The carriage was moving at such speed that the trees rushing past merged into one continuous blur.
"Your Highness, we will arrive at Heilos Residence in approximately four hours."
"Good."
The Crown Princess waved her hand indifferently when one of her subordinates informed her of their further route. The carriage, drawn by four horses, hadn't stopped on the road for several hours.
Kaena was alone in the carriage. She sat with her legs crossed and seemed absorbed in watching one dark landscape outside the window replace another. After all, it was already deep night. Most people at this time were already seeing their next dream.
Even in the darkness, one could discern the girl's beautiful silhouette, like a shadow. She had sharp cheekbones and thoughtful brows, with dark brown hair casually falling over them.
Although Kaena's gaze was directed out the window, her thoughts were far from here.
Despite the late hour, the girl still decided to return to her residence as soon as possible. Only there could she feel at ease. While the Imperial Palace was more like a field of incessant battle for her.
The Crown Princess couldn't remember the last time she had felt so tired. Previously, it was normal for her to stay awake for a week or even longer if the job required it.
But this time... Over the past six months, she had hardly slept a wink.
It seemed that during the time Kaena was on the military campaign, not only her clothes but also her body had become saturated with someone else's blood. In the end, all these people had merged into one continuous crimson blur for her.
Kaena was so tired that she hadn't even bothered to stop and buy herself new clothes. Wearing what she returned in was impossible. There was so much blood on the clothes that they probably could never be washed clean.
So the princess simply threw them away.
It so happened that while Kaena was at the front, she had used up all her clothing supplies. Therefore, she had to borrow clothes from one of her subordinates. Clothes that allowed free movement, and a hooded cloak. The fabric was coarse, of rough make. Such was usually worn by commoners. But Kaena didn't care what she had on.
She hadn't slept properly for a long time, and her cheeks were sunken, and the dark circles under her eyes were more than obvious. Yet the princess wouldn't allow herself to close her eyes before they reached their destination.
The only place in the world where she could relax was her own chambers in the residence. Nowhere else would Kaena allow herself to let down her guard.
Stolen novel; please report.
Soon, the carriage entered the forest. From here began the fork to the empire's western border, as well as the direct road to her residence, Heilos Castle. Delving into the thicket of the forest, the carriage plunged into pitch darkness. Kaena couldn't see anything and had to rely only on her own feelings.
And the feelings weren't good.
The Crown Princess's plans for a peaceful trip were disrupted by a knight's cry, which suddenly came from outside and just as abruptly ceased. Apparently, the man was killed instantly.
"Your Highness, it's an ambush!"
The Crown Princess smirked coldly.
She had many enemies, but few of them would dare to attack her carriage in the middle of the night. It seemed her "beloved" family still didn't want to let her go.
With a lightning-fast movement, she placed her palm on the carriage handle, turned it, and jumped out of the vehicle.
Outside, the slaughter was already in full swing.
There were several dozen attackers. They were dressed in black from head to toe and also wore masks on their faces. Anyone could immediately understand that they were assassins. Despite the fact that Kaena was accompanied by only a few of her closest subordinates, it couldn't be said that the outcome of this battle was predetermined.
The battle promised to be serious.
Kaena drew her recently polished sword from its sheath. A cold smirk appeared on her face. All previous fatigue vanished as if by hand.
Over the next couple of minutes, a real meat grinder began.
The sharp sword, which had previously had a bluish gleam, turned scarlet. And the bloody, cruel expression on the Crown Princess's face could frighten anyone.
A person who killed her enemies without a drop of regret in her eyes, like a monster breaking free. A cold smile shone on her face in the thick of the battle.
The girl lost count of how many people her weapon had pierced during this time.
Her red lips became even brighter from fresh blood. This sight was both frightening and mesmerizing; the princess looked like a demon in human form.
In the end, within half an hour, the girl stood in the center of a field of corpses. Her own people and the assassins lay as lifeless piles of bodies.
But on the Crown Princess's body itself, there wasn't a scratch.
She grabbed the last living mercenary, who was fighting her with his last strength, by the hair.
"Ha... Stepmother, you should have chosen a more experienced servant."
At that moment.
When Kaena was about to cut off his head, the assassin managed to break free at the last second and stabbed her in the stomach with a knife.
"Tch...!"
The Crown Princess was irritated that this bastard had actually dared to strike her. Without hesitating for a second, with her free hand she drew her sword and finished the job.
Splash!
Blood gushed like a fountain.
The mercenary's body, with its throat cut, collapsed to the ground.
At first, Kaena decided there was nothing remarkable about this wound. Just a rat biting her with its little fangs. Nothing serious. After all, in former times, she had received far more severe injuries and still survived.
The girl thought she could quite manage to return to the estate in this condition even without medical help.
However...
Kaena took a step back and suddenly felt herself losing balance. Like a foggy nightmare, the trees around trembled and swam before her eyes, soon becoming completely distorted.
Her head spun.
"It can't be...! The dagger was poisoned?!"
In a rage, the Crown Princess clung to her sanity with her last strength. But it was all in vain.
Everything around slowly became shrouded in darkness, and the surrounding sounds evaporated.
Before Kaena Hessen de Ronan understood it, she lost consciousness.