Chapter 578

Rafael's attention was constantly in demand. People constantly sought him out, leaving him little time alone with Carissa. Evenings offered no respite; Carissa shared a room with Violet, while he was stuck with the loudly snoring Dylan. Rafael’s weariness grew; Dylan's snoring was impossible to ignore. Repeatedly, Rafael kicked his bed in the middle of the night, but Dylan merely turned over and continued snoring. Rafael longed to return to the capital as soon as possible.

As the group approached Eastridge, they encountered an overturned carriage blocking the main road. While riders could pass, Lawrence's carriage was obstructed.

Dylan rode ahead and found two people attempting to right the carriage. The horse lay nearby, apparently suffering from heatstroke. A woman in a pink dress, her face obscured by a hood, lay near the carriage. Her extremely narrow waist was visible, and her mud-stained clothes suggested she had fallen. Though messy, she appeared more pitiful than anything.

Dylan approached and asked, "What's the matter?"

A tall man replied, "Sorry for obstructing the road. The horse suffered heatstroke and fainted, causing the carriage to overturn."

Dylan dismounted to examine the situation. His battlefield experience made him particularly sensitive to the horses' plight. He checked them—both were dead.

"The horses are dead," Dylan informed the man.

The man sighed. "We're in a rush to return to the capital. What should we do now?"

He was clearly a guard, leading the way with one remaining horse; the other person appeared to be the driver.

"Who are you, and why are you going to the capital?" Dylan asked.

The man replied, "We're from the capital, escorting our mistress to Lanshire to visit family. Due to the extreme heat and the urgency of our return, we pushed the horses too hard." He wiped his sweat. "Do you have any water? My mistress is very thirsty."

The Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team remained silent. Their experience as scouts allowed them to quickly assess the situation. Although the young lady's face was veiled, her clothing, shoes, and jewelry suggested wealth or noble birth. Such a person was unlikely to travel with only a maid, a guard, and a driver from the capital to Lanshire, let alone choose such a scorching day to return. The death of both horses seemed suspicious.

Dylan also sensed something amiss but decided to observe. Hearing the man's request for water, Violet dismounted and approached the young lady with a leather water bag.

The maid reached for the bag, but the young lady quickly intervened, pushing the maid aside. She took the bag, thanking Violet profusely. "Thank you so much. I am incredibly thirsty."

Violet waited patiently for the young lady to finish. The young woman drank, returned the bag, and thanked Violet again.

Violet glanced at her and then at the maid before asking, "Would you like some too?"

The maid bowed. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'll manage with water from the nearby stream."

"Very well," Violet said, rejoining Carissa. She handed Carissa the water bag. "There's still some left. Do you want to drink?"

Carissa, looking uncertain, took the bag. She discovered a note hidden inside.

Riding to Rafael's side, with Violet screening them, Carissa opened the note:

[I am Carmen Kingsley, a combine’s daughter from Grand Princess Eleanor’s family. I request you to join us on our journey, Lady Carissa. I have a request.]