Chapter 20
The morning air in Silverdew Valley carried the unique crispness of the mountains. Serena sat by the window, watching the village below gradually awaken in the valley below, unconsciously stroking the Nightingale badge in her hand. Several days had passed since she arrived; her physical fatigue had eased somewhat, but her mind remained tense. Her uncle, Calhoun Norton, hadn't asked many questions, offering only basic shelter while maintaining a distant, scrutinizing attitude.
Mara came in carrying a simple breakfast—black bread, cheese, and a bowl of hot soup. Her gaze swept over Serena's still pale face and the shadows under her eyes before she placed the plate on the table.
“There’s a hot spring on the east side of the valley,” Mara said casually, as if discussing the weather. “It’s somewhat helpful for healing injuries and warding off the cold. I can take you there if you need.”
This wasn't exactly warm concern, but more like practical advice. Serena nodded and thanked her softly. She needed to regain her strength as soon as possible; whatever the future held, a weak body would be her biggest burden.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. After being given permission, Calhoun Norton entered. He was still wearing his dark hunting attire, his expression serious, and he was carrying a small, wax-sealed letter tube.
"News from the capital." He spoke succinctly, handing the letter to Serena, his sharp eyes observing her reaction. "Delivered this morning by falcon. Lucien Augustus was officially crowned three days ago at St. Lawrence Cathedral."
Serena's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, her blood seemingly freezing instantly. Despite having a premonition, hearing the news with her own ears still felt like a hammer blow to her chest. The man who imprisoned her, who had tried to destroy her mentally, now stood at the pinnacle of imperial power. What did this mean? It meant that the resources he could mobilize, the pressure he could exert, would be a hundred times greater than before.
She forced herself to take the mailbox, her fingertips icy cold. She didn't open it immediately, but instead gripped the cold metal cylinder tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Calhoun's voice continued, his tone almost cruelly calm: "According to the letter, the coronation ceremony... was quite simple. He rejected most of the traditional procedures, and Duke Wilde attended the ceremony and publicly expressed his support."
Her father… supported Lucien. Serena closed her eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Was it for the survival of the family? Or was it… to save her own life? She couldn't tell, but this news made her realize even more clearly that her situation was still very difficult.
“The Norton family has no intention of getting involved in the power struggles of the capital.” Calhoun looked at her, his tone resolute. “Silverdure Valley’s protection is based on your mother’s bloodline, but that’s all. We will not confront the Emperor of the Empire head-on for your sake, even if he is a…not-so-traditional ruler.”
His words were like ice water, extinguishing the nascent sense of reliance that had just begun to rise in Serena's heart. She fully understood her uncle's decision; the Norton family had no obligation to gamble the fate of the entire clan for her.
“I understand, Uncle.” Serena opened her eyes, trying to keep her voice steady. “I never expected the Norton family to risk their lives for me. I am already extremely grateful for your shelter.”
Calhoun nodded slightly, seemingly acknowledging her clear-headedness. "So, girl, what are your plans now? Silverdew Valley can offer you temporary safety, but it's not a long-term solution. Emperor Lucien... given his style, will never allow you to remain out there."
This was the very question Serena pondered day and night. She couldn't remain hidden in Silverdew Valley forever; it would not only endanger the Norton family but also mean she would live forever in fear and Lucien's shadow.
She took a deep breath, raised her head, and her eyes held a resolute determination: "I cannot stay here and implicate you and the entire family. But I will not go back, nor will I return to his side." She paused, then uttered the thought that had been lingering in her mind for so long, "I want to leave the Empire."
Calhoun's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. "Leave the Empire?"
“Yes.” Serena’s tone became firm. “We will sail to the Eastern Continent, or to the city-states further south that are not under the Empire’s control. Only by leaving its sphere of influence can I have a real chance of freedom.”
A brief silence fell over the room. Mara stood to the side, listening silently, a barely perceptible flicker in her eyes.
“Do you know how difficult this is?” Calhoun began slowly. “Crossing the border, finding reliable ships, dealing with the risks at sea, and surviving on an unfamiliar continent… it’s no easy task. Moreover, the Emperor’s spies are likely already planted in every port.”
“I know.” Serena met his gaze. “But it’s better than sitting here waiting to die, or going back to that cage. I’m willing to take any risk. I just need a chance, a chance to leave.” She held up the mailbox in her hand. “Perhaps…perhaps my father’s maneuvering in the capital can buy me a window of opportunity to leave.”
She was gambling, gambling that her father's support wasn't entirely useless, gambling that Lucien, in the early stages of consolidating his power, wouldn't have time to conduct the most thorough search for her, or... that he might hesitate slightly because of his deal with Wilder.
Calhoun pondered for a long time, his gaze lingering on Serena's stubborn face. "This path is fraught with peril."
“Staying here or going back, it’s all the same – death.” Serena answered softly, but her tone was unusually clear. “I choose to fight for my life.”
Calhoun finally nodded, not in agreement, but in making a decision. "The Norton family will not officially assist you in escaping the Empire; that would be tantamount to treason. However..." He glanced at Mara, "some private, limited assistance might be possible to arrange. Mara is familiar with some unofficial channels in the Southern Territory."
Mara met Calhoun's gaze and nodded slightly to indicate that she understood.
“Thank you, Uncle.” Serena bowed deeply. She knew this was the maximum help the Norton family could offer.
Calhoun said no more and turned to leave the room.
Serena looked at Mara, her eyes rekindling with a longing for freedom, mixed with immense fear and an unwavering determination.
"When can we start preparing?" she asked.
