ALBERT’S RESCUE EFFORT

Annabelle spurred Diamond into the damp, dark forest, deeper. Albert behind him started to lose consciousness.

"ALBERT KEEP AWARE!" Annabelle shouted to her husband who was behind her, stomping her foot against Diamond's stomach. The rock that Diamond stepped on was very slippery and steep, Annabelle really had to be careful controlling Diamond.

Albert's head began to rest limply on Annabelle's shoulder. Knowing this, Annabelle accelerated her horse even more. She didn't want to be late helping Albert. Unfortunately, people who do not know it continues to chase Annabelle. The galloping of horses behind him sounded very close. Regardless of how far away, Annabelle chose not to look back, but rather focused on finding a way how they could escape the pursuit of those who wanted to kill Albert.

Annabelle couldn't possibly take Albert straight back to the castle, those people would easily catch him. Moreover, they already know the route taken to get to the castle.

Annabelle also spurred her horse away from the path they had previously walked. Having managed to get out of the dark and damp forest, he made his way towards the waterfall where they were hiding. Annabelle avoided the muddy path with thick soil so that their footsteps could not be followed, Annabelle instead took the risk of crossing the rocks at the edge of the ravine that would easily knock them to the bottom.

Passing the rocks, making the Diamond trail not visible at all. The more the galloping of the horses behind Annabelle grew farther and farther away. It seemed the people chasing him had already lost track of them. Annabelle began to lower Diamond's speed and carefully followed the rock.

The cave where Annabelle often swam, was the safest place to hide for a while. No one knows the place apart from him and his father. After tying Diamond in a hidden place, Annabelle took Albert there. They entered through the path that Annabelle often used to get out because it was impossible for Albert to jump from a height with his current condition. At the risk, they had to fight the water current to get in there.

Before going into the cold water, Annabelle had to break the arrow stuck in Albert's shoulder, first. This was to make it easier for Albert to swim. She didn't dare pull it out because it would be tantamount to killing Albert, if Albert's wound was not closed immediately after the arrow was pulled out. Annabelle immediately covered Albert's mouth, when Albert's groan of pain sounded so loud when he broke the arrow.

Luckily Albert still has a little consciousness, so Annabelle can take him into the cave. With the skills she learned from Albert, Annabelle tried to make a fire and dry her hunting coat. He was also looking for plants that could prevent infection for Albert's wounds.

Like it or not, Annabelle had to wait for the people who were chasing her to leave first. Only then could Albert take him back to the castle. Annabelle also collects non-poisonous mushrooms to fill her stomach and Albert's stomach for not allowing her to hunt into the forest above them. Luckily Annabelle was able to get as many frogs as she could, so that night they were quite full and a little warm.

After their hunting coats were dry, Annabelle took off Albert's wet clothes as well as his. Annabelle hugged Albert and covered them with the coat. Annabelle also made sure the fire was still burning.

"Don't die, Albert! Live for me, we haven't even explored this forest completely as you promised," Annabelle said as she continued to hug Albert.

"I never wrongly chose you as my wife, Annabelle. You are very intelligent and a very fast learner. You're even good at making fire, even though it's the first time you've seen it," muttered Albert quietly, who didn't answer his wife's words but admired her instead.

"Who do you think did this to you?" Annabelle asked in turn ignoring her husband's words. Now was not the time to praise him.

"I do not know. There are two possibilities, they want to kill me. The first relates to my candidacy for parliament. I heard that many supported me because of their loyalty to Queen Anne. Secondly, it is possible that the investigation carried out to uncover Queen Anne's death, was leaked. They thought I had the potential to dismantle it.

"Why is the kingdom problem, there are always people who have to be sacrificed? Maybe that's why my dad doesn't want to have anything to do with work anymore. He chose to become a petty rancher rather than sit in parliament with his family's safety at risk."

"I'm sorry, Annabelle. I can't back down. When I made that decision, I didn't think about your safety. The passion between us and what's inside you, makes me fall for it. I was being selfish with my great desire to have you."

"Don't apologize, Albert. In fact, I am very happy with you. Even if I had to die with you, I would have no regrets rather than having to live as a woman who was imprisoned, as the mistress of a noble. It was like hell that I had to live while I was alive in this world. Hang on, I'll take you home. Gerard will treat you," Annabelle promised.

Annabelle also kissed Albert's cold lips, crushed him then brought Albert's head to his chest. Trying to give Albert some warmth in their wet bodies. Luckily this cave is warm enough for both of them because the steam from the warm water warms the cave.

The next morning Annabelle was surprised when Albert's body began to shiver in her arms. Even though the temperature inside the cave is quite warm. Annabelle couldn't wait any longer to bring Albert home. She had to take the risk to ride his horse and get out of this forest.

Quickly, Annabelle also brought Albert out of the cave, untied his horse and raised Albert and tied Albert's body to his body. Annabelle took a different path to reach Louis's castle. She took a route that would take him all the way to the back of the castle.

"There is a tunnel at the back of the castle's right wing that will lead us to the secret passage I once showed you. The tunnel was covered in leaves and locked. I always carry the key with me when I leave the castle. It's on the inside of my hunting suit," said Albert as he explained how they could enter the castle without going through the main gate.

Annabelle did as Albert said, she led Albert to the tunnel under the moat that would lead them into the castle. Arriving at the front of the tunnel, Annabelle rubbed Diamond's neck.

"Go home through the main gate!!" said Annabelle who then patted Diamond's body hard. Making Diamond immediately run fast leaving the two of them. Annabelle made people think, as if she and Albert didn't survive their assassination attempt. What's more, Annabelle was also sure, Thunder had arrived at the castle and there was no Albert with him.

By embracing Albert whose steps were wobbling, Annabelle tried hard to carry him. Albert began to press against the stone wall as they reached the secret door. The new wall opened and exposed them to a small, dark staircase. Annabelle helped Albert to press against another stone wall to light his torch.

The path that Albert took wasn't her room which was in the main castle, Annabelle didn't know where Albert was leading her. The moment she opened the stone wall, a room that wasn't big enough greeted him. The room didn't even have a window, all new walled and covered. It's like being in prison.

Annabelle immediately put Albert on the bed. Take off all of Albert's clothes and change into dry clothes. Annabelle went straight out of the room, through the main door. She jogged, making sure no one saw her because it would be dangerous for Albert. In addition, many foreigners were staying at this castle because of the hunting event that was taking place. There was a high possibility, one of them was part of the people who wanted to kill Albert.

It was so funny, Annabelle was sneaking up on her own castle like a thief. She immediately looked for Gerard's room, because Albert had to get help immediately, otherwise the husband would not survive.

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