Episode 5

Alessa got into the elegant carriage accompanied by her faithful Celia, although their relationship is closer than everyone thinks. Celia is actually Alessa's half-sister, the daughter of a maid. They realized this after a while, even though they are the same age. Celia's mother was a maid, but her father brought the girl saying that she was an orphaned daughter of a friend and that she was alone. The Duchess did not suspect anything, since Celia doesn't look anything like the Duke, but she has a birthmark that she shares with the beautiful Alessa. That's how they discovered the truth. They kept quiet so that the Duchess wouldn't mistreat Celia like the other girls.

The girls were silent. The road north is long, it will be a long week, while the woman taking the girls just looks at them. She sees how they both hold hands, they are scared, but you can see from a mile away that this relationship is deeper than just a maid and her mistress.

*_*

Meanwhile, in the Duncan Dukedom, the Duke moves silently through secret passages and arrives at the back garden where a hooded man awaits him.

"Is she on her way?" he said, looking at the man anxiously.

"Yes, she is in the carriage with the Archduke's housekeeper. She is safe as long as she is with her; soon his daughter will suffer the same fate as all those women, it is a matter of time," said the man as he adjusted his cloak.

"Are you sure she will be okay, far away and safe? You told me that the young women who were promised to the Archduke were sent elsewhere, free, and have married good men. I don't want my Alessa to be found by the Duchess and my eldest daughter. I know she is in grave danger near them, and even worse, attracting the attention of the Crown Prince," said the Duke as he looked at the hooded man who nodded confidently.

"I assure you, I myself saw those young women in other countries. They are happy; they were well cared for until they found their husbands. They are fleeing from their ambitious and evil families, who did not hesitate to hand them over to an Archduke with a reputation for murdering his fiancees. They resent their parents, but now they are happy," said the man as he calmly looked at Duke Duncan.

"Good, good. I will give you money to give to her, tell her it is a dowry her mother left for her. Don't tell her it was me, I don't want her to come near me, that would put her in danger. I know her, my beautiful Alessa is a woman with a heart of gold like her mother. Don't tell her anything about me, take good care of her, let me know anything," said the Duke with tears in his eyes, though he knows his daughter must be heartbroken, this is for the best, getting her out of that viper's nest.

The Duchess is actually the one with the most economic power in his dukedom, that's why he married her. He knows how cruel and evil that woman is, and his dear daughter is a thorn in the side of that arrogant and wicked woman. When he saw her true colors, it was too late, his beloved had died leaving sweet Alessa defenseless, so he had devised a way to get her out of that place, although he had not succeeded, finally a real way to do it had presented itself, and it was by betrothing her to the Archduke of whom many things are said, but he had found out about the betrothed. The man was cold and very heartless, but never with girls who were being used as prostitutes, he helped them, so this would be the best way.

The Duke returned to the mansion with a somber countenance. It was the first night that his Alessa spent away from his roof and care, it is the first time in his life that he does not know where his dear girl is at that precise moment. Although he did not show much affection for her, it was precisely because of Magenta and the Duchess. He knew that he would put her in more danger if he clearly showed his favoritism. He just sighed and then walked away to his study, he would sleep there, he did not want to listen to that woman boast about how Magenta is the Crown Princess, that position belonged to his Alessa, it was his girl who had won the heart of the Crown Prince, but when he saw that the young man did not fight for her, he is sure that he did not deserve her, if he did not see how special she was, he did not deserve her at all.

*_*

Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince's palace, the young prince is furious. He cannot believe that his mother has deceived him and gotten rid of Alessa in that way. Everyone knows how bloodthirsty that man is, although Draco is young and only 25 years old, everyone knows his terrible temper and cruelty. At the age of 14, Draco went to war. At that age he was already tall and very strong; he devastated the enemy army. His Archduchy has strong men and they are outstanding, more so than any other army.

"Allen, go find a group of soldiers. I want you to kidnap Miss Alessa stealthily, in disguise. I know that the damn man takes his fiancees at dawn. I will not let him murder her as he does with all of them, so we must move ahead of him," said Renan, very upset and worried. He had hoped to find a way to have Alessa on his side, he did not want Magenta in any way; however, his selfishness challenged him, leading him to make mistake after mistake.

Allen left the place to fulfill his purpose. He would take Alessa with her family to save her from her cruel end, but great was his surprise when they learned that the Archduke had already taken his fiancee and they were hours away. Also, it was no secret to anyone that the Archduke's horses were extremely fast and resilient, no one knew their breed, but they were animals that were above any other of their kind.

When Renan heard of this, he was more furious. He would speak to his mother about this, he would never allow Alessa to be murdered by that bastard Draco Weerwolf.

"Is she on her way? Allen, send a spy there. We must bring Lady Alessa back. I will speak with my mother, this cannot stay like this," said the young prince, pulling at his hair in worry.