The outer shell of the woods was easier to navigate than Sophie realized.
Not that it mattered much to her husband or anybody else, but she was always curious about the natural world. There was plenty to discover in a single trip through the woods, so she took three a week, making it her relaxation hobby.
She realized that she'd have to go deeper than she usually does if she wanted any chance of running into her husband.
For a moment, hesitation locked her in place. She was the wife of a duke, nothing more. It wasn't her job to personally hunt him down whenever her unease got the best of her.
How would Luke even react upon seeing her? Would he be angered at seeing his wife unaccompanied in the woods?
That didn't sound like a pleasant outcome, neither did dying.
She was about to turn back, but she swore she heard the wind call for her.
Considering all other things, if Sophie were to die, it'd better be from making sure her husband hadn't been mauled by a beast yet.
That was an honorable way to go.
A wave of relief washed over her body as she rode her horse deeper into the woods. She would never admit it out loud, but the expectations that came with being a noble lady exhausted her to no end.
Having to be Luke's flawless wife, the appreciative friend of both Adeline and Maude, and the reliable head of a massive estate, all at the same time, was too much for one person.
Smiling until her cheeks ached, agreeing until her sanity edged into the unknown, and fighting to find new ways to please the nobles around her tore Sophie's mind into unidentifiable fragments of who she used to be.
At times, she felt like her body moved on its own, as if it was acting on a manual and a list of responsibilities.
Deep in the woods, where risks concerning life and death mattered more than trivial affairs, she was able to breathe.
There was no etiquette when it came to dying men and beasts.
Once she stopped to observe her surroundings, she realized it was too late to head back. She jumped off her horse, the moon her only source of illumination as she stared at a multitude of footprints on the ground.
They looked recent, she was hoping her husband wasn't too far ahead.
Where she was standing, it was likely that a few creatures were already aware of her presence, mysterious beings, mythical in nature.
She didn't see any during her ride but she knew they were there, everyone in town did.
The entities residing in those parts were mostly harmless. However, no human, noble or not, dared to disturb them apart from the leisurely stroll. Even then, they made sure to maintain a respectful distance and respectful behavior.
After all, no one could truly predict what they'd encounter in a world full of unknowns.
They were right about being overly cautious because now, there was a beast running loose. Sophie tried not to think about the possibility of running into it alone.
The sound of a breaking twig interrupted her train of thought. Judging from how quietly the creature circled her, it was unlikely to be the towering beast. It was a rabbit at best, a wild boar at worst, or maybe even a friendly fairy if she was extra lucky.
Sophie cursed herself for running into the woods without a weapon. Undeterred, she grabbed a log close by. She wasn't particularly experienced in taking the lives of others but she believed in the idea that anyone, sinner or saint, could spill blood once desperate enough to live.
And the duchess? She was desperate to find her husband and have dinner with him. The beast was no worthy obstacle.
The leaves around her shuffled unnervingly. Something was stalking her. Her steed huffed out, moving around frantically to express discomfort.
"It is alright. I am here. I will protect you." Sophie attempted to calm it down, hand brushing against its snout, knowing full well she could barely protect herself.
For a moment, there was silence. There was nothing at all. And then, her horse ran off without her—the traitor—she could barely blame it.
Chaos ensued as it made a loud noise from a distance. And then a body vaulted at her from the top of the trees.
Not half a second passed before Sophie was face-to-face with a hypnotizing pair of bright blue eyes decorated with golden flecks, glowing in a way she knew couldn't have been human.
Long strands of hair tickled Sophie's cheek, resembling the pure white of the moon, and an impossibly large frame kept her pinned to the ground.
Blood rushed up to her face once she realized that the creature's skin was bare, some of its scales tearing through her cloak.
It growled, a breath away from her face. Even its voice was nothing like she'd ever heard before, no other living being could imitate its deep rumbles.
Sophie was sure it held some magical influence over her rational thinking because she remained unmoving in its hold, frozen in fear and an emotion she wasn't ready to acknowledge.
That was until she felt a wet appendage slobbering on her cheek.
"What– I am a married woman, you fiend!" She yelled much louder than she thought she was capable of as the log on her hand came crashing against the beast's head.
Its long horns broke the pathetic piece of wood into splinters. The action only served to confuse the beast, creating some distance between them.
Taking her chance, Sophie began scratching at the beast's chest and biting at its bulky arms, drawing blood.
She stared in awe at how a silver substance, not red, seeped out of its wounds and into her worn down fingernails, shining like stardust. Then the wounds closed completely, taunting her mortality, as if to call her efforts useless and her own flesh fragile.
The creature appeared to misunderstand her intentions because its expression shifted from feral to downright cheeky. Stretching its jaw wide open, the beast revealed teeth from the deepest depths of hell, approaching her shoulder to return the favor.
The sharp canines, capable of tearing through fields of cattle in a single snap, shone under the moonlight.
Embarrassingly enough, the lady felt dampness on her face, coming from her eyes.
A somewhat forgivable reaction considering the pure dread rushing through her veins. Sophie couldn't even be embarrassed about the sob she hiccupped out.
"No! Stop!" Surprising herself as well, Sophie's persistent kicking pushed the beast away, creating enough space between them for her escape.
She didn't waste her chances with ineffective attacks, she stood up and ran as far as her legs could take her.