Escape

​I froze in my tracks, feeling as though the blood had turned to ice in my veins. His gaze—the very one that had haunted my nightmares for an entire decade—was now a tangible reality, a mere two steps away. "The King of the Savagery Lands..." The words echoed in my ears like a thunderclap. I turned to see Sarah stepping back, her hand covering her mouth in sheer disbelief, her eyes wide with terror and awe.

​"I see you still master the art of silence when surprised, my Lulu," he said. His tone was calm, yet it carried an underlying, chilling sense of possessiveness. His smile never reached his sharp eyes, which were scanning my features intently, as if ensuring his prized catch hadn't changed.

​Trying to gather my courage, I took a deep breath to banish the tremor from my voice. Taking a step back, I said coldly, "You have the wrong person, Your Majesty. The Lulu you are looking for died ten years ago. Now, I am nothing but an ordinary merchant in the capital’s markets."

​He let out a low chuckle, stepping forward to close the distance I had just made, his massive shadow completely engulfing me. "An ordinary woman does not wear a red cloak that conceals secrets capable of forging kingdoms, nor does she carry golden chests worth their weight in pure gold. It took me years to track your scent after that night... the night of your grand escape."

​He turned to his two masked companions and gestured with his hand, never taking his eyes off me. "Wait for me outside."

​The two men obeyed instantly and left the shop, making the air inside feel even more suffocating. I could feel Sarah’s pleading gaze from behind the counter. I knew that any reckless move on her part could cost her life; the Savagery Lands knew no mercy, and their current king was the living embodiment of its cruelty.

​"What do you want from me?" I asked bluntly, trying to buy time as my fingers brushed the edges of my red cloak, searching for a way out.

​"We want what is rightfully ours," he answered, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious fervor. "The Festival of Harmony taking place this week is not just a celebration for interbreeding lineages, Lulu. It is a cover. And you know perfectly well what lies inside the red ruby containers sent by the 'Crows' to the North."

​My face drained of color. So, he knew about the shipment. He knew the Crows thought they were sending it to their allies, while it was actually headed to his country! But worse than that... did he know my role in all of this?

​Before I could formulate a response, a loud commotion erupted from the main street outside. The horns of the Northern Kingdom's guards began announcing the start of the festival's opening procession, and the crowds were drawing near.

​Capitalizing on the fleeting moment he glanced toward the source of the noise, and with a swift, unexpected move, I shoved the empty table in front of me toward him to block his path. I dashed instantly toward the shop’s back door, which led to the narrow alleys of the capital's markets.

​"Lulu!" his voice boomed behind me. It wasn't the roar of an angry man, but rather a tone filled with challenge and amusement—like a hunter who had finally found the thrill of the chase in pursuing his prey.

​I burst into the narrow alleyway, the cold air biting my face. My heart was pounding violently, like a war drum. I remembered Mother Tiffany's words about my eyes and my exhaustion, but there was no time to rest now. I had to vanish into the crowds of the "Festival of Harmony," and find a way to hide... or flee this entire kingdom for good.

​For this story, truly, would not end happily if I ever fell into his hands again.

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