Chapter 5

Albert smiled as he fiddled with the hunting knife in his hand. “Do you believe you can fool me so easily? Even if you hide at the end of the world, I can find you.”

Matthew quickly hid Lyca behind his back. “You and your queen will not be able to atone for your sins! Surrender and repent now, or my father will not tolerate you! He will burn you until your bodies are reduced to ash!” He retorted, his teeth clenched.

“Oh, my goodness! Do you think you’re in a position to warn the queen and me, Prince Matthew?” Albert responded sarcastically.

“You can’t go up against him… Let’s take off; let’s get out of here!” Lyca muttered under her breath, her body trembling. She didn’t want to admit to Matthew that she was terrified, but she was struggling.

Matthew tightened his grip on Lyca’s hand. “Don’t be concerned. My guard has arrived in our kingdom. They’ll arrive at our castle before sunrise—”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Prince Matthew, but your bodyguard has long since died! So don’t expect assistance from your kingdom; no one will come!” Albert’s grin reached his ears as he took a step.

Matthew was taken aback by these remarks. That’s why he couldn’t react right away. He had previously directed his soldier to return to their castle and inform his father.

“Now, if you don’t want to get hurt, hand me the princess,” Albert added.

“I will never give you Lyca!” Before turning to face Lyca, Matthew asserted. “Pay attention to what I’m saying. I’ll keep him busy, so you have time to flee. Understand?”

Lyca refused right away. “No! Albert is a formidable fighter! You can’t beat him, so it’s best if we flee!”

Matthew made a shaky motion with his head. “That guy can’t possibly kill me… They may have stopped my soldier, but that doesn’t mean they can stop my father from looking for me… The queen is aware of this, which is why I am safe.”

Matthew is certain of it. However, he is unsure whether Albert will be gentle with him.

“Don’t be too naive, Prince Matthew… Princess Lyca cannot be saved because it is her fate! Give up because the queen will never stop until she gets what she wants.” Albert’s grin fades as his grip on the knife tightens.

When Matthew saw Albert’s preparations, he rushed forward and attacked him.

“I will defend Princess Lyca! And I will not let her die!” Matthew exclaimed while launching punches and kicks at Albert, but he easily avoided every attack.

“Awww! Awww!” A crow flew overhead and landed on a nearby tree. The aura that surrounds it is strange, especially the color of its jet eyes.

“It appears that the game is over… The queen has summoned me,” Albert shot back. His polish movement became more potent and lethal in the blink of an eye as he unleashed his knife.

“No! Prince Matthew!” When she saw Matthew’s blood splash in front of her, Lyca screamed in terror.

“Princess…” Matthew exclaimed before collapsing to the ground. Albert’s most recent attack ripped into his stomach. Although it is not fatal, it does cause serious injury.

“Now, little princess… we must return to the castle because they are concerned about you,” Albert stated as he began to walk toward Lyca.

Lyca took a step back, overcome with fear. “No! I’d rather die than participate in the queen’s evil plan!” She shot back. Although Lyca does not know the queen’s exact plan, she is certain that it is pure evil.

Albert hid the knife in his waistband because Matthew was lying down before continuing to approach Lyca.

“I don’t want to hurt you, so follow me—” Albert came to a halt when he felt a hand stop his foot.

“Lyca! Run!” Matthew was the one. He did not let go of Albert with his remaining strength.

Albert, who had previously been unconcerned, was startled for a moment, but when he recovered, he immediately kicked Matthew. “Continuity will kill you!” he exclaimed.

Lyca, meanwhile, closed her eyes and turned away. “I’m sorry, Matthew,” she sobbed as she dashed away.

Lyca didn’t want to leave Matthew, but when she saw the pleading in his eyes while restraining Albert, she stood up and ran.

“No! Lyca! You can’t get away from me!” Albert’s scream rang out across the forest.

The sudden noise drowned out the animals in the wilderness.

Albert immediately follows Lyca after killing Matthew, but he stops in the middle of his search.

“What the hell is going on? How can she possibly go in here?” Albert muttered angrily.

Concern flashed across his face, but it was not for Lyca but for himself. The queen stated earlier that he could not return until he finds Lyca, but the forest she went to is dangerous.

Everyone in the territory and neighboring kingdoms avoids this place because no one ever leaves. The legend claims that monsters patrol the area, but no one can confirm or deny this because none of those who entered the forest are still alive.

“Oh, no!” Albert exclaimed as he made the decision to follow Lyca.

Lyca, on the other hand, did not stop. Instead, she accelerated without looking back, tearing through the dark, dense forest.

“Please, Matthew, don’t die…” Lyca continued to whisper as tears reformed, causing her vision to blur.

She didn’t mind the branches slicing her skin because, in comparison, what happened to her father and Albert to save her was more heartbreaking.

“Aw-woh…” Lyca was brought back to reality by a terrifying howl.

Because of the startling howl, Lyca decided to come to a halt and lean against a tree. “Wait, what was that? What exactly is this location?” She spoke with trepidation.

Lyca can’t remember which direction she turned because of her fear and desire to get away from Albert.

Forests surround the castle, but she hasn’t been able to see any since her mother died.

“Aw-woh!” Lyca’s entire body froze when she heard howling close to where she was standing.