Luca ran as fast as his legs could carry him, boots thudding against the uneven dirt path, breath heavy, regret pounding in his chest louder than his footsteps.
Damn it... I shouldn't have shouted at her. I should've stayed calm…
But he forced himself to focus. There was no time for guilt now.
Who are these people?
His thoughts sharpened, analyzing the situation as he ran. Could they be enemies of Count Fairmoore? No… if that were the case, they wouldn't have told me the location. They would've just killed her outright.
Then… are they kidnappers trying to demand ransom? Again, no. If money was the goal, they would've contacted her father, not me. There's no reason to involve a minor noble like me unless—
Wait… are they after me? His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sabers. But I don't have enemies. Not that I know of.
