Cold sweat dripped down Ashelia's back as she pulled her bow string. There was no way she would be able to shoot down any of these men in one go, they were all four times her size!
"Hey!" One of them, the one that looked like the leader of the group, barked at another. "Didn't you say the Orlan girl was here just a few minutes ago? Where did she go then?"
The man who had been scolded scratched the back of his head like an idiot. "I swear I saw her come here with a really large dog!"
Ashelia almost gasped. They were looking for her! They were not just a group of random, unruly bandits searching for someone to rob, they had come here specifically for her.
It was true a lot of nobles knew her, but none of them would have the audacity to send assailants after her like this.
Ashelia felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice cold water all over her. 'How long have they been watching me for?'
How did she not notice? How did Meryl not notice?! And again, where in the world was Meryl?!
The leader grunted. "Find her." He ordered. "She couldn't have gotten far."
Ashelia slowed down her breathing, afraid of them discovering her too soon. She didn't have a choice now.
It was either she tried her hand at taking at least one of them down, or she tried running for her life only to eventually get caught.
They could mobilize the entire forest thieves into catching her. After all, she was the only daughter of the only Duke of Dalniar.
She adjusted her posture and drew her bow string even farther, aiming at the thug farthest from the group.
Her plan was simple, she would try to take them out one by one as silently as she could before the others could notice.
Ashelia realized the glaring flaws in her plan the moment she fired the first arrow.
The first was that her shooting lacked the kind of speed she needed, and she was terribly inexperienced when it came to killing fellow human beings.
She had missed the thug's face by barely an inch. It was as if her instincts wouldn't allow her to harm one of her kind.
"Oh?" One of the men, the one who acted like the leader mused. "Who knew there was a noble rat hiding in the bushes?"
Ashelia's heart sank, without thinking for another second, she sprang up from her hiding place and turned to run, but before she could go far, a hand held onto the collar of the coat she was wearing, jerking her back with force and nearly knocking the wind out of her.
Ashelia choked. 'H–how is he so fast?!'
She couldn't even scream. Before she could regain herself, a large hand clamped her mouth shut, a poisoned blade hovered over her throat and the thug's hot, smelly breath tickled the back of her ear.
"Thought we were smart, did we?" He sneered, leering at her body from over her shoulder. He wet his lips. "You are quite something, aren't you? I suppose they just want you alive, not in one piece."
The rest of the men behind him started to laugh.
Ashelia shook from raw fear, she squeezed her eyes shut to stop herself from crying. Her free hand that was trembling, quietly reached for the dagger at her thigh, drawing it out slowly before plunging it with all her might into the bandit leader's thigh.
The leader of the bandits roared from the pain, his grip on her loosened for just a brief moment and Ashelia found her opportunity to flee.
She ran.
She ran like her very life depended on it, only sparing a glance back to see that she had driven the dagger into his thigh so deep just the hilt was visible.
* * *
Azrael strolled leisurely down an open path leading to the area where he had sensed the strange energy a while ago.
'I suppose…' He mused. 'That is what's making the entire forest so–'
He halted, his hand reaching up to cover half of his face. His brows furrowed. 'What… is this?'
His head swerved around curiously… there weren't any jasmine flowers in this part of the forest, so why was he perceiving them?
The scent was strong, sickly sweet and so intoxicating it made his head spin.
Azrael nearly lurched forward. This feeling was too familiar… so familiar that it made him want to run toward it.
The color drained from his face. "It can't be…" He muttered weakly. "What is she doing here?!"
Suddenly, he heard the sound of desperate running footsteps and heavy panting. The sweet aroma of jasmine flowers was getting even more concentrated, only this time, it was mixed with a hint of sandalwood.
'My coat.' He thought flatly.
Before he could take another step forward, a smaller body mass slammed into his solid frame and fell to the ground with a yelp.
"Ack!" Ashelia shrieked as she rubbed her head. She felt like she had hit an iron wall.
Azrael had quickly reached a hand out to prevent her fall but froze when he saw the state she was in.
The young woman in front of him was damp, messy, half naked and smelled of fear.
A vein popped on Azrael's temple. 'Who would dare to do this to her?'
In time, Ashelia recovered enough to look up at the person she had run into. Her breath stopped.
His eyes were piercing, like golden threads woven together over time to create a singular masterpiece. His skin resembled expensive honey and his long, raven black hair cascaded down his frame in waves.
Every curve, dip and angle of his face was well defined… like a timeless work of art. And his scent… he smelled the same as the coat she was wearing.
"Y–you?!"
He was the same man who tried to take her away by force at the night of Reagan's birthday banquet for some unknown reason.
The Lunatic Archduke!
Azrael stared down at her with cold rage, a brow raised. "What is a feeble thing like you doing here all alone?" He asked, then paused when he saw there were unshed tears in her eyes. His jaw clenched.
Ashelia couldn't find the words to answer, she was still in shock.
The way he stared down at her was like she had offended him. 'W–why does he look angry...?'
Though she didn't really like this man, she had heard about his feats in war from her father. And now, more than anything, she needed his help!
She sprang up and took a hold of his arm, taking him by surprise. Her sea green eyes bore into his golden ones desperately as her grip tightened.
"Please, help me!"