The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 300: Attack

The safety division was carried out quietly and with great care.

As planned, Prince Lucan and Princess Karen traveled ahead in a disguised carriage, posing as merchants returning from trade. A small number of skilled guards followed them, dressed as servants and drivers. Their weapons were hidden, and their behavior was simple and unremarkable. An hour behind them, the larger royal group continued at a steady pace, with most people unaware that the prince was no longer among them.

For the success of the plan, it was better that fewer people were aware of the situation.

For two full days, the journey went smoothly. They passed through the Second Region without trouble. The roads were calm, the towns quiet, and the people paid them little attention. Princess Karen slowly relaxed, and even Prince Lucan seemed more at ease. Each night, they rested in small inns or by the roadside, never staying in one place for too long.

At times, the group had to take different routes to avoid drawing attention, but everything remained calm. Lord Aureline acted as though he did not realize that the Second Prince was passing through his territory.

"Why don’t we attack and take the prince hostage?" a lord asked.

"I will not waste resources on that. Do you think Edward is a fool? This is clearly bait. If we dare touch the Second Prince, we would only be removing a problem for him," Lord Aureline said, shaking his head.

From the way Edward carefully arranged the prince’s journey, it was clear that he wanted the whole world to see who would dare attack Prince Lucan. If Lord Aureline acted now, could he guarantee that Edward would not kill his own brother and place the blame on him?

The lords and advisers looked at one another and immediately understood his point.

Meanwhile, Prince Lucan’s team successfully passed the Second Region. By the morning of the third day, they were only a few hours away from turning east. Once they made that turn, they would bypass the Third Region entirely and head straight toward the Fourth Region. The most dangerous part of the journey would be behind them.

The road ahead was narrow, with tall trees on both sides. The air was still, and even the birds had grown quiet. The carriage wheels rolled softly over the dirt path, and the driver urged the horses forward at an even pace.

Then, without warning, the peace was broken.

A loud shout rang out, followed by the sharp sound of metal striking wood. The carriage jerked violently as one of the wheels was hit. The horses reared in panic, screaming as they tried to break free.

"Bandits!" someone yelled.

Men rushed out from the trees, their faces covered and weapons raised. They surrounded the carriage within moments, blocking the road ahead and behind. Arrows flew through the air, striking the ground and the sides of the carriage.

Inside, Princess Karen tightened her hold on her son, her heart pounding. Prince Lucan pulled her closer, his expression calm but alert.

The guards disguised as servants reacted at once. Hidden blades were drawn, and the quiet merchants revealed themselves as trained fighters. They moved quickly, forming a tight circle around the carriage.

Steel clashed, and the once-peaceful road was filled with shouts and the sounds of battle. The attack was sudden. It seemed like a simple robbery, but these bandits were clearly well trained.

"We outnumber you," the leader of the bandits suddenly spoke.

The royal guards paused their advance but remained alert. Given the number of enemies and their skills, they knew they could not win outright. However, they were not trying to win—they only needed to hold on until the main group arrived.

"We only want the silver you carry. There is no need for bloodshed on either side. We can see you are wealthy merchants," the bandit leader said. Only his eyes were visible beneath his mask.

The leader of the royal guards did not know whether this promise could be trusted.

"Have your men take two steps back while I speak with my master," he said after careful consideration. Buying time was their best option.

"Move," the bandit leader ordered, raising his hand.

His men stepped back as instructed. Seeing this, the royal guard leader warned his men to stay alert before heading to speak with the prince.

"Are they really just bandits?" Prince Lucan asked. He had heard the man’s words.

"I am not sure. They seem like bandits, but we are outnumbered. If we fight, we may not be able to hold on until the main group arrives. I have sent out a signal, though," the guard leader replied.

"Then give them some silver—not too little. Enough to test them," Prince Lucan decided.

"Yes," the guard said, bowing, before stepping out with a small sack of silver. Since they were disguised as merchants, carrying money was necessary.

"This is the silver we have with us," he said, lifting the bag.

"So much silver," one of the bandits said, his eyes shining with greed.

"How can we be sure it is real silver?" the bandit leader asked, still unconvinced.

The royal guard dropped the bag to the ground. It landed with a heavy thud.

"I can hear it. It’s real silver—we’ve struck gold today," another bandit said excitedly.

The bandit leader shot him a sharp look, and the man immediately fell silent.

"Throw the bag to us, and we will retrieve it," the bandit leader said.

Hearing this, the royal guard nodded. He was unwilling to be robbed, but the prince’s life mattered more than silver. He threw the bag over.

One of the bandits weighed it in his hand and smiled.

"Let them go," the bandit leader said. His men turned as if to obey—but then they suddenly charged forward.

Fortunately, the royal guards were not fooled and remained alert. They quickly raised their defenses.

"You promised to take the silver and leave!" the royal guard leader shouted angrily. He had known this could be a trick and had only hoped to buy time.

"I did," the bandit leader replied calmly, "but merchants are clever. There might still be more silver in the carriage. Why take a little when we can take it all?"

The royal guard found the reasoning familiar. Greed was, after all, why men became bandits.

"Then prepare to die. Let us see how you will spend that money," the royal guard leader said as he killed one of the bandits.

The fight lasted for a quarter of an hour. Just as it seemed the bandits were pushing the guards back and nearly breaking their defense, a loud shout rang out.

"Retreat! The royal group is coming closer!" one bandit cried.

The bandits fled immediately, disappearing into the forest as quickly as they had appeared.

Their sudden retreat left the royal guards stunned. One moment, the bandits had seemed determined to reach the carriage; the next, they had vanished.

"Could they really be just bandits?" one guard asked.

"Who knows?" the leader replied. Nothing felt simple. Their behavior was strange. If they were not bandits, how could their actions be explained? Yet if they truly targeted the prince and princess, why retreat before the royal guards arrived?

Their escape looked like that of ordinary bandits. Still, the king had ordered the roads cleared, and such an attack should not have been possible.

Then again, if bandits obeyed the law, they would not exist in the first place.

Despite their doubts, the guards remained on high alert until the main royal group caught up.

"What happened?" someone asked as the larger procession finally arrived.

The leader of the small group stepped forward to explain the situation.

"Bandits attacked us from the forest ahead," he said clearly. "They demanded silver and pretended they would leave after taking it. When they saw a chance, they attacked again. We held them off until you arrived." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The members of the main royal group listened closely. Several guards moved at once, spreading out to secure the area. Others dismounted and began checking the road and the nearby trees.

At the leader’s order, the bodies of the fallen bandits were pulled into the open. There were only a few of them, left behind in the hurried retreat. The guards knelt beside the bodies, searching their clothes and weapons.

"They carry no marks or seals," one guard reported. "Their weapons are common—nothing special."

Another guard turned over a body and shook his head. "Rough hands, poor boots. These are men who live on the road."

Their clothes were worn and patched, their masks poorly made. Nothing on them showed ties to any noble house or hidden army. Even the way they fought—though organized—was not precise enough to belong to trained soldiers.

Prince Lucan watched quietly from the carriage as the reports came in.

"So they are truly bandits," Princess Karen said softly, her voice calm but guarded.

"It seems so," the guard leader replied. "Greedy and bold, but not sent by anyone powerful."

Still, the guards did not relax. The area was searched once more, the trees checked, and scouts sent ahead. Only when they were certain no one else remained did the leader give the order to move on.

"Your highness, I advice we abort the plan on traveling separately, this way we can protect you better," the head guard suggested.

Prince Lucan thought about it and agreed.

"Sometimes the best place to hide is in the open. We would ride together but I not ride the prince carriage," he made new arrangements.