Chapter 4

Lythas glared at Giselle's calm profile, fury roiling in his chest, but he could find nothing to say. In the end, he turned sharply away and said in a low, hard voice, "Vivi, come. I'll take you hunting."

With that, he rode off into the hunting grounds with Viviana.

Leoric glanced at Giselle, pressed his lips together, and spurred his horse after them.

Throughout the hunt, Lythas seemed determined to vent his pent-up fury. Every arrow found its mark. Every roe deer, musk deer, and hare he brought down went straight to Viviana, who rode behind him. His impressive display drew waves of admiration and envy from the others.

Not to be outdone, Leoric bagged several pheasants and eagerly presented them to Viviana as though they were precious treasures.

Viviana sat astride her horse, her cheeks flushed with delight. She openly basked in the attention of both father and son, as well as the envious stares of everyone around her.

Now and then, she glanced back at Giselle, who trailed far behind, and shot her a smug, provocative look.

Giselle rode a gentle mare at the very back of the group, in no particular hurry.

The whispers around her, whether pitying or scornful, meant nothing to her. She merely lifted her gaze toward the distant forest from time to time, her expression indifferent.

Then, as the hunting party ventured deeper into the woods, a deafening roar shattered the air.

A wolf with a white-streaked brow burst from the undergrowth and charged straight at them.

Chaos erupted. Horses screamed and bolted in every direction.

Lythas remained composed despite the sudden danger. He drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and called to Viviana, "Don't be afraid. Watch me take this wolf down for you."

His arrow flew true and struck the wolf squarely in the shoulder. The beast howled in pain and collapsed.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and the guards moved forward to retrieve the kill.

But before they could reach it, another low, rumbling roar sounded from somewhere ahead.

The wolf had not been alone.

An entire ambush of wolves lurked nearby.

"Protect my lord and my lady!" the guards shouted as they scrambled to confront the threat.

But the wolves were too numerous and ferocious. The guards' formation collapsed almost instantly.

Amid the chaos, one wolf slashed its claws across the hind leg of Giselle's horse. The animal screamed in pain and threw her from its back.

Giselle landed hard among the dead leaves and brush. A sharp pain shot through her ankle, leaving her unable to stand.

"Gigi!"

"Mother!"

Lythas and Leoric saw her fall at almost the same instant. Their faces drained of color, and both instinctively spurred their horses toward her.

"My lord! Young lord! I'm so scared! Please, we have to leave! It's too dangerous here!"

Viviana clung to Lythas' sleeve, tears streaming down her face. She trembled all over and looked ready to faint at any moment.

Lythas glanced toward Giselle, who lay helpless on the ground a short distance away, then looked down at Viviana, who shook against his chest. A fierce struggle flashed across his face.

Leoric cried out in panic, "Mother! Get up! Find somewhere to hide!"

Just then, one of the wolves noticed Giselle lying apart from the others. It let out a low growl and crouched, ready to spring at her.

Lythas' expression hardened. He immediately raised his bow and fired an arrow straight at the beast.

"Gigi! Find somewhere to hide!" he shouted hoarsely.

Then, without another glance in her direction, he wheeled his horse around to shield Viviana and barked at Leoric, "Leo! Follow me! We need to get out of here first!"

He chose to flee with Viviana and Leoric.

Giselle was left behind, utterly alone, as the wolves began to close in around her.

She lay on the cold ground and watched them ride away. She had seen the last look Lythas cast in her direction, the panic in his eyes, his moment of hesitation, and finally, the decision he had made.

Something in her chest went cold and numb.

Good. That made it easier to leave everything behind.

She gritted her teeth against the pain and dragged herself toward a massive boulder. Half crawling, she managed to take shelter behind it, where she held her breath and waited.

She had no idea how much time passed before the roars, hoofbeats, and sounds of struggle outside finally faded.

Silence returned to the forest.

Only then did she crawl out from behind the boulder.

She was in a wretched state. Her clothes were torn, and scratches covered her face and hands.

She limped back toward the camp.

…

By the time Giselle arrived, the sky had darkened. Lanterns illuminated the entire camp, but a heavy atmosphere hung over it.

Viviana sat unharmed in the main tent, delicately sipping a soothing broth. Apart from her fright, she had escaped without a single scratch.

Lythas and Leoric, however, had both sustained injuries.

While protecting Viviana, Lythas had suffered a long gash across his arm from a wolf's paws. The wound was so deep that bone was visible. Leoric had also fallen from his horse and sprained his ankle in his efforts to protect her.

The royal physician was tending to father and son when Giselle limped into the tent, battered and disheveled.

Everyone fell silent.

Leoric was the first to speak. "Mother! A-Are you all right?"

Lythas' head snapped up at once. His expression was a complicated mixture of lingering fear, guilt, and faint relief.

After the physician finished treating Lythas' wound, he turned to Giselle and addressed her respectfully. "My lady, I've treated both my lord's and the young lord's injuries.

"My lord's wound is deep, so his dressings must be changed regularly. He should avoid foods that might aggravate the injury, and the wound must be kept completely dry.

"As for the young lord, he has sprained his ankle and will need several days of rest. He must avoid putting weight on it..."

Giselle listened quietly until the physician had finished his instructions. Only then did she speak, her voice calm and even. "Please pass those instructions along to Lady Chrysanthe later. She's very attentive. I'm sure she'll take good care of my lord and the young lord."

Leoric froze and stared at her in disbelief. "Mother? Why would you tell Lady Chrysanthe? Aren't you going to look after Father and me?"

Giselle glanced at her son's bandaged ankle, then at the bloodstained sleeve covering Lythas' injured arm.

"I'm afraid I won't do a very good job. I've twisted my ankle as well. Besides, you were both injured while protecting Lady Chrysanthe. I'm sure you'd prefer to have her by your side to care for you. I'd only be in the way." Her voice remained devoid of emotion. "I'll leave you to it."

Without another word or glance at anyone, she turned and limped toward the tent's entrance.

Lythas shot to his feet. "Giselle!"

The sudden movement pulled at his wound, and he let out a muffled grunt of pain.

He ignored it and growled at her retreating back. "Are you angry because we left you behind? The situation was desperate! The wolves had us surrounded, and Vivi was too frightened to move.

"What was I supposed to do? Leave her there to be torn apart?

"You've always been clever. You've always managed to find your way out of trouble. I thought this time would be no different. That's why I left you! And the moment I found out you hadn't returned, I was beside myself with worry..."

Giselle stopped but did not turn around.

"I'm not angry." Her calm, even voice cut through his explanation. "There's no reason for me to be angry. It was your choice to make, and I respect it."

With that, she saw no reason to linger.

She lifted the tent flap and walked out.

No matter how desperately Lythas called after her or how Leoric's voice cracked as he cried out for his mother, Giselle never once looked back.