At the signal, I slammed my body against the door. Thanks to the latch giving way effortlessly, I was able to hurl myself out without resistance. The speed of the carriage made it feel as if I were diving straight into the wind.
“Selena!”
Eon’s voice rang out, mingling with the sound of galloping hooves. Every time my name fell from his lips, it felt like my blood turned cold. But this time, it was different. There was even a thrill in hearing the desperation in his voice as he called out to me.
“Selena!”
His tone betrayed frustration and dismay at losing his prey. Oddly enough, it wasn’t unpleasant to hear.
The satisfaction of my small victory was short-lived. As expected, the terrain outside was a slope. The speed of the moving carriage, combined with the incline of the hill, forced me to roll down at a rather alarming speed.
“Ugh!”
A groan escaped my lips before I could stop it. I knew the ground wouldn’t be soft like a bed or carpet. I also knew it would be littered with rocks and stones. But knowing it and experiencing it firsthand were worlds apart.
‘What about Eon?’
After finally coming to a halt, thanks to a clump of bushes, the first thing I did was look for Eon. Since I had rolled to a place where even the carriage trail was no longer visible, it was unlikely that Eon could see me either.
Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief, I realized something critical: whether or not I could see Eon didn’t matter much.
[To think you would actually carry out such a foolish idea. How disappointing.]
Eon’s voice echoed in my head. The vibration of his words, like a tolling bell, made me clutch my head in pain.
‘Is this the power of the subordination contract?’
[Do not act so foolishly again. Stay where you are.]
The red mark engraved on the inside of my wrist seemed to call out to Eon. Even though I knew it wouldn’t disappear, I rubbed at it repeatedly.
I couldn’t afford to waste time like this. After all, I’d gone as far as throwing myself out of a moving carriage. Getting caught now would be too humiliating.
“I swear I saw her heading this way.”
That’s when I heard voices in the distance.
‘People!’
It was exactly what I had hoped for—an area remote enough to evade Eon’s eyes but not so desolate that there were no passersby. If I were to seek help, this hunting ground was my best bet.
“Help me!”
My voice came out raspy, likely from the dust I’d inhaled. But I couldn’t afford to let them pass me by.
‘If I lose them, I’ll really die here.’
Using all my strength, I grabbed a small branch beside me and waved it. I shook it with my hand and kicked at it with my feet. The dry winter branches made a loud enough noise to attract attention.
“There! I think she’s over there!”
Finally, someone in the group seemed to have spotted me. Just as I felt a flicker of hope and waved the branch again—
Whoosh.
An unnatural sound of wind grazed past my ear. A bad feeling crept over me.
Turning my head cautiously, I saw something lodged into the ground beside me. It was a long stick with feathers attached to one end and a sharp metal tip embedded in the dirt.
‘An arrow?’
Thud!
Another arrow followed, landing at my feet.
So now, I was being hunted.
“I’m human! I’m a person!”
It hadn’t occurred to me that they might mistake me for a beast in the hunting grounds. I had to make it clear I was human before they loosed another arrow.
“Wait a moment. Did you hear that?”
Fortunately, it seemed my shouting had reached them.
“Is there really someone beyond those bushes?”
“Yes, Lord Pardien. I’m certain I heard a person’s voice.”
The name Pardien stuck out in my ears.
‘Could it be Rudis? Rudis Pardien?’
Rudis de Pardien was the male lead of this novel.
‘Rudis is here right now?’
My heart began to race. But it wasn’t the same nervousness I felt around Eon. This was a reaction to the unexpected hope stirring within me.
‘That’s right. The novel did mention he often hunted here on weekends.’
The details of the setting, long buried in my memory, resurfaced. Still, I hadn’t expected today to align with the timeline. It felt like a lifeline had suddenly dropped right in front of me.
Resourceful and curious, Rudis was the perfect person to encounter now. According to the original story, it wasn’t yet time for him to get involved in this incident. But I couldn’t afford to care about the story’s timing.
‘If it’s Rudis, he’ll help me. He has to help me. He will, right?’
