Chereads / A Typical Villainess Story / Chapter 8 - Chapter 7

Chapter 8 - Chapter 7

-Inside a cave in the Forest, just outside the capital-

THEODORE trembled with fear as he noticed the people before him. He had no recollection of how he ended up in this situation. His last memory was being in his room. Upon waking, he discovered he was in a cave, surrounded by young children, some of whom appeared to be his age. A few men with menacing appearances were patrolling, scrutinizing the children they had captured. The children were chained at the wrists and ankles, all of them quivering in terror, just like himself. What happen to Sebastian and Lisa? Are they alright? He thought. He cannot imagine what would happen to them, when he was taken. Suddenly, he felt the presence of one of the men looming over him, grinning, revealing his gold canine teeth.

"Are you sure this kid is a Prince?" Asked the man to his friends.

"Yep. We're gonna get a lot of money selling him." He friends replied. The man then roughly grab Theodore face.

"You're money. So don't try to struggle. Sit and listen!" The man warned, finally releasing his grip on Theodore's face. After a brief moment, Theodore noticed, behind the man and at the very back, a pair of siblings who were also chained like him and the others. However, there was something odd about them—they didn't appear to be scared. Instead, Theodore could see that they were simply observing.

"I want to go home!!" One of the children cried loudly. Startle the whole space. 

"Please, please let me go home. Please. Please!" The child beg. His body were shaking in fear. His eyes full of tears. He is about 6- 7 years old.

"What the hell? Shut that piece of shit!" Shout the man that was sitting on the chair since earlier. It seems like he is the leader of the group. The boy cries getting louder and louder.

"Shut him forever, for all I care. We have plenty to get by" Ordered the leader. Looks like the notion of killing a young boy, filled the group with excitement as one of the man step up to do the job. The boy was too stunned to continue his cries, as the man draw his dagger. Before he even get the chance to kill the boy, however, an ice arrow pierced him from behind. The arrow then dissolved, leaving the man's skin torn and gushing with blood. The man collapse.

Theodore follow the direction where the Ice bow that killed the man came from. his eyes then saw a few people that was standing on top of the cave's cliff. One of them holding the Ice bow that was shooting the Ice Arrow. He know that person.

"Natasha?" Asked Theodore. The woman that was holding the Ice bow startle as her name was called out.

"Prince Theodore?" As Natasha realized who was calling out to her. She dissolved the Ice bow from her hand. 

"Whatever you're doing here?" Natasha surprised to see that Prince Theodore was one of the children that was captured. Before she get the chance to asked further, she felt that, an arrow was shot to her direction. She managed to dodge, however the arrow did graze her cheek.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Do you not know who we are? Man! kill them!" The leader furious when the arrow that he shot only graze Natasha a little. 

Seeing that the rough man has making their move, without wasting any time she start giving commands. 

"Alyssa and the others free these children. Kain protect them while they're doing that. Aaron please find any evidence of human trafficking parchment. Do not leave anything behind. Check every crook and cranny." Ordered Natasha. 

"Alright" Says all the people that come with her. Alyssa then quickly free the chained children one by one with the help of the others. Aaron was searching every crook and cranny in the cave for evidence, while she and Kain is on offensive side.

The next moment, a full on attacked was happening inside the cave. Natasha realized that this people number is more than what was expected. There's also a trained wolf.

As Natasha shoot her Ice arrow, she notice that one enemy is approaching, then she quickly dissolved the conjured Ice bow and simultaneously draw her dagger from both side of her waist. one of her hands were blocking the enemy's attack, then the other one slashing the enemy's neck. She then, take a few step back and conjured an Ice block that she can use as a stepping tools to climb back up the cliff. Once she found a suitable location for long-range attacks, she conjured her ice bow once again and resume shooting her Ice arrow towards the enemy like a fish in a barrel.

The battle raged on for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, Natasha and her friends emerged victorious, though it was regrettable that most of the enemies were killed rather than captured. She hoped that those they did capture would be willing to talk.

"Let's get everyone to safety. Aaron please sent the people that we captured to the Capital and make them talk." Natasha Instructed. 

"Alright, my lady." Replied Aaron. Aaron Redclife. The 4th male lead. Which took the characters of an orphanage who was younger than Adeline, the female protagonist. Younger he is, indeed. Early this year, he just reached 18 years old. She know that she have vowed to not get involved with the main characters, but the situation doesn't really allowed her to do that. 

It has been 4 years since Natasha established the Intelligence Guild named Silver Tears. She was 18 when she first established the Guild. When she decided to established the guild, her intention was to hire and trained the children on the street to be her agents. Since people often overlooked these children, its making it easier for them to move freely, even into the deepest corners of the capital. To achieve this, she sought the help of Alyssa, who was a caretaker for these children. That's when Alyssa introduce Aaron Redclife to her. 

