18

While the men looked like they had conquered the universe, I looked around the forest in search of nothing in particular until my eyes fell on something right beside me on the ground. 

"Should we start?" One of the men asked, looking like an eager bear.

"The money first. Let's take the money." The man, who seemed to be the leader of the unfortunate gang spoke up. He turned to me, "Where is the money you made today?"

Feigning innocence, I asked, "What money? I have no idea of what you are talking about." As gingerly as possible, I tucked my coin bag further into my gown. "What makes you think I have money with me?"

The men peered down at me, "Master, that's a lie. I saw that old hag give her a bag of coins! She is a lying wench!" One of them declared.

"Oh my! How ill-mannered to insult a lady."

The man that was referred to as master cocked one of his bushy brows. Oh, for goodness sake! Why do these men keep doing the brow thing? Is it an agreement of some sort? The Masterman began, "I am not going to ask you again. Where is the money?" 

In a condition like this, what do you do? Beg! Yes, that's it, I will beg them. "Please, I don't have any money with me! Please, don't do this to me!" Ugh, why do I feel like that was dramatic? I hope I really sounded like a damsel in distress. 

"Don't worry, you will like what we are going to do to you. All. Night. Long. Just you and us." Their master declared with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. 

"You will be punished!" I declared, too.

"Punished? By who? We are men!" They laughed like animals.

My fear was quickly replaced by anger. 'We are men,' is their excuse for causing trouble and destroying lives. "Don't you people have children? Don't you have daughters you want to protect?"

"Daughters? My fifteen-year-old daughter just got married yesterday. Her husband will protect her if he wants. It is not my business." one of the men proudly chimed.

"Fifteen? Married? Is she not too young?"

The man's eyes twinkled, "Who cares? I got cool money in place of her." 

"How could you sell your daughter to another man and have the audacity to smile?—" 

"Enough of the bickering. You!" Their master randomly pointed at one of the men, "Bring her to my chambers!"

"Wait! Wait! Don't touch me! Argh!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, causing the approaching thug to halt. "Do you know who I am?"

"Who are you?" The men chorused like they had been waiting for the question all along.

"I am a Princess! Princess Gwendolyn! The future Queen of Almor Kingdom! I have lots of money! My fiance will give you loads of it!"

The man's eyes raked my body on the ground, "A princess coming to the market to sell things? Don't you know it is a taboo?" From first man. 

"A rat like you sure has big dreams! Don't worry, we will have your head checked after we are done with you" Came their master's mocking reply as they all roared in laughter. Disadvantages of not being popular. I should have taken Ava's advice to have a bodyguard tag along. 

"You people are one of the reasons the society will never be better. If you need money, why don't you go out there and work like other respectable men? Actually, it is quite unfortunate you think of yourselves as men. Real men don't go about hunting innocent women in the forest. I am a woman who worked hard for the money that you are trying to steal. Why don't you try working and earning your money instead of terrorizing people? You know what, I have money, lots of it. But over my dead body will I hand it over to you a bunch of useless men! You will have to kill me before you can touch my money or body!" Okay, I might have as well kept my thoughts to myself because I am sure they all fell on deaf ears that do not care about right or wrong.

"Your wish is my command, Milady." Their good-for-nothing master beamed down at me, promising me a slow and torturous death with his eyes. Yipee! I just signed my death contract! Looking at it from the bright side, I won't have to go through with the marriage. "Get her." 

Out of instinct, I grabbed the lonely stone beside me and hurled it at the man approaching me. "Ouch!" Staggering back a little, he clutched his forehead where the stone had inflicted pain. "You little witch!" The man's nose flared in anger as he dashed forward and struck me hard across the cheek. "How dare you!" As he was about to initiate the second strike their master interfered.

"Stop! We don't need you damaging the good now. The fresher the better. Tie her up and bring her along before someone sees us here."

"Please, wait, wait—Argh!" With rage in his eyes, the thug stomped towards me as he brought out a rope from his pocket, which told me that they had the operation planned. My heart hammered in my chest as I tried to free myself from the man's hold, but it was just a futile attempt as I had already angered him earlier. It didn't even help to know that he reeks of sweat and rum like he hadn't bathed for a couple of days. 

"Stay still, would you?" He begged, or should I say, commanded while struggling to tie my hands.

"I would have done that if you are not trying to kidnap me! Someone help—" That was as much as I could get out as another man went behind and covered my mouth with his dirty hand. Without thinking twice about my action, I bit into the palm retricting my speech, causing the thug to whimper in pain, but he still managed to hold on tight.

"Why are you so stubborn?" One of the men hissed, looking ready to strike. 

"All done." The one tying my hands declared, "Should I remove the trap?" He asked their master.

"No. She should walk with it, or better still, drag her along." The men looked pleased with their master's decision as they all gave me the 'serves her right,' look. 

The one behind me used his dirty kerchief to replace his palm on my mouth. "Let's go get the party started." With an arrogant smile, the man began walking away.

Yay, party time. I am so excited. "Are you ready?" One of the men asked in excitement

"Go to hell you blasted men." It would have been nice if this damn dirty kerchief wasn't stuck in my mouth.

The men chuckled. "Sorry, did you say something?

A gurgling sound filled the forest, "I guess not. Time to go, don't you think— Argh!" The man's sudden scream had me flinching as he fell in front of me. My eyes widened when they fell on the arrow that was deeply embedded in his thigh. I was still trying to make sense of the situation when another arrow wheezed past me and hit its target, causing another scream to echo in the usually quiet forest. 

"Show yourself, you scoundrel!" Their master shouted at no one in paticular. Everyone looked around in search of the anonymous shooter because we didn't know who the next target was — hopefully not me. Something hit the floor with a soft thud— human. 

All heads, including mine, quickly turned to the direction of the noise, only for me to see a familiar man! What is he doing here?

"Who are you?! How dare you attack my men?" Their master seethed. 

"How shameless. Four men attacking a lady? Disgraceful."

Without sparing the men a glance, the intruder, no, my saviour, rushed over to my side and quickly untied the kerchief in my mouth before bringing out a small knife from his footwear to cut the rope. "Your Highness, are you okay?" Asked my saviour.

Still not believing my eyes, I poked a finger into the man's chest as he stared down at me, "Rob?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"It is really you! What are you doing here?" I asked.

"That is not important. How did you end up in this situation?" He brushed off my question as his face turned neutral.

"Um, I was just taking a stroll when these men attacked me." I explained. What? There is no way I am 

"A stroll in the forest? What happened to the palace grounds?" Even through his neutral expression, I could tell he knew something. "We need to get you back to the palace and have this injury treated before it gets infected."

"Sure. It hurts like hell." I expected him to scold me for using the unnladylike language, but he just smiled.

"I am sure it does. I have get this devil's trap off you."

"Sounds like a plan." Grabbing my hand, he placed it on his shoulder, "Hold on to me if it is too painful. Close your—" 

"Hey! Why are you ignoring us when we have an unfinished business? Do you think we would let you go? Better start praying for mercy."

I expected Rob to fret, but the man was calm as he listened to fool rant behind him. Locking eyes with me, he flashed me another smile, "Can you hold on for two minutes? Will you be okay, Your Highness?"

Nodding frantically, I said, "Of course! I am good at handling pains. Do take your time, and please, be careful."