A/N:
Hi guys! I want to remind you about my rewards. I have the habit of gifting my chapters for my active readers who support me throughout this journey. Without them, it's hard to continue.
So dear active readers, please continue supporting me! 🙏
As for passive readers, I kindly request you to turn into an active reader by voting and commenting. It's not hard and won't take much time. It only motivates your author to try hard to improve the story. So don't hesitate. Don't be lazy, buddy!!! ಥ‿ಥ
Now please enjoy the story...
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Heidith was puzzled. He was about to say something when he heard a rustling sound of dry leaves. Alerted, he put the girl down, whispering, "Hey, I think I heard something."
"What is it?"
"Shh... Be quiet!"
Not long after, a pair of sparkling yellow eyes appeared in front of them, staring at them directly like sharp knives.
Soon the pair became two pairs and then three pairs. Gradually they were surrounded by at least twelve pairs of yellow and pale green eyes.
'Shit!' Heidith cursed in his mind before taking out his sword. It glistened under the moonlight like a dazzling silver ray. He pulled the girl behind him.
The wolves gritted their teeth hungrily. The clattering of their sharp teeth sounded terrifying, making souls shiver in fright.
"There are many! How can you fight with them?" The girl cried. She was terrified. Her body started shivering uncontrollably and she clutched the hem of his shirt as a support.
Swish
Swish
Swish
Like a turbine, four men with swords and arrows stood next to the boy, their fierce look freaked her out even more.
"Don't worry. They are my friends." She could hear her companion's assuring words, much to her relief. But she wasn't totally alright. She was still afraid that... They wouldn't be able to make it. They were normal people at last.
Heidith waved his sword like a pro, killing a wolf at a time. Every wolf who pounced on him, got the same fate. His sharp sword pierced through their necks, showering their bodies in blood.
Naturally, the flower cutie could no longer hold on to his shirt. She hugged herself as she looked around, only to see herself trapped amongst five men and a pack of wolves. Never in her wildest dreams she would have thought of being in such a situation. It was far beyond her imagination.
"Watch out!" She could hear one of them shout. It was the most muscular guy among the boys. Although he was the most attractive, she still liked the cute boy the most. He had a unique beauty that no words couldn't describe. It was simply... Special.
Flinched, she turned around, only to see a big wolf targeting her shoulder. Her soul almost left her body.
Gronald stopped the black wolf that was about to hurt the little girl, using his bare hands. Then he took out a dagger and screeze! The wolf's head and body divided separately and fell to the ground.
"Don't worry now." He smiled at her kindly.
Thud!
Gronald: "..."
He speechlessly looked at the girl who just fainted. She reminded him of his cousin sister, innocent and cute like a rose bud. He had the urge to protect the little bud so that it would blossom into a beautiful flower one day without obstacles.
He wanted to protect this innocent beauty.
He really wanted to...
Putting the girl on his steady shoulder, Gronald kept fighting with the wolves.
Finally the five boys succeeded in killing every single wolf.
"Aaah! I can't bear to abandon this precious thing!" Suzamine caressed a wolf's skin with heartache. "Winter is around the corner. These skins will be beneficial. What should we do with these?" He turned to look at the prince for advice.
Heidith stroked his chin. "There are too many..."
"It's alright." Suzamine immediately interrupted him. "We can make something to carry them using fallen tree branches, can't we?" He suggested.
"We don't need them." Heidith's voice was firm.
Derek also nodded his head. "Yeah. Specifically I'm not obsessed with wolf coats. They are just so-so."
Suzamine swallowed the hatred he was feeling towards them and reluctantly nodded his head, very unhappily. 'Rich bastards!'
He looked at the dead wolves longingly and sighed loudly.
'What a pity!'
"By the way..." Derek looked around as he spoke. "Where do we spend the night? In the bar? But that place is crowded and now there's a girl with us. She's our responsibility although we like it or not." He pointed at the girl Gronald carrying on his shoulder as he walked.
Suzamine scoffed, "See who's talking about responsibilities. Furthermore, it's about a girl!"
Derek huffed. "So what? I'm not heartless! I care for her safety!"
