Sweetcrasy

“[———!]”

At last, a chant incomprehensible to human language burst from Iolde’s mouth.

“Gasp…!”

I gasped for air, startled by the booming voice that sounded more like a scream, just as the wyverns, who had been lying still, raised their heads high. Then, starting from the far left, each one spread its wings and took flight.

The powerful wind pressure whipped my hair wildly, but Cedar’s body, supporting my back, didn’t budge an inch.

“Aww…!”

I shut my eyes tightly and resisted the strange sensation of rising. Cedar, with the hand not holding the reins, pressed gently near my chest and gave me a comforting pat.

“You can lean on me a little more, if you want.”

“…Ha… okay.”

As he said, I buried my face in his chest and let out shallow breaths. If I accidentally looked down even once, I was sure I’d faint, so I made up my mind not to open my eyes until we landed.

‘This is worse than being on a plane…’

But that wasn’t the end of the ordeal.

“[Now, we will begin increasing our speed.]”

“W-What?!”

Iolde’s voice, amplified like a megaphone had been switched on, suddenly rang out. I opened my eyes in shock, only for Cedar to pull me tighter into his arms, trying to calm me down.

“We need to get to Gilia quickly. Looks like we’re flying at full speed.”

“Ah…… no way.”

“There’ll be a short break in four hours. Hang in there a little longer.”

And with that, Cedar mercilessly struck the reins.

[Gaaaaaah—!]

The wyvern let out a bizarre screech and cut through the sky at a speed that was incomparable to earlier.

After flying like that for four hours, we landed at a rest point, where, except for Sidor and Iolde, every knight vomited.

***

“That lunatic black mage tried to kill us!”

“Calm down.”

Because the knights’ condition had deteriorated, thankfully our next flight was at a slightly more manageable pace. After one more flight, we set up camp in the mountains by evening, since entering a village with wyverns wasn’t an option.

Iolde chose to stay apart from the group and rest deeper in the forest with the wyverns, and Cedar permitted it. As soon as Iolde disappeared into the woods with his beasts, the knights began to groan and complain.

And I… after throwing up over and over again, had no strength left and was curled up near Cedar’s sleeping bag.

‘Should’ve just stayed in the palace…’

My limbs were shaking so badly that I couldn’t even sit up. The only comfort I had was that even those annoying imperial knights were equally pale and terrified.

“Hyung, try drinking some of this.”

After half-heartedly settling the knights down, Cedar came over and held a lukewarm canteen to my lips. I didn’t want to put anything in my mouth, but once the water hit my tongue, the nausea eased a little.

“Would you like some soup?”

“No. I can’t… eat…”

Cedar placed a hand on my pale forehead, then gently swept back my sweat-drenched hair. He looked like he wanted to say something, but just then, a knight approached.

“Your Excellency.”

Cedar withdrew his hand from my face and turned around naturally.

“What is it?”

“We’ve received a report from the scout unit.”

It must’ve been urgent because the knight got straight to the point.

“According to the report, there were several Milosians disguised as mercenaries. They’ve been moving in and out of Gilia in small, cautious groups.”

“……Was there any sign that Johan might be among them?”

“No. Johan’s face is too well known, so it seems he’s hiding in the forest near Gilia and receiving help from the remaining Milosian forces.”

The knight glanced at me briefly but continued his report to Cedar.

“There’s also intelligence suggesting that a portion of the Milosian remnants, who had initially diverged toward Alphesion, are now heading back toward the capital. It’s believed they heard rumors that Prince Louis is still alive and are planning a rescue.”

“Sounds like something Johan would’ve ordered.”

“That’s the most likely scenario.”

Listening to their conversation, I thought of Johan.

‘He’s… trying to rescue me…’

From the report, it seemed he couldn’t come back to the capital himself, but he was trying to get me out somehow through  his subordinate.

Well, thinking back to the way Johan had treated me over the past few weeks, I couldn’t deny how deeply he loved his younger brother, “Louis”. If he escaped to Persia this time, it would mean never seeing me again…

‘He probably couldn’t bear that and wanted to do something.’

Thanks to that, the Empire’s operation was going more smoothly. Even Irene’s secret participation had been exposed and heavily guarded because of me. And just like in the original story, part of the knight force meant to break the siege had been diverted to my rescue.

‘Johan… did he get overconfident because Irene joined him? Escaping on his own would’ve been hard enough…’

I kept silent, feeling a strange stir of sympathy. Even now, I couldn’t forget the face of the man who had cared for me when I was feverish after possessing this body, feeding me medicine and changing my wet towels.

‘Louis… just hold on a little longer. Your brother will make the cure…’

When my fever rose, he would massage my cold hands and feet, and call my name with eyes full of pity and affection. He truly loved Louis as family and felt genuine sorrow over his weak body.

In the original story, Louis died early and it wasn’t described in detail, but by the time I possessed this body, Johan already had advanced knowledge of medicine and herbalism. The reason he was later able to make a high-grade elixir from dragon’s blood was because of the knowledge he gained trying to cure Louis.

‘…What a mess this all is…’

Of course, Johan’s love was for Louis, not for me. Still… the dedication he showed me wouldn’t disappear so easily.

“That’s good news. He’s been wanting to see his brother so badly, so we should hurry and reunite them.”

At Cedar’s words, my heart dropped with a thud for some reason. But…

‘There’s no other way now.’

Maybe Johan could forgive my betrayal.

But Cedar… never would. Johan treasured Louis, but he loved his entire family just as much. He would never forgive Cedar—the man responsible for the war that killed them all.

‘If the two can’t coexist, I have to side with Cedar. I do feel bad for Johan, but I’m not Louis, I’m Seo Minjae.’

I forced my wavering emotions down and looked at Cedar’s back. Sensing my gaze, he turned around. After waving off the knight who had finished his report, Cedar reached out and cupped my cheek.

“W-What are you doing?”

Surprised by the sudden touch, I looked up at him. He furrowed his brows slightly and asked,

“Your expression… it’s dark. Did something happen?”

“Ah… no. I’m just still a little dizzy.”

I lied reflexively… but I didn’t avoid his eyes. It didn’t feel right to show even a flicker of sympathy toward Johan, not when Cedar was about to face something big. Thankfully, my excuse seemed to work. Cedar looked at me seriously and said,

“We’ll go back by carriage next time. No more wyverns.”

“Ugh. Please, yes.”

After that, I gave in to his insistence, sipped some hot soup, and slipped into the sleeping bag. As the thick smell of grass and the chirping of bugs kept me awake through the night, I made up my mind.

‘Don’t pity Johan.’

If we didn’t capture him now, he’d become a huge threat to Cedar. And Cedar and I were bound together by fate.

‘Right. I need to take care of myself first.’

Besides, I’d already given Johan a chance. I warned him a war was coming. If he really loved Louis, he should’ve listened…·