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— Damn it all! — the distraught countess muttered aloud, gasping for breath and slapping her bare feet against the muddy forest floor; heels wouldn't get you far. — Damn, damn, damn! I was so close! Those despicable, idiotic worms... Melissa had always been known for her composure, but at the moment, her mind was a jumble of the most diverse emotions and thoughts, randomly replacing each other. When her involvement in the events that had transpired became known, she had no choice but to abandon everything and run for her life. She didn't even have time to gather her things, make a plan, or even change into something appropriate: Count Crimson Peak, accompanied by a small group of soldiers, burst into her apartments and deprived her of that opportunity. But he didn't even bother to pursue her when she left the capital, while the forest simpletons pursued her relentlessly. The scoundrel from Black Ice was also lurking nearby; she was sure of it. For four days and four nights, she hadn't slept, until the forests of the Valley of Roses led her to a small fishing village west of the capital. Exhausted, she collapsed in the middle of the street and fell asleep. When morning came and the locals discovered the stranger, a crowd of curious onlookers immediately gathered around her.
— A moon wanderer! — someone shouted from the crowd. — Probably a witch!
— Yes, yes, you can't expect anything good from them! — said an old woman. — And she's so ugly!
— Like all of them! — added the fisherman's ugly daughter.
— You superstitious fools, — a young, strong man commented in response. — She's certainly become less attractive from exhaustion, but otherwise... — The young man greedily examined the sleeping woman.
— She's probably a whore too! — This attention from the village heartthrob clearly displeased the fisherman's daughter; she became angry and kicked Melissa in the leg. This woke her up, and she looked around in fear, not understanding where she was. Eventually, she was shackled and tied to a post in the center of the village. That's how she spent the rest of the day. As the sun began to set, the people finished their daily chores and gathered to decide what to do with the stranger. At that moment, a fishing boat approached the shore, which had been missing for more than a day. The catch was enormous and promised to provide the village with provisions for a long time, unless another inhumane order came from the capital, demanding that they give up more than usual. One of the returning fishermen noticed Melissa and looked sadly at the terrible state she was in.
— Please forgive me for asking such an inappropriate question in this situation, — he said quietly, with a slight smile, addressing her, — but did I perhaps see your face before?
— Perhaps. — Melissa replied with difficulty, but now her former composure and calmness had returned. She carefully examined the face of the man who was speaking to her. He was clearly not a local, and his beautiful, piercing eyes... — I definitely saw yours. Who would have thought that such a man would hide in a place like this?
The man did not answer; he just smiled even wider. A howl was heard in the air, definitely belonging to wild and very hungry animals.
— Wolves! — one of the villagers shouted and ran towards his home; the other villagers followed, and soon there was no one left on the street except Melissa and her companion. After a while, a small pack of five wolves ran out of the forest and stopped in front of them, growling menacingly.
"Is this how my life will end! No, no, no! I can't die now, and certainly not become food for these creatures!" — she thought in horror as she looked at them. Meanwhile, the "stranger" picked up an axe that the local woodcutter used. — Fool, you don't stand a chance... Nevertheless, this man cut down all the wolves.
— If you don't want to lose your other arm, you better leave here, and quickly. — Melissa's savior said this towards the forest; she couldn't understand who he was addressing. Then he cut the not-so-strong chain that was holding her. — Well, I guess I can't stay here any longer. Maybe I could use some company.
The villagers owed this man a lot, and so, albeit reluctantly, they agreed to let Melissa go and even gave him a horse and a small amount of provisions when he was about to leave the village. As they slowly rode away together, the countess fell asleep, leaning against the strong and warm back of her savior, feeling safe for the first time in a long time.
