Caught (2)

Iris began to come closer to the house. Just as she was approaching closer...

"..!!?"

All of a sudden, Iris's keen senses felt something approaching her, coming closer and closer at lightning speed! Her danger senses rapidly tingled as she put her entire weight to turn the horse to one side as quickly as possible.

Whoosh!

A glistening dagger came cutting through the air and heavily landed on the ground just inches away from Iris!

Iris's eyes widened a little. She hurriedly looked around to see the person who shot at her with such accuracy. She could feel a dangerous presence close by. She immediately dismounted the horse. Cautiously taking every step, she looked around all over. Her brows were tightly furrowed. In one quick move, she picked the dagger embedded in the ground . Clutching it downwards, she spoke up.

"I suggest you reveal yourself. A meaningless hide and seek is a waste of time." Her voice was as calm as ever. Inwardly, she was thinking how many she could handle in her current body.

Suddenly, she heard a low chuckle.

This voice was like a flower that bloomed in the North Pole, bone-chilling cold. Iris's ears felt slightly numb from it.

Soon after, a figure emerged from the dark trees. Along with his emergence, a dark aura filled the air. With the superiority of a king, he took steps towards the girl.

When Iris saw the handsome man, her pupils abruptly constricted.

The Seventh Prince!

Why was he here?!

And with such perfect timing too...

Azura slowly took steps towards Iris, his each step synchronizing with the beats of her heart. Iris quickly calmed herself down and erased any sort of surprise from her face. She expressionlessly gazed at him, inwardly contemplating how to escape.

"What a bold lady, trespassing the restricted territory. Truly broadened my horizons." Azura said in his cello-like voice. He smiled a little but his eyes held no mirth. He seemed to be laughing at her stupidity.

Iris narrowed her eyes slightly. Then, imitating his own, she smiled just as devilishly and spoke,

"What a bold prince, trespassing the restricted territory. Truly broadened my horizons."

She was reminding him that he himself had also moved into the forbidden territory and had no right to criticize her.

Of course, she didn't truly think that way. This prince, were the rules ever effective on him?

Azura seemed a little surprised as he raised his eyebrows. He seemed to know of Iris's identity, that was why he felt a little surprised at the aura coming from her similar to his own.

But that didn't mean that she wouldn't die today!

"So, 3rd Lady of the Prime Minister's manor, This prince suggests you quietly die without resistance. Otherwise, it could get...gruesome." Azura spoke very very slowly in his cold to the core voice. By the end of the sentence, he brought his hand to his waist and drew out his sword, all the while smiling cruelly.

Iris frowned really hard. She subconsciously clutched her dagger harder.

Azura's achievements, such as his martial arts and swords skills, they were all top notch. She really didn't know which one was better, her or him. Receiving a death sentence from him so suddenly, she felt apprehensive. Not to mention how she didn't even have a sword.

But first, why the hell does he want to kill her!?

Trespassing wouldn't give you a death sentence!

Furthermore, why did he even bother to punish her when it wasn't even his business?

He wasn't such a filial prince, was he?

Could it be...

Iris turned her head to look at the house.

Did she see something related to him she shouldn't have seen?

So now he's silencing her?

Feeling it was most likely it, she decided to test him before escaping.

"Your Highness, killing me off so quickly? I haven't even questioned you about what was inside the house yet?" She spoke very meaningfully.

As expected, his expression changed a little. It wasn't apparent but Iris caught it.

After remembering the saying, 'curiosity killed the cat' and sighing at her luck, Iris quickly mounted her white horse and galloped in the opposite direction at full speed! She didn't dare to have a moment of negligence.

Narrowing his eyes, Azura also mounted his own horse, and sped up in hot pursuit. Both of them tore through the forest, one the prey, the other the predator. Iris was turned her head back only to see Azura closing in on her.

Damn, even in this dire moment, she couldn't help but notice how elegantly he sat on his horse.

Clearing her head, she made a sharp turn to the right that Azura wasn't able to follow immediately, creating distance between them.

All Iris could focus on now, was to enter a public area. In such an area, he wouldn't be able to attempt anything on her.

But, Azura wouldn't let her do that so easily.

With a flick of his hand, a dagger appeared out of nowhere. He threw it forward without aiming at all. Yet unexpectedly, it accurately hit where he wanted it to, at the horse's leg!

As soon as his attack was made, the horse swayed and toppled forwards, throwing off Iris from itself!

Startled, Iris tried her hardest to position herself midair. She successfully landed on her feet while the horse fell on the ground.

Looking at the horse's leg, she furiously cursed at Azura in her heart.

That damned piece of...!

Azura's horse approached and stopped in front of Iris. The man himself couldn't help but marvel at her nimble movements mid air as she steadied herself. He had to admit, her level of martial arts seemed high.

Was this something someone who lived deep into the mountains would know?

Gazing down at the girl, she had black hair long enough to reach her waist which she had tied into a high ponytail. Her skin looked fair and soft to touch. Her red eyes were lighter than his own, yet carried the same power as his own. Looking at such a beauty, he became slightly dazed.

Not that he hadn't seen prettier people, he just felt that her scrawled clothes and angry appearance looked oddly enticing.

Too bad for her, she had seen something she shouldn't have!

Dismounting the horse, Azura pointed the tip of his sword towards Iris, preparing to strike.

Yet in that split second, a dagger came flying at his face!

Frowning, he withdrew his sword to deflect the dagger aimed at his face. But when he looked up, Iris had already run quite a distance.

"Playing chase again, huh?" He laughed, a very cold heartless laugh. Just as he was about to chase her, she abruptly stopped and turned around.

Azura looked at her. She had already took off her bow and drawn an arrow aimed at him.