Remembering that Aaron was cunning and clever on his route when she played the game, she agreed to take Aaron under her wings.

- Later that evening at East Castle's Studies, where Prince Theodore reside. 

AS SOON as Natasha and Aaron brought Prince Theodore home, he frantically searched for Lisa and Sebastian. When he found them lying on the ground, covered in blood from a stab wound, Theodore was horrified. Fortunately, despite the wound being critical, it had not damaged any major organs, so they survived an currently they're resting in their room. 

"Do you remember, how you were being abducted, your highness?" Asked Natasha, as soon she take a sit on the couch in front of Theodore. While Aaron has excused himself. 

"I don't. All I know that, the knight that was hired by my brother is no longer in site. I believe, he is the one who betrayed me" Replied Theodore. Natasha nod with understanding.

"Please don't worry your highness. I will be finding that man for you" Natasha promised.

"Please do." Theodore requested. She recalled that, the last time she saw Theodore was just a a few month ago. Actually, after Father and Prince Asher leave for the war, Natasha's family has been taking care of Prince Theodore on Asher's request. So she actually keep in contact constantly with Theodore. However these past few month she was really swarmed with her Guild matters, that she did not have the chance to check on the young man, and resulted to his getting abducted. 

Up to 2 years ago, the knight who was ordered to protect Prince Theodore, was Sir Khalid Johann. He was recommended by her brother, Ace. However, due to the relentless war with demonic creatures that raged from one place to another, her brother, Ace, and Khalid were summoned to join the war at a later time as she stayed to look after the estate and her Mother. 

"It can't be help that all of the trusted people, needed to help my brother with the war." Says Theodore.

"Your highness, i suggest at this moment it would be best for you to stay with me at Ali's estate, so I can protect you." Natasha suggested. 

"I believe so. I do think i need your help for protection until brother get back."

"Then, we will leave early in the morning. I will be also find places for Sebastian and Lisa to recuperate, so please your Highness don't worry about a thing" Natasha then, stand up from the couch ready to leave. 

"In the meanwhile, I will leave Aaron here to protect you, Your highness" Says Natasha then proceed to get out from the room. 

The war was on-going for much longer than expected. The demonic creature was multiplying and she heard that they struggled to claimed victory as for some reason, those creature was getting stronger all the time. Hence because of that, its already 7 years since Prince Asher and her Father was deployed for the war. She knows that her Father and brother are doing alright, as they communicated with letters. For Prince Asher however, she didn't continue her communication with him. To her, this is the best for both of them, since the setting when the games will begin, will soon come and when it come, Asher will fall in love with Adeline. 

She's is now 23 years old. As she gets older, she found out that the memory of her past life as Natasha Archer getting more and more vivid. Its quite odd, as usually as people get older, they will eventually forget their past life. But this is not the case with her. 

As the memories became more vivid, she grew fearful that everything would unfold as it had in the game. This is why, she wanted to become stronger. She needed power to oversee everything, hence she established the Guild in secret. No one knows about her guild, including her Mother.

The beginning of the game setting is fast approaching, as she is now 23 years old—the age at which Prince Asher will meet Adeline and fall in love. As the start of the game draws near, she becomes increasingly anxious and scared. This is why she dedicates herself to the Guild, doing everything in her power to ensure its success. As a result, the Guild has become one of the most renowned, which she hoped will be useful for her to protect everyone.

- Ali's Estate, Later that night -  

AS NATASHA made her way to the study, she was startled to hear a familiar voice from inside. Hoping that her father and Ace had finally returned, she abruptly opened the door. Seeing her brother and father looking at her, with her mother by their side, she felt an immense sense of relief and happiness. Without realizing it, tears began to stream down her cheeks, and she quickly ran to her brother and father, embracing them tightly.

"Welcome back Father, brother. I have missed you" Says Natasha in tears. 

"We're back, sweetie." Replied his father. 

"You have been doing great taking care of your mother and the estate while we are gone. I am proud of you" Duke Henry then continue. She then nod her head. She then let go of both her brother and her father.

"Its everything end for good now? You both will not be going anywhere again right?" Asked Natsha in tears, almost whining.

"We will not go anywhere. Our Prince Asher have defeated their leader's pack which is the demon himself, I believe that this war has already really ended." Replied Asher, then patting her head.

Even though, she actually already know, how the war would end, but Natasha cannot help but being scared since it involved her Father and her brother. It was explained in the game, that Prince Asher was hunting the demon leader relentlessly, until he finally found the demon. He pierced the demon's heart with his outstanding sword skill and cutting of his horn. That's when Prince Asher will come back victoriously and met Adeline. 

That was how the game goes. But for now, she is just really grateful that her Father and her Brother came back safely.