"WHAT?!"
King Velnias roared, his voice echoing through the throne room like thunder. Fury twisted his face as he glared at Maikell, who knelt before him.
"The troops we sent to Targaryen… they were defeated," Maikell reported, managing to remain calm in front of the furious king. "The survivors were captured, the rest are dead. And—Rameses is missing."
Velnias clenched his jaw, veins bulging on his forehead. He could scarcely believe what he was hearing. Defeat? His army? And Rameses—his most trusted commander—gone?
If he dies, the balance of power may change.
"We don't know if he escaped... or if he's dead," Maikell added cautiously.
The king hissed through his teeth. "Tch... Find him. Find Rameses, no matter the cost! I want him back in this kingdom alive. Do not return without him—or I swear, I will kill every last one of you!"
Thane swallowed hard. Jean and Jacques exchanged a glance, both pale with dread. Velnias in a rage was terrifying—and his threats were never empty.
"We'll find him immediately, Your Majesty," Maikell said, rising to his feet.
Thane followed without a word, and the two left the room. As the heavy doors closed behind them, silence fell.
Then—chaos.
Unable to contain his wrath any longer, Velnias snatched the sword from Jacques' side and, without warning, drove it into the hearts of two nearby guards.
Their bodies collapsed to the ground.
Jacques and Jean didn't flinch. Still kneeling, heads bowed, they dared not move. To look into the king's blazing eyes now would be a death sentence.
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Jinny felt a sharp pain radiating through her body. Slowly, she opened her eyes and found herself lying in an unfamiliar place—its walls made of rough rock and soil.
She tried to sit up, but a jolt of pain struck her. Eyes clenching shut, she let out a soft groan.
"I-It hurts…" she whispered.
"Don't move too much, or your wounds will start bleeding again," a voice said suddenly.
Startled, Jinny quickly turned toward the sound. Her gaze landed on a man sitting nearby, wrapping a blood-stained cloth around a wound on his abdomen.
"W-Who are you?" she asked cautiously.
The man looked about the same age as her older brothers. He had long hair tied into a single braid and a scar running across the bridge of his nose.
"I don't give my name to strangers," he replied flatly, not even glancing at her.
"T-Then how did I get here?" she asked again, struggling to sit up despite the searing pain.
From the bruises and gashes on her body, it was clear she had gotten them from falling off the cliff.
The man finished tying his bandage and finally looked at her. "I found you unconscious. Looked like you'd fallen too. You were bleeding all over—I thought you were dead. But when I checked and saw you were still breathing, I brought you here to treat your wounds. You looked pitiful."
Jinny glanced around. They were inside a cave, dimly lit by faint light filtering through the entrance. In the distance, she could hear the steady rush of water.
"We're safe here," the man added. "The cave is hidden behind a waterfall—wild animals won't come this close."
He paused, then studied her. "I don't usually help strangers. But you were bleeding badly, especially your legs… You're pregnant?"
Jinny's eyes widened. Her baby. She'd forgotten in the haze of pain and confusion.
With shaking hands, she looked down. Her legs were caked in dried blood—how long had she been unconscious?
"M-My baby…" she murmured, eyes welling with tears.
The man looked away. "You bled too much. Unfortunately, the child's gone."
"No… No, that's not possible! You can't be sure!" she cried, panic and disbelief twisting her face.
It was her child. Hers and Matias'. If he finds out, he will get mad.
The man sighed. "Do you think a baby could survive a fall like that? You lost it. Accept it."
He stood and picked up his sword. Jinny's sobs filled the cave. She had failed to protect her unborn child. She had failed as a mother.
Without another word, the man walked toward the cave entrance, leaving her to grieve. She needed time.
Outside, he scanned the surroundings, hand pressing over his wound. The pain lingered—still sharp, but manageable enough to hunt. He began walking, searching for a target.
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.
After an hour, Rameses returned to the cave carrying a small boar.
He spotted Jinny sitting on the ground, hugging her knees. Her eyes were hollow, her cheeks streaked with the dried remnants of tears.
Without a word, Rameses walked past her and began skinning the boar. Once it was cleaned and chopped, he lit a fire and started roasting the meat.
Silence hung between them like a thick curtain.
When the meat was finally cooked, Rameses tore off a portion and held it out to her.
"You should eat. You'll need your strength."
But Jinny didn't answer. She sat still, her face blank, her gaze fixed on nothing.
Rameses frowned. He set the meat down beside her and began eating his own portion.
He didn't speak again.
After finishing, he cleaned his sword in silence, then stepped outside to check the surroundings for any wild animals. Once he was sure the area was safe for the night, he returned, lay down in his corner of the cave, and fell asleep.
Jinny stared at the roasted meat beside her.
She had no appetite.
She had lost her child.
She was separated from her brothers.
And now, she was trapped in an unfamiliar place with a stranger.
Why was fate so cruel to her?
Why was she even still in this world?
She just wanted to go home.
She missed her home.
Closing her eyes, she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
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Days passed, and Jinny and Rameses remained in the cave until their wounds healed.
It was a bright, clear day when Rameses stepped outside to train with his sword. The rhythmic sound of steel cutting through the air echoed through the forest.
Inside the cave, Jinny slowly stood. Her legs ached, but she pushed through the discomfort.
Stepping into the sunlight, she winced—her eyes weren't used to the brightness after days in the dark. After a moment, her vision adjusted. She spotted Rameses in the clearing, his blade slicing through the air in precise, powerful movements.
Carefully, she made her way toward the river connected to the waterfall. She needed to clean herself.
