Saved Again

When the door is shut, their space is enveloped in darkness. Ashley's mind replayed memories of the times the Countess had tortured her before locking her in the dark cellar. She began to panic and felt breathless. She experienced light-headedness, lost her equilibrium, and was ready to collapse when someone caught her. All of a sudden, a lamp started to emit light. Although tears in her eyes formed as she still struggled with her breathing, she could gradually see her surroundings and the person assisting her.

"Try to breathe slowly." As he demonstrated to her how to breathe, he added, "Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth slowly and quietly." Ashley followed his advice and began to relax.

She said, "I'm sorry," under her breath.

"Can you stand?" The man asked her after glancing at her, and she nodded as a reply.

She regained her strength and could stand up straight, but the man continued to hold her. The petite guy said, "Are you sure? We could take a rest here for a bit. Right, Master?"

The man then gave a nod. "Let's take a moment to rest here. We still have a ways to go."

"Sorry…"She muttered.

"It's alright. Please don't say sorry."

They sat around the lamp as the petite guy nodded and set it down on the brisk ground. Ashley sat across the petite man as the tall man leaned on the wall behind him. She let her eyes look around for a minute to see where she is. There was a tunnel all along that led to where she didn't know. It was dug to use as a secret passage.

'Now that I'm here, there's no going back now. They might have helped me but I can't trust them fully.' Ashley pondered to herself as she sat there quietly.

The small guy struck up a discussion as they rested to break the eerie silence that had formed around them. He clears his throat first then she turns to face him when he asks, "Shall we introduce ourselves first? My name is Gilbert, and the man over here is my Master, Grand-" A blow to the back of his head stopped him that startled Ashley and made her frown.

As he touched the back of his head, Gilbert groaned. "Hurts! What was that for, Master?"

The Master said cold tone, "That's for being loud." and then he turned to face her and said, "Evan."

She contemplated why he smack Gilbert when he was about to say his name. 'Maybe he doesn't want me to know his real name. Should I give them my name? '

"Ley" She replied.

Evan nodded after she responded and look away again then Gilbert turned to face her once again when he had fully recovered from his Master's strike. "Now that I have taken a closer look, aren't you the one who gave me the black buns in Wels Town?"

Ashley nodded awkwardly. "Yes. I gave them… as my thank you for saving me back there. And now, once again, I was saved by Sir Evan and Sir Gilbert." She slightly bowed her head.

"There's no need to do that. We are just doing what is right." Gilbert smiled as he waved both his hands. "But what brings you here at night?"

Ashley quickly blinked her eyes while gazing around before stuttering as she bit her lips, "I-I...I'm going to Port Town."

"Alone?"

"Yes." As she nodded firmly.

"Those individuals... are they after you?" Evan joined them.

Ashley then turned to gaze at Evan. She sighed and nodded in response.

The two guys scowled, driving Evan to re-ask, "Why?"

For a moment, Ashley was unable to respond. The two guys waited for her to speak while she sat there silently.

'Should I tell them that I am the daughter of Count Harriston and the people out there are his knights? But what if they use me to gain something from him? No. I don't think they are that kind of people, but I can't trust them fully. I don't even know why they are here in the first place?' She thought to herself.

Evan cut into her thought, "Don't bother answering it if you are not comfortable. "

Ashley said, "I'm sorry," while looking at him with relief and regret.

"Enough now with the apologies. Everyone has a secret they want to keep." He said with a firm but understanding tone.

"Thank you for understanding," Ashley responded with a gentle smile. "Now that I think of it, I haven't thanked you yet for saving me from the swamp."

"Don't mind it."

"But how did you know I was there?" Ashley asked curiously.

Evan was silent, but Gilbert said, "We witnessed the long grass move on its own, implying someone other than us is in this field. My Master just vanished without saying anything once you had passed this location. I had a hard time catching up to him."

