Chapter 114: ¹¹⁴Heading To The Capital
A thin morning mist blanketed Valen Village. On the eastern horizon, the sun remained hidden behind the jagged, rocky hills.
However, the Valen estate had been pulsing with activity since dawn. The biting chill of late winter mingled with the scent of damp earth and the woodsmoke billowing from Berta’s kitchen.
In the gravel courtyard, the Valen family carriage stood firmly.
The carriage was undoubtedly old. Its black paint was fading at the edges, and the woodwork was a far cry from the luxurious carriages favored by the central nobility.
But this morning, the carriage looked impeccably maintained. The wheel bearings had been reinforced with gleaming new iron plating. The two muscular black horses hitched to the front snorted white clouds of steam, stomping their hooves impatiently.
Asrof paced around the carriage with the rigid posture of a military veteran. His old butler’s suit was immaculately neat. His rough yet deft hands inspected every wheel joint and leather rein.
He would not tolerate a single technical failure today.
Click. The main door of the wooden manor swung open. The heavy, rhythmic thud of boots echoed out.
Ethan Valen stepped out, piercing through the thin mist. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt and tunic, paired with a dark, calf-length coat.
By his side, Elara walked slowly. Her pale left hand gripped her brother’s sleeve tightly.
"Brother, you really ate, right?" Elara probed anxiously, her white-clouded eyes staring straight ahead. "Don’t lie to me just so you can leave sooner."
Ethan stopped in his tracks. His right hand reached up, stroking the top of his sister’s head with a gentleness that sharply contrasted with his usual ruthless demeanor.
"I never lie to you, El," Ethan replied softly yet firmly. "I’ve already eaten."
From the porch, the sound of light footsteps approached. Kaelia von Ashford descended to join them.
The southern noble girl looked striking. Her fiery red hair was tied back neatly, creating a sharp contrast with the dark red, gold-embroidered travel tunic she wore.
The moment her eyes landed on the wooden carriage before her, Kaelia grimaced slightly. However, the memory of Ethan’s reprimand last night forced her to swallow her protests. She pressed her lips tightly together.
Near the horses, Valera Voss was already on standby.
The female knight looked feral yet utterly professional in her black leather armor. Her massive Zweihander was strapped diagonally across her back.
"Everything is ready, My Lord," Valera reported, bowing her head slightly. "The horses are in peak condition."
Asrof stepped closer, bowing deeply. "Young Master, please allow me to take the driver’s seat. It is my absolute duty to ensure you arrive at the Capital safely."
Ethan stared at the old butler with a flat expression. "You are staying here, Asrof."
Asrof’s eyes widened slightly. "But, Young Master... the Capital is not a welcoming place. I cannot let—"
"Guarding Valen and protecting Elara is a far more important duty than holding a pair of reins," Ethan cut in with absolute finality.
His tone left absolutely no room for negotiation. "Make sure not a single shadow touches this house while I am gone. Do you understand?"
Asrof swallowed hard, puffing out his chest in total submission. "I will stake my life on this duty, Young Master."
Ethan’s dark brown eyes shifted to Valera. "Valera. You’re driving."
A faint, confident smirk instantly bloomed on Valera’s lips. She lightly pounded her left chest. "As you command, My Lord. This carriage will plow through anything that blocks our path."
Ethan nodded. He turned back to his sister.
Elara stood accompanied by Miya Evarett, who meticulously adjusted the shawl around the blind girl’s shoulders. On the porch, Yuna and Berta stood, burying their anxiety. Meanwhile, at the threshold, Lilith leaned casually against the frame, watching with her mysterious golden-red eyes.
"Brother Ethan..." Elara called out, her voice beginning to tremble. Her small hands reached out into the empty air.
Ethan caught those tiny hands.
"Promise me you will come home," Elara whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Ethan leaned down, his lips hovering near the fragile girl’s ear. "I promise, Elara. I will come home for you."
Ethan gently kissed his sister’s forehead. Elara’s tears finally fell alongside a faint smile. "I will wait under the oak tree... every single afternoon."
Ethan let go of her hands, pivoting his body as his dark coat flared elegantly. Kaelia, who had been completely silent all this time, quickly followed him up into the carriage.
Thud. The carriage door slammed shut.
Valera vaulted into the driver’s seat nimbly. She grabbed the leather reins, her eyes locked on the foggy road ahead.
"Hyah!" Valera shouted.
