26 Love Conquers All

I was on the horns of a dilemma the next day. I wanted to avoid Victor so I have decided to stay in my palace the whole day. Still, fate didn't let me live in peace. I got a message from the queen that my rotten fiance and his sister will be visiting me that evening. To avoid meeting those two, I had to decamp. I sent Nilo to inform the queen that I was not there in the palace, but went out on an excursion.

I really did! I randomly wore a baby yellow tulle gown and got ready and escaped the area with my guards. Me, Henry, and, Merlin had surpassed the lake in a boat and entered the forest bordering the Nothern side of the palace. I strongly believed those evil siblings will not bother to track me down there and bother me. Also, I yearned a bot of an adventure since my mind was clouded of unwanted thoughts recently. This way, I may be able to revive my lively self soon.

The three of us almost spend more than three hours in that forest. The forest was full of redwood trees and small bushes here and there. Though it was not a forest with wild beasts like lions, bears and tigers, still there were wild boars and wolves! I knew this fact since I've read it in the novel. But the thing is, they all lived beyond the brook at the centre of this forest. As long as we don't pass this brook, we are safe.

This was the forest Flora frequented often to feed small mammals like squirrels and hedgehogs. Also, according to the novel, Flora entered the wilds surpassing this brook to save Ed who went for a hunt. At last, when she was surrounded by a wolf pack, a wounded Ed appeared and saved her from them. Then the two got stuck there for three days in a cave. She was taking care of Edward's wounds there. Because of her care and affection, Edward couldn't help but fall so deeply in love with her.

I sighed. It was indeed great to have a romance like that in life. Victor's face suddenly flashed once in front of me. Then, again, I lost my interest in exploring more in the forest.

"It's already late. Let's go back!" I told them as I start walking back in the woods.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the two chorused as they followed me.

When we almost reached the end of the forest, I heard a rustling behind the woods. I paused on my track.

"Your Highness?" Merlin called me dubiously.

I shushed him as I turned around. "I heard something" I whispered still keeping my index finger on my lips.

Henry and Merlin too imitated me as they turned around and listened carefully. Promptly we heard a muffled shrill. "What's going on?" I asked my soldiers. "Who's there?" Henry stepped forward immediately. Merlin and I followed him.

"Who is here in the royal palace's territory?" Henry shouted again. Within a few minutes, two soldiers who were dressed in red uniforms came out of the trees they were hiding behind. 'Letresh?' I thought. They were wearing Letresh uniforms. What are you?" before I could finish, that evil spawn of Letresh king came out of his hideout.

Not only him! To my surprise, Flora was there too. James was holding her hand tightly in a forceful way. Flora looked so scared.

"Nana!" that trash called my nickname then.

I didn't bother to look at him. "What's wrong Flora?" I frowned as I asked her.

She was on the verge of crying. I could guess what could've happened. This trash was famous when it comes to messing with maids. Thankfully we were there on time.

"Let her go!" I told him without looking at him. I didn't even want to look at that trash.

This time he didn't speak back but let her. Flora swiftly came to our side and stood behind me.

"What were you doing?" now I looked at him and asked still with a frown.

"I was just passing by"

"Visitors are not allowed to enter this forest"

"But Nana, I'm family!" I frowned even further. What he said made me cringe in disgust.

"This marriage is not happening," I told him looking at him straight. "Guards, arrest them!" I ordained.

"Arrest? You know who I am, right?" I rolled my eyes thinking 'Not again'.

Even Henry and Merlin was a bit surprised. I turned to them and pronounced "NOW!"

Henry and Merlin had jumped to fulfil my order. His guards too leapt forward trying to protect that scum. Soon, the scene in front of me developed into a brawl. My guards and his guards were fighting one on one. Meantime, James had already started to move in my direction. Flora flinched behind me in horror.

I immediately grabbed a sprig in my hand and tried to chase him away. He caught it in his hands without so much effort and threw it away. I and Flora took a few steps behind as we tried to find something to hit him with. But James had already reached us.

When he lifted his hand to hit me, I tried to use both my hands as a barrier and tightly shut my eyes. But the strike I expected hadn't arrived even after a few seconds. When I opened my eyes, I saw the back of a man wearing the navy tunic towering in front of me. His left hand had already caught the right hand of James. Within a few seconds, we all heard James's squeal because of the pressure exerted on his hand.

Now that I was relieved, I once again drifted my gaze back to my saviour. His black hair fell in my eyes followed by his side profile.

'Victor?' my heart started to beat at alarming speed once again. After that, my eyes didn't leave him once.

Victor twisted James hand then flattened him with a kick. James fell on his back. Victor crouched and grabbed his shirt by the collar. He pushed him up once then punched him on his jaw. I witnessed James gums bleeding. Not satisfied with that, Victor punched him again on the same spot. After seeing him cough blood, he stood straight and rolled him with his leg. He stooped then pinned him on the ground with one knee.

"I've warned you before, didn't I?" the words hissed out of his gritted teeth. He didn't stop with that. He grabbed his hair as he pulled his head up. Expecting another blow, James shouted out in fear. "Guards, guards! Help me!"

This had awakened me from shock. 'I cannot let him kill James' I hurriedly called his name "Victor!"

This time, Victor's hand paused still didn't let go of his head. "Victor, enough!" Victor violently got off him and dashed to the other two Letresh soldiers, who were overpowering Henry and Merlin then. He made them unconscious with just a strike.

He returned to me with the same angry expression as Henry and Merlin looked at him in awe. He was still furious and panting. "Calm down!" I told him. His eyes looked at me furrowing his eyebrows then looked away. "I need to talk with you" he blankly stated without looking at me.

I turned to Flora. She still looked perplexed. "Flora!" I gently touched her cheek. She looked at me with teary eyes. "You need to run back to the palace. Can you?" I asked softly.

She nodded. "Good girl. Keep this a secret. Tell my brother that I have asked him to visit me for dinner" I told her.

She nodded again. When I said 'go' she flew out of the scene as far as she could. I sighed then turned to my soldiers and who were still appreciating Victor with their eyes.

"Henry, Merlin," I called their names.

"Your Highness!" they said.

"Dungeon!" I signalled the three half corpses on the ground and instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness!" they said.

Now I cautiously turned towards Victor. His reddened eyes were looking at me then. He seemed like he couldn't wait for anylonger so when I took a step towards him, he suddenly grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the woods.

"Victor, Victor, slow down. I can't walk!" I finally told him after bearing with a pull for a while. He let my hand go then turned towards me.

He was still panting and looking at me with red eyes. I was scared indeed.

"What is it?" I averted my gaze away and pretended to be courageous.

After a sift sigh, he spoke. "He tried to defile her," he said. His words sounded like a low roar.

"I'm aware" I replied.

"And still want to marry him?" he asked with knitted brows. I could say he was trying his best to hold back from the way he was clenching his hands.

I was already on the edge of depression because of this wedding arrangement. Now that I know how gross James was, I couldn't even want to think of him. On the other hand, this fiercely looking, domineering guy was visibly making me fall for him every day.

I was already exhausted and wanted some time alone.

"That is none of your concern" I blankly replied and started to walk passing him back to the lakeside but he caught my wrist and stopped me.

"What do you want Victor?" I looked at him with an annoyed expression.

"Athena!" he called me by my name. Since his respect for me had hit the rock bottom, I was left open-mouthed. "Ah?" I mumbled.

"You are not allowed to marry him! Not on my watch!" he said looking straight into my eyes. And that instant my heart skipped a beat. The next thing I knew was that I'm in love, irrevocably!