Having secured the Golden Fleece, I descended from the tree with it in hand.
"Before I came out, I told Jason not to leave the ship until I returned."
Then I spoke to Medea, who had run to me.
"Then now..."
"Yes. Let's go together, Medea."
At my words, Medea's expression brightened more than it ever had before.
I looked back for a moment.
The sleeping dragon.
The silent forest.
And the stillness of the night, as though nothing had happened at all.
"..."
No one had noticed yet.
I turned without a word.
"Let's hurry."
Medea quietly nodded.
And so, leaving no sound behind, we slipped out of the forest and headed for the harbor.
Only the gentle wash of the night sea reached us, and the Argo waited there, knowing nothing of what had transpired.
Under the veil of night, we crossed the forest without leaving even a shadow behind.
The Golden Fleece draped over my shoulder gave off a faint radiance with every step, but thanks to the concealment magecraft Medea had prepared in advance, the sentries of Colchis failed to spot us.
When we reached the harbor, Jason's silhouette was visible on the deck, pacing anxiously as promised.
As we approached the ship, Jason hurriedly lowered a rope ladder for us.
"Astellon! You're safe! And that is... no way!"
The instant Jason's eyes fell on the golden bundle over my shoulder, his face filled with shock as he shouted at me.
Instead of answering, I took Medea's hand, pulled her up onto the ship, and said firmly, "Raise the anchor. We leave this harbor at once. I'll explain everything after we're gone."
At my words, the heroes moved in perfect unison, and the Argo cut through the night mist without a sound, leaving the shores of Colchis behind.
And once the land had grown distant and the horizon had begun to blur, we finally let the tension leave our bodies and breathed out in relief.
After that, I introduced Medea to the companions aboard the ship and told them of the Colchian king's scheme.
When I finished speaking, everyone reacted differently, but betrayal and anger were common to all of them.
"To think he welcomed us with a smile while hiding a knife behind his back... For the King of Colchis to be so vile!"
Jason clenched his fist and shouted, and the other heroes tightened their grips on their weapons, breathing harshly.
But the end of that anger soon turned toward Medea, who stood beside me.
That was only natural, since to them she was still the princess of an enemy nation, the daughter of the king who had tried to kill them.
"Astellon, but can we really trust this woman? Why would the princess of Colchis help us? If this is yet another trap set by the king..."
At someone's doubtful voice, Medea's shoulders visibly trembled.
She lowered her head and clutched my hem even more tightly.
I placed my hand over her cold one and addressed my companions.
"This girl has already turned her back on her country and her father to choose me. If that were a lie, then by now we'd have been torn apart by the dragon in the forest or burned to death in the banquet hall."
At my resolute tone, the heroes fell silent.
"And if you still cannot trust her, then I will regard your suspicion of Medea as distrust of me as well. Anyone with a complaint, step forward."
The air on the deck froze in an instant.
Only the sound of the waves rang low, and no one could easily speak.
After a brief silence, "...No."
The first to speak was Jason.
He stepped forward and shook his head.
"Having come this far, I have no intention of doubting your judgment, Astellon."
As he said that, Jason's gaze turned to Medea.
There was still caution there, but at the very least, it was no longer the naked suspicion from before.
"...But let me make one thing clear."
At his words, the other heroes listened quietly.
"We all set out on this journey with our lives on the line. We can't lose everything because of someone's whim or feelings."
After a brief pause, he added in a low voice, "So... prove it."
The meaning of those words was directed at Medea.
"..."
Medea said nothing.
She only lowered her head and tightened her grip on my hem.
I gently loosened her hand and stepped forward instead.
"If it's proof you want, then it's already been given."
Then, in a quiet but firm voice, I said, "If not for this woman, we would never have obtained the Golden Fleece."
At my words, several heroes exchanged glances.
It was an undeniable fact, and even that alone gradually softened the mood.
"...Ha."
Jason let out a short breath.
"Fine. I'll admit it."
In the end, Jason also nodded.
"For now, at least... she's on our side."
With that, the atmosphere that had been rigid with tension eased somewhat.
And in the deep of night, most of the heroes slept in shifts, while only the faint moonlight settled over the deck.
I leaned against the railing and looked out at the sea.
The black waters, and the Argo cutting across them.
Then, at that moment—
"...My king."
A cautious voice came from behind me.
Even without turning around, I knew who it was.
It was Medea, and I turned my head slightly to look at her as I spoke.
"Why are you still awake?"
At my words, she hesitated for a moment before coming to stand beside me.
"...I couldn't sleep."
Her gaze was clearly directed at me, not the sea.
"Because... everyone doubts me."
Medea's voice trembled softly as she said that.
But unlike during the day, she did not break.
Rather, she endured.
"..."
I said nothing for a moment.
Still looking out at the sea, I answered briefly, "That is only natural."
"...Pardon?"
"You were the princess of an enemy nation, and we are fugitives who turned our backs on that country."
It was a statement of reality, plain and unadorned.
Medea's expression stiffened for a moment.
But I continued soon after.
"Even so... I chose you."
"...!!"
At those words, Medea's eyes shook violently.
"That is enough."
Only then did I turn to look at her.
"Nothing else is needed."
At that, Medea's lips trembled faintly.
"...Truly... truly, you won't regret it?"
That question was very small, but within it I could feel her fear.
So I looked down at her for a moment, then answered very briefly.
"Regret..."
And then I turned my gaze back to the sea.
"...I do not."
"...!"
At those words, it seemed as though Medea had stopped breathing.
Then, very quietly, she lowered her head and said, "...Then I..."
Speaking in a voice that trembled ever so slightly, Medea looked at me with clear eyes and said, "I will remain by your side... until the very end."
I gave no answer to that.
I simply moved forward with the ship as it cut across the calm sea.
And at that moment, far away, beyond the darkness on the horizon, a faint light began to burn.
"..."
My eyes narrowed.
That was no ordinary torch.
"...So he has come."
I murmured under my breath.
The King of Colchis had finally begun the pursuit.