"Run, Princess, run!"
Her voice sliced through the panic, and suddenly we were moving, abandoning the dilapidated carriage without a second thought.
She dragged me out through the shattered carriage door in a haze, our skirts catching on splintered wood and tearing from the impact as we ran.
My feet stumbling to keep up at first. I winced as pain shot through my hip, but she didn't stop and neither could I.
Behind us, our guards whoever could were following us, while the remaining guards clashed steel with the attackers. Horses screamed alongside. And another carriage was overturned in the chaos.
"This way!" Talia yelled, veering off the road into the brush.
Branches scraped our arms as we pushed through the treelined trying to hide in them. The scent of blood and dust clung to the wind. Talia led me forward, with our hands bound together and her grip was firm on me even as the world collapsed behind us. I looked back, just once. The enemies were everywhere.
Panic surged within me. My legs suddenly locked in place, halting us. My hands shook from delayed terror. This wasn't fiction anymore.
"No," I breathed. "No, no, no—"
"Princess, move!" Talia barked, yanking me forward again.
I don't know how long we ran into the forest. I was too stunned to keep track of anything. We weren't following any direction, just crashing through roots and shadows, desperate to escape. But the enemies weren't giving up either. I had no idea how many there were, or how long we could possibly hold out. And above all, the heavy dress weighed me down like chains, slowing my every step. Thank god the fabric was already torn and tattered, its weight lessened just enough for me to keep moving.
After what felt like hours of running, we finally slowed down, on cue of the soldiers we ducked behind one of the towering giant tree. Its trunk was broad enough to hide all of us from sight: Talia, me, a handful of soldiers, and a few terrified maids. We crouched low in the shadows, gasping for breath. The soldiers pressed their backs against us, forming a protective circle, guarding against the unexpected, their weapons still drawn, while the rest of us struggled to steady our shaking breaths.
That was when I noticed our surroundings.
As terror crawled up my spine at the sight of enormous trees, something else pushed forward too; recognition. We were running between the Varellan groves—forests of blackwood trees, tall and straight, their trunks dark as ink. They weren't native to this region; blackwoods were smuggled *imported* for a better term and cultivated here for their dense, valuable timber, prized in shipbuilding and trade.
And what was so special about these trees? Well, I'd read this world. I'd studied every inch of it. I knew the blind corners and fallback points.
Only a particular region had been chosen for these trees; they were an invasive species. So the kingdom kept them far away from normal vegetation and in scientific eyes.
I think I know what to do, not because I was brave, but because I was a fan. A nerd, a lunatic who had charted THIS WORLD'S maps in her head because romance novels sometimes had war in them too.
Come on, brain, this is what you're good at.
Grabbing the nearest soldier's sleeve, the one who had been quietly discussing their next move with another, I caught his attention.
"Haah--haa.....G-go bring Callisto," I ordered between breaths, still panting from the sudden run.
The soldier blinked at me, startled.
"But—Your Highness—!"
Everyone's attention now turned toward me.
"Does anyone here know where the Mirral Lake is in these Varellan groves?" I demanded.
One of the soldiers froze, shocked by my detail. These woods were top secret planted as a maze and riddled with ghost stories to deter any trespassers and limit commercial interest. Only a few were allowed inside and had the knowledge to navigate it. Since we were moving deeper, not circling blindly, I realized some of the soldiers must be well aware of the surroundings.
The shocked expression on one's face gave me my clue. I grabbed his hand firmly.
"How does the princess know?" he asked in disbelief.
"Don't argue," I snapped at him. "Tell me where the lake is."
He hesitated, then said, "Two hundred meters to the right from here."
I sighed in relief. It was nearer than I had expected.
"Okay," I said, my voice sharp and precise. "Go there. You will find a dug-out hollow, concealed beside a large stone. Enter it and crawl for about a hundred meters that will lead you to the base. Patrols are stationed there.
"Yes, I'll bring them," the soldier said, already reaching to move.
"No." I stopped him abruptly. "They're too few. We can't win with just two or three more men with horses. Use their supplies if you must, but go to Callisto in there fastest steed — he's closer and has adequate men. He's our only realistic hope."
