Chapter 2 2

Querencia's father forcibly knelt her on the floor while being held by two guards to prevent her from moving.

"Hah! Querencia! Do you even realize the shame you've brought upon me?! You broke Marques Carton's hand! And you approached the Archduke! Have you no shame?!" he lectured her, and, of course, to prevent her from responding, he covered her mouth.

"My patience with you is running out, Querencia," he said as he grabbed her chin and squeezed it, causing her pain. "You approached the Crown Prince because he's your fiancé. He's the one who can help our family. We both benefit from this, so behave yourself. Don't turn your back on him like you did yesterday," he threatened, releasing her chin, which left her with a throbbing head.

Tsk. Her father was truly heartless.

Since he was only holding her arm, she raised both of her hands and showed her middle finger.

Then she hummed the F-word.

Her father slapped her hard for what she did.

"You should be useful. Don't forget I'm the one who put you in this position," he warned. To others, it might sound like an order, but it had a different meaning.

"Let her go," he ordered the guards, and they obeyed.

He stood her up and removed the gag from her mouth. Before they could push her away, she shouted something that further infuriated her father.

"Only decent people will follow you! Jerk! HAHAHA!" she yelled and followed it with loud laughter.

The guards quickly escorted her out, causing her to stumble on the floor. Marina rushed to her side.

"I've called a doctor. Come, miss," Marina said, helping her stand.

"Ugh. My leg hurts," she complained.

Marina sighed. "Why won't you obey the Baron's orders?" she asked.

She forced a smirk. "I'd rather take a beating from him than marry the man he wants me to. I don't care anymore."

Marina looked sad. "Do you want me to help you escape?"

She turned to Marina. "Can you do it?"

"Is your cheek okay?" Marina asked.

They were now in a house deep in the woods. Marina had brought her here.

Earlier, she thought Marina was joking and just testing her. But she didn't expect that Marina would actually do it.

"I'm fine," she lied. In reality, she wanted to cry. It hurt so much. If someone offered her a solution for the pain, she'd buy it without hesitation, but there was none.

"I've found some herbal medicine," Marina said and crushed it. "You'll heal quickly with this, and it won't leave a scar," she said with a smile.

After applying the medicine, her red cheek quickly healed, and she looked at Marina with amazement.

"Wow! Where did you get this, Marina?" she asked eagerly.

Marina hesitated. It seemed like she was reluctant to say something. But because of Querencia's pleading look, she finally spoke up.

"Um... it came from the lake we passed by earlier," she admitted.

Querencia widened her eyes. That lake with those Astil creatures?

"The lake with the Astil?" she confirmed.

So that's why her wound had healed so quickly. Those Astil creatures were like orc-like beasts, large and territorial. They could smell their plants from quite a distance.

"We're in trouble, Marina. Let's run while we still can," she said urgently.

"Should I just take the money, Marina?" she shouted and hurriedly grabbed the bag.

But there was no time. She could already hear the Astil-so many of them.

"Let's go!" Marina said and took their bag. But there was no time. She could already hear the Astil approaching-so many of them.

"KRAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

She jumped in surprise as one of the Astil screamed. Some trees started flying, so she and Marina had to dodge them.

"KRAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Suddenly, an earthquake occurred, and she was shocked to see the Astil. Their noses were smoking as they stared at her.

One of them raised its hand to strike her, but she quickly dodged.

"Miss!" Marina shouted from afar.

She tried to run to her, but it wasn't easy because many plants with hard branches were blocking her way.

"Miss!" Marina shouted again, but she had no time to turn around.

She just kept running.

She stopped for a moment when she saw a large tree blocking her path. She needed to climb it.

She raised her pants and then climbed up.

"KRAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

She quickly ascended, as the Astil was getting close.

As she reached the top, her surroundings suddenly darkened, and her shadow disappeared.

She looked back. The Astil's club was raised, about to strike.

"Miss!"

Without hesitation, she jumped down from the tree. She was sure her bones would break.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Marina screamed as the Astil's club struck the tree with force.

Due to the height she had jumped from, she closed her eyes and awaited her fall.

She gasped suddenly, feeling as if a solid body had caught her. Arms wrapped around her waist. It couldn't be Marina, as she was taller. It seemed like a man was holding her.

"Bini-" Marina's call was cut off as the man leaped again, taking her with him.

"Aaaaaahhhh! Marina!!!!" Marina seemed to shrink from her view.

Mom!!! Why are they flying? She thought the man had just jumped!

She was surprised to see the Astil's body below. The man landed on its head, and due to the fast-paced events, she couldn't catch a glimpse of his face.

"Ahhhhhh!!!!!!" she screamed as he leaped again. She grabbed the man's hair out of fear. "Why did you jump?!" Her grip tightened, causing him to curse.

In a few moments, their feet touched the ground, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fck it! Let go of my hair!" the man shouted, causing her to release him.

She looked at the man who had given her an unexpected roller coaster ride, and she was speechless.

"A-a-ar..." She couldn't speak due to shock.

"You can get off now," he said sternly, and she quickly moved to do so. However, she suddenly remembered her plan. She needed to flirt with him.

She hugged the Archduke tightly and acted. "I-I feel dizzy, Your Excellency," she said, pressing her face against his neck.

Shyt! He smells good! But why is his attire so hard?

She suddenly yawned. It was exhausting.

Despite the Archduke's hard attire, she rested her head on him and closed her eyes.

"YOUR EXCELLENCY-" one of the soldiers stopped talking when they saw them in that position.

Castriel sighed. "Get a carriage for the ladies," he ordered, then turned to the other woman. "Are you her maid?" he asked.

She nodded and curtsied. "I am Marina, Lady Querencia's maid," she politely introduced herself.

He looked at the woman clinging to him.

So, she's the Lady of Lynn. The woman who asked her without thinking.

"Uhm...urgh," Querencia groaned in her sleep, causing him to pause. It seemed she was not comfortable. He adjusted how he held her and now noticed how incredibly light she was.

Is it because of his strength, or is she really that lightweight?

"Apologies for the trouble, Your Excellency," her maid said, to which he simply nodded.

He wanted to ask her what she was doing in this place, but he would save that for later. He would question the Baron's daughter.

"Your excellency. This way," a soldier said, and he walked ahead.

"Follow me," he instructed the maid, and she obediently followed.

When they arrived at the carriage, he entered first and lay Querencia down, but she suddenly pulled him closer and without warning bit his neck, then sucked on it.

He froze in his place, and it was only after she let go of him that he could recover from the shock.

"Steak! Not yum-" her eyebrows furrowed as she complained before falling asleep again.

He was stunned by what she did. Did she think he was steak?! And she even said it wasn't delicious!

He massaged his forehead.

How can a woman be this brave? Tsk.