Chapter 53: The Escape from Jeannagos

The jolting woke Chloe from her deep slumber. She opened her beautiful eyes, gazing out the window.

Chloe’s gaze climbed the towering walls of Jeannagos; she had returned.

The number of guards had increased significantly, undoubtedly due to the upcoming wedding.

The guards immediately granted passage upon recognizing the Central Curia’s retinue, daring not to delay for a moment.

The Knights of the Order surrounded the carriages, proceeding grandly down the main thoroughfare.

Chloe leaned out, observing many new stalls lining both sides of the street. Merchants, having caught scent of the business opportunities the wedding presented, vied eagerly for the best spots.

The gossip of ordinary citizens drifted into Chloe’s ears. They were discussing who Dorota Normanthine truly was and her connection to the late King Glais, who had died suddenly in his residence.

Chloe was curious as well, but before she could gather any clear information, the procession of carriages turned a corner.

The chatter of gossip faded, replaced by the lively market. Citizens were caught in a frenzy of shopping, as if they themselves were the ones getting married.

Many people were blocking the market entrance, causing the convoy to halt. Constantine dismounted to assess the situation.

A one-armed vagrant, clutching an iron bowl, attempted to enter the crowd to beg for money. However, he was quickly seized by a fully armed guard.

“You filthy beggar! The Prince is getting married, and you dare come here to make a spectacle of yourself?”

The guard menacingly raised his fist at the vagrant, but his arm was firmly grasped. Turning his head, the guard found a black knight staring coldly at him.

“Guards should protect citizens, not assault them.”

The guard stammered his apologies, nodding profusely. Constantine didn’t trouble him further, merely instructing him to clear a path.

She bent down, gently placing two Trier copper coins into the vagrant’s sole left hand.

“May God protect you.”

The vagrant sprinted away in ecstasy; those coins would cover several days’ meals for him.

Under the guards’ guidance, the crowd gradually dispersed. Constantine remounted her horse and continued forward.

Chloe had witnessed the entire exchange. Honestly, despite their differing stances, she found it impossible to dislike Constantine.

Constantine glanced at Chloe, then extended her arm in greeting. “Lady Chloe, you’re awake?”

Chloe nodded, then inquired, “Might I ask where we are headed?”

Constantine’s gaze drifted into the distance.

“The Gate of Heaven, Corfu. It is the headquarters of my faith and the place where the Prophet descended three hundred years ago.”

Chloe nervously swallowed.

“May I ask what will happen to us?”

“As I’ve already stated, Alexei and Una will be taken for trial, while you will be released after a day of observation.”

The day of observation was precisely what Chloe feared most.

Throughout the journey, under the watchful eyes of numerous Knights of the Order, she hadn’t dared to even drink horse blood. Thankfully, Lucia had provided her with frozen blood bags beforehand, preventing her from starving.

However, frozen blood was incomparable to fresh blood, much like the vast difference between chilled fish and a freshly caught bass. Even horse blood was several times more palatable than frozen human blood.

She was so ravenously thirsty that she had to consciously avoid looking at people’s necks. During the observation period, she certainly couldn’t brazenly pull out a blood bag and drink.

Whether she starved to death or was burned alive upon being discovered as a vampire, both paths led to certain doom.

“Oh, are we there?”

Alice yawned, sitting up and wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth.

“Why are you just waking up? What about our plan?” Chloe asked anxiously.

“Everything is under control,” Alice replied, feigning profundity.

“Weren’t you going to cause a disturbance to attract Constantine’s attention? Where is it?”

“Don’t be nervous. I’m just deciding which spell to use.” Alice pondered for a moment, then unhurriedly began to chant.

“What are you doing?”

Anna woke up. She had been caring for Una recently, so her sleep hadn’t been good, leaving thick dark circles under her eyes.

Under Anna’s diligent care, Una had improved significantly. Although her face remained pale, she could at least sit up and chat.

“Hmm… have we reached Jeannagos?”

