Chapter 3 Her father

Chapter 3

Querencia was forcibly made to kneel on the floor by her father, while two guards held her tightly in place to keep her from moving.

"Ha! Querencia! Do you have any idea of the disgrace you brought upon me?! You broke Marques Carton's arm! And you even approached the Archduke! Have you no shame?!" he scolded her, and to make sure she couldn't answer back, he covered her mouth.

"My patience with you is running out, Querencia." He grabbed her chin and squeezed it tightly, making her wince in pain. "You should be approaching the Crown Prince - he's your fiancé. He can help our family. We both stand to gain something here, so act properly. Don't turn your back on him like you did yesterday." He released her chin with a flick, making her head snap to the side.

Tsk. The audacity of this man to hit me.

Since only her arms were restrained, she lifted both hands and flashed her middle finger at him.

Then, she hummed the F-word under her breath.

Her father slapped her hard across the face for that.

"You should learn to be useful. Don't forget - I'm the one who put you in that position," he threatened. To others, it might have sounded like he was giving fatherly advice, but she knew better. There was a darker meaning behind his words.

"Take her away," he ordered the guards, and they immediately obeyed.

They pulled her up and removed the gag from her mouth. But before they could drag her out, she shouted - which only made her father angrier.

"Only fools follow you! B*stard! HAHAHA!" she screamed and burst out laughing.

The guards hurriedly dragged her out and shoved her, making her fall to the ground. Marina quickly rushed to her side.

"I already called for a doctor. Come, my lady," Marina said, helping her up.

"Ugh. My leg hurts," she complained.

Marina sighed. "Why don't you just obey the Baron's orders, my lady?"

Querencia gave a bitter smile. "If I obey him, I'll get beaten. And if I marry the man he wants, I might as well be dead," she answered meaningfully.

Marina's expression darkened. "Do you want me to help you escape?" she asked.

Querencia turned to her. "Can you really do that?" she challenged.

"Is your cheek okay, my lady?" Marina asked.

They were now in a house deep inside a dense forest. Marina had brought her there. At first, Querencia thought she was joking or just testing her, but apparently, she was serious.

"I'm fine," she lied. The truth was she wanted to cry. It hurt so much. If someone would offer to swap her a tougher cheek, she'd buy it in a heartbeat - but no one would, so there was nothing she could do.

"I gathered some herbal medicine," Marina said, grinding the herbs. "This should help you heal quickly without leaving a scar," she added with a smile.

Marina applied the medicine to her swollen cheek. It healed quickly, and Querencia couldn't help but stare at her in awe.

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

Marina hesitated. She seemed reluctant to answer, but after seeing Querencia's pleading expression, she gave in.

"Uhm... from the lake we passed by earlier," she confessed, looking down.

Querencia's eyes widened. The lake with those Astils?

"You mean the Astil's lake?" she asked, and Marina nodded.

No wonder the medicine worked so fast. Astils were monstrous creatures resembling orcs. They were huge, and if anyone took plants from their territory, they'd go berserk. They could smell the scent from miles away.

"We're screwed, Marina. We have to run while we still can!" Querencia stood up and grabbed Marina's hand. "We're leaving now."

"W-wait, my lady!" Marina pulled away to grab their bag. But there was no more time. Querencia could already hear the heavy footsteps - no, Astils. There were too many of them.

"Just grab the money, Marina!" she shouted, and Marina quickly did so.

Once she had it, they bolted in one direction, not even knowing where they'd end up.

"KRAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Querencia flinched as an Astil roared. Trees flew as the monster charged, forcing her and Marina to dodge wildly.

"KRAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

The ground shook, and when Querencia looked back, an Astil was right behind her, smoke flaring from its nostrils as it glared at her.

It raised its club to strike - but she quickly dodged.

"My lady!" Marina called from a distance.

Querencia ran as fast as she could, but it wasn't easy with thick shrubs and trees blocking her way.

"My lady!" Marina shouted again, but Querencia didn't have time to look back.

She just ran and ran.

She stopped when a massive fallen tree blocked her path. She'd have to climb over it.

She rolled up her pants and started climbing.

She scrambled faster, the Astil too close behind.

Once she reached the top, her shadow suddenly disappeared.

Querencia turned around. The Astil's club was already in mid-air, about to strike.

"My lady!"

Without hesitation, she jumped from the tree, knowing full well she'd break her bones.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Marina screamed as the Astil's club smashed into the wood.

Querencia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.

But instead of hitting the ground, she landed in someone's arms - a solid, muscular body. An arm wrapped tightly around her waist. It couldn't be Marina; this person was much taller. It felt like... a man.

"Bin-" Marina's shout was cut off as the man carrying Querencia suddenly leapt high into the air with her in his arms.

"AAAAAAAHHHH! Marina!!!" Querencia screamed as Marina's figure grew smaller and smaller in her view.

Mom!!! What the hell?! They were flying?! No - the man just jumped!

Querencia's eyes widened as she spotted the Astil's body far below. The man landed squarely on its head, but everything happened too fast for her to see his face.

"Ahhhhh!!!" she screamed again when he jumped once more. She clung to his hair in terror. "Why are you jumping again?!" she yelled, gripping his hair tighter, making him curse.

After a few moments, he finally landed on solid ground. Querencia breathed a sigh of relief.

"F*ck it! Let go of my hair!" the man snapped, making Querencia flinch and let go.

She finally looked up to see the man who had given her a wild rollercoaster ride - and her mouth fell open.

"A-a-ar..." she was too stunned to speak.

"You can get down now," he said curtly. She quickly moved as if to get down, but then remembered her plan. She needed to seduce him.

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

Damn! He smells good! But why is his outfit so hard?

A yawn escaped her. She was exhausted.

Even though his uniform was stiff, she rested her head against him and closed her eyes.

"Your Excellency-" a soldier halted mid-sentence upon seeing them in that position.

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

"Yes, Your Excellency. I'm Marina, Lady Querencia's servant," she replied respectfully.

He looked down at the girl clinging to him.

So this is the Lady of Lynn. The woman who acts without thinking.

"Uhm... urgh," Querencia groaned in her sleep, making him pause. She didn't seem comfortable. He adjusted his hold and only now realized how light she was.

Is it because of his strength - or is she really this light?

"Forgive the trouble, Your Excellency," the maid apologized, and he just gave a nod.

He wanted to ask what they were doing in a place like this, but he'd save that for later. He'd question the Baron's daughter himself.

"Your Excellency. This way," a soldier said, and he started walking.

"Follow me," he commanded the maid, and she quickly followed.

When they reached the carriage, Castriel went in first and laid Querencia down. But suddenly, she pulled him close and without warning, bit and sucked on his neck.

He froze in shock, only regaining his senses when she let go.

"Steak... not yum..." she muttered, frowning in her sleep before dozing off again.

He was left speechless. Did she just... think he was steak? And insult his flavor?!

Castriel rubbed his forehead.

How can a woman be this bold? Tsk.

To Be Continued...