Three days later, Robert and Jana brought Ga to Pier Three.

  Although Ga’s departure from Oslo had been sudden, the news had already spread throughout the city.

  Many people came to the harbor specifically to see her off.

  An entire farewell feast was held right there on the pier.

  “Do your best once you reach the inland cities, Ga!”

  “Don’t forget to write letters—or send drawings of your life there!”

  “Study hard! Maybe one day you’ll be chosen to work in the Imperial Palace. The benefits there are excellent!”

  “And make sure you come back to visit us!”

  Ga, filled with excitement about the future everyone imagined for her, found herself unusually hungry.

  She stuffed food into her mouth with enthusiasm and—almost against her nature—spoke to the crowd.

  “I will! I will!” she said cheerfully.

  “I’ll be back very soon!”

  In truth, Count Felix Thomsen had deliberately altered the story before letting it circulate.

  To prevent public outcry, he spread the version that Ga would be relocating to a major Roman city in the inland—

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  to live a better life.

  No one knew that she was actually being sent toward the perilous lands of the Vikings.

  After the farewell feast ended, Robert and the others began making their way toward the gangway.

  Under Felix Thomsen’s arrangements, the steamship they were boarding was flanked by two smaller combat vessels—one on each side—for escort.

  Though the surrounding waters were firmly under Roman control and the journey itself was not long,

  the soldiers aboard the escort ships remained fully armed.

  They took no chances.

  With a heavy heart, Robert slowly climbed the gangway and presented his documents and insignia to the sailors on deck.

  “Well, well—this time you’re the convoy’s cargo officer?” one of them laughed.

  “You really do take on every role imaginable, Director.”

  The teasing eased Robert’s tension slightly.

  “Come on, don’t make fun of me,” he replied with a dry chuckle.

  “It’s an honor having you aboard,” another sailor added.

  “At least it’s better than having Tabor. One time, his obsession nearly drove us to jump into the sea.”

  As he spoke, the sailor glanced toward a barred window of Akershus Fortress—

  the office of the law enforcer, Tabor.

  “Don’t worry,” Robert said calmly.

  “I won’t interfere with your professional work. This journey, I’ll be focusing solely on protecting my precious cargo.”

  The sailor followed his gaze to Ga, who was stumbling along the gangway.

  He sighed.

  “Precious indeed,” he muttered.

  “Truly priceless.”

  He hurried forward to help Ga safely aboard.

  Unbeknownst to them, Tabor had been watching from afar—

  standing by his office window.

  Only after Ga had boarded the ship did he finally let out a long breath.

  He turned away, returned to his desk, and collapsed into his chair.

  As if to say—

  At last, he was free from the trouble of watching over that troublesome child.