"No need," Gronald said with a poker face. "I can take care of her."
His words made everyone shock including Heidith. They all knew that most of the time, Gronald acted like a person with no emotions, more like a scarecrow or an ice statue.
When did he start paying attention to a random girl? And with this enthusiasm? He wasn't this enthusiastic about like... anything. They used to call him a monk although he had fun with girls from time to time. It wasn't as extreme as Derek's. He was the oldest among them after all.
He was twenty six, much more mature than any of them.
"Okay. Okay. You take care of her, gigolo." Derek mocked, angering him.
"Whom did you call gigolo?" Suzamine glared at him. "Don't disrespect my good friend!"
Iven massaged his temples tiredly. "Guys, that's enough." Then he turned to face the prince. "Sire, as for the sleeping spot, what about a small cave? I think we'll find one if we try hard."
Prince Heidith thought for a moment.
"Let's see."
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Evelyn was about to continue the novel she had been reading for the last few days when her mother came in.
"What is it, mom?" She asked, resisting the yawn that was about to escape through her lips.
It was still early in the morning and she was drowsy. But she was trained to be a proper lady so she didn't dare to let out a yawn in front of others even if they were her servants.
"There's a guest," Said duchess Hydra.
"At this hour? Weird..."
By the time Evelyn went downstairs after fulfilling her morning routine, she was actually pleasantly surprised.
"Zadie! Zadie! What are you doing here???" Her voice was filled with excitement. Zadhea rarely came to her castle. Most of the time, it was Evelyn who visited the princess.
Zadhea's mood wasn't good. She whispered to her, "Mmm, let's talk at your green house, shall we?"
Evelyn looked around to see her mother and maids. Without thinking much, she nodded her head, concerned. "Okay."
"Here. Drink this." As they say down around the wooden table in the green house, Evelyn poured some tea into a teacup before handing it to her friend. "While drinking, you can explain what's happening."
Zadhea sighed very heavily. "Everything is going wrong. I dunno what to do anymore.
She talked about her one night stand with the prince and his immediate departure. It was like abandoning her after taking advantage of her. So hateful!
Evelyn was shocked to the core, her mouth hanging in the air.
"No way!" She roared. "No way he'd do something like that! Our male lead is a gentleman!"
Zadhea sneered. "Gentleman, my ass! Did you forget that he's a playboy?"
Evelyn squeezed her forehead in frustration. "You misunderstood, girly. MINOSHA, I'm talking to YOU AS A FAN OF MY FAVOURITE ROMANCE WEBNOVEL! Our male lead NEVER PLAYED WITH WOMEN WHO WEREN'T WILLING! You got me? He never forced anyone including the female lead. That's why we loved him despite his past misdeeds."
Zadhea blinked her eyes when she heard the name Minosha. It felt like an eternity since she heard someone addressing her in her real name. Her eyes immediately lowered to her lap as a Serge of fear ran through her body. She almost.... She almost got used to her new life!!!!
She even forgot her name!!!!
How could she?
Don't tell me... She would even forget her sick mother too... In the future...
'No, no, no, no...' Zadhea determined not to talk about Dewinn with her. It was the very first little secret she hid from Theresa after so many years. She felt a little guilty but she didn't have another choice.
She had to go back soon!
Maybe Evelyn wouldn't allow her to kill her most favourite character...
It wasn't like Rodwef family was filled with saints. They were bad leaders who hurt innocent people.
"By the way, I think there must be another reason for their sudden departure. Don't you think?" Evelyn spoke after a brief silence.
"Did you forget something? Like... An important plot?" Zadhea tilted her head.
"It's been years, Zadie!" Evelyn was aggrieved. She cutely pouted her lips, showing her displeasure. "It's normal for me to forget things."
"You meant... Things like that stinky prince's sibling?" Zadhea was ready to catch her friend off guard.
"Which sibling? Isaac or Nishella?"
Tables turned in the end. Zadhea was the one to become surprised.
"Nishella! Who's that?" Her father told her clearly that it was a boy. Not a girl! Could it be that... They are twins?
"Heidith's adoptive sister as well as a cannon fodder who fell for her non-relative brother."