Chapter 23
Thud, thud, thud.
She wanted to run with all her might, but her legs wouldn’t let her, and even that was impossible. Her mind raced with terrifying thoughts faster than her steps.
“Ugh!”
She stumbled and twisted her ankle, but Yvonne didn’t stop. Instinct screamed that she absolutely mustn’t stop. Gritting her teeth, she chose the most crowded alleys, hoping to blend in with the crowd. A glance back showed that they had closed the distance slightly.
But luck was not on her side; perhaps everyone was out in the square, for the alley was eerily deserted today. Yvonne finally hid in a dark, narrow space between buildings.
“Huff, huff!”
She leaned against the cold wall, suppressing the breath that threatened to escape her throat. She peeked out cautiously.
“They’re gone.”
Miraculously, it seemed she had lost them. None of the passing people wore the black robes she had seen.
Were they criminals who abducted young women for vile deeds? What would have happened if she hadn’t noticed them and had been caught? Yvonne wiped her cold sweat and hobbled down the alley, using the wall for support.
Thank goodness. She muttered unconsciously. She took deep breaths she had been holding back. Only then did her twisted ankle begin to throb.
But when she arrived at the shop street in front of her house and saw a stranger standing in front of the clothing store, even that labored breathing stopped. The man, with an ordinary face but strangely shiny eyes, had a large sword strapped to his waist.
“Are you the girl named Yvonne?”
Though she had never seen him before, he knew her name. Yvonne instinctively took a step back from the man and answered shakily.
“You… you have the wrong person…”
With trembling hands, Yvonne barely managed to blurt out those words before rushing into her house and locking the door. Her hands shook with fear. Fortunately, the man did not follow her inside.
The unnerving gazes from the square and the terrifying man waiting outside her house made it clear—someone was after her.
Who could it be, and why?
With a face drained of color, Yvonne checked the time. She just needed to hold out a little longer until the carriage arrived. Once it did, she could escape safely. She had her bag ready, placed by the door for a quick exit, and she cautiously moved towards the window to check outside.
A moment of relief washed over Yvonne’s face. The spot where the man had been standing was now empty. Had he left? She barely had time to complete the thought.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed as someone kicked the door in. The old wooden door couldn’t hold and fell open.
“Hmph!”
Yvonne realized that in extreme fear, even screams failed to come out. The sheer terror sapped the strength from her legs, and she collapsed.
The man who had called her name earlier approached. He looked at her prepared luggage and smirked.
Crash!
He picked up one of Yvonne’s bags and threw it to the floor. The lock broke, and her belongings spilled out, trampled under his dirty boots.
“So, the Duke of Lance ordered you to leave the capital?”
Hearing that name from a stranger’s mouth doubled Yvonne’s fear. Yet, even amidst her paralyzing fear, the instinct to protect him remained.
“D-Duke of Lance? W-What nonsense is that…?”
Despite her attempts to deny it, the man only twisted his smile further.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble I went through to find you?”
The man tapped Yvonne’s cheek with his fingers as he spoke.
“Pretty face, looks like you’re quite the cherished night companion. But locking you up in a place like this? The Duke is quite heartless.”
He looked around her shabby home and then back at her with disdain.
“Don’t you think?”
Laughter echoed in agreement. It was then Yvonne realized the man wasn’t alone. Four more men, all armed with identical weapons, had entered her home.
“A peasant girl might not mean much to the Duke, but she’s better than nothing, right?”
The man reached out towards her, his large hand resembling a beast’s claw.
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