“We have,” Chloe replied.

“To spend a week in the same room as Lady Alena… oh, divine, how blessed I am!”

Una closed her eyes in rapture, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Anyway, as we discussed before, I’ll repeat it: once Alice casts her spell to divert attention, you two must escape from here as quickly as possible. We’ll split up. Anna, you take Una to the residential area, and Alice and I will go to the noble district. Remember to blend into the crowds.”

Anna nodded, but Una tilted her head and asked, “Why are we fleeing? Aren’t we supposed to face judgment?”

“Do you want to be hanged like Hino?” Chloe said, exasperated.

Una clutched her chest, brimming with confidence.

“I’m not like Hino. I’m innocent. The divine will surely protect me.”

Chloe greatly admired Una’s optimism.

“Even so, no. Do as I say.”

“Since it’s Lady Alena’s command… very well.”

Chloe glanced at Alice, who was still chanting. Judging by the length of the incantation, this spell was likely of the mass hypnosis caliber.

She sighed. Fortunately, there was a magic-user in their group, otherwise, they would truly be in a death trap.

Just as Alice was about to complete her chant, a sharp sword suddenly pierced through the curtain and into the carriage.

Anna’s eyes widened, fixated on the sudden blade.

A chilling killing intent enveloped Chloe, making it hard for her to breathe. Yet, the target of this murderous aura was Alice. By the time Chloe regained her senses, the sword was pressed against Alice’s neck.

Dark, reddish-black mist swirled around the sword’s tip, stinging Alice’s delicate throat. A black helmet peered through the window.

“Alice, don’t waste your effort.”

A somber voice emanated from beneath the helmet, like a death sentence, intensifying Chloe’s fear to its peak.

“Stop chanting, or I’ll kill you now,” Constantine stated calmly.

Alice gritted her teeth, seemingly complying with Constantine’s suggestion.

However, she offered a sweet smile, her rosy lips trembling slightly.

“Run… now.”

She snapped her fingers. The sword instantly lost its balance and dropped downwards. A horse’s shriek echoed from outside—Constantine had fallen!

The knights rushed forward to check on Constantine. In that brief window, Chloe leaped out of the window, and Anna and Una followed suit.

Fortunately, the knights’ full attention was on Constantine, so no one noticed their escape. In less than ten seconds, Constantine regained consciousness.

She removed her helmet, swept back her light grey hair, and her eyes blazed with fury.

“Chase them! Chase them! Bring the Inquisitor back!”

Upon hearing her command, the knights spurred their horses to pursue them.

How could walking be faster than riding? Chloe had already covered a significant distance, yet the sound of hooves behind her grew closer and closer.

However, once they blended into the crowd, the cavalry would be helpless.

Holding onto this thought, Chloe sprinted towards the market with all her might. After becoming a girl, her stamina was not as strong as before, and she was already panting after a few steps.

Her untrained calves couldn’t withstand such exertion. She stumbled, falling heavily to the ground.

A sharp pain shot through her entire body; she no longer had the strength to stand up.

“Miss, are you alright?”

A gentle and familiar voice came from above. Chloe looked up to find a calloused hand extended towards her. Chloe followed the arm upwards. The owner of the hand was magnificently dressed, a graceful young woman standing beside him, looking at Chloe with concern.

“Norria?”

Chloe used the last of her strength to shout his name.

The cavalry brought Una and Anna back to the group. Anna shrugged. She could have easily escaped if she had abandoned Una, but she hadn’t.

Constantine looked at Anna with an appreciative gaze. She turned and lifted the curtain, revealing Alice still seated calmly in the carriage, legs crossed, a look of nonchalance on her face.

“Your plan failed.”

Alice’s emerald eyes met Constantine’s, a hint of a smile in their depths.

“No, we succeeded.”

Constantine frowned, completely unable to comprehend Alice’s optimism.

“Most of your companions have been captured.”

“That’s because, in the plan, only one person was ever meant to escape.”