Isadora made her way towards where the carriage was waiting. King Griffin was already inside the carriage and she knew she was the one to keep them waiting. Several knights had been selected to escort them, some on horseback while others were on foot. She could tell that these were their kingdom’s finest batch of knights, those who had something special. By special, it meant that they weren’t normal humans.

She lifted the hem of her dress and found Laura waiting outside the carriage. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"All your things have been packed in the carriage Your Highness." She informed.

"Thank you Laura." Isadora offered her a smile and turned to board the carriage.

"Safe journey princess," said Laura and Isadora smiled again before she disappeared in the carriage. A knight closed the carriage’s door before Laura let out a sigh. ’Hope she’ll be fine.’ Laura thought.

"What took you so long?" King Griffin asked once Isadora stepped in the carriage. He was wearing glasses as he read a book about war and politics.

"I came across Lord Newton and he told me everything." She said making him to look up from his book. "Why did you demote him?" She finally asked. The coachman pulled the reins and the carriage started moving.

"Lord Newton’s purpose was to train you and Gareth. Now that you’ve grown up, there’s no need for putting him in that position. In fact, I gave him a favor by making him my informer. I did that because I knew you would be angry if I fired him and kicked him out of the palace." He explained and watched her reaction. Isadora just nodded faintly.

After that conversation, Isadora didn’t bother to ask another question, nor King Griffin who was immersed in his book. The carriage swayed from side to side almost throwing Isadora off but she would be quick to regain her composure before flashing a quick smile at Griffin, who would have a displeased look on his face. The terrain from Crescia to Valoria was rough and unused for god knows how long. It had even grown bushy now that the two kingdoms ceased to trade.

Her thoughts drifted to the Valorian palace and what waited her ahead. She felt like a goat walking willingly to the butcher right now. And for once, she doubted if King Griffin knew about the situation she had caused in Valoria. But she was sure he didn’t. Otherwise, he would have scolded her for helping the enemy.

Her gaze shifted to the bottle that she was holding in her hands. This was what she was planning to give Alexander once she got back to the palace. She couldn’t just let her efforts go into waste.

"The poison that was applied on the dagger..." She said catching Griffin’s attention. He seemed annoyed by it but Isa did not give up. "How long does it take to kill someone?"

"For humans, hours if not minutes. And for people like us, it might take days. And if you are strong enough, you can make it out alive. But I doubt anyone without the royal blood running in their veins can make it." He said and eyed Isa curiously before asking," Why do you ask?"

Isadora was caught off guard by his question but she was quick to mask her expression with a staged smile.

"I was just curious. Wanted to know if I would have made it had you not come to my rescue." She said calmly. Griffin eyed her before his gaze returned on the book in his hand.

"Next time, you should be careful. Use it for the right purpose." Griffin said and he didn’t bother to look up again. Or rather, he didn’t expect a reply from Isadora.

Isadora was stunned by the new information that she got. Alexander was human, and yet, he had managed to be alive after so many hours. Was that even possible? She had felt that something was different with Alexander but it didn’t have to do with the fact that he was still alive. Or maybe it had. Whatever that was, it was what was keeping Alexander alive. That was what she thought. Or could it have to do with something about Alexander being Crescian?

Isadora shook her head in denial at that. That was not even close to possible. Both his parents were Valorian, so that was a big no. But what then? Maybe you should stop stressing yourself Isadora, she thought. Silently releasing a sigh of relief, Isadora focused on the journey for now. The rest would come later.

The journey from Crescia to Valoria usually took about three hours when the road was fine, but now that it was rough, they had already spent five hours and they were still not close to Valoria. The sun had risen high in the sky and the scorching heat was burning on the knights’ skins. But these were the elites. They had gone through worse than hell. For one to be chosen in this group, one had to pass many rigorous exercises and trainings. Isadora herself had gone through that also.

Griffin had now placed his book on the side as the road had grown more cumbersome making it hard for him to read.

"Goddamnit!" He cursed. "I wish we could have just teleported. How do humans survive with these carriages?" He cursed again.

"You know that would raise some brows your highness." Said Isadora as she gulped some water from her leather container.

"So, what’s your plan?" Griffin asked nonchalantly.

"I will branch from the main group once we reach at Valoria. I can continue on foot for the rest of the journey." She said. That was in fact what she had in mind. Maybe it was wise to go that way. Coming from a royal carriage of an enemy kingdom would raise some brows. And she needed some privacy to change into the maiden attire too.

The first thing Isadora had in mind once she laid foot in Valoria was to seek Lord Richard first. But what exactly would she tell him? Right! She would tell him that she had the antidote. Yes. That would probably elevate his mood and he might forget that she had escaped, she thought.

"Good plan for a smart brain," Griffin commented as he removed the glasses. They were huge and could magnify the words in large size. Isadora had used them once and she had to admit that it was somehow fun.

She rested her head on the carriage before she heard the coachman announce that they were close to Valoria. Relief washed over her face and she had to admit being in a carriage was not fun at all. She had used it a handful of times and the experience seemed to worsen with each trial.

"I guess I’ll stop here then," she said, facing Griffin. He nodded before he informed the coachman to halt.