Chapter 5

After telling Eisen everything, Platin felt somewhat relieved.

Since she had been locked in the temple from the age of seven, her interactions were limited to the minimum number of priests and occasional messengers from the castle. She had hardly ever expressed her feelings to anyone.

"I see."

Eisen nodded several times as if he understood.

"I had a feeling that something was wrong with that country, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. Even if you weren't the queen's biological child, to know that a princess would die and still exile her?"

Platin smiled wryly at the tone and expression that clearly showed his exasperation.

"There was nothing I could do. To the queen, I was nothing but a nuisance. No one in that country could defy her."

"Queen Rega, huh..."

"When I was young, I cried in the temple, wanting to return to the castle. It was a place full of strangers, and I felt very lonely. At that time, a lady-in-waiting who took care of me said, 'You should be grateful that you weren't killed.'"

Platin didn't know what the lady-in-waiting meant by those words. She couldn't remember what the lady's face looked like.

Did she threaten the crying child out of annoyance, or was she genuinely concerned?

But those words made the young Platin stop crying. She understood, even as a child, that if she wanted to live, she had to continue praying as the Holy Maiden.

"...I've heard that the country has become quite chaotic since the queen's rule began. I only heard about it in the temple, but I was told that more than half of the high officials who served my father were executed or exiled. I never knew when the same fate might befall me."

The beautiful and kind Shande that her father had ruled no longer existed. Platin, who used her sacred power to pray every day, was aware of this.

But Platin could do nothing. She felt helpless and had always escaped through prayer.

"Perhaps my death is a punishment for running away from my duties as a royal."

"You're an idiot."

At Eisen's harsh words, Platin looked up and met his eyes, which seemed angry.

"No one dies just because of that. Besides, what kind of person are you? Normally, no one would accept death so easily. You should have fought or tried to escape."

"Such a thing..."

Platin started to say it was impossible but couldn't find the right words to argue.

Indeed, why hadn't she resisted? When she was first locked in the temple, there were many loyal subjects who still served her father. Even after she grew up, there were people in the temple who were kind to her despite being wary of Rega. There were believers who smiled at her as the Holy Maiden.

Should she have asked them to help her escape?

Eisen looked slightly awkward at Platin's silence, shifting his gaze as if choosing his words, and then let out a rough sigh.

"Well, you probably didn't have the chance to think about it. Sorry, I spoke without considering your situation."

"No, it's not like that..."

"I was also on edge because of this curse."

Eisen looked at the chains on his wrists with disdain.

"That's right... Excuse me, may I?"

"Hm?"

Platin, who had been kneeling, slowly approached Eisen, mindful of the carriage's movement. Eisen's face showed surprise as she suddenly closed the distance.

Platin gently touched the chains. Since the chains were made by a curse and had no physical form, they should have been untouchable by anyone except Eisen. However, Platin's fingers clearly touched the chains.

Eisen's black eyes widened in shock as he stopped moving.

"This is a terrible curse. I'll remove it now."

Ignoring Eisen's startled exclamation, Platin focused her prayer on her fingertips.

The sacred power flowed into the chains, and the chains that had so firmly bound Eisen's wrists crumbled and disappeared like sand.

"Phew, that's better now."

"Are you kidding me?"

Eisen, who was still in a daze, checked his now-free hands, clenching and unclenching them.

Platin smiled in relief as she watched him.

"I was a Holy Maiden, so I'm good at removing curses."

"Wow, really?"

After swinging his arms widely, Eisen stood up and drew his sword, handling it with ease despite the swaying of the carriage. His skillful sword movements were a beautiful sight.

(He must be a champion of the sword tournament.)

"The curse is completely gone."

"I'm glad. Now you're free, Eisen."

Perhaps this would make up for the trouble she had caused him.

"I've caused you a lot of trouble. You don't need to watch over me anymore. Please, escape now."

Platin had always intended to make a pilgrimage alone. She had only accepted the escort because she thought she couldn't leave the temple without a servant, but she had planned to part ways during the journey.

No one would want to take care of someone who was going to die.

If Eisen had complained at the time, he would probably have been punished. She had realized the chains were cursed halfway through, but now that she knew the truth, she felt it was the right decision to not refuse.

"I think you're strong enough not to be caught."

"What about you?"

"I plan to fulfill my duty and make a pilgrimage."

"Are you serious? You'll die, right?"

"Maybe that's why."

Platin shrugged and smiled, and Eisen looked at her as if he had encountered an unknown creature.

"I've never been free. If I'm going to die anyway, I want to see the outside world. The pilgrimage is just an excuse. I don't have any specific place I want to go."

It was her true feeling.

She had always prayed for the country's peace. Perhaps it was most fitting for her to die on a pilgrimage.

"To be honest, I don't really have any regrets or things I want to do."

In the moment she felt death approaching, what rose in her was a desire for freedom.

She wanted to walk around the outside world without anyone stopping her and see things she had never seen before.

"This is my last whim."

She couldn't say she wasn't afraid, but it would be better than being locked up for life. Even if she died somewhere, if she could walk there on her own, she felt she could leave without regret.

"I'm really sorry for involving you. If the pursuers come for me, I'll mislead them. Please go wherever you like."

Reflecting on it, Platin realized this might be the first time she had used her sacred power for something other than her duties as a Holy Maiden. She had always done as she was told, praying and blessing the people who visited the temple, or removing curses as part of her duties.

"I'm glad I could remove your curse."

Feeling as if she had been freed herself, Platin smiled, and Eisen cursed and scratched his head.

Putting his sword back in its sheath, Eisen sat down on the carriage and fixed his gaze on Platin.

"Do you really intend to continue the pilgrimage?"

"Yes, I have nothing else to do."

At her honest answer, Eisen slumped.

"...I'll go with you."

"Eh?"

"I said I'll go with you."

Platin's eyes widened in disbelief.

"But, now that the curse is gone..."

"Even so, there are probably still guards watching us. If I suddenly disappear here, it will cause a commotion. It's safer to go with you and disappear when the time is right."

"Oh, I see. I didn't realize that."

"Besides, I'm not the kind of man who would repay kindness with ingratitude. At least let me help you until you get used to traveling."

Unlike his sharp gaze earlier, Eisen's eyes now had a gentle, almost pleading look. Platin blinked.

She should refuse, but she was genuinely anxious, and his offer seemed very welcome. Despite only meeting recently, she didn't find Eisen scary. He seemed more honest and kind than the people who had been around her before.

Perhaps she could rely on him for a short while.

"Then, I'll accept your offer."

"Sure."

Platin smiled at Eisen's relieved nod.