Chapter 76
Eliano swung her dagger, and the men instantly backed away. Then, as they noticed her light pink hair peeking out from under the robe, one of them muttered with a sigh.
“Tch. It’s not her.”
“Why were you hiding and confusing us like that!”
They cursed under their breath at the sight of her hair. One of them, spotting the dagger in her hand, tried to calm her with a softer tone. His accent clearly marked him as a man from Zacador.
“We’re not going to hurt you. Please put the dagger down. We’re not interested in you.”
Eliano slowly lowered the blade. The man reached out and helped her to her feet before asking,
“Say, have you seen a woman nearby? Black hair, green eyes? She was probably running away like you.”
Eliano replied in the Zacadoran dialect she had spoken in her past life.
“No. I haven’t seen anyone.”
“Then what are you doing running around like this? What if you run into a monster? This forest isn’t safe for a woman like you.”
Eliano forced herself to lie through her trembling lips.
“My husband hits me. I ran away in secret.”
The men looked her up and down, taking in her dirt-covered face. They clicked their tongues and assumed their own version of the story.
“Sounds like you’re Zacadoran, and you fell for one of those sly Biantecan dogs. Eloped and now regretting it, huh?”
“You sound like you’re from a noble family. Just go back home. Beg hard enough, and your father will take you back.”
After giving her all sorts of unsolicited advice, they finally left, even kindly pointing her toward the nearest exit from the forest.
Eliano let out a long breath of relief, glancing down at the earring in her hand.
She had removed it before escaping, returning her hair to its natural pink color. It was the right call—they were looking for a black-haired woman with green eyes.
She pulled the robe tightly over her head again and took off in the direction they had told her. She ran and ran, her breath ragged and her legs heavy, but she didn’t stop.
Eventually, she tripped over a tree root and fell hard to the ground. Gasping for air, she turned around in panic.
The forest was pitch dark. Not even moonlight reached the forest floor. And the cold—she was soaked to the bone and shivering.
The rain kept pouring, unrelenting. She hugged her arms to her chest, trying to stay warm, and used her dagger to push herself upright.
I need to catch my breath… and find shelter.
“Grrrr…”
Just then, a low growl came from the trees nearby.
Eliano froze in place. Is it a monster? Her instincts screamed danger.
Her fears were confirmed. A creature stepped out from the shadows—covered in matted fur, with twisted horns and drooling jaws. Its eyes glowed wildly.
The sharp claws it raised looked like they could tear her in half with one swipe.
The monster spotted its prey and lunged.
“KRAAAAA!”
Eliano couldn’t even scream. She turned and bolted, running as fast as her legs would carry her.
But the monster was faster.
She barely dodged, but pain exploded in her left shoulder. The claws had slashed her. Her breath caught in her throat.
“KEEEEEHH!”
It roared again. Tears streamed down Eliano’s face. She was going to die here. Her vision blurred, and everything started to go dim.
Then—Thud! Something heavy hit the ground.
She opened her eyes in shock. The monster lay dead in front of her.
And standing over its corpse was a slim figure, calmly sheathing a sword.
As the clouds moved, the moonlight revealed the person’s face—black hair tied back, sharp green eyes glowing.
“Are you alright?”
The woman extended a hand toward her. Eliano’s eyes widened.
Vivian…?
Vivian had once served in Eliano’s palace in her previous life. She was also the maid the Emperor had dared to embrace inside the Empress’s residence—right after Eliano’s miscarriage.
“It was you I thought I was holding, Ria. I swear. You’re the only one I love. You know that, don’t you?”
That’s what he had said when he betrayed her. After that one mistake, Vivian had become pregnant… and then abandoned by the man she trusted. She had begged Eliano to kill her, saying she didn’t want to give birth to the Emperor’s child.
In the end, Vivian had died during childbirth.
“Are you in shock? Hey! The monster’s gone. You’re safe now.”
But here she was. Alive, healthy, and glowing with strength. She carried a bow and arrows on her back, and a sword at her hip—like a warrior.
“Can you stand?”
Vivian took her hand and helped her up. Eliano cried out in pain as her injured shoulder flared.
“Oh no! You’re hurt!”
“Your Majesty! Are you alright?”
That voice—it was unmistakably hers. Different tone, different manner, but it was her.
“We need to move. Monsters travel in packs. The scent of blood will draw more here.”
Vivian wrapped an arm around her, but Eliano couldn’t stay upright. So Vivian lifted her into her arms and carried her away.
Eliano’s shoulder burned like it was on fire. Blood dripped steadily. She was terrified.
Vivian moved swiftly and found a huge tree. She laid Eliano down under its shelter. Eliano leaned against the trunk, breathing hard from the pain.
Vivian tore Eliano’s sleeve to examine the wound. It ran deep, stretching all the way down her back.
She pressed hard against the bleeding wound. Eliano screamed.
“AAAH!”
“I’m sorry. We have to stop the bleeding. It’s going to hurt.”
Vivian placed a bit of her robe in Eliano’s mouth and pressed even harder. The pain was unbearable. Her vision blurred again.
Vivian quickly took herbs from her pouch and crushed them with a stone. Then she applied the paste to the wound.
“This will help with the pain.”
And it did. Slowly, the pain dulled.
But the cold set in next. Eliano started to shiver violently. Her lips trembled, and her limbs shook.
She couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. Her mind grew foggy.
Vivian grabbed her hand tightly.
“You can’t fall asleep. Stay with me. My name’s Vivian. Even if I look like this…”
“Sharay… right?” Eliano whispered.
Vivian’s eyes widened.
“How did you know? My skin is pale, though.”
The Sharay people all had bronze skin, which set them apart from the pale-skinned continentals. Vivian had once told her that she was born to the Sharay chieftain but was rejected for her pale skin and had fled to Zacador.
“Your accent… it’s just slightly different… from a continental’s…”
Vivian smiled.
“We speak the continental tongue, but our Sharay accent still shows. Most people don’t notice.”
Eliano coughed. Vivian looked worried again.
“We should wait out the rain… Ah, there’s a cave. It’s a bit far, but we can head there. We need to get you warm.”
Suddenly, Vivian’s face changed. She stood up and drew her sword.
“Damn it. Them again? Should’ve killed them all.”
Dogs barked nearby—getting closer.
Eliano’s vision blurred again. Her body was too tired. Her eyes shut on their own.
Clang! The sharp sound of swords clashing rang out.
“Who are you?!”
Vivian’s shout was met with a powerful swing from her opponent. The pressure was immense—she could feel it in her bones.
“I’m the husband of the woman you kidnapped.”
That voice—Eliano’s eyes flew open.
It was Flint. Flint Howard.
“Some husband you are—letting your wife end up like this!”
Vivian shouted back.
“Ugh…”
She tried to sound strong, but her arms were shaking. She was barely holding off his blade. Sweat dripped from her brow. She gritted her teeth and pushed back, but Flint’s power was overwhelming. Not even the warriors of Sharay could match him.
At this rate, he would strike her down.
“Stop it!” Eliano cried.
But the two of them didn’t loosen their grips. The tension in the air was deadly.
