When she finally forced them open, the empty interior of the carriage filled her vision.
Blinking blankly, Talia suddenly jolted upright.
Terrified, she frantically searched for Varkas with her eyes.
Then rough voices mixed with the clinking of metal sounded outside.
“What are you planning to do about Her Highness the First Imperial Princess?”
Talia stiffened and pressed herself against the window.
Beyond the rain-speckled glass, the evening sky had already cleared.
Beneath that reddish sky stood a massive stone building of rough design and around fifteen men.
Finding Varkas among them wasn't difficult.
Standing with the sunset at his back, he replied dryly,
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“Do you truly intend to abandon her like this...”
“What a strange thing to say.”
A sharp scoff split the damp air.
“Wasn't our engagement established from the beginning to keep the Empress in check?”
“......”
“There are methods other than marriage to protect the two of them.”
“The meaning of that is...”
Confusion entered the man's voice.
But Varkas showed no intention of elaborating.
As though irritated, he cut the knight off.
“Am I in a position where I must answer your interrogation?”
“M-My apologies. I overstepped my place.”
The man hurriedly bowed his head.
Looking down at him with cold eyes, Varkas spoke indifferently.
“Nothing changes. Continue monitoring the Empress's movements as you always have. And if His Highness the Crown Prince appears likely to do something reckless, report it to me immediately.”
“Understood.”
As though that concluded the conversation, Varkas turned around.
Talia hurriedly lay back down on the seat.
But before she could even pull the cloak over herself and pretend to sleep, the carriage door opened and Varkas appeared.
Talia stared up at him with frozen eyes.