"But princess, I can't leave you here," he protested. "Among us all, only I know these woods. Others are busy fighting. These trees are planted to get lost—"
"I trust you'd noticed from the directions I've given that I'm hardly unfamiliar with this forest." I snapped, my voice harsh, cutting through his hesitation. "I give you a royal command—go!"
Shocked by my tone, the soldier's resolve stiffened. I added one final order:
"Send word to my brother. Tell him to come to Orchard Creek Bed—HURRY!"
The soldier nodded as if agreeing with my plan and sprinted through the trees, disappearing into the shadows as fast as his legs could carry him.
A few meters ahead from where we are. Our other soldiers in foot were still locked in the chaos, clashing steel with the attackers in horses. I turned again and tried to hide in the chaos. Honestly, I had never been in these forests; all these paths were guesses from chapters I had read in the story.
They're too many.
More riders emerged from the trees. Cloaked, masked, efficient. They were not bandits or amateurs. I counted ten, eleven. Maybe more are hiding in the shadows. Slowly they were coming near us.
"They're going to take us all," I whispered.
"Ohhh, what should we do?" Renna, a young maid crouched beside us, started to tear up.
"It's getting dark, we can barely see in these woods."
I held her hand tightly, giving her strength.
"Do not fret, Renna. Callisto will save us, and you still have me. Haven't you heard? This forest is a maze and I know this place. The dark will be our advantage, not our despair."
My words gave the girl some hope, and she held back her tears.
"Over here! Form a line! " a guard roared, though his voice was already fraying with panic, bringing us all to present.
Not in reality, but I knew this forest from the texts. Maybe it was the panic, or maybe sheer desperation, but a half-forgotten side episode had suddenly clicked in my mind moments ago like a door swinging open.
I knew its terrain, its traps. All thanks to a single line in a forgotten side story, where Callisto once chased an assassin to the orchard ridge, here, just one km away east from the lake. We were roughly two hundred meters east of Mirral Lake, hidden from sight because of the enormous tree, which meant Orchard Ridge lay about eight hundred meters farther east, to our left.
We all rose up to run as enemy drew nearer. And now it was time to execute part two of my plan. I scanned the treelined and shouted loud enough only for the nearest royal guard to hear,
"Force them left! Don't let them ride the central forest, it's open and fast!"
He blinked in confusion at me. "Left? That leads into—"
"The ridge forks in two just ahead," I barked. "Left is a dried creek bed which is sunken, full of holes. It rained yesterday. Their heavy horses will have to slow and sink and struck! The dark will hide the creek until they're chest-deep in mud!"
The guard's eyes widened, but he nodded and bellowed, "You heard her! Drive them left!"
I turned toward Talia and the other women crouched in the shadows with us.
"We also have to run again, haa....ha...into the creek," I said quickly. "Once they enter the creek and we've slowed them down, don't cross the creek. Instead, turn right and climb the light slope. Once we're hidden from their sight behind the trees, run ahead in the opposite direction of east. There's a large ruin there....I know it. We can hide until help arrives. Help the others, don't leave anyone behind."
They all nodded and we all moved as per my instructions.
Two guards peeled left with me, circling wide toward the creek bed; a dried-up ravine hidden beneath a curtain of trees, vines and loose soil. It was narrow, uneven, and notoriously hard to ride through. The pour yesterday will further help us. Perfect for slowing them down. Perfect for stalling them until helps arrives.
Then I ran straight, ducking behind trees, shouting nonsense orders in a perfect imitation of palace command:
"Squad four — FLANK FROM THE RIDGE!"
"Archers, NOW!"
The enemy riders jerked, startled. At least two of them hesitated, scanning the treetops.
Good. Make them think they're outnumbered. Follow me. Just a little closer.
We reached the creek and moved into it, the ground sucking at our steps with damp resistance.
And then one of the horses hit the soft earth wrong and slipped, its legs tangling in the uneven dip.
"Yes—gotcha!" I hissed, a shaky grin breaking through my fear.
The rider cursed, struggling to stay upright as the others slowed to avoid the same fate.
the creek was less dense than forest and a little bit of moonlight that night helped us to see the surrounding clearly.
