Chapter 4: A Fate of Exile

The Edge of Death

David Haipoli stumbled through the dense wilderness, his breath ragged, his vision blurred. Blood trickled from the arrow wound in his shoulder, soaking into his once-pristine wedding robes. The rain had started to fall, a cold, merciless downpour that turned the forest floor into a muddy trap.

His mind replayed the horrors of the betrayal—his father's last desperate command, the cries of his men being cut down, the look in Aisha's eyes before she delivered his death sentence.

The once-proud heir of the Haipoli Merchant Guild was now nothing more than a fugitive, hunted like a common criminal.

Lightning split the sky. Behind him, the sound of pursuit grew closer.

"Find him! The chancellor wants his head!"

Bismarck's soldiers were relentless. Their orders were clear—leave no survivors.

David gritted his teeth. He could not allow himself to die here. Not in the mud. Not at their hands.

Using his last reserves of strength, he pushed forward, deeper into the shadows of the forest. The world around him began to spin, the loss of blood dragging him closer to unconsciousness.

Then—his foot slipped.

The ground beneath him gave way, and before he could react, he plummeted down a steep ravine, crashing into the darkness below.

---

Hunted Like a Beast

The impact sent a jolt of agony through his body. David gasped, struggling to breathe as he forced himself upright. His fingers dug into the damp earth, the world around him spinning in a dizzying blur.

The soldiers had reached the edge of the ravine.

"He must have fallen down there!" one of them shouted.

"Should we go after him?" another hesitated.

"No. He's already dead. No one survives a fall like that," their leader sneered. "Let the animals finish him off."

David remained still, barely daring to breathe as the soldiers finally turned back. Only when the sound of their footsteps faded into the storm did he let his body relax.

He had escaped—but only just.

His relief was short-lived. As he tried to move, pain flared through his shoulder. The arrow was still embedded in his flesh, a cruel reminder of how close he had come to death.

But he couldn't afford to stop. He had to find shelter—somewhere to tend to his wounds, somewhere to survive.

With sheer force of will, he pushed himself forward, deeper into the unknown.

---

The Price of Survival

David's strength began to wane. The cold seeped into his bones, and his vision grew darker with every passing step. Somewhere, deep in his mind, the edges of despair began to creep in.

Was this the end?

Would he die here, alone and forgotten, while Bismarck sat upon his stolen throne, laughing over the ruin of the Haipoli family?

No.

He would not allow it.

Using the last of his fading strength, he staggered toward the faint outline of shelter ahead—a cluster of trees forming a natural canopy against the storm.

But just as he reached it, his body betrayed him.

His knees buckled. His vision blurred.

And then—darkness.

---

A Stranger's Mercy

When David awoke, he was no longer lying in the mud. Instead, he felt the warmth of a fire, the scent of herbs and freshly boiled water filling the air.

He tried to move, but a sharp pain in his shoulder stopped him.

"Stay still," a gentle voice murmured.

David turned his head, eyes focusing on the figure sitting beside him.

She was young, with deep brown eyes and a quiet strength in her features. Her hands, though rough from labor, worked with surprising skill as she cleaned his wound, removing the arrow with careful precision.

"You're lucky I found you," she said, not looking up. "Another few hours, and you would've been dead."

David forced himself to stay alert. Who was she? Why had she saved him?

"Where… am I?" His voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.

"A village outside of Ping Shui," the woman replied, still focused on tending his wound. "My name is Lily. And you?"

David hesitated. His name was now a death sentence.

If word got out that he was alive, Bismarck's men would return. The entire empire believed him to be dead—he needed to keep it that way.

"…Daniel," he finally said, choosing an alias.

Lily didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press the matter. Instead, she nodded and continued wrapping his wound.

"You should rest," she said softly. "You're safe for now. But if you want to live, you'll need more than just luck."

David exhaled slowly. He wasn't sure if he could trust her. But right now, he had no other choice.

He had escaped death once. Now, he needed to plan his return.

And when he did—Bismarck would pay for everything.