One-Shot Transmigration: Sorry I'm Here To Ruin Your Happy Ever After-Chapter 145: To deliver a message(1)

"Yes, sir," Gael replied immediately, lowering his head. "I’ll resume my duties now."

He didn’t wait for permission.

Gael hurried past him, grabbing a bucket of feed with hands that trembled only slightly.

He kept his head down as he approached the stall, every step measured, every movement careful.

He could feel the letter against his chest like a brand, heavy and terrifying and important all at once.

The senior stable hand watched him for a moment longer, eyes lingering with mild suspicion, before turning away with a dismissive click of his tongue.

"Don’t wander," the man muttered."Curiosity gets people hurt."

Gael swallowed hard but said nothing. He poured the feed carefully, his hands steady now by sheer will.

The horse snorted softly, unaware of the danger coiled so tightly around the boy’s ribs.

As the man’s footsteps faded, Gael let out the breath he’d been holding.

He glanced toward the stable doors, toward where Syris had disappeared earlier, his jaw tightening with quiet resolve.

He was just a boy, a stable boy at that. He was easy to overlook.

And that was exactly why he could do this.

Carefully he finished his work, every motion ordinary, every second bought with restraint until no one would think to question him again.

Only then did he straighten, one hand unconsciously pressing over his chest, where a queen’s desperation rested hidden against his heart.

The morning sun had barely risen when Gael slipped quietly from the stable, the folded letter and coins safely tucked inside his shirt.

Every morning he was sent out to make small inquiries or fetch supplies—today, however, his errand carried a far greater weight.

He had to deliver the queen’s message before attending to his usual duties.

The senior stable hand handed him a small list of tasks, muttering reminders about errands and feed schedules.

Gael nodded obediently, taking the list but keeping his focus elsewhere.

Each instruction blurred into the background as he walked toward the castle gates, mind already planning the journey ahead.

At the gates, the guards barely spared him a glance.

He was just a boy, a stable hand, invisible to most, and that invisibility worked in his favor.

"I’m sent on an errand," he said quickly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

No further explanation was needed.

One nod, and they allowed him through.

He breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he passed beyond the walls, the weight of the castle’s gaze temporarily lifted from his shoulders.

Once outside, Gael paused at the road leading toward the main thoroughfare, his thoughts turning to the journey.

The Vukasin Estate was far—too far to walk in a day, even for him.

He needed a faster way, and the letter in his chest burned like a secret flame, reminding him that time mattered.

A horse. That was the solution.

He knew the stables well enough,he could hire one, perhaps use a trusted mount that wouldn’t be questioned.

His small hands clutched the coins in his pocket as he approached the nearby inn where travelers often rented mounts.

The innkeeper, a burly man with a permanent frown, looked him up and down. "You want a horse?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

"Yes, sir," Gael said, keeping his voice steady and polite. "I have a coin."

The man grunted, counting the coins quickly and then nodding. "Fine. You get the bay over there. Keep him under control, boy, or it’s your neck."

"Yes, sir," Gael replied. He adjusted the cloak around his shoulders, trying to appear taller than he was, more competent than his twelve-year-old frame suggested.

The horse was restless, snorting and stamping as he led it to the cart path. Gael climbed into the saddle, the leather stiff beneath him.

He tested the reins carefully, adjusting the stirrups so he could sit securely. His heart hammered in his chest, not just from fear of the ride ahead, but from the weight of responsibility he carried.

The queen’s letter, her hope, her fear—it all rested in his hands.

He nudged the horse gently, and it moved forward with a steady gait, the rhythm of hooves on stone becoming a comforting pulse.

Gael kept his head low, eyes scanning for anyone curious or nosy. Travelers passed by without so much as a glance, and he felt a small surge of relief.

Outside the castle walls, he was invisible.

He adjusted his cloak, pressing the letter securely against his chest. It was folded flat beneath the fabric, hidden, but every bump of the horse reminded him of its precious cargo.

Syris’s words echoed in his mind: I would never ask you to do something I thought would get you hurt.

He guided the horse carefully, keeping to the edges of the road and following the terrain he knew from the few trips he’d made beyond the castle.

In his mind, he plotted the route to the Vukasin Estate, marking safe paths and places to avoid.

He was a boy, yes—but one who had learned the art of observation, the subtle ways of blending in.

The sun climbed higher, shadows shifting across the fields. Gael kept moving, urging the horse forward when it slowed, soothing it when it shied at a distant noise.

Each mile brought him closer to his destination and closer to delivering the queen’s desperate plea.

He had only one thought: I cannot fail her. Not now. Not ever.

Gael guided the bay carefully along the winding road, keeping an eye on landmarks he had memorized from stories of the Vukasin Estate.

From time to time, he approached the townfolk asking quietly for directions to ensure he hadn’t strayed too far.

Each confirmation, each nod, made him more confident.

By noon, the tall gates of the estate came into view, the proud emblem of the Vukasin family gleaming atop the walls. Gael’s chest swelled with relief and a thrill of accomplishment.

He could see the ornate towers in the distance, the manicured gardens, and he knew he was very close to delivering Syris’s message. A small smile broke across his face. The queen’s desperate plea was almost within safe hands.

But as he approached the main entrance, he realized that entering the estate would not be simple.

Two guards stood before the massive iron gates, their spears upright and expressions attentive. They weren’t harsh, merely professional, their posture strict but fair.

"Halt.." one said as Gael approached. "State your business."