The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 13: Assassination

Chapter 13: Assassination

Lotus Pavilion

Eve had just finished taking a fresh bath when she saw a note near her pad. She took it and read.

[ Eve, meet me now at the entrance of Moonshade Grove Forest. We need to talk alone. I’ll be waiting for you. – your husband, Alaric. ]

Her heart pounded so hard against her chest after reading the notes. She recalled Alaric’s last words before he went to the palace hall.

’Wait for me. Let’s continue our talk later.’

For some unknown reason, Eve felt so excited to see him. She was still amused after witnessing Alaric’s gentle side earlier.

Without further delay, Eve put on her clothes, applied her disguised makeup, grabbed her robe, and ran out of her room.

She didn’t know where Annie was so she made sure to leave a note, telling her where she was going.

Moonshade Grove Forest was located near the palace. She could go there on foot without riding a carriage.

Eve reached the forest only to be surprised when five bulky men suddenly showed up, blocking her path. They were holding different weapons– sword, crossbow, dagger, and hand axe.

Sensing the danger they posed, Eve reflexively stepped back. However, they were quick to react, surrounding her.

"Where do you think you are going, Princess?" The man with a scar on his left face stepped closer to Eve. He even grabbed his long beard on his chin.

Eve’s body trembled in fear. ’Are they bandits?’

She darted her gaze, her eyes sweeping the forest, looking for Alaric.

’If Alaric is here... he will protect me.’ She hoped Alaric was there.

Trying her best to look calm, Eve picked up her pad and wrote something on it. This was her only way to communicate with them.

[ Let me pass. You can’t touch me. My husband is here. General Alaric Stormholt, Kingdom Averion’s hero! ]

Eve tried to threaten them.

However, the five men burst into a peal of laughter while exchanging glances with one another.

"You are making us laugh, Princess. Your husband will not save you. He doesn’t care about you. Do you know why?"

The slender man holding a dagger slowly approached her. As he moved, Eve started backing down, maintaining her distance from him. But no matter what she planned to do, there was no way to escape. She was completely cornered by them.

"Poor, Princess. You are clueless. So let me enlighten you."

The men let another throaty chuckle. Eve could only watch them in confusion.

"General Alaric was the one who hired us to get rid of you."

Eve was stunned upon hearing that. ’What? But why?’

The men enjoyed her confused and frightened reactions. She was like a cub in a tiger’s den– weak and hopeless, waiting to get slaughtered.

"Tsk Tsk Tsk," the fat bald guy shook his head while clicking his tongue. "This won’t happen if you only agreed to divorce your husband. But you are so stubborn, clinging to him even though you don’t deserve him."

Eve gasped, covering her mouth. She couldn’t believe this.

’No! You are lying!’ She shook her head frantically. Her eyes teared up, unable to accept this.

"If you are dead, he can finally marry the Princess of Kingdom Eldara. For him, you are just an obstacle to his happiness. Who would want someone like you? You are ugly and mute. You are nothing compared to Princess Aliyah and Princess Alessandra."

They continued bullying her, feeding her more lies to make her resent her husband even after her death.

"Enough! Let’s get this job done. Just kill this ugly princess already." The leader picked his ear, feeling impatient.

"Grab her!" The man with a scar signaled his comrades to capture Eve.

Eve could no longer move or run away. She felt like her energy was drained. Her heart was shattered, thinking that Alaric was the one who hired these bandits.

’My husband wants me dead. Alaric wants me dead!’ Those words echoed in her ears over and over again as tears streamed down her face like a flowing river.

’He sent me here to die.’ She clenched her teeth, the pain of betrayal consuming her.

"Kill her now!" The leader ordered the man holding the sword. "Slice her throat! We will bring her head as proof that she’s dead."

The man raised his sword to cut her head. Eve could only shut her eyes, waiting for the sharp blade to hit her flesh. However...

The next thing she heard was the clashing sounds of swords.

"Princess Eve!" Someone called out to her.

Eve snapped her eyes open upon hearing that familiar voice.

’Annie?’

Eve was surprised to see her personal maid, Annie, expertly swinging her sword while fighting those men.

’Is that really Annie? When did she learn how to use a sword?’

Eve watched Annie in disbelief. The middle-aged woman was fighting the bandits like a trained warrior.

Her train of thought was interrupted when Annie grabbed her hand tightly.

"Princess. Let’s run!"

Though Annie could use the sword skillfully, she was outnumbered. She couldn’t fight those five men while trying to protect the princess. They had to run!

"Fuck! Catch them! Don’t let them escape!" The man with a scar yelled.

Annie and Eve ran toward the forest as fast as they could. But the five men pursued them quickly.

"Shoot the princess! Forget about the old woman. Target her head!" The man turned to his comrade who was holding the crossbow.

His first shot missed the target!

"Go! Go! Go! Don’t let them escape!"

"Target their legs, you moron! Shoot again!" The leader was becoming more annoyed as the archer kept missing his target.

Annie and Eve continued running. Their hurried footsteps made a ’crackling’ sound as they stepped on the dry leaves. She was guiding her movement, using the branches and trunks of the forest’s trees as their shields.

But suddenly...

Eve’s foot hit the protruding root on the ground, causing her to trip.

She fell to the ground.

"Oh no! My lady!" Annie called out to her worriedly.

"They stop! This is our chance! Shoot!"

He missed again.

"Damn it! Give me that! Let me do it!"

This time the leader took the crossbow from his comrade. He aimed at Eve’s back. With one swift move, he released and shot the arrow in her direction.

Whizz-thud!

The flying arrow finally struck its target.