---
Eva panted, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she glanced over her shoulder. "I hope they didn't see me," she whispered to herself.
She pulled a crumpled letter from her pocket, smoothing it out with trembling fingers. "Now… I have to go to this address," she muttered, scanning the unfamiliar location.
"It's not far from here… but first, I need to change my dress."
She hurried into a nearby shop, quickly swapping her outfit for something simple and inconspicuous. Twirling in front of the mirror, she nodded to herself. "Perfect."
Clutching the letter tightly, Eva stepped out of the shop and made her way toward the destination.
-----
(Royal Palace Velmoria)
Eyan paced back and forth in his office, the weight of unease pressing down on him. Hans watched silently, unsure how to ease the tension.
"Your majesty, what's wrong? You look troubled," Hans finally asked.
"I feel worried about Eva…" Eyan admitted, his voice low, almost strangled.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The knights are with her Grace. Nothing will happen," Hans said, trying to reassure him.
"I know… but I don't know why I'm feeling uneasy."
A long silence stretched between them before Eyan shook his head. "This won't do. Hans, prepare the carriage."
"Where are you going, Your Majesty?"
"I'm going to Eva."
---
Eva sat on the cold stone curb, panting. "Ahh… my leg hurts…" Her body ached with exhaustion. "I feel so tired. I've been walking for almost three hours, and I still couldn't find the address. Where is this…?"
She forced herself to stand. "I'll ask someone."
A few steps later, she approached a stranger. "Excuse me, can you tell me where this address is?"
The stranger pointed. "Oh… if you walk this way, you'll find a small alley. Then turn left, and you'll find it."
"Thank you," she whispered, pushing forward again.
---
Eyan sat tensely in the carriage, every passing second thick with worry. The carriage came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the road.
"What happened? Why did you stop?" he demanded.
The coachman hesitated. "Your Majesty… I see royal knights and the Queen's carriage just ahead"
Eyan's brow furrowed. "What are they doing here?"
He leapt down, striding toward the cluster of knights. "What happened? Why did you stop here?"
The knights stiffened. "Your Majesty… we are looking for her Grace."
"What do you mean you are looking for her?"
"Your Majesty… the Queen disappeared."
Eyan's chest tightened. "Disappeared?"
"She went to the shop to buy flowers, then to the restroom… and after that, she was gone. We've searched everywhere, but we couldn't find her."
Anger flared, and he grabbed one of the knights by the collar. "Is that all you have to say to me? I sent you to protect her, and you couldn't even do it properly!"
"We… we apologize, Your Majesty," the knight stammered.
Eyan slammed him against the ground, the fury still burning in his eyes. "Do whatever it takes… find her! And mark my words—if she gets so much as a scratch… if even a hair on her head is harmed… you will pay with your life! Do you understand?!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" the knights chorused, fear etched into every word.
The group scattered, racing to search, while Eyan's gaze burned into the distance, desperate and furious.
"Your Majesty…" Aranel's trembling voice reached him.
"Lady Aranel…"
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I can't find Eva anywhere… I don't know where she went."
"Lady Aranel, don't cry," he said, stepping forward, his voice sharp but laced with desperation. "I'll find her. I swear… I'll find her."
He summoned his wolves—Talon, Fen, and Mara—who appeared silently, their black forms like shadows brought to life.
"Go and find Eva," he commanded, his voice cold steel.
The wolves nodded once and vanished into the street.
Eyan clenched his fists, his body trembling with the mix of fear and rage. "Eva… just be safe… please…"
----
Eva's heart pounded as she approached the old house.
"Finally… I found it," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
She stepped closer, taking in the peeling paint and cracked windows. "Is this the right address…" she murmured, uncertainty tightening her chest.
She scanned the empty yard. "Why… I see no one here."
Gathering all her courage, she pushed the door open. "Hello… is anybody there?" Her voice sounded small in the silence.
Nothing.
"Leo? Are you here?."
"It's me… Mom."
Silence.
Unease slithered through her like cold water. "I think it's a wrong address… I should leave."
She turned to go.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind her. A wave of panic surged through her.
She rushed to the door, banging on it with both hands. "Is anybody outside?! Open the door!"
A voice, calm and measured, echoed from the shadows. "Don't try so hard, Your Grace. The door won't open."
Eva froze, her pulse spiking. "Who are you… and how do you know me?"
A man stepped forward, face partially hidden by shadow. "My name is Marek. Nice to meet you, Your Grace," he said with a courteous bow.
"I am the one who sent you that letter."
"You… sent it to me?" Eva's voice cracked.
"Yes," Marek said calmly. "I wrote that if you wanted to see… 'him,' you should come to this address."
"How did you know I was looking for someone?" she asked, suspicion sharpening her tone.
Marek's eyes darkened slightly. "I saw you and the emperor on the street that day… You were looking for someone desperately.
I tried my luck, sent a letter using that person as bait. I didn't expect you to fall for it and actually come here alone."
"What do you want from me?" Her hands clenched at her sides.
"What I want," Marek said slowly, "is revenge."
"Revenge?" Eva repeated, disbelief lacing her voice. "But I didn't do anything to you… why revenge?"
"Your Grace," Marek's voice hardened, "you didn't do anything—but your husband did."
"My husband?" Her breath hitched.
"Yes. Your husband killed my brother."
Eva felt a chill. "Why did my husband killed your brother?"
Marek's jaw tightened. "My brother didn't do anything great… he just killed a woman who was carrying his child."
"Why did your brother kill them?" Eva's voice was sharp.
"That woman… she was forcing my brother to marry her and take responsibility for the child. My brother was just… having fun with her. He refused. Then she went to the Emperor for help. The Emperor told my brother to take responsibility… and that angered my brother. So he killed her… and the child."
" And for this… your husband killed him."
"My brother didn't deserve that. Don't you think, Your Grace… what your husband did was wrong?"
Eva's voice rang out, cold and unflinching. "Sorry to tell you, but your brother deserves that."
Marek's face twisted in anger. "What did you just say?!"
"I said your brother deserved to die," Eva repeated firmly, "for killing that woman and the innocent child she was carrying. I… I'm happy my husband did the right thing."
A short, cruel laugh escaped Marek. "Your Grace… looks like you don't know what fear is. If you did, you wouldn't dare to say that to me… to my face."
"What are you going to do… hurt me?" Eva's voice was small but defiant.
"Let me tell you something: if my husband found out about this… he's going to kill you too. So… if you don't want to end up like your brother… let me go."
Marek's grin was icy. He took a single step closer. "Who said I'm going to hurt you?"
"I… am going to kill you."
Eva's stomach dropped.
"I'm not afraid to die," he continued, voice softening with twisted sentiment. "I would die happily… but only after killing you."
"Your husband loves you, right? I loved my brother too. I want to see the expression on your husband's face when he sees his sweet wife… dead."
Eva backed away, panic screaming through her veins. "Don't come close to me… I'm telling you, you'll regret this!"
Marek lunged.
And then she screamed. "Eyan!"
CRACK
The door burst open… !
A cold wind swept in. Talon, Fen, and Mara—leapt into the room.
"Get your hands off her!"
A voice roared, raw with authority and fury.
Silver hair fell across a fierce, crimson glare.
Eva opened her eyes.
Her lips trembled as she whispered:
"Leo…"
----