Theresia's uncle, the commander of this rescue operation, simply asked a few routine questions before deciding to let the group depart.
However, as he watched the dragon carriage gradually pull away, he felt a deep sense of frustration.
Naturally, he had noticed how overcrowded the carriage was.
It wasn't just that it looked packed; judging by his niece's strained expression, the air inside must have been stiflingly hot and uncomfortable. Otherwise, a girl of her composure wouldn't have made such a face.
Yet, even under these circumstances, Theresia had refused his offer. She had adamantly rejected his decision to provide them with a second dragon carriage.
He had already assured her that sparing one extra carriage would not affect the mission's logistics.
'What a sensible child,' he thought, his heart aching.
"Indeed."
He responded to his friend's sigh beside him.
But it was precisely this sensibility—this personality of proactively putting others before herself and refusing to trouble anyone—that pained him the most.
Why did the Divine Protection of the Sword Saint have to transfer to such a gentle soul?
Especially at a time like this. For a girl like her, this burden was excessive. It was cruel.
"What's wrong? You seem very troubled."
"Nothing," he shook his head, pushing the thoughts away. "Let's continue with our mission. After all, once this is completed, we still need to rush to the front lines to support the battlefield."
Not wanting to dwell on it, he urged his ground dragon forward, speeding up to head toward the vanguard of the convoy.
He cast one last, deep look at the white-haired man who led the rescue team, and then turned his head to watch the departing carriage one final time.
He couldn't help but shake his head again.
He knew about Theresia's personal struggles, and he held no negative judgment toward the girl herself.
But the problem remained...
He truly hoped that Theresia could shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the Sword Saint. He hoped she could fight for this country and protect its people.
Especially now, when for some unknown reason, the Divine Dragon Volcanica had been slow to appear...
Time seemed to stretch endlessly.
Eventually, the carriage entered the outer range of the Royal Capital.
Inside the crowded cabin, Regulus's worries finally subsided.
The detection range of his "Little King" Authority, though not yet vast enough to cover the massive Royal Capital in its entirety, could already sense the familiar signatures of Lycoris and Ine.
Nothing was wrong.
This meant that the Lust Bishop, Capella, had not circled back to launch a surprise attack on the Capital as he had feared.
However, while Regulus relaxed, the girls sharing the carriage with him were not faring nearly as well.
To them, this short journey felt as if time had been tortured and stretched into an eternity. The atmosphere was thick, heavy, and suffocating.
Especially for Carol and Theresia.
The moment they crossed the threshold into the city, Theresia spoke up abruptly.
"Old man, that's enough. Please find a deserted place to let us off."
"A deserted place?" The coachman asked, confused.
"Yes. Immediately, please."
"Alright, young lady. Please wait a moment."
The old coachman couldn't understand why these nobles needed a deserted alleyway instead of the main street, but he wasn't one to refuse a passenger's request.
As for whether he would be in danger by stopping in a quiet spot... he truly wasn't worried.
The people he was carrying were all young ladies of wealth and status, and there was even a fully armed Knight among them. Instead of worrying about his own safety, it was more practical to think about what he would buy for dinner with his earnings.
A few minutes later, the carriage slowed near a quiet side street.
"Young lady, we've arrived—"
The old coachman's voice hadn't even finished falling before the door swung open.
Without waiting for the carriage to come to a complete halt, Theresia jumped out from the back.
She couldn't stay in that box for a second longer. The air inside was thick with a peculiar, musky smell—the scent of sweat and sin—that made her flush with unbearable shame.
She landed gracefully and immediately turned to look behind her.
Carol, who had chosen to follow her Lady, was attempting to jump out as well.
"Ugh~"
A careful, stifled whimper escaped the blonde knight's throat.
As her boots touched the ground, Carol's legs gave out. She lost her balance, her knees buckling as if they had been turned to jelly.
Theresia instinctively reached out to catch her.
"Carol!"
She caught her. Her arms wrapped firmly around the knight's waist to support her.
But the moment Theresia caught Carol, her entire body froze.
Through the fabric of the uniform... she felt something under her hand.
It was damp. It was hot. And the knight's body was trembling violently against her own.
"Are you alright?"
Regulus's calm, satisfied voice came from the carriage door. He looked down at the two girls who had fled his presence.
Theresia looked up at the white-haired man. Her face was flushed a deep, complex shade of red—a mix of embarrassment, anger, and helplessness.
She didn't say a word. She merely shook her head slightly.
The next moment, she shifted her grip.
Holding the weak, trembling Carol in a princess carry, Theresia lowered her body slightly, channeling mana into her legs.
She jumped.
She landed on the eaves of a house by the alley, her movements silent and swift. After a brief pause, she continued with several more jumps, disappearing into the dark night sky like a fleeing shadow, taking the evidence of Carol's defilement with her.
Regulus, who had stepped out of the carriage to watch them leave, looked at the empty street with a faint smirk.
'It seems I played a little too much,' he thought, though there was no regret in his mind.
"Young lady? Sir?" The old coachman's voice trembled slightly.
He was worried that his parking spot was bad, causing the passengers to fall or run off. If that were the case, he might lose his fee—or worse, be forced to pay damages with his life savings.
"I'm here," Regulus responded, turning his attention to the driver.
He could sense the old man's anxiety clearly.
Regulus actually had a decent impression of this coachman. Although the old man hadn't said much, he was humble, and his grasp of the atmosphere was spot on. He knew when to shut up and drive.
Regulus walked around to the front of the carriage.
"Sir, do you have any instructions?"
"This is far enough," Regulus said casually. "Also, I'll take your dragon carriage."
"You... you mean..."
The old coachman couldn't immediately decipher the meaning of the words. For a terrifying moment, he thought his livelihood was being confiscated by a tyrant.
But the fear only lasted a second.
This man was a lord who traveled with dozens of beautiful wives; the possibility of him resorting to petty theft was lower than waking up tomorrow to find the Divine Dragon Volcanica sleeping in his stable.
"I'll take the carriage itself," Regulus clarified, waving his hand dismissively. "Unhook your best ground dragon—the one that pulls this cart. You can take all the other dragons with you. Consider them your payment for this trip."
"Eh!!?"
"What? Is that not enough?" Regulus narrowed his eyes slightly.
"No, no, no! It's enough! It's absolutely enough, but—!"
"Since it's enough, there's no need for useless chatter. Take your ground dragons and leave. It's getting late, and I dislike wasting time."
The old coachman stared at Regulus, his mouth agape.
Ground dragons were incredibly expensive. For ordinary people, owning even one was a luxury. To be given several of them as a "tip" for a single ride... it was unimaginable wealth.
He realized that the lord in front of him wasn't just rich. He existed in a realm where money held no meaning.
"I... this old man often waits near the Royal Capital's city gates!" the coachman stammered, bowing deeply. "If you ever need me again, just give a shout!"
Even though he knew very well that a being like Regulus would likely never need a humble driver again, he felt compelled to offer his loyalty.
....
.....
.....
Support my patreon and get early access to chapters
patreon.com/ImmortalDaoWriter