He was still lost in his thoughts, his mind spinning as he tried to understand what had just happened. His breath came out uneven, fogging slightly in the cold forest air. The question still burned in his chest, Was it Rwaine?
The golden eyes… the quiet presence… the careful hands that wrapped his wound. He felt it all.
If it was truly him, then why would he be in the forest? Then he remembered, Rwaine lived on the nearest mountain.
It was possible.If it was truly him, then why would he be in the forest? Then he remembered, Rwaine lived on the nearest mountain. It was possible.
Percival swallowed hard, trying to digest everything that had happened in the past few minutes. The ground beneath him smelled of wet earth and pine.
Then he noticed footprints on the ground, still damp and it glimmered faintly under thin rays of sunlight cutting through the leaves. They were fresh. New enough that whoever saved him couldn't have gone far.
Percival's heart thudded. He pushed his palms against the tree trunk, trying to stand, when he heard it, footsteps rushing toward him, quick and heavy, snapping branches and crushing leaves.
He looked ahead.
Stefan burst through the bushes with several knights close behind. Sweat covered his brow, but the moment he saw Percival sitting weakly beside the tree, relief washed over his face like a wave.
"Thank goodness," Stefan said, breathless. He hurried to Percival's side and crouched down, supporting his arm and helping him rise to his feet.
"The hunt was taking too much time, so the queen ordered us to look for you." Stefan's eyes scanned Percival's body anxiously, searching for injuries.
Then his gaze stopped. He saw Percival's bandaged hand.
His brows pulled together in worry.His brows pulled together in worry.
"You got wounded?" Stefan asked, his voice softening with genuine concern.
Percival clenched his jaw. Something inside him shifted—urgency, fear, confusion. All tangled together.
Without answering, he took one slow step back.
"Wait here," Percival said suddenly, his voice hard and sharp. Before Stefan could question him, Percival turned and ran, sword in hand and heading toward the nearest clearing.
"Percival!" Stefan called after him, but Percival didn't respond. He didn't look back, all he did was run
Stefan had no idea what Percival was chasing… but he ran after him anyway, leaves whipping his face as he pushed his legs faster.
Percival followed the footprints, driven by the need to know. To confirm it was Rwaine. To understand why he was here. His chest tightened with each breath.
He shouldn't have run so fast, not with the wet soil and fading tracks but desperation made him reckless.
The forest suddenly opened into a dead end, a cliff just ahead. Percival stopped abruptly, boots skidding on loose gravel. His heart pounded loudly against his ribs.
Behind him, Stefan stumbled into the clearing, bending forward with his hands on his knees, breath almost running out of him.
Percival didn't even give him time to catch his breath.
"I told you to wait," Percival growled, his voice low and edged with frustration.
Stefan went silent immediately, not daring to answer.
The wind blew cold across the cliffside. Percival stared into the distance… searching, hoping. But there was nothing. Only trees and silence.
He turned away, the fight draining from his shoulders, and began walking back with Stefan beside him.
Unaware that above them, hidden in the thick branches of a tall tree near the cliff, Rwaine watched silently. His golden eyes followed them until they disappeared through the trees.
Only then did he drop softly to the ground and walk in the opposite direction, alone.
******
Fanaza stood by the tall, arched window of her chamber, frozen in place. She stared blankly down at the courtyard below, the chaos, the chatter, the bright colors. The preparations for her wedding had begun at dawn, and the castle was alive with the sound of activity.
The medieval courtyard glimmered with decorations. Servants rushed across with baskets of white lilies and gold ribbons.
Carpenters polished wooden arches for the ceremonial walkway. Tailors carried silk fabrics that shimmered under the sunlight. Large clay vases painted with the royal crest lined the pathway, guarded closely so no one dared to scratch them.
The air was full of voices,
"Place the flower there." One said."
"Be careful with the vase, it cost more than your whole family income." Another said."Be careful with the vase, it cost more than your whole family income." Another said.
"Please do it well, we must find favour in the king's sight." A court lady said.
The place was busy. Crowded, loud and every second, someone barked an order or moved something fragile. Fanaza could hear everything — every whisper, every insult, every desperate attempt to please the crown.
She sighed. Then sighed again. Every minute felt heavier than the last.
A loud knock broke her thoughts.
She turned slowly, it was Sally.
Her maid's eyes were red and swollen, as if she were holding back tears. Her hands trembled slightly as she stepped inside.
Fanaza's heart dropped.
"Sally, is everything okay?" she asked, worried.
Sally shook her head, voice trembling and g.
"My lady, I have a bad news.""My lady, I have a bad news."
Fanaza exhaled deeply.
"What's the news?" she asked, already bracing herself for another heartbreak.
Sally bit her lip. "I don't know how to say it."
Fanaza tried to smile, though it barely held. Her voice stened.
"It's okay. Ever since I was born, I have always heard bad news, so I am not moved. What is it?"
Silence stretched. Sally's chin quivered.
"My lady," Sally whispered.
Fanaza's voice cracked with impatience and dread.
"Speak up, Sally, or is there any bad news that's as worse as getting married to the crown prince?" She forced a painful smile.
The words cut her even as she said them.
Sally took in a shaky breath.
"I came back from Rwaine and I saw his father. He told me Rwaine wants you to stay away from him and he never wants to see you again."
Fanaza's eyes widened. Her heartbeat stilled. "That can't be true… he would never say that." Her voice trembled, each word breaking.
Sally held out a folded letter. "He asked me to give you this."
Fanaza snatched it with shaking hands. She tore the seal quickly and read.
Her vision blurred halfway through. Her breath caught painfully in her throat. She swayed and almost collapsed. Sally rushed forward to hold her.