As my plan was working we all turned and bolted up the slope, heart thundering, my lungs burning. I didn't need to win. I just needed to keep them tangled long enough.
But just as I thought it was going well,
"Renna!" Talia gasped.
I turned mid way and saw her too.
Our youngest maid, delicate and kind, had fallen behind. Her foot was caught in the creek as well, and she was trying to crawl free.
"Renna, get up! Come on!" I screamed.
But she didn't get the chance. One of the masked soldiers grabbed her.
"AAH…! Leave me, you ****!" she screamed, thrashing wildly.
He swung Renna up onto his horse like she was a sack of grain, her screams muffled by the leathered hand over her mouth. The soldier turned his steed sharply, ready to bolt into the trees. He was circling toward the left trail, the fastest route out of the forest.
No. I can't let him reach the clearing. If he gets out, she's gone, maybe forever.
My mind didn't think, but my body moved back toward the creek. I seized a heavy, uneven stone and threw it downslope, not at the rider, but at the horse's face. The steed reared in panic, whinnying violently. Already struggling in the creek's soft earth, the startled beast started to lose its balance. The man cursed, lurching as his grip began to slip.
"Now!" I screamed. "Talia—NOW!"
Talia was near enough , and she was already moving. Like lightning, she snatched Renna from the man's arms as the girl slipped sideways off the saddle, cushioning the fall as best she could.
"Take her!" I shouted.
Talia didn't argue. She pulled Renna with her and ran. Renna sobbed, clutching at Talia.
The soldier fallen from horse, staggered upright with fury burning in his eyes. He turned and locked onto me. Bathed in moonlight and mud with his sinister eyes he was looking at me with amurderous aura.
My breath caught. For a moment, all I could hear was the pound of my heart and the distant echo of hooves. The guards were too far. Talia was gone. Renna was safe for now.
And he was coming for me. Slow at first his steps uneven, boots squelching in the muck but full of purpose. Like a hound that had picked up a scent.
I lifted the sword from nearby which I didn't know how to use.
At least, that's what I thought. But just like that my grip shifted without thinking and my stance adjusted on its own. My feet found the earth like they'd done it a thousand times before. The fear was still there clawing at my ribs but beneath it, something steadier bloomed.
Muscle memory.it clicked to me. Not mine, but Elinessa's. This body… it remembered.
Elinessa had been a princess, yes. But, she's also a trained swordswoman quiet, refined, deadly when needed.
Oh. Oh!!!, I can handle this. This discovery filled me with hope.
I raised the blade, shoulders squaring as the man charged toward me, mud-slicked and furious.
"Come on, then," I whispered. "Just a few more minutes—"
He also raised his blade—
"ELINESSA!!"
Steel flashed in front of me. A blur of blue and black collided with him from the side.
Callisto.
My brother, Crown Prince Callisto arrived like a blade drawn by fate.
Drenched in ceremonial blues, now soaked in ash, sweat, and someone else's blood, his expression was unreadable but his movements spoke loud enough.
"Hide, now" he ordered coldly, not sparing me a glance as he raised his sword again.
A strike like lightning measured, final, without remorse. In a blur of silver and crimson, he cut through the chaos like it was mere rehearsal.
I ran then, stumbling until I found a safe distance, and hid behind a broken trunk. From there, I watched.
The remaining attackers fell one by one with barely time to scream.
"Push forward! Leave none standing!" his voice thundered.
Few tried to flee bolting down the slope in desperation. Another, still dazed from falling, was wrenched off his horse and bound by the guards. The rest lay motionless, dead. Bringing a full stop in the middle of chaos. The air fell silent.
And me?
I stood in the middle of it all.
Heaving, shaking. Gripping a sword I didn't remember lifting.
My braid had unraveled, golden strands hanging wild around my face, sticking to my cheeks with sweat and streaks of blood.
The gown I'd once loved a soft lilac silk stitched just for this occasion was torn here and there, fabric split at my shoulder, now clinging damp and filthy to my skin. Dust streaked my arms. Blood dotted my sleeve. My knees throbbed from where I'd fallen, were scraped open.
And my cheek stung — warm and wet.
I touched it.
My fingers came away red.