A King is Born on the Road

As the two climbed into the carriage, about five of Hayer’s men guarded the carriage.

From October to March is the most rainy season for Luwan. As a result, even while the carriage was moving, it would rain constantly, causing the carriage to stop.

After escaping the mud and having it run again, the wheels were stuck in place and stopped repeatedly.

On top of that, the two decided not to go out and slept in the carriage because there was no right way to put up a tent in this empty field.

Iris tried to stay awake for as long as possible, but Hayer threw his head back and fell asleep as soon as he found out that they were to spend the night in the carriage.

Iris looked at Hayer’s face, who was fast asleep. It was surprising that he fell asleep like that to the loud sound of rain.

She was a little scared because it was raining too much. When she looked out the window through the curtain, her vision was completely blocked and she couldn’t see an inch ahead.

Only the sound of rain knocking on the ceiling filled the carriage. Iris began to feel anxious that the carriage might be flooded at this rate.

Hayer, who had just woken from his slumber, spoke to Iris, who was looking out the window.

“Iris.”

“Yes.”

Iris was delighted that he was awake. She hated being awake alone and feeling anxious.

Hayer continued.

“When you get to the capital, you’ll need an answer as to why you ran away to the Knights of Tejas with me.”

“Answer… that’s true too.”

“What would you like to do? The escape of love, or the one where you were forced to be drawn to me?”

“The latter makes you a bad person. Of course I’ll go with the former.”

Hayer smiled at Iris’s choice, which felt so resolute and even cold. Then he got up and moved to Iris’s side.

Iris looked at Hayer in surprise.

“What– what are you doing?”

Then, Hayer said in a rather serious tone.

“Iris, you didn’t just run away for love. You ran away while abandoning the position of queen. Then shouldn’t it be somewhat persuasive?”

Iris understood what Hayer was saying. But there was something wrong.

His face already had enough persuasive power to convince a woman to abandon her throne and choose to flee for love.

Iris said.

“What are you trying to do?”

“The people of Luwan are rough. If they don’t like it, they’ll pick you out loudly. But on the other hand, if there’s a story they like, they’ll be on your side.”

“……”

“It would be better to make up a story. Something sweet.”

“…I was only in a convent. I don’t know anything. Tell me.”

“Do you know me? I’ve lived my whole life watching dark knights or monsters.”

Hayer grumbled, and he grabbed Iris by the wrist without hesitation. And when he locked their fingers together, Iris blinked at Hayer in bewilderment.

Hayer, who briefly watched her long eyelashes move, said.

“We have to hold hands to deceive.”

“…We can just pretend.”

“If we hold hands for the first time in front of Sid later, it will look very awkward.”

It was like that.

Reluctantly, Iris clasped her hand with Hayer’s, and put it on her thigh.

Even though the back of Hayer’s hand was facing the ground, the heat strangely rose from her fingertips to her cheeks.

Hayer said, holding her hand.

“If we’re a couple, we shouldn’t feel awkward looking at each other.”

“We’re not awkward, are we?”

Was it awkward? She thought they had gotten close.

Iris was slightly hurt and looked at Hayer.

He was already looking at her, and their eyes met. Oddly enough, she felt more ashamed to face him than to hold his hand.

“Don’t love me.”

Iris remembered Hayer’s voice that remained in her mind.

She averted her gaze before long.

“…I can’t look.”

“You said it wasn’t awkward?”

“Still…”

She couldn’t think of a reason why she shouldn’t love him, no matter how much she thought about it.

No, she came up with one that she could easily think of. He may have felt unable to love her forever. Maybe that’s why he told her to give up before she got hurt.

He is an altruistic man, but love is not at his disposal. Rather, he might have refused in advance because he was altruistic.

Those bright orange eyes left scars every time they touched her heart.

“Is it because we’re holding hands?”

Hayer seemed to be looking for a reason why she avoided his gaze and was melancholic.

He slowly let go of her hand and said, brushing Iris’s hair that had slipped down.

“If you’re not that good at acting, let’s just say you were forcibly dragged.”

Meanwhile, Iris, who wasn’t prepared for Hayer’s joke, burst into laughter without realizing it. Then she hit Hayer’s arm with her fist so that it didn’t hurt.

Hayer pretended to be hurt and said.

“Everyone would hate me terribly if they found out that I cut down the sacred tree. If you’re worried that I’m going to be a bad person, you don’t have to consider that part.”

“If you say that, it bothers me more.”

“I said that to bother you on purpose.”

Iris let Hayer go at his words.

While they were talking, a subordinate outside knocked on the window and said.

“Captain, the water is slowly rising. I think you should give up the carriage and ride a horse.”

“Oh no.”

Hayer clicked his tongue. The rest of the party was trained to the extent that it didn’t matter if it rained or snowed, but Iris wasn’t.

Hayer said as took off his jacket and handed it to Iris.

“Wear it.”

“And you?”

“This kind of weather is fine. You’re the problem. You can catch a cold, but would you mind not getting a worse disease?”

“I won’t get sick.”

“Will you?”

Hayer said, fastening the buttons on his jacket that Iris wore.

After a moment, two people got out of the carriage. Hayer put Iris on the horse first, and then he got on as well.

* * *

It was a night with nothing in sight. They were running aimlessly with a compass, but it was difficult to grasp the terrain.

Fortunately, Iris showed them the way, and they arrived at the farmhouse in the Hall family estate before sunrise.

They managed to escape the rain by entering the warehouse where farming tools were stored. Everything was wet, and there was no fire.

The subordinates who entered the warehouse together said.

“If it weren’t for the princess, we would have wandered through the field until the sun rose!”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Iris smiled with difficulty and nodded as the subordinates said each word.

Hayer glanced at Iris, whose lips turned blue from the cold, and told his men.

“The princess needs to rest, so put up a tent for her.”

“Yes, Captain.”

While his men pitched tents at the order, Hayer headed to the farmhouse that had lent the warehouse. And asked politely.

“Could I borrow a pair of dry clothes?”

For an average peasant, an average knight was a fearful creature. It was because at some point, they could get offended and stab without stopping.

Fortunately, Hayer was charming, optimistic, and even had a boyish vibe, so the peasant couple who opened the door was not too wary.

“Oh, I don’t think there will be clothes that big…”

The husband of the couple checked Hayer’s height and said.

It seemed that it would not be enough to put the clothes of both the couple together to make clothes suitable for a man who was taller and bigger than the door.

Hayer shook his head and said.

“There is a woman in the party, so we’re going to borrow her clothes.”

Hayer looked inside the house, hoping Iris could sleep in there.

However, the farmhouse was built of logs and had no separate rooms. There was no fireplace, and there were children, which made the warehouse look better.

‘This is a serious problem.’

Hayer sighed quietly, unnoticeable.

afterword

wow happy 40 chapters! am i like 60 chapters ahead? yes but it doesn’t matter!! i loved this chaper when i first read it lol i got so giddy at the eye contact and hand holding btw since i can’t keep it to myself anymore their first night starts on chapter 94 hehehhehehahshs hayer is so down bad for iris