For a split second, her mind went completely blank.
Even so, Talia deliberately lowered her voice and imitated the way the maids spoke.
"I am a maid. Can't you tell just by looking?"
"Which household are you assigned to?"
"I work in the main castle."
Despite her calm answer, the soldier did not let go of his suspicion so easily.
He bent down, as though trying to get a better look at her face, and continued questioning her.
"Then why is a maid from the main castle leaving the castle grounds at this hour?"
"The head maid sent me to the market on an urgent errand."
Avoiding his gaze, Talia turned her head away and snapped irritably,
"So stop making this such a nuisance and let me go already. I'm in a hurry! If I'm late and get scolded because of you, are you going to take responsibility?"
"First, take off your hood. I can't let you leave without confirming your identity—"
"Oh, honestly! If you're really that suspicious, then go ask Head Maid Areta yourself! Just tell her it's Yvonne and she'll know! I'm already annoyed enough because she dumped this bothersome errand on me...!"
The moment she mentioned the head maid's name so precisely, the soldier seemed to lose his suspicion.
He let out a sigh and jerked his chin.
"Good grief, you're noisy as hell. Fine. Go."
Talia immediately turned away.
But the moment she tried to walk, anxiety gripped her.
What if he noticed her unnatural gait?
Doing her utmost to appear normal, she began walking while secretly watching the soldier over her shoulder.
Fortunately, he had already lost interest in her and was busy inspecting the supply wagons.
Without missing the opportunity, Talia hurried her stiff legs down the sloping road.
Soon the broad road leading toward the walled city spread out before her, bordered by lush green fields.
After following the neatly maintained gravel road for some distance, she judged that Laedgo Castle was finally far enough behind her and turned south.
As she continued through the grass, a vast pasture where sheep and horses grazed came into view, along with a forest of brilliant white birch trees.
Perhaps because it was already late in the day, very few people were passing through.
Facing the damp breeze, she pushed through grass that reached her knees and continued onward.
Beyond the open plains, the gray sky seemed to draw ever closer.
The sun poured crimson light through swirling clouds as it slowly sank in the west.
In another hour or two...
...it would be completely dark.
Only then did fear truly seize her.
She had no idea where she would spend the night.
'...Should I head toward a village first?'
Perhaps she might be able to spend the night in someone's barn.
She changed direction toward the pale silhouette of the city walls rising beyond the hill.
Her plan was to find somewhere to stay in the small settlement outside the city.
But before she could even reach it, darkness rapidly descended over everything.
Suppressing the anxiety rising within her, Talia dragged her heavy legs forward.
The pain in her hips and knees steadily worsened, slowing her pace with every step.
In the end, night fell before she could even reach the city walls.
Feeling her breathing become increasingly labored, she desperately searched for any sign of light.
In the distance, she could just make out soldiers carrying torches as they patrolled.
Following that faint light with a limp, she eventually noticed a small vegetable garden and what appeared to be a shed built for storing farming tools.
Talia staggered toward it.
If she didn't lie down somewhere immediately, she felt certain she would collapse where she stood.
Feeling her way through the dark interior in search of somewhere she could rest, she discovered a pile of straw stacked in one corner.
She crawled over to it and collapsed.
The dry hay reeked of stale dust, but at that moment she couldn't have cared less.
Curled up tightly in a place that might very well be crawling with rats and insects, Talia stared at the pitch-black ceiling as she struggled to catch her breath.