The wooden wheels began to creak. Slowly, the carriage rolled out of the Valen estate, setting off toward the heart of the kingdom’s power, accompanied by Elara’s waving hand and Yuna’s stifled sobs.
The muddy country roads caused the carriage to jolt erratically.
Inside the cramped cabin, a thick, suffocating awkwardness hung in the air.
Kaelia sat on the left side, leaning near the window. Her hands were tightly intertwined in her lap. She was accustomed to the magical suspension of Ashford carriages, which felt as soft as clouds. This rough, wooden jolting was torturing her back.
Clatter.
"Ugh..." Kaelia groaned softly as a wheel hit a pothole, her face contorting to endure the soreness.
In the opposite seat, Ethan leaned back calmly. His arms were folded across his chest, his eyes half-closed. The harsh jolts seemed entirely nonexistent in his world.
Kaelia shifted her gaze out the window. The monotonous scenery of barren hills and pine trees allowed boredom to gnaw at her.
"Are we... really not going to stop until we hit the border?" Kaelia asked, breaking the silence with a wary tone.
Ethan’s eyes remained closed. "We only stop if the horses need water. Otherwise, we push through."
Kaelia pursed her lips, leaning her head back again. But a few minutes later, the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. The atmosphere inside the cabin drastically plummeted.
She turned her head. Her heart pounded violently as she realized Ethan had opened his eyes and was staring straight at her.
His gaze was dark, piercing—exactly like a predator weighing its prey.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that?" Kaelia asked defensively, trying to prop up her arrogant posture.
Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I was just thinking about your position and your attitude, Kaelia."
"My attitude? What’s wrong with it?"
"Your blatantly condescending attitude in front of my servants yesterday," Ethan stated casually, yet the pressure in his words made it hard for Kaelia to breathe. "You can drag your Ashford pride around all you want, but in my territory, you need to know your place."
Kaelia opened her mouth to argue, but Ethan simply raised a single finger, silencing her instantly.
"Come here," Ethan commanded in a low voice, almost a whisper.
Kaelia stiffened. She shot a panicked glance at the thin wooden wall behind Ethan. "W-What do you mean? Valera is right outside, she can hear—"
"Valera isn’t a child. She knows exactly when to shut her ears," Ethan cut her off with absolute authority. "I said, come here."
There was something in Ethan’s intonation that hijacked the control over Kaelia’s body. Her pride screamed in defiance, yet her legs moved on their own. With her face flushed beet-red, Kaelia slid over and knelt on the carriage floor, right between Ethan’s legs.
Without warning, Ethan’s large hands gripped her waist, hauling the girl up until she was straddling his lap.
Kaelia gasped. Her breath hitched as she felt the broad expanse of Ethan’s chest. The man’s left hand slid up, gripping her jaw firmly, forcing her to look up at him.
"You need a reminder of who exactly you are right now, Queen of Fire," Ethan whispered, the distance between their lips practically nonexistent.
The kiss landed. Slow, calculated, and overwhelmingly dominant. Ethan claimed Kaelia’s lips, forcing the girl to surrender completely to his invasion.
"Ngh..." Kaelia let out a muffled whimper. Her hands unconsciously grabbed and crumpled Ethan’s shirt collar.
Kaelia’s world narrowed. Ethan’s right hand began its assault, slipping beneath her dark red tunic and slowly pushing the fabric up. His fingers traced the cold skin of her shoulder, then trailed down to her lower abdomen.
Right there, the pitch-black fire rose—the Lust Brand—resided.
The moment Ethan’s thumb brushed against the magical seal, a jolt of pure energy exploded through Kaelia’s nervous system.
The girl’s back arched reflexively. A long moan escaped her swollen lips. Her strength evaporated entirely as her body melted into Ethan’s embrace. Her eyes welled with tears as she endured the intoxicating sensation.
Outside the carriage, separated only by thin wooden boards, Valera Voss heard everything.
The female knight sat frozen in the driver’s seat. Her sharply mutated ears clearly caught the rustling of fabric and Kaelia’s whimpers.
Valera’s jaw locked. Her eyes narrowed sharply at the road ahead.
"Tch... bastard," Valera cursed through gritted teeth. Jealousy and the lingering remnants of her own suppressed lust made her blood boil. She gripped the leather reins so tightly that the veins on the back of her hands bulged wildly.
Inside, Ethan’s teasing grew increasingly agonizing. He mercilessly toyed with the Lust Brand, crushing Kaelia’s ego until it shattered into pieces.
