Duke Daughter's Becomes A Hunter

Isle's Life

I looked at Isle with wide ears.

“I was a commoner from a small village. My mother worked hard to feed me and brother. Father was a drunkard who used to always hit mother for money. I still remember her screams. Brother used to always close my ears and hugged me to sleep every night.”

Tears fell from her eyes as her voice became coarse as she talked.

“But you know what” she looked at me and wiped her tears, “those were the most precious memories of mine. Weird right? Even though they were bad but still…I had mother and brother to protect me.”

“Did something bad happen to them?” I asked carefully.

She nodded and responded, “something very bad”.

“I guess I was eight years old, when a monster attacked my village. Many people died either because of its wrath or were eaten by it. Even mother…she died protecting me. I still remember brother closing my eyes, as I saw mother being eaten my that monster. His palm became wet with my tears as he hugged me tightly.”

Suddenly I felt pain in my heart.

In my life, others used me as a sacrificing tool, someone who can abandoned with full rights. But no one sacrificed anything for me. When some one precious as mother sacrifices herself for her daughter, will it be painful. Who will be more in pain? Mother or daughter?

Isle took a deep breath as if calming herself.

“A few days later” she continued, “hunters came to our village and killed that monster. Every one in the village were celebrating. I celebrated with them. I was happy because I felt like my deep vengeance finally came to end. But I did not know at that time that my hell is going to start.”

I swallowed heavily. What? Hell? Was there something worst then this?

“Father, who ran away cowardly after hearing about the attack of the monster, shamelessly came to us demanded us for money. Even though we were kids who just lost our mother, he would still come and hit us. At that time, brother would always protect me and took most of the father’s hits.”

She looked at me and smiled painfully.

“One fine day, father sold us to the slave traders” she said.

I blinked anxiously.

What did she just say? Sold? To the slave traders?

“Those slave traders would hit us, starve us, tied us with heavy chain, like some monster that has gone wild. Brother would always protect me and gave me the share of his food. I, as a child, did not understand his actions. I felt happy for getting some extra food for this starving stomach.”

“But one day, a count brought all the slaves from the slave trader, including me and brother. I remember how happy I was that I and brother were not sold to the different masters. I guess I was really scared of being separated from brother.”

Seriously? Happy?

“In the count’s mansion, I got to know that the count is actually a sadist. He found fun in hitting his servants, skinning them alive, and giving them punishments.”

I guess I lived way better than her.

“Did he ever…?” I could not continue my question.

“No. He never even saw my face. How could I? A lowly slave like me is destined to live far away from my master. Don’t you think?”

“Yes” I said with a nervous smile.

“But our caretaker was cruel. She would torture her, nothing less then that count. But she was a fool. Brother and I always escaped from her through our wits. But sometimes we were a bit unlucky.”

I clearly understood the meaning of ‘a bit unlucky’.

In the duke’s mansion, though I was ignored and bullied by my servants, no one ever dared to hit. I really take back my statement. I don’t think I lived pitifully. I lived a much better life.

“But our peaceful life ended after the first prince discovered that the count is actually involved in slave business. Do you remember how charismatic the first prince was when he was alive?”

Yes, I remember. Even the duke felt that he was a thorn. But he died two years ago with the emperor while they were returning from the kingdom of Vrimoore after signing some peace treaty. Nobel ladies of aristocrats showed more interest in gossips than politics. And I was some with whom people won’t even talk about gossips, forget about politics.

I nodded as her answer.

“That prince, though he helped many people by capturing that count, but not me and brother. According to some f*****g law, when master commits treason even the servant working in his household die for the same treason.”

I can hear anger and frustration in her voice.

“Did I choose him to be my master? Did I wantedly threw myself to him as his slave? No. Then why kill me? I lived there for six years and I only saw him once. The time when he brought us. I even forgot how he looked. Did I told him to do illegal business? Those motherfucking rules. Do they even make sense?”

I remained silent. I suddenly felt that I should not open my mouth. Normally, any noble lady would complain that these words were vulgar. But I feel she deserves to curse them.

“I had two options. One was to accept my fate and die for treason other was to fight against the fate and escape from this well guarded prison. If you are going to die if you choose any path, then wouldn’t we rather choose the second path where we may have the chance to survive.”

“Did you escape from the prison?”

“Yes. But I regret that choice. It would have been better if we chose to stay silently.”

“Why are you saying that?” I asked, “You are still here talking with me because…”

“Brother died helping me escape” Isle interrupted me, “he was shot with arrows. And I had to run away, leaving his corpse behind.”

I remained silent. The truth hit me harder than I thought.

I looked at my prison-mate. She looked sad. She did not cry, but I can feel pain in her eyes. They were deep.

“What happened then?” I asked, my voice shivering.

“After walking for several days, I knocked the door of a hunter. Since then my life turned upside down.”

She looked at me. For the first time I guess, I saw a confident smile on her face.