CHAPTER THREE
839 Words
The Enemy's Carriage
_______________________________________
The palace disappeared behind them.
The black carriage raced through the capital's cobbled streets, its wheels splashing through puddles left by the morning rain. Behind them, the sound of galloping horses echoed like thunder.
"They're chasing us," Seraphina said, glancing through the small window.
Kael remained calm, seated across from her.
"They always do."
"You sound experienced."
"I've been the king's enemy for years."
Silence settled between them.
For a long moment, Seraphina simply watched him.
In her previous life, Kael Draven was known as the Wolf of the North —a duke so feared that mothers frightened their children with stories of him.
Yet she had never truly met him.
Whenever they attended royal banquets, Adrian would whisper the same warning.
"Stay away from Kael."
"He's ambitious."
"He's dangerous."
"One day, he'll try to steal the throne."
Back then, she believed every word.
Now...
She wasn't so sure.
---
Kael broke the silence.
"You're wondering why I helped you."
Seraphina didn't deny it.
"You were Adrian's greatest political rival."
"I was."
"You hated the royal family."
"I still do."
"Then why save me?"
Kael looked out the window before answering.
"Because you never deserved what happened."
His voice was steady.
Without pity.
Without hesitation.
Seraphina frowned.
"That's not enough."
"No."
"It isn't."
His silver eyes met hers.
"But it's the only answer I'll give you today."
---
The carriage entered the bustling marketplace.
People stepped aside as the black horses thundered past.
No one dared stop a carriage bearing House Draven's crest.
Suddenly—
An arrow sliced through the air.
THUNK!
It buried itself in the carriage door inches from Seraphina's shoulder.
The horses reared violently.
Another arrow followed.
Then another.
"They're trying to kill us!" Seraphina exclaimed.
Kael calmly pulled the first arrow free.
He examined the black feathers.
His expression darkened.
"Not the royal guards."
"What?"
"Assassins."
"Whose?"
Before Kael could answer—
The carriage lurched violently.
A masked figure landed on the roof.
Another blocked the road ahead.
Five more emerged from the rooftops.
All dressed in black.
All carrying curved blades.
"They're here sooner than expected," Kael muttered.
"You know them?"
"I know who hired them."
---
The carriage stopped.
The assassins surrounded it.
One stepped forward.
His voice was muffled behind a silver mask.
"Grand Duke Kael."
"Our mistress sends her regards."
Seraphina felt her blood run cold.
Mistress?
Kael opened the carriage door.
"Stay inside."
"I can fight."
"I know."
His eyes lingered on her.
"But not yet."
Before she could protest—
Kael stepped out.
The assassins attacked instantly.
Steel clashed.
The first assassin lunged.
Kael moved only once.
A flash of silver.
The assassin's sword shattered into pieces.
He collapsed before he even realized he'd been defeated.
The second attacked from behind.
Kael caught the blade with his gauntlet.
Twisted.
The assassin screamed as the weapon flew from his hands.
The third...
The fourth...
The fifth...
Within seconds, bodies littered the street.
Seraphina stared in disbelief.
So this...
This was the legendary Wolf of the North.
No wonder Adrian had feared him.
---
Only the leader remained.
He laughed softly.
"I wondered if the rumors were true."
"They weren't."
Kael replied coldly.
"They were an understatement."
The assassin suddenly smiled beneath his mask.
"Very well."
"If I cannot kill the duke..."
His gaze shifted toward the carriage.
"I'll kill the queen."
He threw three poisoned daggers.
Seraphina's instincts reacted before her mind did.
She grabbed the ceremonial sword displayed inside the carriage.
With one swift motion—
CLANG!
One dagger deflected.
A second spun harmlessly away.
She ducked beneath the third.
The blade embedded itself in the carriage wall.
Outside...
Everyone froze.
Including Kael.
The assassin stared.
"...Impossible."
Kael slowly smiled.
"So..."
"You finally remembered."
Seraphina blinked.
"What?"
"You never learned swordsmanship after becoming queen."
His expression held something close to admiration.
"But before your marriage..."
"You were the strongest swordswoman in the academy."
Fragments of memory flooded back.
Training at dawn.
Wooden practice swords.
Victories she had long forgotten.
In her first life, Adrian had asked her to stop training.
"A queen doesn't need a sword," he had said.
"Leave fighting to the men."
Because she loved him...
She obeyed.
She abandoned the one thing that had always made her strong.
Never again.
---
The assassin suddenly whistled.
More footsteps echoed across the rooftops.
Dozens.
Kael sighed.
"I was hoping they'd wait until tomorrow."
Seraphina stepped out of the carriage, gripping the sword tightly.
"What now?"
Kael looked at her with a small, approving smile.
"Now..."
He drew his black blade.
"...we fight together."
For the first time in two lifetimes...
Seraphina didn't stand behind someone.
She stood beside them.
The Wolf of the North and the Queen They Buried.
Against an army.
And somewhere in the shadows...
A pair of emerald-green eyes watched the battle unfold.
Lady Vivienne lowered the hood of her cloak and smiled.
"So..."
"You really came back."
She turned away before anyone noticed her.
"How interesting."
End of Chapter Three
- Writer