"Ssshh... s-slower... please..." Kaelia begged hoarsely, burying her flushed face into the crook of Ethan’s neck.
"Keep your voice down. You wouldn’t want Valera to hear you begging, would you?" Ethan whispered brutally into the girl’s ear.
Kaelia shook her head in sheer desperation. "You... you are a total demon..." she sobbed quietly, yet her arms paradoxically hugged Ethan’s chest even tighter.
When it was all over, Kaelia leaned back limply, her breathing heavy and her skin coated in cold sweat. Her trembling hands tried desperately to straighten out her disheveled tunic.
And Ethan? The man calmly leaned back, his clothes still flawlessly neat. His eyes stared out the window, looking as though he had merely just finished a casual cup of tea.
The sun was climbing high when the carriage finally stopped by the banks of a clear, small river.
Valera jumped down, stretching the stiff muscles in her neck. She was leading the horses to drink when her ears caught the creak of the carriage door opening.
Kaelia stepped out with a rather wobbly gait. Her face was still as red as a tomato. She kept her head down deeply, busy fixing her collar and actively avoiding eye contact.
Valera scoffed cynically. She leaned an elbow against the horse’s neck, eyeing Kaelia from the corner of her eye.
"Next time Lady Ashford wishes to practice her vocal scales, do let me know. I’ll be sure to stop the carriage first," Valera mocked ruthlessly.
Kaelia’s face instantly flared up. Her humiliation quickly morphed into defensive fury. She had just opened her mouth to retort when Ethan stepped down from the cabin.
Ethan’s movements were exceptionally laid-back. He walked over to the river, scooped up some water, and drank it as if Valera’s biting remark was nothing but a passing breeze.
"We ride again as soon as the horses finish drinking," Ethan stated flatly, wiping the water from his chin. He glanced between the two women. "Don’t waste your energy."
Kaelia swallowed her curses and hurried downstream to wash her face. Valera merely flashed a small, victorious smirk before returning to tend to the horses.
The journey resumed at a swift pace. Mile after mile was devoured by the wooden carriage wheels.
The dirt roads began to transition into wide, flat cobblestones. Merchant wagons passed by them more frequently. They were getting closer to the kingdom’s political center.
Up in the driver’s seat, Valera’s instincts suddenly rang violently. Her eyes scanned the surroundings like a predator on the hunt.
"My Lord," Valera called out through the wooden boards, her eyes glaring sharply ahead. "We’ll hit the main checkpoint in about a mile."
She shot a glance over her shoulder. "And there’s been a rider tailing us ever since we crossed that stone bridge."
Inside the cabin, Ethan’s dark eyes gleamed with cold calculation. He had already sensed the shift in the atmosphere; the scent of rural mud had been thoroughly replaced by the metallic stench of political intrigue.
"Let him be. Keep moving," Ethan ordered concisely.
Before long, the road carved through two small hills, and a fortified stone checkpoint came into view. Blue and gold banners fluttered arrogantly atop its towers.
However, instead of open gates, the road was completely blockaded.
Half a dozen knights in full plate armor stood forming a barricade. One of them—a commander draped in a blue cape—stepped forward and raised his hand pompously.
Valera clicked her tongue in annoyance. She pulled the reins hard, making the horses whinny as they skidded to a halt right in front of the commander. Simultaneously, the rider who had been tailing them closed in from behind, completely sealing off any escape route.
"An uncrested carriage! Halt and present your travel permits!" the commander shouted loudly. His eyes stared contemptuously at the rotting wooden carriage of the Valen family.
Valera stood up, her hand casually resting on the hilt of her massive Zweihander. "This is a noble’s carriage. You’d best step aside before you lose something important... like your head."
The commander sneered mockingly, drawing his sword halfway from its scabbard. "Noble? This rotting piece of wood? We know a small envoy is arriving from the Valen borders. None of you are passing through until we inspect—"
Clack.
The carriage door opened slowly. All eyes snapped toward it.
A black boot stepped onto the cobblestone ground. Ethan Valen descended, his dark coat billowing in the harsh border wind.
He walked right past Valera, stopping directly in front of the commander, who suddenly found it incredibly difficult to breathe under the crushing weight of an invisible Sin Mana pressure. Ethan’s dark brown eyes stared dead ahead like the grim reaper himself.
"My name is Ethan Valen," he stated calmly, yet his voice resonated with absolute authority. "And you people... are blocking my path."