The Last Princess of the Kingdom of Verdant
3.
In front of the castle Serene had provided two horse carriages and the servants were seen busy tidying up their luggage. The servants and bodyguards were already waiting in front of their carriage.
"Hans and Vasco, please separate paths when it's outside Serene Castle. As much as possible do not stop and rest in the villages. The journey towards the Terra Empire could take around three days. Stop only at night and remove the trail every time it will go .... Anne, Fricsia, you have to sleep on the train at night. Please be careful and always be alert when anyone comes."
Duchess Voinn's message to Anne's bodyguard, Hans, and Fricsia's bodyguard, Vasco, before they set out.
"Okay, ma'am" replied the guards.
“See you ma! Anne will wait for mama to come.”
“Be careful on Anne and Fricsia roads, see you ...”
The duchess hugged her two children tightly before letting them off. Anne went with her nanny, her bodyguards, and her servants. Fricsia's entourage also followed leaving Serene Castle.
--
"Nanny when did Brother Verto get to Serene Castle?"
"Since the Duchess has already sent a message to hurry, it should be that Young Master Verto can reach tonight or tomorrow morning, miss."
"Means Anne's gonna meet mama in 4 days, all right ...."
"Yes, of course, miss." Nanny tried as much as she could to be relaxed, she did not want Anne to worry too much.
"Nanny, the Kingdom of Wart is the kingdom in the North of the Kingdom of Verdant, isn't it? May father and brother Louis be well ...."
"Miss take it easy, Duke Voinn is used to fighting. Looks like the capital attack was just done yesterday, there should have been a lot of people who have gone to take shelter."
“It looks like they have planned this attack so well that they can infiltrate the capital.”
Anne knew that although Verdant was not a strong country, Verdant could not be easily attacked. Moreover, they could directly attack the capital city in the middle of Verdant country. How did they get that far?
“I heard that the Kingdom of Wart is indeed in a period of crisis in recent years.” Nanny felt that this crisis was the reason why they were able to attack Verdant.
"Hm .... Is Kak Fricsia's train still visible, Nanny?" Anne tried to divert the conversation, she couldn't stop imagining what was going on in the capital, and it frightened her.
"It's not visible miss."
"Nanny, Anne is sleepy ...," said Anne after a brief silence.
"Here miss lies on nanny's lap."
--
"Miss, let's get up, miss has to eat first."
Nanny Polla wakes Anne from her sleep to eat before sunset, because when there is not enough lighting, Anne will not be able to see anything.
Duchess Voinn has ordered chefs to prepare provisions that are easy to carry and will last for several days. Although she could only eat simple meals during the trip, Anne did not complain.
Supplies prepared by the chef include several pieces of bread, boiled potatoes, steamed yam, cheese, beef jerky that has been mashed into a coarse powder, some spices, and various jams for bread. For Annette's dinner, Vena prepares boiled potatoes and cheese that has been mixed and mashed with herbs, then sprinkled with beef jerky powder. While the servants and guards only ate boiled potatoes.
"Nanny, Vena, Lyre, Kent and Hans Guards, let's go and have Anne eat."
"Well miss," replied Nanny softly. They all began to eat, except for Hans who was on guard.
"Vena, we still have a lot of cheese, don't we? Please bring me another few pieces."
Anne took the cheese and handed it to them all.
"Ah, we're okay, miss." Lyre tried to refuse Anne's gift.
"And this is for Hans later, hehe," Anne said as she finished distributing the cheese.
"Nonaa, until now I still do not believe in serving someone as good, as beautiful as an angel." Hans tried to melt the somber-looking atmosphere and started to make noise while disturbing Kent.
"Aaah, stop, I'm eating!"
"Nonaaa, Hans must be on guard ..., please bribe Hans ...."
"Geez, this kid has to be beaten up." Kent got up and started hitting Hans.
Bukk, bukk, bukk, Plaque!
"Aaahh, ah, KENT, YOU SERIOUSLY HIT ME!! Iiihih!" Hans started hitting Kent softly, although it was clear Hans would win with his enormous body.
"Just calm Nanny, I'm always careful." Hans blinked one eye tempting Nanny.
After taking turns with Kent, Hans rushes to eat, having to move on immediately.
“If it's done let's quickly leave, everything is ready.”
“Iyaa a minute, Kent. My stomach is still digesting!”
“Later you also just sit holding the reins.”
“Sana check the surrounding area first, we leave when you return.”
“Good mistress.” Kent bends Hans's teasing and leaves.
--
Along the way Anne was cool to listen seriously to the stories of Nanny, sometimes Anne also sang lightly. The night was getting late, only the sound of crickets and frogs coming from the streets around, when Vena started talking to Nanny.
"Nanny, it's late at night, we have to stop for a moment to rest and continue the journey again tomorrow morning" Vena suggested.
"Alright, miss also looks tired. Hans, please stop when there's a good place to rest." Nanny opens a small window that connects with Hans from inside the train.
"Kent, go through the area, check if it's safe enough for camping." Nanny opens the window and calls Kent.
"Nanny, Anne's still not sleepy ...."
"No, miss has to get enough rest, because our journey is still long."
"But Anne wanted to get there quickly and meet sister ...."
"Yes, of course, miss, we'll leave early in the morning after breakfast."
"Nanny, it looks like we can camp here" Hans said from the train window.
"Okay Hans, get the place ready, we'll be right down. Come on, ladies, we'll rest here."
"Miss, here Hans help you get down." Hans opened the carriage door and lifted Anne down.
"Please accompany the lady while we prepare a rest area."
"Boost Anne, Hans ...." The night was very late and when there was not enough light, Anne could not see anything.
“Good, of course miss. Take it easy Miss is safe with me.” Hans tried to calm Anne who was always restless at night, especially on long trips. Hans then took her around while chatting lightly, as long as the others cleared up a place to camp tonight.
“What Hans doesn't worry about the Hans family?”
“Hmmm... Take it easy ladies, my family is far away from the city and they are big like me, Hahaha.”
“Good then, may all be well.”
“Let adults be worried, miss calm down yes, Hans will always be with miss.”
“Thank you, Hans is indeed very reliable.”
“Do not underestimate the most powerful commander in the Duke residence, and of course the boring assassin Kent, hahaha.”
“Hans, bring miss here, we're done,” Lyre calls Hans from the front of the train.
“Let's go inside, I've prepared water to wash my face and nightgown miss.” Hans dropped Anne off in the car, Lyre immediately entered and closed the door.
“Well, miss is ready to sleep now. I'll call you Nanny Polla.” Slowly Lyre got out of the car.
“Hans prepare mana stone as car warmers and for us to sleep.”
Tok
“Excuse me miss, I will accompany the lady to sleep inside the train, the others will sleep outside,” Nanny Polla said when entering the train.
“Iya Nanny, thank you.” Nanny can see Anne smiling, before falling asleep.
--
