Danger?

Raizel was in bed, feeling confused as he couldn't understand how he suddenly found himself in a hotel room. Noelle calmly straightened her clothes and combed her hair before turning towards Raizel.

"Quite enjoyable, but I must be on my way; you were amazing, my little kitty," Noelle said.

She left a couple of bills on the bedside table.

"Buy yourself something nice, darling."

"What?! What's gotten into you? Am I some sort of whore?" Raizel exclaimed.

"Mmm... yes, you're my little slut," she blew him a kiss, while Raizel's eye twitched; this woman had once again mocked him.

"Wait... untie me first, you crazy woman," Raizel demanded.

Raizel was tied to the bed, pulling forcefully on the rope, but it didn't break. Where did she get something like this? Noelle ignored his pleas and left the room. Raizel continued shouting after her. At the reception, she asked the receptionist to send someone to clean the room in about fifteen minutes.

"My husband is resting, and he dislikes being disturbed," she lied.

"Of course, madam. We will wait. Thank you for your visit," the receptionist replied.

Noelle paid the boy, left the hotel, and got into her carriage. She apologized to the coachman for making him wait, but then asked him to wait a bit longer. After the fifteen minutes had passed, the maids' screams could be heard from the hotel. Finally, the carriage set off. Later, an angry Raizel arrived home, demanding to know where Noelle was, but he was informed that she hadn't returned yet.

"I am going to kill her! Nobody embarrasses me without facing the consequences!" Raizel declared furiously.

He searched for her throughout the city but couldn't find her. Additionally, it was getting dark, and the road to the castle was dangerous at night.

"I heard that Miss Noelle hasn't returned...son, go find her," his father suggested.

"I won't go. If something happens to her, it's her own fault for wandering off," Raizel responded.

"Raizel! Don't say such things. I know she told me you two were getting along to keep me calm. But your dislike for her doesn't justify abandoning her to her fate."

Raizel sighed, hating it when his father was right. He asked a small group of knights to accompany him. Two of them, Rafael and Nicolas, who were also at the party, joined him. They were brothers, and their family had always served the Ivanovs.

Among them was also a girl named Gloria, though it may not seem so, she was a very skilled warrior. Since there were no males in her family, she joined the knights. Although it was challenging, she became a strong individual who was on par with the best of the knights.

"Sir, I told you to take care of your wife. She's new to Darkness and may not know anything about the dangers."

"Quiet, I already have enough with my father. Let's go."

The knights are summoned and they set off. Raizel hopes that nothing has happened to the girl. Perhaps he doesn't like her, but that doesn't mean he would be happy if she died. On the other hand, Noelle had lost track of time while shopping. The coachman was very nervous about their journey back since they hadn't brought any guards. He knows that the place is dangerous at night, especially when they have to pass through the forest to reach the castle. The horses stop and become restless as if something is scaring them. Noelle feels the sudden halt and looks out the window next to the driver.

"What's happening?"

"Miss... the horses are scared. They refuse to move. There's probably something coming towards us."

The man looks terrified, so Noelle closes the window and gets off the carriage.

"Get back in the carriage. Everything will be fine."

"But miss, if it's a beast, the carriage won't help. We are dead..."

"Stay calm. Just get in."

The man is fearful but hopeful that the carriage will at least prevent the beasts from devouring them. They can only hope for help to arrive, if it even comes. The horses remain agitated causing the carriage to shake, eventually causing it to overturn. The horses also fall, desperately struggling to get up.

"We are dead..."

"Crying won't help."

Noelle approaches the horses and despite their constant movements, she breaks their reins attaching them to the carriage, and they run away.

"No! What have you done, miss?"

"Don't worry, they'll be fine."

"I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about us. We're going to die."

Growls can be heard from all around until large wolf-like creatures emerge from the shadows. Noelle finds them similar to the werewolves in movies. The coachman manages to crawl inside the overturned carriage as best as he can.

"Quick, open the box inside and pass me a sword."

"Yes... but why? There are too many of them. If I don't die, my master will kill me... his wife will die..."

The desperate man opens a wooden box, surprised to find different types of weapons. He grabs a sword and a rapier and throws the rest outside. Noelle picks up the sword; there are four beasts, at least they are not too many, so she might stand a chance. Before any of the creatures attack, she leaps towards one and swings the rapier. The beast moves aside, but as it rises on its hind legs, Noelle seizes the opportunity and thrusts her sword into its stomach.

She slices a large portion of the beast's abdomen, though she grimaces as the blood splatters on her, at least one down and three more to go.

Raizel and his troops continue on the road, noticing two horses running past them, still attached to the carriage. They all assume the worst.

"Damn! That woman is trouble... quickly, we may still be able to save her."

He pulls the reins to make the horse go faster. Gloria also looks worried; the young girl isn't to blame for anything. She was left in this unknown place, unaware of the dangers.

"Calm down, Gloria, she'll be fine."

Rafael comforts her as he can see the concern on her face. They catch sight of the overturned carriage and hear a man's scream. When they arrive, they see the terrified coachman holding onto one of the wheels, while a few steps away, Noelle is covered in blood with a sword in her hand and four dead beasts at her feet. Everyone is amazed by the scene. Gloria dismounts and runs towards Noelle, but Raizel reaches her first and grabs her by the shoulders.

"Hey! Are you okay? Are you injured? We brought a doctor..."

Noelle smiles in response to Raizel's astonished gaze.

"Is my little kitten worried about me?"

"What? N-No, I... it's my father..."

"I'm fine, it's not my blood."

"But miss... how?"

Gloria walks around the bodies of the beasts, and everyone gathers around to see.

"I was aware of the dangers of this place, that's why I didn't come unprepared."

Gloria sighs with relief; for a moment, she thought something bad had happened to her. Nevertheless, it's still surprising that a single girl with such a small body could take down four beasts, when she could handle only one at most.

"Even if you were prepared, it was foolish of you to return so late at night."

"I wouldn't have taken so long to shop if my husband hadn't taken me to a hotel."

"What? I didn't..."

Everyone stares at Raizel, as if their gazes blame him.

"I... I didn't do it, she wanted to..."

"Ah! You're a poor abused victim, then."

Nicolas comments. Raizel looks angry but takes off his cloak and hands it to Noelle, telling her to get on the horse with Gloria.

"Wait, I have to take my purchases."

"They'll pick them up, just go."

"Be careful."

Gloria leads her towards the horse, offering to help her get on, but Noelle refuses and goes over to Raizel, who had already mounted his horse.

"I'm your wife, I should go with you."

The albino raises her hands, waiting for the boy to help her up, but he refuses.

"You left her alone, you should take responsibility."

One of the men shouts, causing everyone to laugh. Reluctantly, Raizel helps her up and places her in front of him. As he grabs the reins, Noelle holds onto him, hugging his waist and resting her face against his chest, prompting some "oohs" from the guards.

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