Mara walked to the window and looked out into the valley towards the coast, her gaze sharp as an eagle's.
“First,” she said in a low voice, “you need a new identity and a flawless story. Then, we need to wait for the right time, and… a ship willing to take the risk.”
Under Mara's guidance, Serena began to learn how to impersonate the daughter of an ordinary merchant traveling to a southern city-state to seek refuge with distant relatives. She practiced her broken southern accent, memorized her fictional family background, and even learned to recognize the prices of several common goods. Her blonde hair was dyed an inconspicuous dark brown by Mara with some kind of plant juice, and her skin was deliberately kept rough and weathered, as if she had traveled a long way.
Meanwhile, Calhoun Norton mobilized his family's long-established, clandestine network in the South. Information flowed like mercury through unofficial channels. They needed to find a reliable captain and a ship willing to evacuate Imperial waters with passengers of sensitive identities during this critical time—this would take time and luck.
However, the hunters' net was cast faster and wider than they had anticipated.
Ten days after Serena arrived in Silverdew Valley, a Norton border patrol cavalryman brought back disturbing news: the Imperial Customs and Port Authority had issued a secret internal order to rigorously inspect all young women attempting to leave the country recently, especially those with blonde or light-colored hair. The order did not explicitly name anyone, but the described features closely matched Serena's. Even more alarming, several well-equipped squads, not part of the regular Southern Garrison, began appearing along major trade routes, conducting seemingly random but actually targeted checks.
Lucien's pursuit did not slacken with his coronation; on the contrary, due to the immense power he now wielded, it became even more systematic and pervasive. He did not conduct a large-scale, high-profile search, as that would appear overly concerned and damage the new emperor's authority. He simply calmly mobilized the empire's machinery, weaving a fine and efficient net, patiently waiting for his prey to either stumble upon it or... be forced out.
The pressure began to travel through Silver Dew Valley.
“They haven’t explicitly pointed to this place yet,” Calhoun said to Mara and Serena in his study, his brow furrowed, “but the search area is narrowing. Our people have discovered unfamiliar faces in several nearby towns, inquiring about any strange young women who have appeared recently.”
Serena's heart sank. She realized that she might have underestimated Lucien's resolve and overestimated the seclusion of Silverdew Valley. Faced with the vast power of the Empire, the safety margin that a valley's refuge could provide was rapidly shrinking.
"How much time do we have left?" she asked, trying her best to remain calm.
“Uncertain,” Mara answered crisply. “It depends on how fast they investigate and how lucky we are. But at the current rate, the search area should cover the outskirts of Silverdew Valley in at most two weeks.”
Half a month. Serena clenched her fist. Too short.
“Where’s the ship?” she asked Calhoun.
“There are a few potential options, and we’re in contact with them. But the risks are high, and the prices are…” Calhoun didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. In this tense situation, anyone willing to take the risk would either demand an exorbitant price or be inherently unreliable.
Just then, a servant rushed in and handed Calhoun an unsigned note. Calhoun quickly glanced at it, his expression growing even more grave.
“An old friend of ours has sent word,” he put down the note, his gaze sweeping over Serena and Mara, “that a high-ranking official from the Imperial Intelligence Service, with special authorization, has arrived in the Southern Capital. His authority… is sufficient to mobilize local troops for regional blockades and in-depth searches.”
The air in the room seemed to freeze. A regional lockdown! This meant that if the enemy targeted this area, Silver Dew Valley would truly become an isolated island, difficult to enter and exit, and she would be trapped with no way to escape.
“We must act now,” Mara said immediately, her eyes sharp. “We can’t wait any longer for that uncertain ship.”
"Where to?" Serena asked, feeling her throat tighten.
Mara walked to the wall and pointed to a rough map depicting the southern border with neighboring countries. “Take the land route. Cross the Black Forest and enter the border region of the Kador Federation. The terrain there is complex, jurisdiction is ambiguous, and the Empire’s influence is difficult to penetrate. Once we enter Federation territory, we will have a chance to catch our breath and then find a way to reach the sea from there.” She pointed to a route winding through the mountains, almost marked as a beast trail.
The road looked rugged and fraught with unknown dangers.
“This road…” Calhoun pondered, “is difficult, and we can’t provide enough manpower to protect it; a large-scale operation would attract attention.”
“It’s just the two of us, her and me,” Mara said firmly. “The fewer people there are, the smaller the target. I’m fairly familiar with parts of the Black Forest.”
Serena stared at the thin line on the map, a line signifying the unknown and danger, then at Mara's resolute profile. She had no other choice. Staying in Silverdew Valley meant either being discovered or dying from the blockade. Going with Mara, though the road ahead was fraught with peril, offered at least a glimmer of hope for breaking free.
“I’ll go with you.” Serena’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an unwavering determination.
Calhoun looked at them and finally nodded heavily. "I will prepare the necessary supplies and maps for you. Remember, once you leave Silverdew Valley, you will have to rely on yourselves and your luck." He paused, then looked at Serena, "May the spirits of the mountains protect you, child."
The plan was thus set. Two days later, in the dead of night, under the dim moonlight, they would quietly leave Silverdew Valley and sneak into the Black Forest, a wild land beyond the reach of imperial law and order.
Unbeknownst to them, at the very moment they made this decision, the intelligence officer in the Southern Capital had just received a highly encrypted instruction from the Imperial Capital. The instruction consisted of only one simple sentence:
"Bring back the target at all costs. Use any necessary means."
The instruction was signed with a cold, newly engraved royal coat of arms.
The level of pursuit was silently raised to the highest.
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