Breathless and desperate, Princess Eiliane darted swiftly through the shadowy forest, with nowhere to flee. The ominous echo of footsteps filled the eerie woods as black-clad men relentlessly pursued her.
'Royal Mother, Imperial Father...' Images of the Imperial parents lying in their own pool of blood haunted her mind as she sought to evade the chasing guards.
"As long as you live, my princess, the blood of Eutian will never perish." Her Imperial Father's final words echoed in her mind as she ran.
"Princess Eiliane… surrender yourself. There's no place left to run. Guards! Apprehend the fugitive!"
Head Imperial Guard Fullin commanded his men as they cornered Princess Eiliane.
Eiliane halted when she saw what lay ahead. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face her pursuers.
"Traitors! My Imperial Father treated you all with kindness." She confronted them, her fear masked by a brave facade.
"One must occasionally assess the situation carefully and act in accordance with it. You can't blame us for betrayal, His majesty was a weak ruler. Guards, seize her!"
As the guards advanced, Eiliane retreated, her back against the precipice. She glanced at the cliff behind her, then at the guards, before closing her eyes.
The icy wind whipped around her as gravity pulled her into the abyss.
"Mother… Father… I have failed you… I might never be able to avenge you."
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she surrendered herself to the darkness.
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Meanwhile, a Maybach cruised smoothly along the road, carrying the young master of the Bailey family. The drive was peaceful with light traffic ensuring a smooth journey, until the car screeched to a to a sudden halt.
Young Master Bailey stirred, confusion etched on his cold face.
"Apologies Young Master, there's a lady in the middle of the road," the chauffeur explained before stepping out of the car. Curious he too went out of the car.
Both the chauffeur and Young Master Bailey approached the unconcious woman lying in the middle of the street, dressed in a long, historical-looking gown. The chauffeur was already on the phone, calling an ambulance, when the woman slowly opened her eyes.
"Miss, the ambulance is on its way. We'll get you to the hospital soon." The chauffeur reassured her.
But the woman looked around, her eyes filled with confusion and fear. She tried to crawl away, terrified of the unfamiliar surroundings and the tall, intimidating man approaching her.
The man clenched his jaw, taken aback by the woman's palpable fear. He halted and stared at her. Up close, he was awestruck by her beauty, a beauty so profound it could topple nations. But as the piercing sound of the ambulance siren filled the air, panic marred her beautiful face.
The woman tried to stand, planning to escape, but before she could, she felt a firm grip on her wrist. She turned and found herself looking into the expressionless face of the man, which only heightened her fear. She searched for an escape, but everything went black.