9 Reason #8: Too many enemies

Back at the estate, all the women were chatting inside and waiting excitedly for their men to return.

I sat alone by the fountain in the garden, deeply thinking about how to tell Prince Leon about canceling the engagement.

Just thinking about it makes me feel somewhat lonely. Even though I know it's bound to happen, all the times we have shared makes it difficult to part away from him.

But I am sure that this feeling will disappear after some time, and we will both move on to our own path as what was written in the story.

"Ivy, ivy... are you ok?"

Gracie tried calling out to me.

".....uhm ya. I was just thinking deeply about something."

Gracie can sense that her friend was sad and so she tries to cheer her up.

"Hey, Ivy, did you know about the secret garden?"

"Huh? What is that?"

"Rumor has it that somewhere part of this forest, there is a secret garden where the flowers bloom far and wide until the eye can see."

"Hehe, where did you hear that from?"

"A very reliable source, of course. One of the maids from the estate actually shares that with me. She said it's absolutely beautiful at this time of year. Would you like to look together with me?"

"Hmmm, I don't know... I'm kind of tired...."

"Come on, pleeeeezzz....."

Gracie pleads and stares at me with her glittering eyes.

I couldn't say No...

And so we stepped out of the estate and rode on our horse towards the secret garden that the maid mention.

The secret garden wasn't that far as the maid said that it's only but a mile away on the estate's west side.

However, after riding our horse for a while, I felt that something was not right.

"Hey Gracie, I think something's wrong. We should've seen the garden already"

"Ya, maybe we should head back to the estate. I'm sorry, Ivy. I was so hoping that visiting the garden would cheer you up a bit."

"It's ok, Gracie. Thank you for caring. Let's head back and ..."

All of a sudden, an arrow shot down my horse. The horse jumps, and it made me crash to the ground.

Bump! Thump!

"Argh! ..."

I could feel that my wrist and my leg was hurt.

"IVY!"

Gracie yelled and tried to turn back and help me, but there were still arrows shooting at us. They were trying to shoot down Gracie's horse as well.

"Gracie No! Run! Go get help!!"

The horse was not listening well to Gracie's command as it was scared.

"No! I won't leave you!"

"Stop them, quickly shoot down the horse. We need those women alive!"

A few men slowly creep out from the bushes and the trees, and a man was holding a rope trying to capture Gracie's horse.

I panicked and shouted.

"GRACIE, GO!"

I could see Gracie's face full of tears, and she quickly whipped the horse and rode away as fast as she could.

"Quickly go after her!"

"No, It's too late for that. We'll just have to deal with this little miss."

The men then slowly surrounded me. I couldn't run.

"Sorry, little miss, It's just business."

The last thing I remembered was having my mouth covered, and I passed out.

These couple of years have been peaceful, so I wouldn't have thought this could happen to me.

I was too confident about what I knew.

I thought that I would be safe as long as I make it peacefully till D-day.

How arrogant was I to think that Prince Leon would be my only enemy?

But would it be selfish of me if I wish he could save me?

*******

When I woke up

"....Urgh, my head feels heavy. What happen?"

This feels somewhat like a Deja Vu.

Upon waking up, I realize that I was lying on a bed, looking up at a wooden ceiling.

It's dark, and my hands and legs were tied.

"Ouch! ... my wrist."

I think I sprain my wrist quite badly, and these ropes are making it worse. I tried to get a good sense of how my body is feeling. Earlier on, I hurt my wrist and leg, but I think my leg was only bruised a little. I should be able to endure the pain and walk if I have to.

"You idiots!"

A loud voice shouted behind the walls. I continue to lay in bed, pretending to be asleep, thinking that I would be safer if they think I'm still unconscious.

"Shh! You'll wake the girl!"

I could hear the door creak. I tried to stay asleep, looking as calmly I should be. Then once the sound of the door closes, I open my eyes slightly, trying to focus on the sound next door.

