?”

His tone suggested that she should stop making unreasonable demands. But Mrs. Mary didn’t back down and strongly expressed her intention.

“If we go to Mereloph, they won’t easily drive us away. We can borrow some funds and get various kinds of help...”

Though he couldn’t see inside her head, it was clear that her thoughts were a mess. Ian crossed his arms, as if daring her to say more.

Mrs. Mary suddenly stopped and asked.

“Is my husband, Deurga, still alive?”

“Yes, his execution has been delayed thanks to you and Chel.”

At this, Mrs. Mary’s face lit up. Only Deurga and Mary knew about the letter sent to the First Prince Marib. If they could survive until the palace responded, there might still be a chance.

“Yes, yes, yes...”

“Hurry and prepare.”

“Ian, let’s go to Mereloph! To Mereloph...!”

“Mother, if you don’t shut up, I’ll gag you.”

Ian turned away, as if he had heard enough. The investigation team was still in the main house. How could Mrs. Mary possibly enter and leave? Chel, who seemed to have inherited her mother’s inability to grasp the situation, was no better.

“Guard this place. I’ll be back after seeing Chief Kakkan.”

“Yes, Sir. Take your time.”

“Hey, kid. You really have no luggage?”

“N-no, I don’t... And I’m Chel Bratz...!”

While listening to the pitiful conversation behind him, Ian climbed the stairs. Kakantir and Nersarn, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, helped him through the entrance disguised as grass and shook his hand.

“Were you inside?”

“Yes, everything is fine.”

They were moving Aymen Kusile to this side to avoid the investigation team’s gaze. The excuse was that the stable was too small, but fortunately, the investigation team had taken the horses, so they didn’t pay much attention.

“We can send them off at dawn today.”

“Good. Let’s do that. Who’s the best at handling horses?”

At Kakantir’s question, the warriors vied to be chosen.

“It’s me, Chief.”

“Leave it to me.”

They had to deceive the Central Army and escape the estate, and they had to do it with a woman and a child.

That’s not all. They had to lead the Central Army far enough away to avoid capture, which required not only skill in handling horses but also a keen sense of the situation.

“Shul and Naro, you two take charge.”

“Don’t worry, Chief!”

“Wow, finally getting to wield a sword, huh?”

“Don’t act rashly. Go as far as possible and dispose of Mary and Chel. Make sure no one can find them, not even the heavens or the earth.”

They couldn’t hand the two over to the Central Army. That would be a boon to Erica and could positively influence the palace’s evaluation.

But if they secretly disposed of Mary and Chel?

“Let the Central Army wander the frontier for a few years.”

They wouldn’t be able to return until they found the bodies. Mary and Chel were targets that couldn’t be abandoned just because they were missed, as they were traitors. Even if the operation was suspended, the trust of the Central Army would be shattered, making this a win-win situation.

“The sun is setting.”

Kakantir nodded, looking at the sky turning red. The warriors assigned to Mary and Chel were preparing water, food, and changing into Barial clothes.

“This is so uncomfortable. Why are we wearing this?”

“It’s tight, isn’t it?”

It was clear that the bulky warriors were struggling with the tight fit, but there was no choice. They had to thoroughly hide the fact that they were Chelyrean warriors. If it were revealed that the Chelyreans were involved, they would be implicated in treason, and everything would be for naught.

“Bring Mary and Chel.”

“Yes, understood.”

The warriors went down to the basement and brought the two out. They were shocked by the completely changed scenery of the mansion over the past few days. The annex was almost completely burned down, and the area was filled with Kusile and Chelyrean people. They seemed confused about whether this was really Bratz.

“It’s been a while, Mrs. Mary and Chel.”

At Kakantir’s greeting, the two turned their heads. Mrs. Mary’s eyes narrowed viciously as she hugged her son.

“I regret that things have come to this.”

“The Chelyreans...!”

Mary swallowed her curses and barely held back. Deurga was still alive, after all. They had to survive until the First Prince Marib’s response arrived.

She knew these people weren’t helping out of pure intentions, but she had no choice but to put her head in the lion’s mouth.

“I believe you understand our respective situations. Consider this our final act of goodwill.”

Mrs. Mary bit her lips. Was this what it felt like to step into a trap knowing it was there? She firmly held her son’s hand and nodded.

“Alright. Cover your faces with hoods.”

“This way.”

“Hurry up!”

Ian moved close to Mary and Chel, who were heading towards the horses, and whispered.

“The warriors will guide you to Fontrol, but they won’t risk their lives for you.”

This meant they should cooperate as much as possible and be submissive. If they felt their safety was at risk, they could abandon the two at any time. Mary gnashed her teeth and glared at Ian, who only smiled.

“If you don’t like it, you can stop now.”

If they didn’t leave, there were only two options: to live and die miserably in the secret storage or to be captured by the investigation team and executed with Deurga.

Chel pulled her mother’s arm, urging her to move quickly.

“Ian, you...”

“I will never forget the warmth of your love, Madam. Thank you. But I don’t think I want to see you again.”

“...”

Mary regretted it. She should have killed him when she found out about his existence. Or at least cut off his limbs, burned his eyes and ears, and sent him to the Chelyreans. There were so many missed opportunities.

“Alright, now leave.”

“Um, Ian, Father...”

“Chel!”

Mary glared at her son, as if telling him not to speak to Ian anymore. Mary and Chel put on black hoods and mounted the horses.

“The investigation team has started their evening meal and meeting.”

“It’s time. Keep the main gate open.”

“Yes, understood!”

Neigh!

The horse carrying the two galloped fiercely through the center of the mansion. A few soldiers turned reflexively at the sound of the horse, but that was all. Horses came and went dozens, even hundreds of times a day.

Clatter!

The two horses quickly entered the village and sped down a quiet road. A few estate residents glanced at the figures in the darkness but paid little attention.

“What’s the rush?”

“Yeah, it’s getting dark.”

The people’s interest was quickly buried in the darkness and vanished without a trace. The Chelyreans who remained in the mansion, seeing the horses gallop away without issue, hurried to clean up.

“Make the grass look natural.”

“Should we place a rock?”

“No, that might raise suspicion. Restore it to look exactly as it did before.”

“Yes, understood.”

Meanwhile, Ian looked at the annex where the lights were on. He was trying to guess why Mrs. Mary needed to return to her room in such a situation.

‘What could it be... that she thought Mereloph would help her?’

But that place was now being used by Captain Erica. Once the investigation team left with Mrs. Mary, he would have to search the room.