To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Outside the carriage, a huge ship heading towards the Holy Hilysid Empire could be seen in the distance. Unlike when they secretly entered the Merna Empire, now Liv and her group didn’t need to move while hiding themselves. So they decided to take a ship that many merchants use officially.

“Haah, I miss the Holy Hilysid Empire so much…”

Hildegard began speaking with a face flushed red from the sun’s heat.

“The food here was really terrible.”

“That’s true.”

“Of course, even when I return home, I’ll still be a fugitive…”

“Don’t worry, Hilda. I’ll definitely make you free.”

As they continued their light-hearted chatter, Hayden, who had been wearing a serious expression for a while, opened his mouth.

“Hmm, but Master, what should we do about this?”

“What?”

“It seems we’ve been tailed…”

“What?”

“Someone has been tracking our carriage for a while now.”

At those words, Liv’s face hardened.

“Could it be remnants of the 1st Prince or 2nd Prince?”

“Well, I think rather than that…”

“It must be the other side.”

At this moment, they were all thinking of the same person. August, could he have sent people even to the Merna Empire?

“The goal is probably to prevent us from returning.”

“Yes, he’ll want to finish everything before we arrive in the Holy Hilysid Empire. What should we do?”

Hayden’s eyes sharpened as if ready to follow Liv’s orders immediately. Liv’s mind raced quickly. To break off the pursuit, perhaps… No, that method was too dangerous.

“Hayden, let’s try to shake off the pursuit for now.”

“Yes, then I’ll drive the carriage myself.”

“You?”

“Yes, there’s nothing I can’t do, right?”

Hayden said that in a very confident voice, then moved to the driver’s seat. And soon the carriage began to move incredibly fast.

Neigh!

The sound of horses neighing loudly was heard from outside the carriage. The carriage kept swerving sharply to the right and left. It also narrowly avoided colliding with trees.

“Oh…”

Liv muttered with a pale face while tightly gripping the carriage.

“Hilda, I didn’t know a carriage could go this fast.”

“Me neither…”

Hildegard also had a face that looked like she might throw up at any moment. Meanwhile, Walter had been wearing a serious expression all this time. He briefly checked outside the carriage and shook his head.

“It seems impossible to shake them off.”

“Should we switch to horses? I think we could shake them off faster on horseback.”

“No, it would still be hard to break off the pursuit. They’re each on their own horses, and they’re probably skilled at this kind of thing.”

“Then how…”

“Liv, you already know the method, don’t you?”

Walter’s and Liv’s eyes met in mid-air. He voiced the plan that Liv had been trying hard to forget.

“We need to split up.”

“But that method is dangerous.”

It seemed Walter intended to send Liv away and draw the pursuers’ attention with Hildegard. But that could make those who become targets even more endangered. Especially Walter and Hildegard were still being chased by the Emperor.

“No, sister. It’s alright.”

At that moment, Hildegard took Liv’s hand with a determined face.

“I’ll draw their attention with Brother Walter. You escape with Hayden.”

“Hilda, you could be in danger…!”

“Danger has always lurked outside for the Hamelsvoort family. I’m prepared for everything. And…”

Hildegard looked at Liv with firm eyes.

“Protecting you is my duty as a Saintess.”

Hildegard put on a white wig she had brought just in case. It was to disguise herself as Liv.

“Anyway, the person those people are chasing is you, Sister Liv. While I draw their attention, you escape with Hayden.”

“Hilda…”

Although she wanted to protest that she didn’t want to put Hildegard and Walter in danger, Liv rationally knew this was the right decision. She had to survive to finish her revenge and save everyone.

Hayden, who had returned to the carriage after admitting they couldn’t shake off the pursuers, saw Hildegard wearing the white wig and had an understanding expression.

“Right, that’s a good choice. I only care about my master’s safety anyway.”

“Hayden!”

Liv called his name in a reproachful voice, but Hayden shrugged with an unconcerned face.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you to the Holy Hilysid Empire even if I have to sacrifice my life.”