The sound of crunching leaves grew closer. Soon, a man with black hair and crimson eyes appeared.
“Well… this is unexpected.”
His face was a mix of surprise and concern, and it sparked a glimmer of hope in me.
“Are you alone, my lady?”
Rudis’s companions glanced around, seemingly puzzled by the situation.
“I had my reasons.”
“Even so…”
Regardless of the circumstances, this wasn’t a place suitable for a woman to be alone. His suspicion was natural.
“She said she has her reasons. It’s not a gentleman’s place to pry into a lady’s private affairs.”
It was a remark typical of the romantic Rudis.
When Rudis turned his attention back to me, I noticed the handkerchief in his hand. With a gentle touch, he pressed it against my forehead.
His face drew closer—the finely arched nose, slender eyes that crinkled when he smiled, and full lips that had captured Karina’s heart in the novel.
“I can’t let a lady’s face remain covered in dirt.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary…”
“Oh dear, you’re bleeding here too.”
The fact that he was concerned about a mere scratch felt almost absurd, given the gravity of my situation. But of course, he wouldn’t know the full story.
When he finished his quick first aid, I spoke up.
“Sir Rudis. That is your name, isn’t it?”
His crimson eyes widened briefly before softening with a smile.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by you, my lady.”
He was a renowned author. Although his homeland was a kingdom in the eastern part of the empire, his name was well-known even in Vainan. His new books sold out as soon as they were released, and rumors of fan letters piling up in his study were common knowledge.
Thanks to this, he seemed to assume that I recognized him because of his fame. And he liked his fans.
‘Come to think of it, I saw an article about his new book being released a few days ago.’
If I wanted his help in this situation, I needed to do something that would earn his favor, even slightly. My body was far too exhausted to act, so my only asset was my quick tongue.
I barely managed to recall the title of his newly released book.
“A Thousand Years of Waiting will surely become a bestseller. In Vainan, the bookstores are crowded with young ladies eager to purchase your book.”
“Haha, you flatter me. I’m just happy that there are people who read my writing.”
“It’s a pity I don’t have pen and paper with me. I never dreamed I’d meet you in a place like this.”
I spoke in an exaggeratedly regretful tone.
“I, too, am curious how a refined lady like you ended up in such a predicament.”
“Lord Ludis, I’m moved that you’re taking an interest in me.”
“As a writer, one must take an interest in all matters of this world. Especially when it concerns a lady who appreciates my work—I can’t simply overlook it.”
He was known for his curiosity. The reason he initially helped Karina in the original story was his interest in a case where women with brown hair and green eyes kept disappearing.
“Then would you be willing to listen to my story?”
I carefully dangled the bait.
“Before that, as a gentleman, it’s my duty to ensure your safety first.”
I silently nodded. I couldn’t act too hastily. For now, I had to grab hold of the lifeline he was offering and let him take the lead. I took the hand he extended toward me.
“Can you walk?”
“Of course, no problem.”
I answered confidently, but that confidence was only in my words. The moment my feet touched the ground, a sharp pain shot up from below. It seemed I had sprained my ankle.
“You seem to be struggling.”
“Oh, no. It’s just because I stood up too quickly.”
I pushed myself to stand with all my strength, clenching my teeth as I forced myself to move. I could feel the concerned glances from the others, but my injuries were the least of my concerns right now.
“Lord Ludis, are you aware of the recent events in Vainan?”
However, Ludis seemed more focused on my leg than my words.
“This won’t do. Forgive me for the impropriety, but may I assist you physically?”
His roundabout phrasing required a moment to interpret. It was only when he raised his hands in a gesture of readiness that I realized he was offering to carry me.
“It’ll only be for a moment. Once we get up that hill, I can summon my horse.”
I didn’t know much about noble etiquette, but it didn’t seem like it would be an issue. Besides, being carried by him might make it easier to bring up the topic of Eon.
I gave him an apologetic smile and answered.
“Of course, I’d be grateful.”
“No, that won’t do.”
A low, cold voice suddenly cut through the air, completely drowning out my response.
