I Have No Intention Of Training The Male Leads - Chapter 19 Part 1

19. Hidden Ending

The journey from the capital to Proika in the North was a hundred times more grueling than the trip from Carlaes territory to the capital, to put it mildly.

There was no direct train to Proika, and the territory lacked even an old-fashioned train station. Eve had to change trains multiple times just to reach a small station in a neighboring territory.

‘I knew they would send me to a remote area to keep me out of political conflicts, but I never imagined they would send me to such a rural backwater.’

Using deserted stations as much as possible to erase her tracks, Eve traveled as far north as she could. Arriving at Felice Central Station, the northernmost station in the country, she felt an unseasonal chill for late summer as she looked around.

After spending half a day mingling and chatting with people near the station, Eve was lucky enough to get a ride on a cargo wagon headed to the territory next to Proika. Only after settling into the wagon did she finally unfold the morning newspaper she had purchased. In this era, newspapers were undoubtedly the fastest source of information for a fugitive.

As Eve expected, the front page of the daily paper was filled with news about the Emperor’s deteriorating health, keeping him from official events, and the fate of the detained Second Prince.

Edward was a man of considerable skill. Things seemed to be progressing smoothly in the direction he desired.

Eve’s eyes paused as she read about Marquis Twidle, one of the people who strongly advocated for the Second Prince’s punishment. ‘That name rings a bell.’ She thought for a moment, then remembered that the Twidle marquisate was a title connected to the Valqueres dukedom. 

‘So, that means this Marquis Twidle is the heir to the Duke of Valqueres. Is this what Katarina meant when she said her brother kept going to the palace?’

Katarina’s attack must not have been a coincidence. However, Eve suspected that the incident was merely a convenient excuse for Edward to approach the Valqueres heir without attracting attention from the Second Prince’s faction. He must have offered the eldest son of Valqueres something irresistible, ultimately securing an alliance with the son of the leader of the neutral faction.

It was impossible to say for certain what Edward had offered him. Perhaps he tempted him with the possibility of becoming related to the next emperor. Eve wasn’t interested in political battles, so she simply concluded that Edward had used this opportunity to eliminate the beastmen from his harem and gain a powerful ally, killing two birds with one stone.

‘So, Alberic’s self-harm act was all a performance orchestrated by his master. Those crazy bastards…’

The situation was already a mess, spiraling out of control. With a hollow laugh, Eve skimmed the front page before folding the newspaper in half.

The cargo wagon was cramped, overflowing with goods, leaving her no space to spread out the newspaper. It was barely large enough to accommodate Eve, who was curled up in a tight ball.

Enduring the discomfort, she continued reading, unfolding and folding the paper bit by bit. Around the third page, familiar names appeared in an article. Eve narrowed her eyes, focusing on the text.

?Mysterious Carriage Accident: Cuckoo Criminal??

‘What a ridiculous headline,’ Eve thought, then burst into laughter upon seeing the wanted poster of the alleged ?criminal?.

The Vermells and their nephew, Elver, were all declared dead at the scene of the carriage accident. And all evidence pointed to the culprit being a woman the Vermells had adopted, believing her to be their real niece.

If it hadn’t been about her, even Eve would have found it unbelievable, thinking, ?Wow, what kind of woman would do such a thing??.

The fact that the suspect had vanished from the mansion before the accident was enough to raise suspicions.

Realizing that Edward was determined to frame her, Eve smirked.

‘But with a wanted poster like this, they’ll never find me.’

The wanted poster in the newspaper was ridiculous. The small portrait of ?Lady Evelyn? depicted a woman in her late twenties, with chubby cheeks, a sharp, fierce gaze, and decked out in jewels and ornaments.

Even if they blew up the portrait and put Eve right in front of it, no one would recognize her. Eve wondered what the investigators had based their sketch on, thinking, ‘Is that what I look like?’

The article concluded by mentioning that they were investigating leads with the cooperation of the young lord of Vermell, who was the last to see the suspect.

‘I hope he’s not being tortured. No, even that madman wouldn’t go that far.’

The fact that the Vermells, along with Elver, were victims of this incident showed that Edward was determined to find Eve, even if it meant framing her as a ?noble killer?. 

It would also give him leverage against Alberic. Edward would pressure him to reveal everything, claiming that Eve was responsible for his parents’ deaths. Eve clicked her tongue in disgust at his despicable tactics.

After what felt like an eternity, switching to another carriage after disembarking from the cargo wagon, Eve finally reached the district near the Great Forest, northwest of Proika territory. She was utterly exhausted from the journey.

She paid the coachman the agreed-upon fare, waved goodbye, and watched as the wagon disappeared into the distance. Then, stretching her stiff limbs, she looked around.

The roads were unexpectedly smooth. It seemed they had been recently paved. Eve, who had noticed the smoother ride as they entered Proika, brightened up and started walking.

The northern territories were characterized by a distinct east-west terrain, with vast plains ideal for dairy farming in the east and towering mountains covered in lush forests in the west, a result of the Archidium Mountains. Most villages were concentrated in the east.

Proika was known for its vast forests, and its inhabited areas were relatively small compared to other duchies.

Eve had planned to gather information on the forest’s terrain in the town before heading west, towards the mountains. She started looking for a place to stay.

However, something felt off. Proika was known for its family-based dairy farms, but she noticed construction sites and new buildings everywhere.

She had braced herself for the possibility of no inns, or at best, very outdated accommodations. However, the inn recommended by a nearby shopkeeper was surprisingly modern.

While most houses in the area seemed centuries old, some structures were clearly new, built using modern techniques. Eve tilted her head at the odd juxtaposition but decided to check out the inn.

The first floor appeared to be a dining pub, furnished with wooden tables and chairs. It was still early, so it was empty. Eve glanced around before approaching the counter and ringing the bell.

A clear, ringing sound resonated as the metal ball struck the brass bell. Moments later, a plump, middle-aged woman emerged from what appeared to be the kitchen.

“Yes, yes. Coming!”

“Hello. I’d like to stay for a few days. Do you have any vacancies?”

“Oh my, yes, of course. Are you here for work?”

“Haha, yes.”

“How long will you be staying?”

“A fortnight, for now.”

The woman glanced at Eve’s dirt-stained clothes, seemingly unsurprised by her appearance. She nodded and told her the price. Eve paid upfront, including meals, and received a key to her room.

The price was reasonable, considering the modern facilities. Eve went up to the third floor and unlocked the door to her room. The bed was small but clean, and the furniture seemed to be a mix of old and new. After locking the door, she headed straight for the bathroom.

The bathroom, though small, was tastefully decorated with clean, turquoise tiles. Hot water flowed from the tap into the copper bathtub.

Eve, whose modern sensibilities had been longing for a proper bath, felt a wave of relief as she sank into the steaming water. She scrubbed away the accumulated dirt and grime before finally emerging from the bathroom.

Despite having packed all her old clothes, she only had one set of new ones left. Eve went to the bed, wearing only her undergarments.

She collapsed onto the crisp, sun-warmed sheets and surrendered to the unfamiliar feeling of comfort.

Eve finally woke up when the sun had set, the sky outside the window a deep indigo. She sat up with a start, wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth.

After changing into a white mandarin-collared shirt and long, brown cotton pants, she put on a dark gray vest, a loose, brown jacket, and a flat, six-panel cap. She now looked like any other young errand boy, blending in perfectly.