Ashley nodded as he finished explaining. "Then why are you here in the field too?" Ashley asked again.

"That's…" Gilbert took time to answer when Evan interrupted. "Didn't I just mention that everyone has a secret? Even the two of us have one, and being on the field is our secret. Don't ask anymore."

Ashley then felt terrible and said, "Oh… I apologise." As she looks down.

"So long as you don't step over the border again," Evan responded, and then the group fell silent again.

Gilbert looks at his Master and gesture at him to talk to her. Evan's eyes widen as he points at himself while Gilbert nods.

'Talk to her.' He mouthed.

Evan glared at him as he mouthed, 'Why me?'

'Because you ruined the conversation.' Gilbert sighed as he thought to himself. Evan looks away as he ignores Gilbert.

They were surrounded by silence once more. Gilbert couldn't take it anymore and turned to Ashley. "I apologise about my Master's cold demeanour."

Gilbert's apology to Ashley causes Evan to click his tongue as she turns to face them both.

"You see, he is not fond of anybody except his family and servants," he continued, lowering his voice. "Rather, he is afraid of women."

Evan couldn't take Gilbert's mocking and interrupted.

"Do you have any last words, Gilbert?" He said as pull out a sword.

Gilbert then gulped and laughed nervously. "I'm just joking, Master." He raised his two hands, surrendering to him.

He then notices Ashley trembling, looking in his direction. He frowned as he saw how frightened she was witnessing the sword he was holding, and he immediately hid it.

He sighed and said, "There's no need to be frightened. I won't use this unless you try to harm me."

Ashley looks away at him. 'As if I could kill you when I couldn't even protect myself.'

"Please don't consider us to be evil people. We are not thieves or mercenaries, or assassins. We merely bring our swords for our safety." Gilbert explained to Ashley, who just nodded.

"So, what is your current plan? Do you intend to visit the port town? Gilbert made an effort to shift the topic.

Ashley nodded. "That's what I plan to do."

"We're also heading there. See, this tunnel goes right into the heart of the Forbidden Forest. You can come with us until we get to Port Town."

Ashley's eyes sparkle as she looks at them. "Really? Can I join you? "

"Of course. Right, Master?" Gilbert turned to look at Evan, who was scowling and expressing disapproval.

Evan sighed and asked, "Why do you want to go to Port Town so badly?"

Ashley smiled bitterly and answered, "To go home. It is my hometown, my beloved home."

Evan raised his eyebrows as he noticed her face with a wistful gaze. "It looks like you haven't been home for so long."

"Yes. That's why I seized the chance when it presented itself." She nodded, remembering the agreement she had made earlier that had brought her to this point.

Looking back on this morning's events after Lord Bennet's brief visit, she lay on her bed, pondering  what he and Mary had told her.

"Capital, huh… I wonder if it is a wonderful place." She mumbles.

She was startled when she heard someone knock on the door.

"Milady, may I come in?" She trembled as soon as she heard the woman's voice outside her door.

Olga, the Countess' devoted maid, is the voice behind that one. Every time the Countess beat her up in the past, she would frequently come along. And she often treats her brutally and demeans her. But she is still recuperating after being seriously harmed due to the Countess's chaos and insanity.

'Then why?' She suddenly felt dizzy due to the confusion and recalling of the past.

She took a long breath before responding when another voice was heard. It was Mary.

"Miss Olga? Why are you standing here outside Milady's room? The Countess's room is on the other side of the mansion." When she mentions the Countess, her tone initially shifts from shocked to irritate.

"I… I want to talk to Milady." There was hesitation in her tone.

After calming down, Ashley cut them off by opening the door. She had a severe look, which shocked the two servants.

Ashley takes a long while, glancing at Olga before speaking. Compared to the last time she saw her, she appeared frailer, and the signs of her sickness persisted.

"What do you want to talk about?" Ashley asked.

"I'm here to make a deal, Milady." She started with determined eyes.