Chapter 18: On the Road

“So? What’d you tell them?”

Ina sat in the carriage, gazing at the expanding scenery outside, curiosity getting the better of her as she questioned Cynthia.

“Just a small deal, good for everyone.”

Cynthia tucked her head deeper into her cloak, lounging against the carriage corner, her tone casual.
“I noticed Tara’s transport is a hassle, so I asked the uncle to expand the post station. Those bandits under Okolis, who can’t afford city homes, get real jobs. Two birds, one stone.”

“Where’s the money coming from?”

“Mayor Pop’s footing the bill.”

Cynthia patted the purse at her waist with a smug grin.
She didn’t spill the full details, but gave Ina the gist.

Building a post station was no small feat, requiring at least the local lord’s approval.

Instead of meeting the lord herself, Cynthia had dashed back to Tara, drafted a document with proof of her identity, and handed it to Pop, tasking him with the errand.

Pop hadn’t returned yet, but Cynthia was certain it’d work.
In the Karmoz Empire, even if the lord had to pay out of pocket, it’d get done.

In other nations, lords might haggle for benefits, but not here.
The Karmoz Empire, a subhuman realm, revolved around vampires—strength and blood were its core.

And Cynthia, as a Blood Princess, held sway.

For vampire nobles, the royal family’s word was absolute, to be obeyed at all costs.
Their power stemmed from the royal bloodline.

In this empire, only the reigning emperor held higher authority.

Sometimes, her status was very useful.

Ina, of course, knew none of this.
She only knew Cynthia had struck a deal and scored some coin.

Beyond that, she was clueless.

“Ugh… Okolis said they were adventurers from Barlia. Wonder if our trip’ll go smoothly.”

“It’ll go fine.”

Ina’s idea of success—avoiding old Church contacts and saving her branch—differed starkly from Cynthia’s plan to dismantle the Church.

As if catching their conversation, the coachman glanced back.
“You ladies traveling from Karmoz to Barlia for business?”

“Hm? Sort of.”

“Trade between Karmoz and the outside’s rare. Most passengers are Barlia merchants. Been ages since I had real Imperial folks.”

Maybe it was a coachman’s chatterbox nature or sheer boredom, but he kept talking.
“Barlia passengers have dropped lately, though. No clue what those merchants are thinking—some regulars quit trading with the Empire.”

“They dodge the topic when Karmoz comes up. Something’s off.”

“Since you’re from the Empire, you must know something, right?”

“Uh… we don’t, really.”

With Cynthia silent in her corner, Ina had to field the question.

What did she know? She hailed from the Borus Empire, far south.
A human like her knew zilch about a subhuman realm like Karmoz.

She’d fled to Karmoz’s borders in a panic to avoid being dragged back to work!

If the locals weren’t concerned, it couldn’t be a big deal.

“Oh, so something’s up in Barlia then? Shame a guy like me in a backwater village hasn’t heard much.”

The coachman sighed, urging the horses faster.
“Some Holy Church folks came to town recently, spreading propaganda. I was working, so I didn’t go.”

Holy Church… propaganda?

“You sure it’s propaganda, not preaching?”

“No church here, so no preaching.”

The coachman answered without hesitation.
“My family said some folks showed up, talking about evil and purification.”

“Not sure if that’s preaching. I’m just a driver.”

His words stirred Ina’s thoughts.
The Holy Slaughter Canon assassin and Father Damus in Tara had said similar things.

Was there a connection?

The Borus and Barlia branch churches were separate, answering only to their rulers and the higher Holy Church.

As Borus’s Saint, Ina had no insight into Barlia’s plans.

Years ago, she’d visited Barlia for an exchange.
Back then, it didn’t strike her as a hotbed of radical ideas.

What changed to spawn zealots like this?

And what was the Holy Slaughter Canon?

Questions piled up, giving Ina a headache.

She glanced at Cynthia, who’d closed her eyes at some point, seemingly asleep.

“How do you just sleep like that…”

Ina rubbed her forehead, exasperated, but Cynthia’s delicate sleeping face drew her in.

Ignoring her odd behavior and blunt thoughts, Cynthia was adorable—petite, like a dressed-up doll.

Staring too long, Ina yawned, sleepiness creeping in.

A bold idea sparked.

“Hehe~ Ready-made pillow~”

With a sly grin, Ina scooted closer, gently leaning against Cynthia.
The girl’s faint, sweet scent filled her senses, almost intoxicating.

Smells so good… How’s she still fragrant after all that wilderness?

With that thought, Ina drifted into a deep sleep.

What’s with this girl?

Cynthia cracked an eye open, glancing at Ina nestled against her.

She’d only been resting her eyes—how’d Ina end up so close?

Now she didn’t dare move, afraid of waking her.

Despite her time as a vampire, Cynthia’s only close contact had been with Alicia and her maids—never another girl like this.

In her past life, she had no such experience either.

Urgent! How do I handle this?!