I kept shouting like that until the night turned the day. Without noticing, I somehow escaped the forest and in front of me was the city we met back then.
Tired of running away from the bandit and waking up all night finding you. My body finally couldn't keep itself together and I collapsed.
When I woke up, I saw myself in chains and was put in a cage already. I knew then that I was going to be sold as a slave.
"Little girl, where are you from?" the seller asked when he saw me waking up.
"Hoa," I answered shortly. I saw the seller smile when I said that. Apparently, Lai people are hating Hoa people because of the war, so people are willing to pay more to have an Hoa slave.
The seller left after I gave him the answer he wanted. Inside the cage, I was endlessly thinking that I will never see you again, my prince. Day after day, I was crying miserably. When I heard it was my turn to be on the auction stage. I thought my life was going to end here. I imagined some wealthy douchebag would buy and violate me. I was prepared to kill my new 'master' then and end myself after.
When the mysterious person, general Quy, bought me that day. I felt that I don't have much time anymore and saw my life light as a feather. But then I saw you, my prince. I couldn't believe my eyes that you were actually right in front of my eyes.
That day, with a clean Lai's traditional dress and hair tied back, your face shined like the sun fading away from the evilness of the dark. You looked more carefree, energetic, and friendly. I was doubting back then if the person in front of me was my prince or just his lookalike. Until later that night I was relieved that you were in fact, my prince.
I was about to call you but you didn't notice me. You came to talk to general Quy.
"Why does the prince know about Quy Long Dao even with her face covered? Why is he not talking to me? Am I too dirty for him to notice?" Hundreds of questions circling around my head.
Then I saw General Quy push you. My blood was boiling at that point, and my reason to kill was changed. It was not to keep myself clean anymore but this time, to revenge and going back to you.
While general Quy was walking me to a quiet place, I noticed she had a knife on her side. I was about to attack her to get the knife, but she turned back and opened my chains.
I was caught off guard by her action, but my sense came back quickly. I had just found an opportunity to kill her. Because I knew general Quy releasing me back then was an act of kindness, I knew that if I bow my head, she would lower herself to help me stand up and I could use that opportunity to snatch the knife and kill her.
But as I told you before, I was interrupted by someone. And you already know the rest," Van Kiep finished her story.
When I noticed she was not talking anymore, I turned my head a little to see how she was doing. Van Kiep was breathing heavily, and that made me worried.
"Hey Van Kiep, are you fine?" I asked.
"Huh...Yes, I am fine," she said.
Being the stupid I am, I thought that she was just tired of talking. The troop and we traveled for two more days until I saw that her condition was not normal, so I walked her away from the camp at night to have a more free talk.
"Van Kiep, tell me what is wrong," I demanded.
"Huh… huh… I am fine my prince. Don't you worry about me," she smiled tiredly at me while having an arm on her chest.
"You are not fine at all," I raised my voice a little. "Tell me Van Kiep, don't lie to me," I then lowered myself, trying to show her that I genuinely care about her.
"Uhm…," Van Kiep hesitated. I didn't say anything else and just kept eye contact with her. I want Van Kiep to open herself up and not me forcing her to say things. "Because I have to cover everyone's eyes these past few days to hide, my energy was draining quickly. Now that I don't have energy left, the spell is using my physical energy to fuel itself," she sounded guilty, like confessing to your parents that you just did something wrong. And GOD YES what she was doing was wrong.
"Why don't you tell me about it?" I asked caringly.
"My prince, it was because I was afraid that you would not let me go with you if you knew," Van Kiep admitted.
"Well… she is right," I thought. "But if you want to go with me, you can just follow us from behind until we reach the capital."
"I know," she looked at the ground. "But the thought of leaving you frightens me."
"Well, we have no choice now. Van Kiep, if you want to continue following me, then leave here for now, and we will meet back at the capital," I demanded confidently even though I don't know how we could see each other at the capital. But Van Kiep's health was the top priority.
"No my prince, I rather die in your arms than us having to be apart for even one second!" I raised her voice when hearing my demand and raised her head looking at me.
From her eyes, I saw how sincere and scared she was from my demand. At then I thought who was this prince that can make such a lovely girl like her risking her life.
Knowing that whatever I say to try convincing her won't be effective, also because she is a yandere. I had to think up a solution. It took me a while, but I finally had a plan.
"Van Kiep, if you want to follow me, then listen to me closely and do as I say..."