"Shangguan Rei, due to a failed attempt to poison the Emperor, you will be exiled from the Qin Empire. We are here to escort you to the camp at the frontier."
These were the words Rei heard before she was forcibly dragged out of her cell room, as well as the last spoken sentences that kept spinning in her head, when that bone-piercing freezing sensation stabbed her delicate legs as soon as she stepped on that soft, yet freezing snowy land with her bare feet...
Her feet chilled instantly as they touched the white-like clouds of snow, while her hair bristled with the freezing snowflakes settling on her cheeks. Shivering in the cold wind, her hair stood on end.
Her once happy eyes were hopeless and filled with despair, devoid of hope, she took a long sigh,
"This is the end?"
***
She was the epitome of beauty in the Imperial City, and her success was unparalleled in the empire. Through sheer hard work and talent, she had risen to become the highest-ranked female official. In a month, she was set to marry the youngest brother of the Qin Emperor, never imagining that her life would take such a tragic turn. It all happened so suddenly, like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
The beautiful memories she cherished from her time in the Imperial City now seemed like a cruel joke, a bitter irony in the face of the harsh reality she found herself in. As she looked on helplessly at her maids and servants being beaten by merciless soldiers, who had been tasked with escorting her, her heart shattered into a million pieces. With each blow, her naivety and innocence were stripped away, leaving her with nothing but a feeling of despair and hopelessness.
Out of nowhere, a deep and bone-chilling howl echoed through the snowy mountains, causing the soldiers to freeze in their tracks. With their senses on high alert, they scanned their surroundings for any signs of danger. To their horror, a massive pack of wolves emerged from a small cave at the foot of the mountain.
These vicious predators, who were supposed to be in hibernation, looked anything but sleepy. Hunger gleamed in their eyes as they slowly made their way towards the helpless group, ready to attack at any moment.
***
After less than thirty minutes, the wolf pack wiped out the whole troop of the escorting soldiers along with all the male servants that were exiled along with Rei. The two remaining maids were guarding in front of Rei, trying to protect her from the wolf pack with their own frail and small bodies. Fortunately, after feasting on those soldiers and male servants, the wolf pack left and had no intention to harm the poor ladies.
Looking at the mess left by the wolves, Rei and the maids were a bit blanked out, they had no idea what they should do next. Escape? They were now literally in the middle of nowhere, with just snow and mountains, without the escort of the soldiers, they didn't know where they should be heading. Stay? Well, it was in the middle of nowhere, with thick freezing snow all over the place.
With a short consideration, Rei decided that they will be moving on, despite not knowing where they will be heading to but in her opinion, it was a better option than just sitting there and freezing to death. With that dedication, the three ladies started their journey to the uncertainty…
***
After wandering aimlessly for six hours, the three women's energy levels had dwindled to dangerous lows. With the daylight fading, frigid temperatures, and no food or water, they knew they couldn't continue much longer. Despite their exhaustion, they pushed themselves through the snowy forest for another fifteen minutes before their legs finally gave out and they collapsed in the snow.
"My Lady, what should we do now? If we continue like this, we will not be able to stay alive until tomorrow morning," in a shivering voice one of the maids spoke.
"Mmm… My Lady… I am hungry and cold…" Said another maid who looked much younger than Rei, probably less than fourteen years old. Rei did not say anything but dazed into the woods with desperate eyes.
Suddenly…
"Hey! Watch out!" A man shouted in a foreign language they couldn't understand.
As the man shouted, an arrow flew towards the ladies at light speed without any warning. Uncertain if the lady was unable to react to the sudden situation or she had given up on life, Rei closed her eyes without any intention to dodge the arrow. However, out of Rei's expectation, the arrow did not get her, instead, she was greeted by the gentlest man's voice she had ever heard.
"Are you alright?" The man asked, once again, it was in a foreign language she couldn't understand.
As Rei's eyes gradually fluttered open, she was met with the sight of a striking gentleman. His jet-black hair was immaculately styled, framing a chiseled jawline and enticing black eyes that seemed to pierce through her soul.
Her gaze was drawn to the arrow in his right hand, which appeared to have inflicted a slight injury on him. Despite the discomfort, he maintained a composed demeanor as he fixed his gaze on her for a moment, assessing her condition.
Realizing that she may not comprehend his language, the gentleman took a moment to observe her attire. It was unlike anything he had seen before - an intricate blend of colors and fabrics that appeared to be of foreign origin. As he pondered about her identity, a sense of curiosity began to consume him. What was her story? How did she come to be in this place? These questions lingered in his mind, urging him to unravel the mystery behind this intriguing lady.
"You are from the Qin Empire?" He finally asked, this time in her country's language.
Hearing her own home language, Rei sheepishly nodded.
Upon receiving confirmation from the lady, the gentleman's expression soured. Soon after, a second man emerged, leading two horses by the reins. In contrast to the striking appearance of the black-haired gentleman, this newcomer had a more subdued, albeit tidy appearance. Without uttering a word, the man humbly knelt before the gentleman, offering a sincere bow of apology.
To the gentleman's surprise, the man produced a roll of pristine bandages and proceeded to gently tend to the injury on his right hand. As the two conversed in their native tongue, they occasionally cast glances in the direction of Rei and her two attendants, prompting her to wonder what they were saying. Despite the language barrier, Rei couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue towards these mysterious men and their unexpected kindness.
After a while, the two men finally ended their talk, and walked towards Rei while leading his horse to her.
"I have discussed with Satoshi just now, and both of us agree that it's not safe for a young lady like you to stay in this snowy mountain for the night just like this. So, would you want to go to our place? Well, at least it's better than staying in this freezing cold forest." He spoke softly, as he reached his right hand to Rei.
After a short reluctance, Rei decided to accept his offer and took his hand.
The gentleman noticed the lady's cold hand and reacted with empathy.
"Here," he said, as he swiftly removed his thick overcoat and draped it over her shoulders, enveloping her in its warmth.