PTB Chapter 4

Aracne didn’t care one bit about the departure ceremony. Even right before setting off, Aracne was picking fights with the knights for no reason. Complaining about every discomfort, she eventually went so far as to openly insult the Remigis Knights.

“I’d rather unleash a pack of hunting dogs than be escorted by these filthy people!”

She had neither the dignity of a member of the royal family nor the qualifications of a monarch.

‘Seriously, does she have no thoughts at all?’

Her temperament was even worse than what had been written in the novel, and it left Rose speechless. Experiencing her viciousness firsthand was exhausting. It felt like Aracne had come along just to make things harder. But soon, Aracne grew exhausted and slumped down, worn out from the rough carriage ride through the mountainous path.

Rose looked coldly at the pale-faced woman. She couldn’t understand why someone with such little stamina had decided to leave the imperial palace in the first place.

‘Well, it’s better this way. Quiet is good.’

If things continued peacefully like this on the way to Bastia, she could tolerate traveling with Aracne. But the peace didn’t last long.

“Garmr pack spotted up ahead!”

“Garmr?”

Thud, thud—there was a sound from the bushes, and a creature with reddish fur jumped out. The sheer size of the beast shook the ground. Arsen quickly drew his sword and shouted

“Protect the carriage!”

He spurred his horse and charged straight into the beasts. With a single swing, he cut down three or four of the Garmr, their bodies splitting in two with guttural howls. Just then, another dozen emerged from the brush.

‘Monsters now? Right when we’re escorting a royal? In Eretria, of all places?’

Arsen felt something was off. Hagen seemed to feel the same as he asked beside him

“Why are beasts that only live in the Hinnom Valley loitering near the capital?”

The Remigis Knights began fending off the attacking monsters. The clashing of blades and beastly howls filled the air.

“What is happening?!”

Woken by the commotion, Aracne saw the crimson beasts and turned deathly pale.

“Wh-What are those?!”

Thud.

Something heavy landed on top of the carriage. Rose gasped. A massive pawprint dented the roof.

‘How big is that thing?’

The appearance of the monster was unlike anything she had ever seen. She felt as though she might faint at any moment. But as they say, even in a tiger’s den, stay calm and you’ll survive. Collapsing in front of the beast would be the height of foolishness. Rose suppressed the scream rising in her throat.

“KYAAAAAH!”

On the other hand, Aracne screamed repeatedly and collapsed disgracefully to the floor. Fearing the beasts might be provoked, Rose grabbed the woman’s shoulder roughly.

“Calm down! The knights will take care of them!”

“KYAAAH! Get those things away from me this instant!”

No amount of soothing could calm the panicked second princess. A sharp cracking noise rang out as the window shattered. Riiiip. The curtains tore, and a claw slashed inside. Reddish fur tangled in the broken frame. Rose found herself staring into the eyes of a massive wolf.

Grrrrrrr. The Garmr’s glowing eyes locked onto its prey. As it lunged with snapping fangs the size of a grown man’s forearm, the carriage shook violently.

“Ahhh… ugh.”

Screaming her lungs out, Aracne fainted. Rose tried to lift the limp woman, but another jolt sent them both tumbling inside the carriage.

‘Ahh!’

A sharp pain wrapped around her ankle. She had twisted it. Rose bit her lower lip. Looking up, she saw the red beast forcing its way in.

Grrr. Yip!

Thunk, thud. Blood splattered. Rose blinked in confusion and wiped her cheek. The red liquid wasn’t hers. The beast lunging through the window coughed up blood and collapsed with a crash. As the massive furred body slumped aside, Arsen came into view.

“Are you unharmed?”

Rose slowly raised her gaze. Her senses began to return.

“I’m fine. But I don’t think she is.”

She pointed at the unconscious Aracne.

“Your Highness!”

“Oh no, Princess Aracne! Are you alright?”

Aracne’s maids rushed over from another carriage. A knight stepped aside, allowing them to take the second princess from Rose almost as if snatching her. Though she had only fainted, they panicked and carried her into a less damaged carriage. After the chaos subsided, Arsen held out his hand.

“I’ll escort you outside. This carriage must be abandoned.”

The carriage was in ruins, badly tilted and seemingly unusable. It was clear they had barely escaped the monster’s grasp. She tried to hide it, but couldn’t stop her fingertips from trembling. She took his hand and stood.

“Ah.”

