Dumped After My Engagement: Becoming a Military Noblewoman

Chapter 97

When we left the campsite, the sky was still dark, and we moved through the dim forest relying only on moonlight, not knowing right from left, just desperately fleeing alongside Sil and Severi. After being captured, we were focused on fighting back, and even after help arrived, we were too dazed to look up at the sky. It wasn't until we emerged from the forest and returned to the campsite that I finally noticed the sky had brightened.

"The sun has already risen...?"

"You're right... it's bright."

"Are we walking back to the city from here...?"

As I muttered while shielding my eyes from the sunlight with my hand, Sil and Severi, walking beside me, also grumbled in exhausted voices.

As soon as we arrived at the campsite, we were instructed by Instructor Tseri to wait in the military tent until called, so, released from physical fatigue and tension, we returned to our tent in a hazy state of mind.

By this time, the other students should already be up and preparing breakfast, but there were no students around. Perhaps they, like us, had been told to wait in their tents.

"Those people are being taken to the city too, right...? Ah, Severi."

"I hope they receive the punishment they deserve."

Severi tugged at Sil's arm as he muttered while stopping to look toward the back of the campsite, and they stumbled as they resumed walking toward the tent.

The people Sil mentioned are likely Nils and Doan. The captured individuals from Sleiran were taken to the instructor's tent by Dan and Rick, with Instructor Tseri accompanying them. I recalled Dan saying that the fortress had been notified and a carriage was on its way to transport Nils, who is royalty from another country. I discussed with Sil and the others that the students would probably remain in their tents until Nils and the others were taken away.

In such a relaxed state, we were staggering along when we spotted people standing near our tent, and we immediately straightened our backs with a jolt.

"Wait, is that...?"

"It's Fildé Rotish."

"Yeah, it is... but, maybe..."

"There's no one who doesn't know that face."

"But, don't you want to think it's a mistake...?"

Beside me, they were whispering and arguing about something, but I didn't have the luxury to care.

Inside the open tent, Finn was sitting, and in front of them, Colonel Nick was kneeling, examining them.

However, Colonel Nick, who is strict about discipline and doesn't tolerate unauthorized actions, wouldn't just be giving a simple examination. Finn's complexion looked poor, likely being severely reprimanded, and I could see them nodding repeatedly with effort even from a distance.

And furthermore, outside the tent were Grandfather and Uncle Ruget.

"...Hey."

Unconsciously stepping back little by little, I was grabbed by both arms. I glared at Sil and Severi, who had somehow positioned themselves on either side of me, and growled in a low voice.

"It's fine... with the three of us, I don't think it'll be that scary."

"Let's quietly accept our fate..."

"Wait, the ones who should be scolded are just you two, right?"

"But Celes also snuck out of the campsite."

"Since we're in the same squad, I think we'll get scolded together."

"Let go, hey... ah."

Naturally, making a commotion near the tent would draw attention. Uncle Ruget turned around, caught sight of us, widened his eyes, and quickly headed toward us. I didn't intend to run away even if I needed time to prepare myself mentally. I looked up at Uncle Ruget standing before me and quietly waited to be scolded.

"I'm glad you're safe. Are you hurt anywhere...? Wait, your hair...!"

Uncle Ruget, who had looked me over and let out a relieved sigh, suddenly let out a pained cry the moment his gaze fell on my shoulder.

I cut it with a sharp knife, so it shouldn't be that bad... I thought as I grasped my hair, which now reached about chest level, and nodded, thinking it could be tidied up easily.

"Your hair... and there's even a scratch on your face. Anything else?"

"I injured my dominant hand."

"I see, let me check... It's swollen, but it doesn't seem broken. Have Colonel Nick take a look at it later."

"Yes."

"And you two, are you injured anywhere?"

"We're fine."

"Just minor scratches."

"That's a relief..."

After checking on my injuries and those of Sil and the others, Uncle Ruget lowered his eyes, let out a deep sigh, and slowly raised his gaze to look at us coldly. The usual warm and gentle atmosphere was gone, and I swallowed hard at the stern tone in which he addressed us with, "Listen."

"Even if you attend military school, you are not soldiers. You are just children without strength or sufficient training, and you must not act on your own. Celestia, you've been at the fortress for three years. What have you seen, and what have you learned? I understand your desire to protect your friends, but don't you realize yet that even those with power find it difficult to do so?"

