The Forbidden Forest
1283 Words
The horn sounded again.
Its deep, haunting note rolled across the palace grounds and disappeared into the mountains.
Elara stared at Prince Adrian.
Chapter Two: The Forbidden Forest
The horn sounded again.
Its deep, haunting note rolled across the palace grounds and disappeared into the mountains.
Elara stared at Prince Adrian.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we are out of time.”
He pulled the balcony doors shut and locked them.
“Wait,” Elara said. “You said my mother is alive. You can't just tell me something like that and expect me to run away without an explanation.”
Adrian turned toward her.
“I know you deserve answers.”
“Then give them to me.”
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he reached into his coat and placed the silver pendant in her hand.
“Your mother gave this to my father before she disappeared. She told him that one day it would find its way back to you.”
Elara stared at the pendant.
It was small and beautifully crafted, with a strange symbol engraved in the center.
“I've never seen this before.”
“You were only a child when she disappeared.”
“Everyone told me she died.”
“Because that was what the Emperor wanted everyone to believe.”
Elara's eyes widened.
“You mean your father?”
Adrian nodded.
“My father ordered the entire kingdom to believe your mother was dead. He said it was necessary to protect the empire.”
“Protect it from what?”
Before Adrian could answer, a loud crash came from the hallway.
Both of them froze.
Someone was approaching.
Adrian immediately moved toward the door.
“Stay behind me.”
Elara frowned.
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
He drew the sword hidden beneath his coat.
“But tonight isn't the night to prove it.”
The door suddenly shook.
Someone was trying to break it open.
Adrian looked at Elara.
“When I open this door, run toward the eastern staircase.”
“What about you?”
“I'll follow.”
Another powerful удар shook the door.
Elara tightened her grip around the pendant.
“Adrian—”
“Go!”
The door burst open.
Three masked soldiers rushed inside.
Adrian moved quickly, blocking the first attack with his sword. The clash of metal filled the room.
Elara ran.
She reached the eastern staircase and looked back.
Adrian was still fighting.
One of the masked soldiers noticed her.
“She's escaping!”
He started after her.
Elara ran down the stairs.
Her heart pounded as she raced through the palace corridors. Servants screamed and guards rushed in every direction.
The empire was falling into chaos.
When she reached the lower hall, she found something unexpected.
A small carriage stood outside the palace entrance.
Beside it was an elderly woman wearing a dark cloak.
“Princess Elara!”
Elara stopped.
“How do you know my name?”
The woman looked toward the palace.
“Because I served your mother.”
Elara's breath caught.
“You knew her?”
The woman nodded.
“And if you want to find her, you must come with me.”
Elara hesitated.
Behind her, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
She climbed into the carriage.
The woman followed and closed the door.
The horses immediately began moving.
As the palace disappeared behind them, Elara looked through the window.
Prince Adrian emerged from the palace gates.
He saw the carriage.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
He didn't chase them.
Instead, he simply stood there, watching.
Elara wondered why.
Then she noticed something frightening.
Adrian wasn't looking at the carriage.
He was looking at the soldiers standing on the palace walls.
They were watching him.
And one of them slowly removed his mask.
Adrian's expression changed.
He knew that man.
The carriage disappeared into the darkness.
And for the first time in fifteen years, the truth about Elara's mother had begun to emerge. shut and locked them.
“Wait,” Elara said. “You said my mother is alive. You can't just tell me something like that and expect me to run away without an explanation.”
Adrian turned toward her.
“I know you deserve answers.”
“Then give them to me.”
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he reached into his coat and placed the silver pendant in her hand.
“Your mother gave this to my father before she disappeared. She told him that one day it would find its way back to you.”
Elara stared at the pendant.
It was small and beautifully crafted, with a strange symbol engraved in the center.
“I've never seen this before.”
“You were only a child when she disappeared.”
“Everyone told me she died.”
“Because that was what the Emperor wanted everyone to believe.”
Elara's eyes widened.
“You mean your father?”
Adrian nodded.
“My father ordered the entire kingdom to believe your mother was dead. He said it was necessary to protect the empire.”
“Protect it from what?”
Before Adrian could answer, a loud crash came from the hallway.
Both of them froze.
Someone was approaching.
Adrian immediately moved toward the door.
“Stay behind me.”
Elara frowned.
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
He drew the sword hidden beneath his coat.
“But tonight isn't the night to prove it.”
The door suddenly shook.
Someone was trying to break it open.
Adrian looked at Elara.
“When I open this door, run toward the eastern staircase.”
“What about you?”
“I'll follow.”
Another powerful удар shook the door.
Elara tightened her grip around the pendant.
“Adrian—”
“Go!”
The door burst open.
Three masked soldiers rushed inside.
Adrian moved quickly, blocking the first attack with his sword. The clash of metal filled the room.
Elara ran.
She reached the eastern staircase and looked back.
Adrian was still fighting.
One of the masked soldiers noticed her.
“She's escaping!”
He started after her.
Elara ran down the stairs.
Her heart pounded as she raced through the palace corridors. Servants screamed and guards rushed in every direction.
The empire was falling into chaos.
When she reached the lower hall, she found something unexpected.
A small carriage stood outside the palace entrance.
Beside it was an elderly woman wearing a dark cloak.
“Princess Elara!”
Elara stopped.
“How do you know my name?”
The woman looked toward the palace.
“Because I served your mother.”
Elara's breath caught.
“You knew her?”
The woman nodded.
“And if you want to find her, you must come with me.”
Elara hesitated.
Behind her, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
She climbed into the carriage.
The woman followed and closed the door.
The horses immediately began moving.
As the palace disappeared behind them, Elara looked through the window.
Prince Adrian emerged from the palace gates.
He saw the carriage.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
He didn't chase them.
Instead, he simply stood there, watching.
Elara wondered why.
Then she noticed something frightening.
Adrian wasn't looking at the carriage.
He was looking at the soldiers standing on the palace walls.
They were watching him.
And one of them slowly removed his mask.
Adrian's expression changed.
He knew that man.
The carriage disappeared into the darkness.
And for the first time in fifteen years, the truth about Elara's mother had begun to emerge.
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