Fanaza's voice came out small and shattered. "He said he doesn't want me anymore."
Tears welled and spilled down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, my lady," Sally whispered, squeezing her hands tightly.
Her tears came fiercely, rolling down her cheeks.She loved Rwaine — yes, with everything she had. But after what happened the other day, his skin, the truth and the engagement, everything had fallen apart around them like shattered glass.
Her voice cracked.
"No, I don't believe this, I don't believe him. He needs to say it in front of me that he doesn't want me."
She stood abruptly, trying to leave but Sally grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"My lady, be sensible for once" Sally shouted, tears in her own eyes.
Fanaza froze. Her chest rose and fell quickly as she sobbed harder.
Sally continued, voice stern but shaking.
"What do you think? You think going back to the mountains looking for him is the best idea right now? You're getting married, not just to anyone but to the ruthless crown prince who enjoys killing people.
If you get caught, you could be killed. Think for once, my lady, let him go and face the reality, the one you can't escape no matter how hard you try."
Fanaza whispered through tears,
"But love him…""But I love him…"
"Yes, I know." Sally cupped her cheeks. "But have you ever thought of the danger and trouble you'll get into if the king or queen ever finds out? Not only you will be in danger, the entire Dragonseed would share the torture. So please… let him go. He doesn't want you anymore."
Sally's voice cracked at the end. She bowed her head and left the room, closing the door behind her.
The soft thud echoed painfully. Fanaza sank to the floor, resting her will against the bed. She cried. Quiet at first, then louder, until her whole body shook.
She remembered everything, the day he saved her from the bandits, the kiss at the house of mirrors, the warmth of his touch and the look in his eyes.
Now… it was all ending.
Her heart felt like it was tearing apart, piece by piece.
But she didn't die. She's surviving the pain.
******
Later that night, under the silent glow of torches, Queen Lisa slowly opened her eyes, beside King Loban. His arm lay heavy across her waist. Carefully, she lifted it and slipped out of bed.
She moved without a sound, as if she had done it a thousand times.
From the rack, she picked a dark cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. Then she slipped out of the chamber, avoiding the guards with ease.
She walked quickly, holding a torch low to hide its glow. The air beneath the under-bridge was cold and damp.
A young maid waited there — the same one who had interrupted Percival and Fanaza on the day they first met and he told her, he wants her dot the night.
The maid trembled when she saw the queen and rushed forward.
Lisa's voice was firm. "I'm all ears."Lisa's voice was firm. "I'm all ears."
Morgan bowed her head.
"I think the Crown Prince is in love with, Lady Fanaza."
Lisa's face hardened instantly. "How sure are you?" she asked with clear disgust.
"I did exactly what you told me. I spied on the crown prince and I caught her asking him if he loves her," Morgan said.
Lisa snorted. "So? That doesn't prove anything."
Morgan swallowed nervously. "They both kissed… and it was passionate, my queen."
Lisa's eyes widened in shock. Her breastttttth hitched.
"They kissed?" she scoffed.
"Yes, my lady."
Silence. Then something cold entered Lisa's eyes.
"I guess I must have thought too much of my son not to settle less for such a Dragonseed filth." Her voice dripped with hatred.
Morgan bowed again. "My queen, what do you want to do?"
Lisa inhaled slowly, her voice chilling.
"I have to do all I can. I can't let him fall in love with her and have heirs. My clan, the Serpentshade from the south region, would be lost forever and no power would be given to us. He needs to marry someone from my clan so the name can live long and they can offer full support."
Morgan nodded quickly. "If the marriage holds, then it's just a few steps closer to the Dragonseed clan gaining more power if the crown prince becomes king and has an heir with Lady Fanaza."
"Yes, I know," Lisa said with a hollow smile. "I already have a plan."
Morgan licked her lips nervously.
"My queen… how about we arrange for some concubines for the crown prince, ones from your clan, that would give us a chance also."
Lisa hummed softly. A slow, pleased smile spread across her lips and she turned to leave.
But before she could reach her chambers, guards caught sight of her movement.
"Wait there!" a guard shouted.
Lisa froze in the shadows.
The guard approached the cloaked figure.
"Take off the hood."
Morgan slowly lifted her face into the torchlight.
The guard blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"I was only running errands for the royal chief," Morgan said with a bow.
The guard let her pass.
From the opposite corner, Lisa slipped unseen back toward her room. When she returned to King Loban's arms, she exhaled in relief.
She closed her eyes.
"I would do everything in my power to return back power and wealth to my clan, the legacy I've created must not be broken," she whispered to herself as she drifted to sleep.
******
Meanwhile, Fanaza could not sleep.
She tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around her legs. Her body felt unbearably hot, burning with exhaustion and stress. Finally, she pushed herself up and decided to step outside to breathe.
The night was silent, and she felt she could hear her heartbeat. The moon shone brightly above, casting silver light across the palace grounds.
She walked toward the bridge, the stones cool beneath her bare feet. The water beneath it shimmered, reflecting the moon like a giant glowing coin. For a moment, she smiled softly. Nature still held beauty… even when her heart was breaking.
She stepped further. Then she saw him.
Percival.
He stood still, wearing an armless top, the moonlight brushing his muscles and the bandage wrapped around his arm. His presence filled the quiet night like a storm waiting to break.
Fanaza stared at him, confused.
Hours ago, she cried until she almost fainted because Rwaine ended things with her. Now Percival appeared again, in the quiet of the night, like fate pulling her in another direction.
Part of her wanted to walk toward him, but she forced herself to turn away.
She took one step and then she heard his familiar voice behind her.
"Fanaza."