NOVEL NEXT 66. Loriam’s escape
"haa…. Haa…"
A figure covered in a dark hood stumbled through the alleys of the city. stopping only briefly to check if the air is clear.
"By a decree of her majesty the Imperatrix from 10.06.3 of the Anema era, the institution of slavery is hereby prohibited."
Not so far from the figure’s cover, a tall woman of the blood clan dressed in a dark uniform read out a paper in her hand on top of a makeshift podium in front of a crowd. As she finished reading for a moment, others dressed in the same uniform began removing shackles and collars from the slaves. The figure noticed a tied-up, obese man being dragged out of the slave shop by three beastmen.
"By this decree, the possession, selling, and capturing of slaves, as well as a refusal to abide by this decree, shall be punished by death."
The figure and the crowd watched as the man was dragged to the podium. The soldiers then put the sign "slaver" on his neck as well as a rope. The woman, who seemed to be in charge, nodded slightly to her men, who, with all their might, pulled the rope. Lifting the man up.
The figure averted her eyes from the scene. She collected herself and ran through the alley before she reached an entrance to the old city’s sewage system. As she opened it, her face cringed from the horrid smell.
"Ugh, I don’t have a choice, do I?"
The figure hesitated briefly, considering different options. However, the sound of military boots approaching from the next street forced her to make a decision. Shit, they found me! She thought as she dived into the sewer.
"So, are you sure that bar was this way?"
"For sure, it was somewhere around here."
Shortly after the figure dived into the sewer, a couple of soldiers walked into the alley. Neither looked particularly in a hurry.
"It doesn’t look like it, though; what kind of bar would even be in this place?"
"Tsk. It’s not my fault this city is a fucking maze."
One of the soldiers clicked his tongue and raised his arms in defeat as he turned away from the alley. His companion let out a laugh as he followed him.
"Ha ha, maybe her majesty will be sick of it too and order it to be rebuilt."
"As if. The only waste of money her majesty makes is paying you."
"Haa!? Are you picking a fight?"
The two soldiers voices got quieter as they left the alley. Perhaps luckily for her own sake, the figure was too deep in the sewer and far enough from her initial entrance to hear their conversation. Otherwise, it’s hard to tell what she would do if she found out she was in such a disgusting place for no reason.
"Ughh. It stinks."
The figure grumbled as she moved through the sewer system. Occasionally, she stops briefly to reorient herself. Once she was sure which way to go, she continued on her way.
After half an hour, she reached the exit at the city’s edge, leading out of the city’s wall.
"I am glad you are safe, your majesty."
A blond, pink-eyed, tall woman dressed in a maid outfit that was covered by a dark hood she had over it stood close by the exit of the figure.
"Likewise, Mirei, I hope you didn’t get into trouble while exiting the city."
The figure smiled at Mirei, pushing the disgusting place she just left out of her mind. Mirei only tilted her head confusedly.
"Why would I be in trouble? I just left the city like always."
"...You mean through the main gate?"
"Yes?"
"…"
The figure silently removed her hood, reviving her beautiful, long silver hair. and after folding it, handed the hood to Mirei.
"Wash it if you would be so kind."
"O-of course."
While the silver-haired girl, Loriam She was smiling, but her crimson eyes suggested otherwise. Gulping nervously, Mirei took the hood and trotted to the nearest running water. Which happened to be a small creak a few meters from Loriam's exit.
"But why did you even..."
Mirei stopped talking when she noticed the gleam in Loriam’s eyes and refocused on her task of washing Loriam’s hood. Loriam herself, meanwhile, sat down, massaging her aching legs.
"To think Liora, of all people, would betray me..."
Loriam sighed sadly as she looked in the direction of the palace, which she had until this day called home. A home she was driven off by her closest friend of all people.
At least Mirei is still on my side… I hope.
Mirei tirelessly scrubbed the hood, unaware that Loriam was looking at her. Once she was done, Mirei brought the hood back to Loriam.
"What should we do now, your majesty?"
Loriam thought for a bit. What was it that she wanted to do?
"Getting to Julia would be ideal, ideally before they get to her."
Other than making sure her daughter is safe and out of harm’s way, nothing really came to mind. Given the situation, why should she even focus on something else? Losing a throne is nothing; she can get it back. It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be doable. Her daughter, on the other hand…
"Is her highness even safe? There was no contact with her over the last week."
Mirei’s tone was sad as she spoke. Given their predicament, she was not very optimistic. Loriam looked at her disapprovingly.
"I didn’t have contact with her for twenty-five years. Everyone was telling me she was dead, and yet I got her back and you served her."
Loriam’s eyes looked at Mirei with an unbreakable resolve in them, making Mirei’s heart skip a beat.
"I intend to get my daughter back, no matter the cost. Though I will have to apologize for losing her chance at being the queen one day."
Loriam smiled self-deprecatingly. As she watched her queen, Mirei’s heart ached.
"Your majesty…"
As Mirei intended to say something to cheer Loriam up. a sound of a marching group of soldiers on the road interrupted her. Without delay, Mirei and Loriam crouched behind the bushes, hoping not to be seen.
Peaking from her cover. Mirei noticed a beastman dressed in uniform with a black armband depicting a red wolf head looking in their direction. Mirei lowered her head to avoid the man’s eyes; luckily, he didn’t seem to notice, and he moved on like the others.
"Those were…"
Definitely enemy forces; where did they even get so many troops?"
While their view was limited, they could see at least a hundred soldiers in this formation. A cold sweat formed on her forehead.
"And to think that they already had over three hundred soldiers in the capital..."
Both women got headaches thinking about it. but for now, they had to go away from the capital. They left their cover, covering their faces with the hoods walking on the road.