Birds chirped in the trees. White sunlight poured through the leaves. The night had passed and the morning had come.

Herietta sat with her knees up and her head resting on it. She stayed up all night, worried that the masked men might come back. However, no matter how much they turned on the lights and looked, they did not appear again.

Janice said they had given up looking for them and left the place. But Herietta shook her head. It seems like Shawn placed a huge reward on her head.

It was a group that only moved because of money. They couldn't have given up so easily. They would be willing to sit still for days to live. Herietta didn't know what kind of thoughts were going through Janice right now.

Rustle, rustle.

There was the sound of something moving in the bush, and a rabbit with gray fur jumped out. It woke up early in the morning, and it rubbed its ears and face with its cute paws. Herietta grinned and stared at the scene.

A peaceful forest. A quiet morning. The fresh smell of grass.

Her eyelids kept closing. Looking to the side, Janice had already fallen asleep.

'I can't sleep. I can't sleep'

It was as if a large boulder hung over her eyelids. In particular, she felt even more tired because she had been very nervous all night. Before long, Herietta began to doze off.

After an uncertain number of hours passed. She once again heard a rustling sound nearby. It was louder and clunkier than before.

Are there any other wild animals nearby? Herietta thought as she continued to keep her eyes closed.

And then

Kyaak!

She woke up to Janice's sharp scream. She looked up and saw a man in a mask standing in front of the bushes.

Hi, good morning.

It was the same man who stood next to the man called Captain last night.

Were you still hiding here? I didn't know that, and I looked for you somewhere else for a while.

He said, his eyes arched into a smile while his tone was friendly.

Thump. Her chest fell. Herietta was so startled that she couldn't even scream.

So, which of the two will be the princess of Velicia?

The man's eyes scanned Herietta and Janice. It wasn't the eyes that looked at equal human beings. It was the eyes of someone that looked at their prey as if they were drawing them in.

Janice, who was trembling with fear, shouted.

Are, are you doing this for the dowry? Well then, it's just in vain! Not, nothing worth the money for us!

Is it you?

What, what Ackk!

The man made a sudden move. He reached out over the bush and grabbed Janice's hair. She had no way of escaping. Janice screamed in pain as her hair was being ripped out.

I heard you weren't even twenty yet.

The man muttered while scanning Janice's face. Then he looked at Herietta, who was still sitting there.

Then it must be you. The target that was requested by the next Duke of Rowani.

How How dare you guys do this and hope to stay safe!

Janice contorted her face in pain while shouting and admonishing the man. He frowned.

How noisy.

He pulled an elongated object from his waist. It flashed eerily in the sunlight, and then completely penetrated Janice's body.

Slash. There was the strange sound of cutting flesh and bone. The sharp blade protruding from Janice's back was reflected in Herietta's eyes, which grew bigger from fear and shock.

Kuhk Kuhuk.

There was the sound of rising phlegm in Janice's mouth. She tried with all her might to push the man away from her but to no avail. Her body trembled.

That's better.

The man chuckled softly. He pulled out the sword that was in Janice's body. Splash. Dark red blood gushed out from the spot where the sword was drawn. Then, her body, which had been sitting upright, slowly collapsed like a sandcastle hit by the waves.

Herietta stared blankly at Janice, who had fallen in front of her. Breathing in wildly and trembling, she vomited blood a couple of times before she lay still and ceased to breathe.

The fishy smell pierced Herietta's nose. A thick, hot liquid wet Herietta's palms. It was the life of someone who had lived by her side just a moment ago.

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A nightmare. This is just such a terrible nightmare.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Born and raised in the peaceful Philioche, Herrietta had never witnessed anyone die, or even be brutally murdered, before her eyes. As she witnessed the horrific scene, her thoughts stopped.

She had to move, but she couldn't. She was supposed to help, but she couldn't.

The man's eyes turned to Herietta.

Have you waited long? It's your turn now.

He said menacingly. The sword in his hand was stained with bright red blood.

Herietta suddenly snapped out of her trance. She sat still and was helpless at his hands and she was about to be killed. But what could she do about it? She had no weapon to protect herself. Even if she got up and ran, she probably couldn't get away from him.

Herietta instinctively pulled back from her seated position. He smirked coldly as he saw her backing up, crawling on the floor, staggering.

Yeah, it's no use.

He enjoyed and savored her horror. Thump. Thump. As if there was no need for him to hurry, he walked slowly around the bush and approached her.

Don't worry. If I had been the captain, I would have killed you as painfully as possible, but I am not that cruel. I will send you off as soon as possible, painlessly, and as quickly as possible.

It was a tone that seemed to show great mercy to the other party.

His shadow hung long over Herietta's body. His eyes, exposed over the black mask, flashed with murderous intent. Drops of blood fell on the blade that hung downward.

Herietta had a hunch that the end of her life was not far off. Her death was close enough that she could smell it.

As she thought that she had little time left, her past moments flashed like a panorama before her eyes. Places where life was long and short. People who spent time together with her.

The rapidly changing scene stopped at a person's face.

A man looked at her with his deep blue eyes.

'Edwin.'

The person she pined for and longed to be with forever.

'Edwin.'

Even though she was able to keep him by her side, in the end, she let go of that person first.

Herietta bit her lower lip. As she stood in the face of death, everything she had considered complicated seemed to be in vain.

What she wanted and wished for. What was really important in life.

A deep regret came over her.

If only I could turn back time. If only I could go back to the past.

She thought.

Then she will tell him how she felt. And no matter what happens, she will not let go of his hand.

I'll send you off in one strike, so don't move.

The man warned. He raised the hand holding the sword upward.

Herietta looked up from afar. She has grabbed something as she fumbled on the ground. It was a stone with quite sharp edges.

Goodbye.

To say goodbye.

Just once is fine. If only she could see him again. If only she could see Edwin again.

Her fervent wish caused something to burn up inside her. She didn't know what she was thinking after that. The man moved to cut Herietta, and she quickly rolled her body aside to dodge his attack. Instead of soft skin, he frowned as he took the pitiful ground.

I told you not to move.

He turned his head to the side to look at Herrietta. And at that moment, Herietta went for his face with all her might, wielding the stone she was holding.

Ack!

He screamed, unable to defend himself from the unexpected attack. Red blood dripped down his forehead.

This crazy You crazy bitch!

The man yelled at her in anger and waved his hand to grab her. However, it was difficult to see properly because of the flowing blood. The man's hand swerved and grabbed the necklace from her neck instead of her. With a clink, the small silvery object fell to the floor.

While the man paused for a moment, Herietta got up and started running without knowing where she was heading or where she was going. In her ears, the sound of her rough breathing was unnaturally loud.

'Please. Please.'