Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Wild

Wordlessly, she passed the meal box to him.

Her fingers brushed against his for the briefest moment, and though the contact was fleeting, Richard felt a strange warmth radiating from her touch.

He opened the box, revealing a neatly arranged meal, tender slices of meat paired with colorful vegetables, and a small, fragrant pastry.

The aroma hit him first, rich and savory, with a hint of something sweet that reminded him of home.

Richard glanced at her, noticing how her gaze was fixed on the fire, distant and unreadable. “Did you prepare this yourself?” he asked, his voice soft, almost tentative.

Ahcehera didn’t look at him. “Just eat,” she said, her tone clipped, as though she didn’t want to engage further.

Richard took a bite, savoring the explosion of flavors that spread across his tongue.

It wasn’t just food, it was nourishment, comfort, and perhaps even a small gesture of care, though her demeanor suggested otherwise.

As he ate, the silence between them stretched, broken only by the crackle of the fire and the occasional rustle of the forest beyond the cave.

Yet, in that quiet moment, Richard couldn’t help but feel a fragile thread tying them together, one he wasn’t ready to name but knew he couldn’t ignore.

–

I’m really tired.

As the fire dwindled to embers, Ahcehera’s gaze shifted to the figure beside her. Richard’s breathing was steady, his features softened by sleep.

Without a word, she reached for the spare blanket, carefully draping it over him to shield him from the night’s chill.

She pulled another blanket from her space button for herself and unrolled it with a practiced efficiency.

I should do my best to gather some plants and plant them inside Cresencia.

With so much going on, I even forgot to visit and check the progress of my space.

But since I am in the wilderness, I should do my best to explore and look for edible supplies.

Next, she activated a protective cover, an advanced field that shimmered faintly for a moment before rendering them invisible.

The device would hold for five hours, more than enough time to rest without detection.

I hope this will help us take cover for a while.

Ahcehera didn’t stop there. She released a cluster of small sensor bots, their tiny forms darting to the edges of the protective barrier.

Each bot settled into position, their faint lights winking out as they camouflaged themselves.

These would alert her to any approaching threats, beasts, plants, or other living entities lurking in the unknown wilderness.

A hidden portal appeared in the palace today, there must be a spy or an insider.

And the appearance of the hidden wormhole in the academy must be connected to it.

It sent us to an unfamiliar place. A place that even the interstellar network couldn’t reach.

Her thoughts turned to the vast expanse surrounding them. The wilderness is endless.

Even after traveling miles and mapping the area, I still can’t see its borders.

She glanced at the holographic map she had compiled earlier. Flying bots had captured videos and images of the terrain, cataloging the flora and fauna.

She frowned, her brow furrowed in thought.

If this is a continent and not just a large island, we could be stranded far longer than anticipated.

The mapping data didn’t offer much comfort. No signs of carnivorous plants that act like beasts, at least not yet.

Most animals seem to stay hidden during the day, making it difficult to gauge their activity at night.

Ahcehera sighed, her exhaustion catching up to her. Before resting, she turned her attention to Richard’s optical brain.

Moving with care to avoid waking him, she scanned his device and transferred the updated data silently. At least he’ll have everything he needs when we plan our next move.

Satisfied, she leaned back against the cool stone wall of the cave. Her body ached for rest, but her mind lingered on their precarious situation.

Yawning, she closed her eyes and let sleep claim her, her senses still tuned to the faint hum of the protective field and the watchful bots.

The night passed uneventfully, the wilderness remaining eerily quiet under the blanket of darkness.

Ahcehera stirred awake before dawn, her ingrained habits kicking in.

The soft light of the early morning filtered through the edges of the cave. She glanced at Richard, still fast asleep, his face relaxed in slumber.

Without a sound, she retrieved her blanket and tucked it back into her space button.

She stepped out of the protective cover, its faint shimmer vanishing behind her as she moved into the crisp morning air.

We need to move today. That last point I explored yesterday might give us some answers.

Her steps carried her northward, her boots crunching against the forest floor until she reached a flowing river.

It cut through the dense greenery like a silver thread, the water so clear it shimmered under the rising sun. Yet, despite its inviting surface, she couldn’t see the bottom.

Ahcehera crouched by the riverbank, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. This water is too still. It must be deep. And if it’s deep, there could be beasts lurking below.

Her gaze darted to the ground.

She picked up a smooth, flat stone and backed away from the edge, her instincts urging caution. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the stone toward the center of the river.

The stone struck the surface with a soft plop, and ripples radiated outward, disrupting the serene flow. The river stilled again, deceptively calm, as if nothing had happened.

But a minute later, the water churned violently.

In the middle of the river, a whirlpool formed, its dark center spinning rapidly.

Long, thorny, vine-like tendrils slithered up from the depths, writhing and twisting as though tasting the air.

The appendages swayed hypnotically, their movement both graceful and menacing, waiting for prey to wander too close.

Ahcehera’s eyes narrowed. So, it wasn’t just a hunch. This place is dangerous.

She stepped back cautiously, her mind already formulating plans to navigate around this new threat. We’ll need to be even more vigilant. This is no ordinary wilderness.