Chapter 3

"Oh, God, please assist me... I don't want to pass away..." Lyca muttered as she looked around her. She had just wanted to get away from Albert, so she ran without stopping, not considering the possibility that, in addition to the man chasing her, there was another risk she needed to consider.

"Ah-ooh..."

Lyca squeezes herself into the bush, her heavy breathing suppressed. "So, what should I do now? I can't stay here any longer..." She muttered as she wiped sweat beads from her brow. "—it's dangerous, but I need to find a safer place," Lyca said.

Her feet tremble as she hears the howl of an identified animal; however, she needs to strengthen her feeling in order to leave this place.

Lyca resumes her cautious walk after resting, but her mind is still preoccupied with the previous event.

"What are you, Queen Annabelle?" Lyca screamed in agony. "— I never imagined such a beautiful person as you could do such horrible things..."

[A distant crackling sound with a cold breeze...]

Lyca came to a halt and muttered, "Someone is watching me..." She says this in a panicked tone. Lyca, on the other hand, is unable to determine the location of her observer.

So Lyca decided to leave that place, but before she could, a creature jumped at her. It was too late for her to turn back.

"—Aww!" Lyca screamed and shook her arms as the attacker beat her.

Lyca does not have the luxury of checking her attacker due to the speed of the event. Her arms were also bothering her.

"Grr..."

Lyca heard the growl from behind her, so her alleged scream was carried away by the wind. Instead, she turns around and swallows her saliva.

"Aw-Oooh!" From afar, a long howl. But that howl isn't her main concern right now because Lyca is staring at a massive wolf in front of her.

"... What the—?" Lyca is stuttering and shaking because she can't find the right word to describe the creature in front of her.

"Who the hell are you?" Lyca is taken aback. It's her first encounter with a massive wolf in her entire life.

Lyca's father hunted on occasion, so she had seen a variety of animals. The animal in front of her, on the other hand, is unusual...

The wolf with black fur started walking towards Lyca, exposing its fangs and glaring at her with fierce crimson eyes.

Lyca's last hope gradually faded "— Please, please... I won't die until I've avenged my father and mother... I also can't leave the entire kingdom in the hands of a wicked witch..." She is aware that the animal in front of her did not comprehend what she was saying. Nonetheless, Lyca desired to release the contents of her heart.

The black wolf focuses his attention on Lyca's eyes, and the tears streaming down her cheeks hypnotize the creature. Lyca just closed her eyes and waited for death as it approached. But after a few moments, she felt nothing... so Lyca opened her eyes and met the wolf's crimson gaze.

"Did you get what I was saying? Will you let me go?" Lyca inquired, raising her hand to caress the creature's head. Despite her trembling, she ignored it... Lyca wanted to make sure the massive beast in front of her wasn't dangerous.

When the black wolf felt Lyca's soft hand on his head, he howled and moved his head to lick Lyca on the cheek, but she fainted before he could stroke her.

"Aw- Oooh!" ——— The black wolf growled loudly. It rang out throughout the forest.

Everyone in the woods heard it, including Albert, who is now cautiously walking through the dark. "Shit! This is terrible! It would be better to resume my search in the morning..." He uttered and decided to find a place to rest.

The Secret Forest is known for being home to many evil creatures, which is why everyone in the land avoids taking this path.

"You will not die here, Princess Lyca! I'll take you back to the castle!" Albert stated firmly. Then his attention was drawn to a cave not far away. Albert entered the cave without hesitation, leaning calmly against the cave's rough wall.

"I need to find you before tomorrow's eclipse! I will not let you destroy my Queen's dream!" Albert said this as he stabbed the blade into the ground.

——

Meanwhile, In The Castle, Prince Matthew attempted but failed to free himself from the grasp of two guards. When they arrived at the castle's receiving hall, he was easily pulled and pushed.

"Prince Matthew... Did they cause you any harm? I apologize if my soldier failed to respect you "Queen Annabelle said in a seductive tone.

Matthew directs his gaze at the queen. "You evil witch! Princess Lyca will not be found! Your evil scheme will never come to fruition!" He asserted while attempting to read the two guards.

Queen Annabelle approaches Matthew, leans in, and caresses his face before gripping his chin. "... My lovely princess can flee for the time being, but it won't last. She'll be in my hands soon... I've been waiting for this for decades, and I'm not going to let it go to waste!" Annabelle murmured, a sly smile on her face.

"Your true color will never be hidden by a beautiful face or immortal beauty! You will always be ugly because your heart is filled with evil!" Sneering, Prince Matthew retorted.

The cunning smile on Queen Annabelle's face fades gradually. "... Hmm, I can sense your resentment toward me, and I adore it!" The Queen turned around after this remark and said. "Bring Prince Matthew in here!"

"I'm not scared of you! You can kill me all you want, but you'll never find Princess Lyca "Matthew screamed as he fought the two guards who had started him.

A strange smile appears on Queen Annabelle's face. "Hmm... Let's see what happens to your innocent love for my beloved princess," she said as she followed her to the dungeon.