Angus’s hooves clashed against the dirt road kicking up dust as he rode off towards the woods. Lysanne who mounted it had her long hair tied up in a ponytail and she was dressed up in a tunic and black trousers with black boots. A sword hanging on her left hip and her face drawn into a grimace.

Her father had strictly warned her and the twins that His Highness Eric shouldn’t notice the tension that the towns had but considering the hostility and she could see that it wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

Besides that, she was furious. When she returned home with the twins she had asked them about what had happened.

"Why were you there in the first place?!" She had demanded and the twins cowering and close to tears had confessed more than what she had asked about.

"Last time... We went to town we were playing near the forest with some of the other kids when Reggie and his friends came... They asked to play with a new game with us and..."

"And?" She pressed, concerned and stressed.

"And they hurt the other kids while playing... Even Nico got hurt but we didn’t say anything."

"Why not?!" She almost shouted grabbing their hands.

The twins lowered their eyes, exchanging glances.

"They said they would hurt the other kids more if we ran and tattled to Father." Leo spoke in a low voice.

Hearing that the guys whom she used to call her best buddies just a few years ago had harmed her baby brothers had made her fury blaze.

She wanted to teach them a lesson right away but she couldn’t. She had given them a time, later.

And presently, she was heading to the place where she would settle the scores.

Angus soon came to a stop at the clearing which had the ruins of an old house. It was their usual hideout base when they were children, now it was just a place for battles.

Lysanne dismounted from her horse and faced Reggie and his four friends.

"Here she is."

Some of them laughed.

"I didn’t think she’d come,"

"Well, unlike the usual noble ladies who stay indoors at nights this one runs wild."

Lysanne ignored their side remarks and glared at Reggie.

"Did you hurt my brothera a few days ago?" She asked straightaway.

"Why? They finally tattled to your dear father?" The lanky one, Hank asked.

Lysanne’s fists clenched.

"Have you fallen so low that you are bullying little kids now?" She asked Reggie.

Reggie remained silent for a while before he walked up to her.

"Considering they sauntered onnour turf we had let them off quite unscathed, My Lady."

Lysanne’s jaw clenched and she sneered at him.

Reggie smirked watching her get so angry and added.

"And considering that you are also on our turf now, you will also face the punishment."

"We’ll see who punishes who." Lysanne challenged.

Reggie chuckled before stepping back and his friend tossed him a sword.

"Then let’s start, shall we?" He asked.

Drac who stood at a distance from them on a sturdy tree branch observed quietly. He was not going to interfere as Lysanne had clearly told him that this was a matter between her and the young men.

He watched as Lysanne and Reggie fought, it was unlike a swordfight between knights, it was just a crude fight. Reggie was using his physical strength to deliver as much hard blows on her as he could. Drac could see that Lysanne was trying her best to use her comparatively smaller form and agility to stay on her feet but with the sheer size and strength of Reggie it was becomibg harder.

She was already huffing and sweating, her arms trembling under the weight of the sword and because of Reggie’s blows.

Reggie watched as she grew exhausted and then he twisted his sword and threw a punch that connected to Lysanne’s abdomen making her grunt and fall to her knees.

Reggie laughed, placing his sword at his shoulder.

"This is why noble women shouldn’t wield swords." He mocked.

"We’re not done yet!" Lysanne grunted as she glared up at him.

She grabbed her hilt tighter before she used her sword as a support to start to get up but Hank skipped ahead and kicked the sword making her stumble.

"Can’t even stand, My Lady?" He mocked her and laughed while Reggie turned.

Lysanne tried again to get up and Hank smirked before he lifted his foot to bring it down on her but a spear flew over and embedded on the ground just an inch from his foot making him stumble and fall back on his butt.

Reggie and others turned and looked at the spear that reverberated with the impact standing taut between them and Lysanne.

Lysanne’s eyebrows furrowed looking at the spear that had come out of nowhere before she heard the soft sound of something landing beside her.

She lifted her head and saw Drac standing there. He looked down at her, she was confused.

Why was he here? He was supposed to be at the mansion, she hadn’t expected anyone to follow her since he had gotten out quite late.

"Why are you-" she was about to ask but he cut in.

"Please stand up, Miss Lysanne."

His voice was still the same detached one and Lysanne pushed herself up on her feet.

"A knight in the shining armor had appeared." The guys whooped.

Drac grabbed the spear and pulled its blade from the ground.

"I was observing your fight." Drac said, ignoring the comments.

"Your arm strength isn’t enough to wield a sword yet," he said and handed her the spear.

"Please practice with this for a while." He said.

Lysanne opened her mouth to ask why he was there again but he simply walked over and picked up her sword and stepped back.

Reggie was mildly amused watching Drac.

"You think a change in weapon will help her? She’s a weakling, nothing can change that." Reggie announced.

Drac’s face didn’t betray any expression as he stated, "Considering that she came here alone to face five of you, compared to you and your lot, she’s stronger." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

A chuckle espaced Eric who had ended up following Drac when he left so hurriedly. But Eric had gotten a horse since he couldn’t keep up with a Dragon’s speed. Behind him, the shadow guard had also arrived all now perched on the trees nearby, watching.

