Talia climbed out of bed and carefully checked their condition.
After a moment's hesitation, she took pity on them and covered them with blankets.
Then she opened the small side door beside the bedroom and peered into the waiting room used by the maids.
Fortunately, it was completely empty.
The healing mage had apparently gone to the dispensary.
Without hesitation, she stepped inside and rummaged through a chest beside one of the small beds.
Before long, she found an undyed grayish-brown woolen tunic and a pair of leather shoes.
She removed her nightgown, slipped into the slightly oversized tunic, and put on the stiff shoes.
Next, she carefully braided her long hair into a single braid before finding a shabby cloak and wrapping it around herself.
After tying a grimy headscarf over her hair and pulling the hood low over it, she looked exactly like an ordinary common woman.
After giving herself a careful once-over, Talia quietly slipped into the corridor through another narrow side door beside the waiting room.
Because of the unexpected guests, most of the servants seemed to have gathered in the kitchens.
The corridors were nearly deserted.
Using the passages normally reserved for the maids, she headed toward the room that had once belonged to her and had remained vacant for so long.
Fortunately, the bedroom was empty.
Approaching the chest of drawers beside the bed, Talia unlocked it and searched every corner for anything worth taking.
The expensive jewelry had all been stored separately in the vault, so she found only a handful of gemstones.
After stuffing a gold ring and several pearl hairpins into her pocket, she took out the jewelry box she had brought from the Imperial Palace.
When she opened the lid, she saw the moonstone that resembled Varkas's eyes, the handkerchief he had bought for her, and the golden button engraved with the emblem of the Roem Knights.
She instinctively began placing them into a leather pouch—
Then froze.
Why was she taking these things with her...
...when she was about to abandon everything and leave?
Silently staring at those pitiful remnants of her lingering attachment, Talia slowly placed them back into the jewelry box, locked it tightly, shoved it deep inside the drawer, and left the room.
By then, the sun had already sunk noticeably lower.
She carefully stepped into the corridor, now cloaked in gathering darkness.
Descending the narrow staircase that led toward the rear gate, she saw servants busily carrying buckets of bathwater.
The unexpected arrival of the guests had apparently thrown the entire household into chaos.
Thanks to that, Talia was able to slip out of the building without attracting the workers' attention.
'...What should I do now?'
Walking along a deserted footpath, she looked up at the overcast sky with empty eyes.
Even someone as ignorant of the world as she was knew perfectly well how cruel it could be.
If she wandered aimlessly without even a single guard, she would probably be robbed within days—or become prey for monsters.
Even if incredible luck allowed her to reach a village alive, someone like her, who knew nothing, would never be able to earn a living.
She would most likely end up begging in the streets until she starved to death.
She had no difficulty imagining such a miserable end for herself.
'Even so...'
At least...
...he would never have to see me reduced to that.
Limping, Talia slowly continued onward.
If she kept traveling south from Kalmor, she would eventually reach the Bellamen Monastery.
It was renowned as a sanctuary for those with nowhere else to go.
Surely they would accept one unidentified woman.
If God pitied me...
...and by some miracle I reach that place safely...
...then I'll try living a little longer.
But if I don't...
Talia stopped herself there.
She didn't want to think anymore.
She simply kept moving her legs mechanically.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, towering stone walls finally appeared between the trees, along with a gate reinforced with iron bands.
Fortunately, there were no guards in sight.
Doing her best to appear natural, she approached the gate.
When she casually tugged on the handle, she saw three or four cargo wagons lined up along the road outside.
Apparently, merchants had been summoned in a hurry.
Glancing toward a trader speaking with a sentry not far away, she cautiously slipped through the gate.
Just then—
Someone seized her shoulder.
Startled, Talia turned her head and found herself staring at a soldier wearing a surcoat embroidered with the crest of House Siorcan.
She hurriedly pulled her hood lower.
She could feel the man's suspicious gaze fixed upon her.
"Who are you? You don't look like one of the castle maids..."