"...I'm sorry."

"I heard there were not only Doan but also two knights on the Sleiran side. Facing lightly armed knights with swords, it's a miracle you're even alive... It was really dangerous."

"Yes."

"Silvio and Severi, you two were far too reckless. Even if they falsified their identities, following Doan without seeking help is tantamount to suicide."

"We're sorry."

"It's our fault. We apologize."

We must have caused a lot of worry.

My chest ached seeing Uncle Ruget admonish us with a pained expression.

"Don't try to solve things on your own; rely on others first. You're students, so ask the instructors for help. Acting on your own judgment or taking reckless actions endangers not only your lives but also the lives of your friends and others."

With a sigh, Uncle Ruget covered his eyes with one hand and looked up at the sky, then lightly tapped our shoulders, saying, "That's all from me," before turning away.

And at the place Uncle Ruget headed toward, Grandfather stood with arms crossed, staring intently at us.

He didn't seem angry, but I worried that he might be exasperated with us. As I hesitated to step forward, Instructor Tseri returned, almost as if taking Uncle Ruget's place.

"Did you get scolded?"

"Yes... I thought it was fine since we were saved, but I overestimated my abilities and put Finn in danger. As for Sil and the others, if I had informed an instructor and had them go, they could have been saved without getting hurt."

"That's true... However, I knew who Doan was and that you were in danger, yet I left it alone, so I can't say much. I'm in the same position as you, deserving to be scolded."

With a wry smile, Instructor Tseri said this, then lightly waved at Grandfather, who was still looking at us, and shrugged, saying, "I've been ignored."

"It was discovered that Doan, who was under surveillance, had been in contact with individuals from Sleiran multiple times since the start of this year. When we learned that the person he was contacting was connected to the Second Prince of Sleiran, the military school suspected their target might be the two of you. If they were planning something, it would likely be during the training exercise outside the city, so we assigned Doan to your squad to see if he'd slip up. And on the day of the exercise, I was attached as an assistant under the pretext of monitoring him."

"That's why Doan was surprised, isn't it?"

"Of course he was. He planned to lure the two of you out, but with me right there, it must have been difficult for him. As we predicted, Doan slipped out of the campsite during the night shift change and headed into the forest. I was about to follow him out of the campsite, but something unexpected happened."

"What happened?"

"All the instructors positioned to move immediately collapsed, as if they'd been drugged. On top of that, the fires were meticulously extinguished, and in the darkness, the remaining instructors had to stay at the campsite to calm the confused students and ensure their safety."

This must have happened after we slipped out of the campsite. I exchanged glances with Sil and Severi, shocked that such a thing had occurred.

"I ran to the tent to check on Celestia and Finn's safety first, but it was empty. I hadn't felt that panicked in a long time... Thinking of Fildé's stern face, I fired a signal flare toward the city gate."

If that's the case, then Dan and Rick must have rushed over after seeing the signal flare.

But even if they rode horses, a journey that takes six hours on foot shouldn't be covered that quickly. Yet, the two of them appeared alongside Instructor Tseri.

"Can someone really come from the city that fast?"

I must have been frowning while wondering if it wouldn't take time even on horseback, because Instructor Tseri chuckled softly, said, "No," and smoothed out the crease between my brows with a finger.

"Dan and Rick had been following us at a distance ever since we left the city."

"So that's how it was..."

"There's no fool who'd be certain Doan would make a move and not take precautions, right?"

Even if something unexpected happened, having Dan and Rick nearby meant they could handle anything. I bit my lip, realizing once again that I shouldn't have acted on my own.

"I'm sorry. I should have informed Instructor Tseri instead of doing something unnecessary."

"If you were a knight or a soldier, you should have reported and awaited instructions. But you're still just soldiers-in-training at military school. Learn from your mistakes and gain experience. And though you say it was unnecessary, perhaps it's because of that unnecessary action that they're alive and standing here now."

"..."

"Celestia held out with them until help arrived, and because Finn left markers in the forest, we were able to find our way without getting lost."

I rushed out without waiting for Finn, despite having no chance of success, because I felt at that moment that if I didn't act, it would be too late.

If Finn and I hadn't been there, how long could Sil and Severi, who are technically unskilled and lacked proper weapons, have held out against Nils, Doan, and those knights...? Imagining the worst, I frowned, and beside me, Sil and Severi trembled.