Liv couldn’t press him further, given that he had even suffered divine punishment because of her and was now being so helpful. Meanwhile, Hildegard handed Liv a golden wig, and Liv took it with trembling hands and put it on. Now people who saw Liv and Hildegard from afar wouldn’t be able to distinguish who was who. It was a classic method, but it was also effective for that reason.

“Now, I’ll guide the way from here.”

As the carriage was about to arrive at the port, Hayden said.

“First, when we get out of the carriage, we’ll all run quickly as if trying to avoid pursuit. Then we’ll disappear into the port. There, Lord Walter will follow Hildegard, and Master will follow me.”

“Do you know the geography of the port well?”

“Well, I’ve been there before when I was wandering around in the past.”

“I know the geography of the port well too. It’s like a maze, strangers can’t easily find their way.”

“Yes, we’ll shake them off there. We’ll move through more complex paths, so Lord Walter and Miss Hildegard can pretend to hide on the opposite side while drawing attention.”

Liv’s heart began to beat rapidly. The answer to what lay ahead depended on the success of this operation. Whether she could reunite with Emmett, and safely become Emperor. There was a steep cliff below the tightrope she was walking on, and mistakes were not tolerated at all.

“Then get ready…”

As soon as the carriage stopped, Hayden grabbed Liv’s hand and ran quickly. Liv was led by him, running with large strides despite wearing uncomfortable shoes.

“Huff, haa…”

Hayden moved freely within the complex port. Turning corners, and turning again… After running like that for a while, when Liv couldn’t run any further and stopped in place, Hayden quickly turned his back to her.

“Get on!”

Liv didn’t refuse and got on his back. She knew well that being stubborn would only cause trouble. Hayden continued to run at a speed that hadn’t slowed down at all despite carrying Liv.

And a moment later, Liv found herself inside a ship.

“Phew… For now, there’s no one pursuing us, but I don’t know what happened to Lord Walter and Miss Hildegard.”

If they were caught by the pursuers, there was a high possibility that the pursuers would take Walter and Hildegard instead of Liv. Although they acted as decoys for Liv, the two were also fugitives themselves.

“Wait here, I’ll go check.”

After taking Liv to the pre-booked cabin, Hayden left the room again. The time waiting for Hayden felt like an eternity to Liv. And then…

“Master.”

“Hayden, what about Hilda and Brother Walter? Did you see them?”

At those words, Hayden shook his head with a hardened expression. Realizing the meaning, Liv lowered her head. They hadn’t been able to board this ship. They had probably been caught by the pursuers.

“…Master, when the pursuers find out their identities, they might release them soon. And then they’ll try to chase us. So don’t worry too much.”

“But how can I not worry when I know they’ll die if they’re taken to the Holy Hilysid Empire.”

“This is the Merna Empire. No matter who was sent from the Holy Hilysid Empire, they can’t just come to the Merna Empire and take someone away. And that kid who just became Emperor will help too.”

At those words, Liv finally felt her mind calming down. Yes, Walter and Hildegard would be safe. It was inefficient to just worry about things she couldn’t confirm with her own eyes. Instead, Liv decided to focus on safely returning to the Holy Hilysid Empire.

“Emmett said he’d send people to the port. So he could find me whenever I return…”

“Yes, Master just needs to return safely to the capital.”

“On the way to the capital, I’ll use divine power. So everyone will know that a descendant of Gracia has appeared in the Empire again.”

When rumors spread that Gracia has returned, August’s supporting forces will crumble and he’ll have no choice but to flee from Liv. Just as August had done, Liv intended to chase him to the end. And when she returns…

‘Emmett…’

Her beloved Emmett was waiting for her. Time spent without Emmett could never be enjoyable for Liv. While staying in the Merna Empire, Liv felt as if there was a hole in one corner of her heart.

She can meet Emmett when she returns to the Holy Hilysid Empire. The fact that he who wouldn’t even look at her in the past is now waiting for her as her husband felt purely joyful. Although Emmett says he doesn’t love her, he still feels guilty towards Liv, so he tries to protect and help her. It’s a pity for Emmett, but that alone was enough to satisfy Liv.