Chapter 22

She was inside the dream again. The 19-year-old weakling Elizebeth. She was the spectator as usual. The nightgown that she wore was the same when she ran away from the castle and she was inside the hold sir Mark. Undoubtedly, the dream would explain how she got all the dirt soon enough. Right now, she was as clean as before. Barefoot still. It was the answer to why she was barefoot before. It was too chaotic to see what's around them.

From between the neck and shoulder, she peeked at the brother who already walked away from both of them without a second glance. The bouncy ride inside sir Mark blurry her vision yet she was still struggling to have a last look at her brother. It might be her last chance to see him.

"My Lady, I'm sorry for the uncomfortable ride." The tight face Mark expressed his regret for not giving her a comfortable experience during the escape. Well, escaping from danger was never a pleasure anyway.

"It's okay, sir Mark. I'm grateful you took me with you. I apologize for bothering you."

Mark gave her a silence as an answer while darting in some direction. He gripped her slim tightly and back knee, closing the gap as the chest hitting his metal armor.

Elizebeth just stayed inside his hold and looked behind him, watching her brother until she saw nothing. Her empty eyes proceed to watch the calm trees as Mark went deep into the dark jungle inside the castle ground still. He stopped a few minutes after right in front of the black horse that was tied at the tree trunk.

"My Lady, I will put you down." Said him shortly before putting her down very gently.

"Than- thank you." Her foot landed on the soft and cold grass. She cast down her eyes to see and feel a short peace while Mark was preparing everything.

Mark prepared the horse while sometimes glanced at her Elizebeth quickly to ensure her safety. "My Lady." He extended his hands not far from her after climbing on the horseback.

Elizebeth cocked her face, Mark was on the horse, waiting for her to grab his hand patiently. In the dark, his orange hair fluttering and the handsome face enlightened her view. He was a handsome man. She never looked at him properly before.

"My Lady."

She jolted. Right. They are in the middle of the escape. Elizebeth quickly grabbed the hand and let the man pull her up on the horse. He grabbed her like she was light as a feather, so effortlessly. His big arm snaked around her waist before he pulls her up and sits her in front of him.

"Are you uncomfortable, My Lady?"

My Lady… Mark refused to call her title as if he refused her reelected title. It was understandable. The mother of the country shouldn't be this weakling. The impostor Elizebeth agreed with him too.

"I'm okay." Elizebeth gripped the horse's hair.

"We will move fast. Please grip the horse very tightly, My Lady."

Elizebeth clenched her jaw and nodded.

Satisfied by the answer, he kicked the horse and ran towards the set place. The cold breeze hitting her cheek, her long hair dancing beautifully together with the wind. Her beautiful feature shone under the moonlight, pounding Mark's heart without her knowing. The occasional glance from Mark was so subtle and she wasn't aware of it.

But of course, the impostor Elizebeth or Olivia saw it and read into it more than necessary. She knew the real meaning of the gaze. It was full of hidden desire. He used a tight face to conceal his true desire while in fact he was head over heels in love with her in the dark.

"This useless Elizebeth has a lot of fans. She gathered them like a freaking harem. It's the face. It's totally the face. Or maybe her stupidly innocent act. There's no in between. I swear. Gosh, so irritating." Olivia mumbled alone.

Their path was so clear and easy, it baffled Mark. It wasn't supposed to be this easy unless there's something big awaiting them in the middle. He anxiously looked around to see any suspicious movement but only able to hear the sound of the horse's nails hitting the short grass. Maybe it was his paranoia but he couldn't shake the bad omen inside his heart.

The dark of the forest suddenly was colorful with hot steam coming down like a meteor, burning the leaves from above. Both of them looked at the sky and that's when they saw it. Their nightmare. Elizebeth's gave away right away, leaning against Mark's chest while Mark just gritted his teeth. Both his hands were busy either to steady Elizebeth and to hold the rope.

"Damn." He cussed. He jinxed it. He didn't expect the trouble would be this big and powerful. They have any proper equipment nor had the proper knowledge to fight one. "What a hassle."

"It's a dragon. It's an actual dragon." Elizebeth spoke mindlessly. Her face was pale. She was beyond shock to compose herself back. She wasn't expecting this at all. She didn't even know the existence of the dragon. Her father never told her about this being in her entire life.

"We need to move stealthily, My Lady." Commented Mark while focusing back on his ride. He had a mission to accomplish. He had to accomplish this mission as his life was on the line. Even means he had to sacrifice his life.

"KYA!" Elizebeth screamed shortly and laid her body on the horse's neck. "I made eye contact."

Mark looked at her back in concern before he looked at the sky and surprisingly the dragon stared straight at them. The dread of fear circling inside his body. Churning his stomach before he focused back on his road ahead. Gritted his teeth tightly.

Meanwhile, Elizebeth hugged the horse tightly. She was brimmed with tears but she refused to do so. She bit the inside of her lip until it hurt and stared into the horse neck as if it held the answers to every question she ever had, mustering every single ounce of willpower she possessed to keep her tears at bay. She didn't want to break just yet. Not yet. She was closed to escape from the palm of the crazy king.

And she will escape.

Once in a while, Mark would glance above to see the status of the dragon. Oddly, the dragon didn't attack them, instead of letting them run from the castle ground. What it did was just spitting its fireball from its mouth towards the direction behind them.

Towards the direction behind them?

Olivia saw it. Olivia saw where the dragon aimed at. It was the imperial soldiers. The dragon was protecting the weak Elizebeth. It lets Elizebeth escape the castle ground. However, the imperial soldiers were too many, some may escape the wrath and go straight to their horse.

"We have stalkers," Mark smirked. Kicking the horse to accelerate. Letting the soldiers chase them from behind. They are almost out of the castle ground. A few meters ahead and he could freely drop her at any spot. She was more familiar with the street than the castle ground, that's the reason he stubbornly wanted to drop her off outside castle ground. His young lady was a smart girl. She'll know where to go.

"My Lady."

Elizebeth rose instantly. Lending her ears as she understood the meaning of the heavy breathing behind her.

"I'll let you go once we are out of this ground. You'll be free to go to the duke and young master Demien. They are waiting for My Lady at your respected house."

She listened tentatively while nodding her head frantically.

She held back her tears from falling, held back the crippling anguish that would've forced him to face the thought that plagued his minds. The thoughts of the ones she'd shared the same bed and breath with the king. She was so disgusted with herself. Selling herself like a prostitute to survive. A shame to her and her whole ancestors.

She stopped thinking when the horse halted their legs abruptly. It meant it's her time to do her own task. Without a word, she came down from the horse with the help of sir Mark. She looked up at the handsome man above her.

"Go, My Lady." His face looked sad. His eyes shining beautifully almost took her breath away.

She wanted to say something. Small gratitude might not do justice with his help but it would suffice for now. "Thank you, sir Mark. I'll repay your kindness-" She shut her mouth when Mark just shook slowly with the most painful smile he summoned. He looked like he was suffering not from the ongoing war but the conflict within himself.

"Stay safe, My Lady."

Elizebeth impulsively took a step back. It was a goodbye smile. The one where they would never meet again even in a normal situation. The beat of silence engulfed them. No one dared to say anything, the harsh breeze of the wind couldn't even tend the broken atmosphere.

"In front!"

The peace only broke down when the imperial soldiers became near.

Mark glanced at his side, "stay safe, My Lady." Said without spare his look any longer and ushered the horse inside the forest once again. Leaving Elizebeth alone on the empty street.