Pain shot through her ankle, and she sat right back down. She grimaced and reached for her foot. It hurt like an electric shock—definitely a serious sprain.

“You’re injured.”

He knelt and examined it. His sudden closeness made Rose tense.

“I think I twisted my ankle a bit.”

“Pardon me for a moment.”

Lifting the hem of her dress, Arsen carefully removed her tight shoes, frowning as he did. Her foot was red and swollen.

“Can you walk?”

“Probably not.”

He looked like he was pondering an impossible problem. Rose couldn’t help but smile faintly.

‘Even that frown between his brows is handsome. I wonder what he’ll do since I’m hurt…’

His reaction was more surprising than expected. Without warning, he slipped an arm under her knees and lifted her up.

“Ah!”

She nearly fell and instinctively grabbed his shoulder. As his thick brows came into view, she swallowed nervously. She hadn’t expected such close contact.

Rose stared at him as if trying to memorize every detail. Maybe he found her gaze burdensome—heat pulsed from the skin around his thick neck. Then his low voice rumbled.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. You need first aid in a brighter place.”

Still dazed, Rose was carried out of the carriage like a princess. Outside, the knights were cleaning up after the battle. Piles of bloody fur were being set ablaze. The acrid smell was unbearable.

“Gawain, I think I didn’t sleep well. There’s no way Garmr live in Eretria, right?”

“No, Sir Hagen. They’re definitely Garmr.”

The knights murmured among themselves around the beast corpses. Such a large-scale monster appearance near the capital could only be intentional.

Once they moved to a place free of stench, Arsen gently set her down. A squire brought a canteen and some soft cloth. Arsen took them and began to treat her leg.

The cold touch made her toes curl.

“Is it strange for monsters like those to appear here?”

“Eretria is patrolled by guards. Even accounting for shift changes, the area would’ve been checked two hours ago.”

He finished disinfecting the wound and wrapped it expertly, clearly used to such tasks.

“So the monsters appeared just recently.”

“That should be impossible.”

“Maybe the knights missed them?”

“I don’t believe so.”

Perhaps noticing her unease, he replied firmly.

“I’ll send out a search team to track any traces. Please don’t worry, Your Highness—just focus on healing.”

He gently lifted her foot and slipped her shoe back on, carefully tying the laces. Then, with a clean cloth, he wiped the blood off her cheek. The way he tended to her so diligently lifted her spirits.

Resting her chin on her hand, Rose let her silky hair fall forward.

“Why are you so kind?”

She whispered seductively near his ear.

“I’m falling for you.”

Arsen’s lips parted slightly. Unsure he heard right, he asked awkwardly

“…Excuse me?”

“Who wouldn’t tremble after being swept up like that?”

Rose mimed being lifted in his arms. Her flopping wrists dangled cutely. He stared blankly at her teasing hands.

“……”

Silence followed. The mood was eerily similar to what had happened in the stables.

Sensing trouble, Rose quickly grabbed him.

“W-Wait! Don’t ditch me again!”

“Ditch you?”

He blinked, confused.

“You left me alone at the training ground and ran off.”

He winced slightly at the word ran.

“I didn’t run away.”

“Liar. Just admit it—you didn’t want to be my knight.”

“What are you talking about?”

He tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. Even that gesture was so handsome, Rose had to admire him.

“I was going to ask you to be my guard that day.”

“Ah…”

He suddenly fell silent, as if deep in thought.

“Of course, I’m just a nobody princess, so you wouldn’t have considered it.”

“That’s not true. It’s just… Your Highness said…”

Arsen abruptly covered his mouth with his hand. His cheeks turned red.

“…You said you wanted me.”

Though barely audible, Rose caught it clearly—and noted the shy tone.

‘Wait… so he misunderstood what I said and ran off that day?’

Seeing him avert his eyes and cough awkwardly confirmed it.

He was far bigger than most men, yet embarrassed by such a thing. Maybe because he was kneeling to treat her, but he looked especially cute now.

‘Oh god. I want to lock him in a room and tease him all day.’

She struggled to suppress the dangerous urge.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what you meant at the time.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t exactly clear.”

“But please don’t think I abandoned you. I even called your maid, remember?”

“You did.”

That arrogant maid who badmouthed you…

Rose’s expression darkened as she recalled Arsen’s circumstances. She despised the nobles who judged this incredibly charming man by appearances alone. And how could she possibly resent someone trying to explain such a small misunderstanding from back then?

‘Maybe I’ll just keep him for myself.’