As the night deepened, faint light flickered within the sparse forest. After finishing his porridge, Julian had drifted into sleep, though his breathing remained heavy. Fiona sat nearby, holding a dry twig, feeding it into the fire to keep the flames alive.
In the distance, small glimmers of light flickered in the darkness. The sound of hooves and the clinking of armor echoed through the silent night.
A group of royal soldiers was searching every inch of land. They had been searching for hours but had yet to find any trace of Prince Julian.
"Keep looking! The prince has been missing for too long. If anything happens to him, none of us will be able to bear the consequences!"
The urgent voice of Prime Minister Alexandro rang out. Hundreds of soldiers responded in unison before quickly scattering in different directions.
Fiona remained unaware. She glanced at Julian as he slept, mumbling:
"Such a nuisance. Why did you have to fall into the river and make me take care of you like this?"
She sighed, but the corners of her lips curled up slightly. No matter how cold and difficult Julian was, he didn't look so terrifying while asleep.
But at that moment...
Shouts from soldiers rang out nearby!
Fiona jolted in surprise, whipping her head toward the forest. She quickly shook Julian.
"Hey… wake up! Someone's coming!"
Julian merely furrowed his brows, his breathing heavy, his body exhausted. Fiona anxiously looked around. If they stayed here, they would definitely be found!
With no other choice, she struggled to lift Julian onto Juk's back. But the problem was… she didn't know how to ride a horse!
Just then, Julian stirred slightly. His eyes were still hazy, but when he heard Fiona muttering in worry:
"There are a lot of people coming… It's like they're searching for someone…!"
Julian instinctively tightened his grip on her from behind, his voice hoarse:
"Enemy remnants?"
Before Fiona could answer, he instinctively took her hands, placing them on the reins, patiently guiding her in handling the horse. His warm breath brushed against her nape, and the strong grip around her waist made her face flush red.
"Hey… wake up, you fool! You can sit up on your own!" – She stammered, but didn't push him away.
Julian didn't respond, only leaning in slightly. Even in his weakened state, his reflexes were sharp. Juk immediately understood his master's intent, letting out a loud neigh before bolting forward like the wind, leaving the shouting voices far behind…
Scene Shift – The Royal Army
Prime Minister Alexandro frowned as a soldier rushed forward to report:
"Sir, we've found traces of a horse heading southeast!"
Alexandro tightened his grip on the reins, his gaze sharp.
"Pursue them! If it's the prince, we must ensure his safe return. If it's enemy remnants… kill them without mercy!"
Immediately, hundreds of cavalrymen sped toward the direction of the tracks. The flickering torchlight illuminated faint traces on the ground.
In the distance, two figures rode swiftly through the forest…
Scene Shift – Deep in the Forest
After shaking off the soldiers, Fiona, though frightened, struggled to keep her balance on the horse. Her breathing was heavy, hands gripping the reins tightly, her heart pounding with tension.
Juk galloped for a long stretch before finally slowing down. Behind her, Julian, though still weak, maintained his balance, one hand resting on her waist to keep himself steady.
"There… there's an old cabin. Let's rest there."
Without hesitation, Fiona leaned forward and gently nudged Juk's neck. The horse immediately shifted direction. Upon arrival, she quickly pulled on the reins to stop.
The old wooden door creaked as she pushed it open.
Inside, it was pitch dark, filled with dampness and dust. A rickety wooden cot covered in cobwebs stood in one corner, along with scattered pieces of armor. A long-unused fireplace sat at the edge of the room.
Fiona turned back to help Julian inside, then—without warning—began untying her outer dress.
"Hey… what are you doing?" – Julian's face flushed slightly, his voice a little awkward.
Fiona chuckled, answering nonchalantly:
"Don't get the wrong idea! You're overthinking it."
With that, she spread the dress over the wooden cot, patting it before saying:
"Lie down here. Your wound hasn't healed yet, and I don't want it getting worse."
Julian remained silent, staring at her. A stranger like Fiona… yet she was showing him such care? A simple act of kindness, but to him, it was something foreign—something he had never experienced before.
Seeing his hesitation, Fiona huffed and muttered:
"Stubborn as ever."
Julian finally lay down. Meanwhile, Fiona busied herself starting a fire. He watched as the flickering flames reflected on her face, then suddenly spoke softly:
"My name is Julian… Julian Valorian."
Fiona looked up, then quickly ran to Juk, fetching water to bring back to him.
"Your name is Julian? That's a nice name… but why are you so annoying? Here, drink some water and wake up already."
Julian suddenly chuckled. His mind was growing clearer, though his body was still weak.
"And you? What's your name?"
Fiona grinned brightly, answering without hesitation:
"I'm Fiona Bennett."
Julian glanced at her, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Your name sounds like…"
Fiona narrowed her eyes suspiciously:
"Like what?"
Julian smirked:
"Like a foolish lady."
Fiona gasped in outrage:
"You dare compare my name to a fool?! If I had known, I would've left you in the river!"
Julian burst into laughter, the exhaustion in his heart easing slightly.
Fiona glared at him for a long moment before huffing and turning back to the fire.
"You're still talking so much even with those injuries. Guess you're fine now, huh?" she grumbled, puffing at the flames. "Hmph, injured and still so troublesome…"
Julian leaned his head against the old wooden wall, the hint of a smile still on his lips. He couldn't remember the last time someone had spoken to him like this. Others either feared him or flattered him. But this girl—completely unaware of his identity—spoke to him as an equal.
Finally, the fire crackled to life, casting a warm glow on Fiona's face. Her eyes sparkled in the firelight, looking both stubborn and adorable.
Satisfied with her work, Fiona dusted off her hands before glancing at Julian. He was quietly watching her. She frowned.
"What? Are you hungry?"
Julian averted his gaze, smiling slightly.
"It's been a long time since someone nagged at me like this."
Fiona raised a brow, about to retort, but Julian spoke first:
"But… I don't mind it."
She paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"You're strange."