Kneeling by the edge, she gazed at her reflection in the clear water. She barely recognized herself—dirt smeared her face, her hair was tangled, and dried blood streaked her legs.
She glanced toward Rameses and saw him watching.
"I... I'm going to take a bath," she said quietly.
Rameses turned away and walked off without a word. He understood she needed privacy—she was a woman, after all.
Once he was gone, she undressed and slipped into the water. The cold sent a shiver through her, but it was refreshing. She began washing herself, scrubbing away the blood, dirt, and sweat. Her wounds, though healing, still stung under her touch.
She stayed in the water nearly an hour, letting the cold soothe her and the silence calm her thoughts.
When she returned to the cave, Rameses was already roasting meat over the fire.
"How's your wound?" he asked, glancing at her.
"It's healing... Getting better," she replied, sitting down beside the fire and watching him work.
Suddenly, her stomach growled loudly.
She blushed. "I-I'm sorry..."
Rameses chuckled under his breath.
"It's fine. You haven't eaten in days." He handed her a small pile of fruit.
"Here, eat this while the meat finishes cooking."
"T-Thank you," she murmured, taking the fruit. She bit into one—it was sweet and juicy. Her hunger took over, and she kept eating, cheeks slightly puffed as she chewed.
Rameses smirked, suppressing a laugh. She looked so innocent, almost childlike.
So young, he thought. Too young to have been pregnant.
He turned back to the meat, focusing on it instead.
Once the food was ready, they ate together in silence. For the first time since waking in the cave, Jinny began to feel more at ease around him. Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy.
After a while, she spoke.
"By the way..."
Rameses looked at her.
"How did you end up here? Are you alone? Don't you have any family?"
He was quiet for a moment before answering.
"I don't have a family. They're all dead."
"I-I'm sorry," she said gently.
"It's fine."
Jinny hesitated. "But... how did you end up in this cave? You're injured too."
"I got lost. I was traveling and got attacked by wild animals. I'm staying here until I recover," he replied, lying with practiced ease.
He didn't intend to tell her the truth—no one needed to know he was from Montclairs.
"I see..." Jinny took a small bite of her meat.
"How about you? How did you fall off the cliff?" he asked.
"I was traveling with my brothers when we were attacked by beastmen. I got separated from them."
"They must be worried about you."
Jinny let out a bitter smile. "I'm not sure... We're not really close. They hate me."
Rameses raised an eyebrow.
"I'm adopted. Their real sister died in an accident. Ever since I joined their family, they've looked at me as if I intended to replace her. They always said they'd never accept me as their sister."
Rameses frowned. "Your brothers sound like jerks."
She gave a half-hearted smile. "Still, I care about them. Thane was kind to me—he's not like the others. And Ran... well, he's a pervert, but he looked out for me while we were traveling."
Rameses tilted his head slightly.
"What about the father of your baby? Was he with you?"
Jinny swallowed hard.
"No. I left without telling him where I was going. He doesn't know I'm here. I'm sure he's looking for me."
She gently placed her hand over her stomach and sighed.
"The baby was so important to him. But I left... I left him with our child."
Rameses didn't reply. The fire crackled between them.
After a moment, Jinny spoke again.
"Do you know a village called Apomon? I overheard my brothers mention it. I think that's where we were headed."
"Apomon is just beyond this forest," Rameses said. "But we'd have to pass near the beastmen tribe to get there."
Jinny's eyes widened. "So there's no way to avoid them?"
"There is," he said. "I know a safe way. But it'll take a few days and a lot of walking. It won't be easy, especially for you."
"That's fine! I can do it. I have to get to Apomon, no matter what."
Rameses nodded. "Alright. We leave tomorrow."
Jinny's face lit up. "Thank you..." She paused.
"I never told you my name. I'm Jinny."
Rameses nodded silently.
She tilted her head. "You're really not going to tell me your name?"
He shook his head.
Jinny pouted. "Then I'll call you Mr. Savior."
"Call me whatever you want," he muttered, not looking at her.
.
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Night fell, and Rameses had already extinguished the fire inside the cave.
Jinny lay quietly in her usual spot, while Rameses sat nearby, his sword in hand, ready to clean it.
Suddenly, a noise echoed from outside.
Both of them shot up in alert.
"Shhh," Rameses whispered, signaling her to stay quiet.
They moved cautiously toward the edge of the cave, just behind the waterfall, and peeked through the curtain of flowing water. A group of soldiers was moving around outside, torches in hand, clearly searching for something—or someone.
"Who are they?" Jinny whispered anxiously.
Rameses gently pushed her behind him, shielding her. They crouched low, keeping out of sight. Rameses squinted, narrowing his eyes at the soldiers' uniforms. His gaze locked onto an insignia—the crest of Targaryen.
"They're from Targaryen—the enemy kingdom," he whispered back, lying. "Probably scouting for enemy camps."
"Are they dangerous?" Jinny asked, her voice trembling.
Rameses nodded grimly. "Very. They're tyrants. If they find us, they'll capture us… maybe even torture us to death. We have to stay hidden until they leave."
Jinny nodded, fear tightening in her chest.
They remained silent and alert throughout the night. Rameses didn't sleep—he kept watch, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword.
Only when the soldiers finally disappeared into the trees, their footsteps fading, did the tension ease.
They hadn't searched the cave behind the waterfall. They were lucky.
Relieved but exhausted, Jinny's eyelids finally grew heavy. She curled up, and before long, she drifted into sleep—safe, for now.