Amandine hadn't spoken to anyone since receiving Cyril's engagement ring back. The delicate golden band felt heavier than ever.
Amandine couldn't bring herself to acknowledge its meaning, though every part of her heart understood the unspoken message.
At that moment, someone knocked the door in. It was a royal messenger. Amandine's didn't bother to get up and open the door.
The royal messenger started reading out the message.
"Your highness, I'm sorry to inform this but We had lost the battle. Royal consort, Sir Cyril, stayed behind to cover th army's e retreat. And our army was forced to abandon him. We fear the worst."
Amandine's blood ran cold as her hands started shaking.
"No…this can't be true!"
Tears threatened to fall but Amandine fought them back. She sat down on her chair. In her hands, she held Cyril's ring tightly.
"He...he is gone?"
Amandine couldn't believe her ears.
"W-what?"
"Your Highness, we should prepare for the worst. His loss will be a blow to the kingdom…"
Amandine barely heard the messenger's words. She had lost him, the man she had once seen a future with.
"No, he… he promised he will come back to me"
Amandine felt like suffocating. Each of her breath felt like it could be the last.
She refused to believe that Cyril was gone. She was supposed to marry him and have a future with him. But now, he is gone? And he didn't even said goodbye.
"He promised...," she whispered to herself, "He promised…"
But the promise felt like a distant. It was out of her reach.
-----
Cyril collapsed against the roots of a big oak tree. His breath shallow like he was fighting for his life. His body looked terrible.
He put an effort to remain conscious.
His whole body was aching. Each of his movement felt like he will fall apart soon. His wings were a burden and the last thing he wanted was to be seen. To be discovered.
The world around him blurred. He had wandered deep into the woods, far from the nearest village, hoping the isolation would keep him hidden.
His body was failing, not from the wounds of battle, but from something far more insidious: a lack of food, water, and the exhaustion that came with fleeing for his life. His wings were too visible, too unnatural, too dangerous.
There were only snow everywhere just like the world was under a white cloak. There was not a slight hint of Green. Just snow everywhere. There were not edible things around. Not even berries.
Cyril's gazes We're weak and dark as his body was fighting the fever. His mind was reeling with dizziness from hunger. He wanted to survive but how?
A rustling in the underbrush caused him to tense,. His hand instinctively reaching for the sword he no longer had.
He panicked. He couldn't let anyone find him like this. They would think he is a monster. Cyril wanted to run away but he couldn't even move with the exhaustion.
And then, the rustling stopped.
"Hello? Anybody there?"
Cyril felt helpless as he heard the voice of a young girl. He tried to hide his wings in the bush but it wasn't working.
And then a little girl appeared in front of him. She looks young. She looks like she is fifteen or something.
She looks concerned. Her voice was soft.
"Are you lost?" she asked,
She stepping closer with a soft smile.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?"
Cyril flinched at the girl's word. He was scared. He was scared of himself. He was scared that he might scare the little girl.
Of course, he needed help. But would she help him if she saw his wings?
"I'm fine... please don't step any closer"
The girl looked even more concerned after hearing Cyril's weak voice.
"Don't lie to me. I can hear your tummy growling"
She walked a few steps closer. Cyril quickly tried to hide his wings with anything he can but he couldn't do anything.
"You..."
There was clearly surprises in her tone but it wasn't like she was scared.
You are... really beautiful"
Cyril was stunned by her unexpected compliment.
"W-what?"
"Wow you have wings too. Are you an angel? Oh maybe a bird? An eagle?"
"Aren't you... scared of me?," Cyril asked with wide eyes.
The girl smiled softly. "Why should I?"
"Anyway" she said, holding out a small bundle of food. "I brought some bread and cheese. It's not much, but it's enough to stop your tummy from crying like that."
Cyril's face flushed with a bit of embarrassment. He placed a hand on his growling stomach.
Cyril looked at the food for a long moment, his body trembling from both fever and desperation.
He hadn't eaten in days, hadn't had more than a few sips of water. His stomach growled painfully, but his pride fought back against the weakness threatening to consume him.
She handed him the food, and he took it without another word, tearing off a piece of bread and chewing slowly.
The food was rough and plain, but it was the most nourishment he had had in days. And the girl didn't seem to mind his wings, didn't treat him as a monster or a freak. She simply watched him with quiet concern.
Cyril didn't know how long they sat there, the silence between them comfortable in a way he hadn't known.
But for a moment, just a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to feel something other than pain.
"Why… why are you helping me?" Cyril asked with a soft voice.
The girl shrugged.
"You needed help and look at you. So beautiful. You are an angel right?"
Cyril chuckled softly.
"I'm not an angel....I don't even know what I am anymore"
"You look like an angel to me." The girl gave him a soft smile.
"Thank you," Cyril said.
"You're welcome."
Cyril hesitated for a moment before he speaks again.
"What's your name?"
"Maeve... My name is Maeve."
Cyril nodded slowly.
"Thank you, Maeve.."
Maeve shook her head.
"Don't mention it"
Cyril glanced around for a moment.
"What are you doing in the wood alone?"
"I was picking mushrooms. The foreret is full of them in winter. And they are very delicious"
Cyril just smiled and nodded.
Before Maeve could ask for his name, a voice called out from the distance.
"Maeve! Where are you?"
Maeve's quickly panicked.
"That's my brother. I have to go."
Before Cyril could say anything Maeve was out of his sight.
To be continued....