"Fast! Fast!"
A hoarse voice commanded sharply, "Drag each of them out. Search every corner of the caravan."
Instantly, heavy footsteps echoed through the darkness, followed by the screams and cries of countless helpless women. The captives were barely regaining their senses, their eyes still blindfolded with strips of black cloth.
As the invaders began pulling them out of the caravan, some of the women cried out in terror and pain. The harsh jingling of heavy chains stirred Rue and Jo from their sleep. It was already midnight.
Through the wide-open door, the starry summer sky stretched over the vast desert of golden sand. A crescent moon bathed the dunes in a ghostly silver glow along the growling of wild breezes and the seldom screaming of the nocturnal birds.
Clutching Rue's arm tightly, Jo whispered, "Brother, who are they? Are they here to buy us?"
Rue murmured, pulling her close, "Stay with me. It's too dark to see anything."
The terrified screams of the women pierced the night, making Jo flinch and bury her face in her brother's chest.
Rue crawled quietly toward Hazel, who was still asleep. He whispered in a dry and alarmed tone, "Your Highness, are you—"
"Shhh."
Hazel's velvety voice cut in cautiously. "It seems we're in real danger. You two must stay behind me. The caravan stopped in the middle of the desert. There is something wrong."
Jo whispered, "Sister… are you okay now?"
A soft chuckle escaped Hazel's lips despite the chaos. "Yes, Jo. Don't worry. I'll protect both of—"
Before she could finish, a sudden, forceful pull dragged her out of the dark, dingy caravan and hurled her onto the rough yet yielding sand. The cold midnight breeze swept over her like a haunting lullaby. Though her vision was still dark by the blindfold, she could feel dozens of eyes watching—men surrounding the women like wolves. Their heavy footsteps were screaming about their strengths and their tones were merciless.
'Are they really buyers? Isn't there any way to escape?'
A deep voice asked the leader, "Captain, there are thirteen women and two kids. Should we really kill them all?"
"Yes," came the immediate response. "Check them thoroughly first. Interrogate properly—then bury them in the sand."
Hazel's brows drew together in utter confusion, 'Bury them? But weren't we supposed to be traded?'
Before she could think further, someone began unlocking her chains. Rough hands moved over her, checking for hidden weapons. Her limbs were too weak to fight him off, but she still managed to snarl in disgust,"How dare you touch me! Step back!"
The hands paused for a second before the man sneered, "This filthy slave got a sharp tongue!"
He turned toward the Captain, who stood only a few steps away, overseeing the operation, and said, "Captain, these women… they're too beautiful. Especially this one. Killing them all would be such a waste."
Without waiting for a response, his hand slid upward, tracing the delicate skin of Hazel's neck. The rough touch made Hazel recoil instantly. She jerked back, growling as she fumbled to untie the blindfold with her numb hands,"What a disgusting creep! Don't touch me with your filthy hands."
Though she was trying hard to untie her eyes, her fingers weren't cooperating with her; her hands felt too heavy to even move slightly.
Her sharp words wounded his pride. Furious, he grabbed a handful of her golden hair to drag her back—but Rue shoved him away with all his strength, suddenly charging from behind. The sudden blow caught the knight off guard, and he tumbled to the ground.
Rue stepped in front of Hazel and challenged furiously, "Touch her again, and I'll kill you!"
That bold threat—coming from a thin, frail boy to a knight of twice his size—startled everyone. The guards halted what they were doing and turned toward the commotion. Some even jeered at the fallen knight.
"Victor, did a kid just knock you down?"
"Haha! Eat more, Victor. You're clearly starving."
The red dragon crest on Victor's shoulder gleamed in the pale moonlight as his comrades mocked him. Too caught up in their laughter, none of them noticed the dark silhouette that quietly approached from behind to investigate the cause of chaos.
His crimson robe was fluttering in the midnight wind, and glowing red eyes fixated on the blonde girl—too weak to even untie her blindfold, yet fierce enough to spit words like daggers.
That fragile-looking boy also drew the man's attention. Though visibly worn, he stood firm, shielding Hazel and glaring at the soldiers of Flareon, ready to fight with anyone to protect her.
"BASTARD!"
Victor, a mighty knight of Flareon, jumped on his feet, boiling in wrath, "I'll kill you first, boy—and then teach that slut a lesson! Son of a bitch!"
He lunged at Rue, slamming him to the ground with brutal force. Rue was trying to fight back but he was no match to a giant like knight. His uncountable punches made him bleed and writhe in pain. Jo rushed to her brother, too terrified to speak.
Still, Rue tried to rise, voice barely a whisper, "Stay away from Her Highness… I—"
His words faded, too soft for the knights to hear as they were enjoying the extreme unfair fight shamelessly.
Hazel took a step back, her eyes hidden but she was trembling in anger. Though she couldn't see anything, she guessed everything from all the noises around her, "You call yourself a soldier? Beating a kid mercilessly—what a cowardly freak!"
Spitting on the ground, she growled fiercely, "Che! I heard Flareon was the land of mighty red dragons. Looks like it's just a pack of mutt, ruling now."
"Shut up or I will cut your tongue!"
Victor roared and slapped her across the face. The blow made her head spin; her jaw throbbed as teeth clattered from the impact. She staggered and nearly fell—
But instead, she collided with a solid chest. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her to stand straight.
With one powerful motion, her saviour shoved Victor aside like a ragdoll. His husky voice thundered, "Do only what you're ordered, Victor. Just this once, I'll overlook your stupidity. Don't disappoint me again."
Victor dropped to his knees and bowed his head hastily, his voice shaking, "Your Highness… that slave questioned your command. I was only trying to teach—"
"Leave, before I change my mind," the deep voice interrupted, filled with quiet rage.
Then, he turned his attention to the woman trembling in his arms. Hazel looked dazed as a sharp stinging pain was rioting all over her.
The blindfold was tangled in her golden hair, clinging to her eyes, making it impossible to remove alone. One side of her face was swollen, the soft pink cheeks now flushed red from the blow.
His crimson eyes studied her face before his fingers gently removed the cloth.
"You're not afraid to die, woman?" he asked in a grave, curious tone while examining her face, "How dare you speak back to us?"
Despite the harsh words, there was a strange politeness to his voice.
Hazel blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted. The first thing she saw was a pair of blazing red eyes under the starry night sky. His fair skin and raven-black hair made those gem-like eyes burn brighter. He was around 24 years old with a chiselled physique of a trained warrior.
'So beautiful… How can a man be this ethereally handsome?'
In the moonlight, he looked like the most striking man on the continent—devastatingly handsome with a terrifyingly dominant aura.
For a moment, time stopped. Their eyes locked.
The wind tousled their hair, his crimson robe fluttering behind him. Hazel quickly looked away, cheeks flushed. It was hard to endure his intense gaze for long.
"I… I believe in fate, Your Highness," she said, calming her rapid breaths. "If I'm fated to die tonight, even Hecate can't save me."
From the red-clad soldiers surrounding her, Hazel easily guessed—they had been intercepted by none other than the royal army of Flareon.
And the man before her was one of the nine infamous princes of the Red Dragon Kingdom—Flareon.
His eyes narrowed slightly as a flicker of recognition crossed his face, and in a low, unreadable tone, he murmured,"The First Princess of Bloom… here, under the moon of Flareon? Fate truly has a twisted plan tonight."