Chapter 11
Harry and Finn returned to the third-class carriage before the evening meal began.
I stepped out of my cabin and followed them as far as the entrance to first class to see them off.
“Thank you so much for today. I hope we meet again soon.”
“Let’s play together again next time, Princess!”
“Yes, see you soon, Finn. Take care, Harry.”
I stood still, quietly watching the brothers disappear down the corridor hand in hand.
I felt a deep sense of satisfaction, believing I had gifted Finn a day filled with fond memories.
At the very least, Harry’s impression of me must have improved significantly. If I could maintain that goodwill, perhaps I could avoid an ending where he despised me.
“Since it’s nearly time for dinner, would you like to head straight to the dining car, my lady?”
“Go and eat with Deon. I’ll return to the cabin first.”
“Oh, I see. Understood. Then please wait in your cabin while we dine!”
Smiling at Sophie, I gave her a slight nod and returned to my cabin.
By then, darkness had already settled beyond the window.
I sat at the table, gazing out into the night.
The Ramier Express now sped away from the Randa Sea, cutting through landscapes of mountains and open fields.
To be honest, I had hesitated before embarking on this journey.
In this world, my days were numbered, and though I had steeled myself, my parents had been reluctant to let their frail daughter travel.
Still…
Today, I felt no regret about coming.
The incident at Risman Harbor, caring for Finn, and the portrait Harry had drawn of me—these were moments I would never forget.
By morning, we would likely arrive at a new station. I found myself anticipating what awaited me in the journeys ahead.
Though I was tired, the night was too full of memories to drift easily into sleep.
I sipped a warm cup of tea late into the night, lost in thought as I stared out the window, until I finally slipped into slumber.
And when I opened my eyes—
【Now arriving at Lata Station. Departure will be in ten hours.】
The train had reached the platform of a new destination.
“Good morning, my lady. Did you sleep well?”
At dawn, Sophie entered the cabin carrying a basin of fresh water.
I was already awake, seated by the window and watching the people bustling about the platform.
“It seems the train must have arrived at dawn. It was already still when I woke up.”
“Yes, I noticed the same. Perhaps they delayed the announcement since most passengers were asleep.”
Sophie set the basin down in front of me and added, “I asked the staff while collecting the water. The stopover time is counted from the moment the announcement is made.”
It was eight o’clock now, which meant the train would depart precisely at six in the evening.
“That means we can spend a little more time outside today.”
“Wonderful…!”
I answered energetically. At Risman Harbor, the short stopover and Derek’s sudden appearance had prevented me from enjoying the destination fully.
But now? What could possibly happen? I had already encountered two male leads.
My heart swelled with excitement at the thought of resuming my travels.
“Oh, by the way, they said the pickpocket was escorted away at dawn.”
“Really?”
“He’ll likely be sent back to his home country to stand trial.”
As it turned out, Derek had stolen from far more passengers than the lady whose purse we had witnessed him take. With numerous victims providing testimonies, Sophie assured me that sending him to prison would be a simple matter.
“That’s a relief,” I said with a smile. Good. Derek’s matter was now settled.
I turned my attention back to my true purpose: enjoying this journey.
“I’m eager to go out, Sophie. Let’s get ready quickly.”
I grinned brightly and began to wash my face.
A new adventure at our second destination was about to begin.
And thus—
“Ugh, I’m utterly exhausted.”
As part of this supposedly joyful excursion, I was now climbing a mountain.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a mountain, but stairs—endless, unrelenting stairs.
“These stairs… are you kidding me?”
I gazed up at the steep flight before me and spoke in a voice heavy with despair.
Moments ago, I had been brimming with excitement for this destination.
How had things come to this…?
Lata was most famous for its temple.
The temple of Lamenta, the deity worshipped in the Kingdom of Lata, was said to be the largest and most magnificent in the world.
Thus, even those who did not worship Lamenta visited the temple as tourists, while many others came on religious pilgrimage.
The extended stopover of the train was partly to accommodate those who wished to make the journey.
I had been warned. The path was arduous and involved countless stairs—aptly named “The Stairs of Trial,” representing the hardships a pilgrim must endure to meet the god.
And yet, I had come all the way to Lata; how could I not see the temple?
“Perhaps this was a mistake. Ha…”
Buoyed by the mildness of my condition that morning, I had foolishly underestimated Irene’s frail body.
She was small, delicate, and terminally ill…
I should have simply strolled through the town instead of overreaching myself.
“My lady, are you all right?”
Seeing me drenched in sweat and struggling, Deon approached with concern.
I forced a smile, unable to retract my earlier determination to come.
“I… I’m fine. We should just take it slow.”
“Yes, let’s rest for a bit and drink some water,” Sophie added.
“Thank you…”
The three of us retreated to a small patch of shade nearby.
I eagerly gulped down the cool water Sophie handed me, soothing the heat that had built up under the blazing sun.
Ah, refreshing…
At that moment, a man passing by caught my eye.
He was dressed in a simple shirt, casual for a noble, but it was his striking silver hair that drew my gaze.
“…Your Highness the Prince?”
The words slipped from my mouth unbidden. The man turned sharply at the sound and looked directly at me.
It was indeed Albert.
Unlike my wan appearance, he was climbing the stairs with a composed expression, a sword at his hip and a single pack slung over his back, entirely alone.
“Irene?”
He changed course and strode toward me.
No, don’t come any closer.
“I greet Your Highness…”
“What are you doing here?”
He frowned as he regarded me resting in the shade.
“As you can see, the stairs are more exhausting than I anticipated, so I was simply taking a short break.”
“These are the Stairs of Trial. Resting midway defeats their purpose.”
“We’re not pilgrims; we’re just tourists. Must we follow the custom so strictly?”
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
…Excuse me?
That was a Korean proverb.
What was even more amusing was that there actually was a city called Rome in this world. It was one of the stops along the Ramier Express route.
How similar it was to the Rome I had dreamed of visiting in my past life, I could not say.
“Your Highness is traveling to learn the customs of various nations, so of course you should respect their traditions. But as for me, I am merely a tourist…”
“Enough. Follow me.”
He cut me off curtly and began climbing once more.
“Oh, honestly…”
Why was he so infuriating? He was supposed to be the dignified male lead of this novel, after all.
If not for this rigidly stratified society, I might have been tempted to flick his forehead in exasperation.
But adding another word would only earn me a scolding—or worse—so I chose to meekly follow.
“Let’s go together,” I said, signaling Sophie and Deon to come along as I trailed behind Albert up the stairs.
What a jerk.