Their voices were lower, but it can still be heard since the wooden house wasn't very soundproof.

"She's still asleep."

"What are we going to do? She's the duke's daughter. That War demon Augustine!"

"You should've lured other noble ladies instead!"

"How would I have known she was that Demon's daughter ?! I send out the bait to a couple of other ladies as well, but only that silvered hair girl took the bait! I didn't know she was friends with this girl!"

There were a couple of voices flying around, but it seems like a female voice was among them. According to the conversation, it should be the maid that told us about the secret garden earlier.

"We went through so much trouble for this! It's impossible to grab a ransom for her now. They dispatch the whole army looking for her!"

I could hear the female started crying.

"I'm sorry I really didn't know....."

"What do we do now, Tegan."

"... we will stay quiet here tonight. Nobody knows about this place other than us. Then we'll move tomorrow morning across the river."

"What about the girl?"

"We'll sell her off to the slave traders once we cross the borders. They won't be able to trace us once we get rid of her."

"Una, go and take whatever that's valuable on her and change her clothes with yours."

I close my eyes again, and I could hear the door creak open with soft footsteps coming into the room.

As I felt her hands trying to remove the jewelry from my body, I slowly open my eyes, and she startled.

"I'm sorry to have scared you. You can continue doing what you were doing. Please do not mind me."

She was trembling, and her hands were shaking while she slowly tried to take off my jewelry.

"Is it ok if I stand? My body is feeling a little numb from lying in the same position for so long. I'm sure it will be easier for you to change my clothes as well."

She nodded again

I stood up bit by bit, trying not to alarm her. I can tell she is not experienced in this. If I could at least try to reason with her, maybe she could let her guard down.

"My name is ivy."

"Huh?"

"It's ok, and you don't have to tell me your name. I just wanted to introduce myself, at least. It helps me feel a little calmer talking to people."

She just nodded and continue to remove my belongings.

"My favorite food is chicken sandwiches."

She looks at me feeling confused, but I continue to talk on my own

"I love reading my books and eating my sandwiches under the tree shade.

I love how the calm wind blows and the gentle sound of the tree leaf swishing.

Then there was this very annoying boy.

He is always around making loud noises with his sword swinging and thumping.

He is very shy and not very honest. Sometimes he can be quite mischievous too.

And he always laughs at me, saying that I wasn't very ladylike.

But what I love most was..... watching him laughing together with me."

"You must really like him."

I was surprised that she finally said a word.

My expression dulled in serious thought, then faintly smiled.

"I'm not sure if I like him, but I care for him very much."

As she tried to remove my clothing, it caught the rope on my wrist and hurt.

"Ouch! ....."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"

"Uhm, yeah. I must've sprained my wrist quite hard when I fall from my horse."

"I'm sorry..."

I looked at her as she cried and gloom.

"I'm not sure what your reasons are for doing this, but I understand that it wasn't an easy decision for you to make. So please don't apologize because I don't need it."

She was stunned as she turns and looks at me in the face, feeling confused with my words.

" Don't apologize for something that you've already decided to do because apologies are only for those who regret it. So just do it until the end and don't look back."

She looks at me as if something had hit her in the face.

Then she smiled

"You are really a strong and amazing lady. I wish I could've been your friend too."

After she changes my garments, she bowed at me and left the room.

As I stood in front of the mirror, I saw that I was wearing a large loosely garment in grey. With my hair tie loosely untangled and my sparkling gemstones remove, I look exactly like a prisoner. I then smirk thinking.

"Is this how I would've looked like on my D-day? I never thought that it comes so soon."

I then curl up my body like a baby in bed and slowly cry myself to sleep.

*********

( Author: Hi, everyone! It has been a pleasure writing this novel so far. This is actually my first time publishing my work, and I was delighted to see people reading it even though sometimes I find it embarrassing he-he. I can't wait to write the next chapter soon. Thanks for reading again!)