Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 132

Adelaide

The autumn night air carried a chill that seemed to seep into my very bones as I stood beside the spacious carriage, gazing at the distant silhouette of Lycandor Keep. A full moon hung high in the sky, casting its cold silver light over everything, adding a touch of melancholy to this farewell. Once, that fortress had been where my dreams and nightmares intertwined; now it had become a past I was forced to leave behind. My eyes swept over every corner of the castle, as if trying to etch this all deeply into my memory.

"Everything is ready, Adelaide," Thalia said softly, her face paler than usual, though her eyes remained resolute. She carefully placed the last luggage case into the carriage, her movements betraying exhaustion.

I sighed gently. "So we really are leaving like this." My voice trembled like a leaf in the wind. "I never imagined I would return to Eldoria this way."

Eight sturdy werewolf warriors stood in neat formation around the carriage, fully armed and alert. In the moonlight, the Third Legion emblems on their chests glimmered faintly. The lead warrior nodded to me respectfully, his eyes holding no contempt, only loyalty to his mission.

"Adelaide! Thalia!"

Vespera's voice carried from nearby. I turned to see him and Seraphina approaching quickly. Vespera wore his customary green robes, his face kind but troubled; Seraphina carried a small bundle, her purple eyes sparkling with warm light in the moonlight.

"I came to confirm the final arrangements," Vespera said, walking to the guard captain and speaking in low tones. "Remember, avoid the main roads and all villages and outposts. If necessary, take detours rather than risk their safety."

Seraphina approached me and gently embraced me. "I never thought I could feel such reluctance toward a human," she said with a smile, though tears glistened in her eyes. "You've changed much, Adelaide."

I felt my eyes growing moist. "I'll miss you too, Seraphina. Thank you for your healing and... understanding."

Vespera finished his conversation with the captain and walked toward me. "Take care on the road. I've arranged for someone to meet you—human soldiers will be waiting at the Eldoria border." He paused, seeming to struggle with words, then finally just sighed and turned away.

Seraphina watched Vespera's retreating figure, then turned to Thalia, pulling a delicate small pouch from her bundle. "This contains herbs I specially prepared to ease the discomfort of travel and long journeys." Her hand gently rested on Thalia's slightly rounded abdomen, her voice dropping. "Take care of yourself... and them."

"Thank you, Seraphina," Thalia accepted the pouch, tears glimmering in her eyes. "You're a good friend."

Seraphina then retrieved a small vial from her bundle and handed it to me. "This is healing potion, especially effective for the wounds on your back. Remember to apply it daily."

I gripped the small vial tightly. "We'll miss you, Seraphina."

"Time is short," the guard captain reminded us. "We need to reach the first safe point before dawn."

Thalia and I embraced Seraphina one last time, then climbed into the carriage. The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly began to move.

"Take care!" Seraphina called as the carriage departed. "Look after each other!"

I leaned out the window, waving farewell until Seraphina's figure grew blurred in the night.

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Lycanthar

In the forest shadows, Draven and I stood on a high ridge, silently watching the slowly departing carriage below. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across our faces, concealing the pain in our eyes.

"Everything has been arranged," I said in a low voice, my tone carrying unprecedented exhaustion. "All outposts along the route have received orders not to intercept them. Border guards will ensure their safe passage." I paused. "As for the human side... I've already sent messengers to secretly contact their king."

Draven stood there, his back to the direction the carriage had gone, his entire body tense, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. He remained silent, as if frozen in this moment of pain.

"She has made her choice, Draven," I said, my voice filled with sympathy.

"Why?" Draven finally spoke. His voice choked, unable to continue describing that torturous scene. "Why did she leave like this? She told me she belonged to the human world, that she couldn't stay... leaving me with nothing but questions and aching loss."

I gazed toward the carriage disappearing in the distance. "Sometimes departure without reasons is the kindest reason of all." My voice carried pain I hadn't even recognized myself. "Perhaps she has circumstances that force her to leave."

"I gave her everything," Draven continued, his voice low and anguished. "My heart, my soul, I was willing to give up everything for her... wasn't that enough?"

I didn't answer, only lightly patted Draven's shoulder. "Look at her one last time, Draven. Once the opportunity is lost, it might be forever." My voice took on a painful tone. "Trust me, I know the taste of that regret."

Draven's shoulders trembled slightly, but he stubbornly kept his back turned to the carriage. "If I look," he said with difficulty, "I might violate your orders, violate her wishes... I might chase after them and bring her back."

"I know that feeling," I said with a bitter smile. "Every moment I struggle with myself, telling myself this is for Adelaide's good." I looked up at the bright moon. "It's ironic—sometimes true love means letting go."

In the distance, the carriage had entered the depths of the forest, the sounds of hoofbeats and wheels against the ground gradually growing faint. The final farewell was about to disappear with the wind.

Just as the carriage was about to vanish from sight, Draven finally turned around. Moonlight illuminated his face, tears flowing silently down his weathered features. His gaze followed that distant, receding black dot, as if trying to pierce through the darkness and forever engrave that figure in his memory.

"Goodbye, Thalia," Draven's voice was barely audible, scattered by the night wind in the forest.

He stretched out his hand, as if trying to grasp something, but only caught empty air. In that moment, his eyes revealed a heart-breaking mixture of pain and determination, as if vowing that this painful separation would not be their final story.

I stood quietly beside him, sharing the weight of this separation with my friend, two lonely figures casting long shadows in the moonlight that stretched toward the unknown distance.