Five

FINALE

The King, upon realizing that Janet had fallen into a dire situation, unsheathed his sword and gave the order for her immediate arrest. His soldiers sprang into action without hesitation. Janet, breath heavy and eyes locked on the rushing river, took one last look—then leapt into the torrent.

The soldiers rushed to the edge, staring into the violent current.

"She must be dead... don't you think?" one of them muttered.

The King narrowed his eyes. "Search the southern bridge. You might be surprised."

***

Janet emerged from the water, gasping for breath. Panic surged through her veins as she fled into the woods, running with desperate speed. Behind a palm tree, she spotted a horse—its owner feeding it carrots.

"Please," she gasped. "Can you get me out of town?"

Without a word, the stranger pulled her onto the horse. They rode swiftly into the night. The King's men weren't far behind.

Later, they found refuge in the stranger's cottage. He brewed her a cup of chrysanthemum tea and poured himself coffee.

"Thank you," she whispered, sipping carefully. Just then, the door creaked open.

An old man stepped in. Janet's eyes widened in shock. "Grandpa?"

She ran to embrace him, trembling. When she turned to the stranger in gratitude, he simply said, "Don't thank me. Run. Run far, if you want to live."

***

Janet and her grandfather gathered what little they could and fled on horseback. But it wasn't long before the King's men caught up. Janet slid off the horse, shoving the reins into her grandfather's hands.

"I'll fight them. Go!"

The soldiers surrounded her. Swords drawn. Janet stood her ground, fierce and wild. Though injured, she escaped into the dense woods.

Eventually, she reached the eastern seaboard—a border to another land. A canoe bobbed near the shore. She climbed in and began to paddle toward Sierra. Behind her, the soldiers followed in boats, arrows flying. She ducked and weaved, but one arrow struck her elbow. Blood mixed with the river.

They pulled her into their boat, her body trembling with pain. Her grandfather was captured soon after.

In the execution chamber, Janet lay bleeding. Her grandfather knelt beside her, hands bound. A soldier began to read the declaration aloud when the doors burst open.

The stranger who'd helped Janet strode in. "Brother! The King is executing them."

The Kingsman paused. His eyes narrowed. "You're still full of nonsense."

"Then come see for yourself."

They hurried to the chamber. Janet crawled toward her grandfather, reaching. A sword rose above the old man's head.

An arrow struck the King's heart.

He collapsed instantly.

Chaos erupted. Soldiers searched for the assassin. The stranger helped Grandpa escape. Janet, weak from blood loss, collapsed before she could follow.

The Kingsman arrived, cutting down those in his way. He found Janet lying in her blood. Tears welled in his eyes. Why should a girl like her suffer so much?

That night, the mortuary attendants came. Grandpa resisted.

The Kingsman searched every town for a cure. One healer shook his head. "She breathes, barely. It would take a miracle."

He returned, defeated. "There's nothing more I can do," he whispered.

But that night, he boiled water, cleaned her wound, and pressed it gently with a towel. Janet screamed and grabbed his hand.

He smiled through tears. "You're awake... It's over."

"You and Grandpa will leave at first light."

"Our Grandpa?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I'm his son."

Janet's breath caught. Her eyes widened.

"I killed the princess," the Kingsman confessed. "By accident. Grandpa took the blame. I owed him. I owed you."

THE End