"Are you trying to impress her or something? Even if you do, she’s not..."

Drac turned his head slightly and glanced at the shadow guard, he had sensed them as soon as they had arrived and also Eric who was at a little distance, watching them in secrecy.

Drac gestured for the guard to stand down and the leader nodded.

"Hey, are you even listening?"

Drac looked back at Hank who was speaking.

"No," he then turned to Reggie, "Fight one more round."

Reggie scoffed, "And who are you to tell us that? You think you can just come here and act like you can do whatever you want, just because you are the Prince’s guard?"

Drac tilted his head, "I didn’t come here with the authority of His Highness. I came to make sure she doesn’t have to fight an unfair fight."

Lysanne looked at him and Reggie rolled his eyes.

"How noble! If that’s the case then why don’t you fight for her?"

"I can’t," Drac said, Lysanne studied his face as he added, "Miss Lysanne is strong enough to fight her own battles."

Reggie snorted along with his friends, "Strong enough? Please. You must have seen how I defeated her."

"By using brute strength, yes." Drac answered making Reggie scowl at him.

"You’re starting to really piss me off, get lost before we put you in your place." Reggie said.

"Is that a challenge?" Drac asked.

Hank stepped ahead, "Aye sure, but you’ll have to fight us all."

Drac tilted his head, his eyes glowing amber faintly, Lysanne frowned slightly feeling the strange pressure around Drac.

"You won’t regret it, will you?" He asked.

The group laughed, "He really thinks he can defeat us all together. Come on, men, let’s teach this noble a good lesson."

Hank and others stepped ahead and Drac also stepped ahead making Lysanne’s eyes grow wide as the pressure around Drac now brushed against her making her heart pound and the chill to run down her spine.

"Wait!" She shouted.

"He’s a guest, have some courtesy. It will affect the reputation of the territory badly if you fight."

The group of men simply laughed, "Reputation of the territory? You should have thought that before, My Lady."

"Mr Rayburn, please." Lysanne turned to Drac and he glanced back at her.

His eyes were glowing and the pupils of his eyes were narrowed to black slits.

"It’s fine, Miss Lysanne. I won’t hurt them a lot." He then handed the sword to her and she looked at the other men.

The guards who were perched on the trees seemed to be anticipating a good fight but one of them frowned.

"Why isn’t His Highness stepping in for this fight too?"

The leader sighed, "He can’t jump in for every small scuffle, Aris."

"You’re going to fight us all unarmed?" The stout one, Utham asked and Drac didn’t answer.

Hank stepped ahead first about to take a swing at Drac but Drac simply sidestepped putting his foot out to trip Hank making him fall face first on the ground.

The group was surprised for a moment before they charged at once, Reggie stayed behind watching them and Lysanne stared at Drac who moved so swiftly like he seemed like air flowing just past the fists and kicks of the attackers. He was doing it with such ease that his movements impressed her.

Drac hadn’t even lifted his hands yet and the group was half tired and frustrated that they couldn’t even touch him.

"Stay still!" Hank shouted as he launched at Drac.

Utham also charged right away hoping to catch Drac off guard but none of their attacks landed instead both of them fell on the ground.

Lysanne watched as the so-called strong young men of Hillford were now reduced to a bunch of headless chickens by a single man.

She stared at Drac’s back before she heard a soft whinny and she turned to see a horse jogging up to them with Eric mounted on it. Her eyes widened as she saw him and then she looked at the scene before her.

Drac and Reggie were the only ones standing with the four guys slumped on the ground.

"Y-Your Highness..." She stuttered trying to come up with something but he simply smiled at her.

"It’s fine, Miss Lysanne. I can see what’s going on."

Lysanne’s shoulders slumped and Eric then looked at Drac who stepped back towards Eric’s horse.

"You didn’t need to come here, Your Highness." He spoke in a low voice and Eric sighed.

"I can see that you didn’t raise your hand at them but whatever you do here becomes my responsibility, Drac." Eric said and Drac lowered his gaze.

"I’m sorry,"

Eric simply shook his head before looking at the young men.

"I hope my guard didn’t hurt you."

Reggie or any of his friends didn’t say a word and Eric glanced at Lysanne.

"Come now, Miss Lysanne, let’s head back to Castermere mansion."

Lysanne glanced once at Reggie and others before she walked over and got on her Angus.

"What are you waiting for Drac?" Eric said and Drac turned.

Lysanne noticed as Drac didn’t have a horse and frowned.

How did he reach there so quickly on foot?

"Get on." Eric said and Drac got on behind Eric on his horse.

"Get home safely, gentlemen." Eric hollered at Reggie and his friends before turning his horse.

Lysanne followed along and just as she turned her eyes landed on a tree branch where she saw something like a human figure sitting. Her eyes widened but just as she blinked it was gone.

Lysanne looked at Eric and Drac hoping they might have also noticed it but they seemed unbothered as they rode back.