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It's almost night. It's starting to get colder and colder. My fur coat is starting to abandon its warmth for me as well. After I lost the Queen's knights, I wandered around for a while. There was no village near, nor a house or shed actually. I was already prepared that if I would escape I would have to live through these cold spring nights. By now the ceremony must've already finished and if I would've stayed I would have an awful, cold and an embarrassing history. I wonder what's going on there. Are they wondering where I am? Or have they already forgotten that there was a 'Lady Victoria'? I hope that my brother isn’t too worried, I feel guilty because if I hadn’t come he could have finished this deal secretly and peacefully, now the entire world has probably heard of it. As I try to answer the questions in my head. I see smoke ahead of me, it smells nice and warm. The further I walk the more I notice the light in front of me. There's a house. I’m not sure if they would let me in or not, but at least I could try till I would freeze to death. I slowly got off my horse and walked towards the door, I knocked on it and waited for a response. After a few seconds a young lady with the proper clothes stood in front of me. She was young, pretty, was quite tall for the average woman and had gray/white hair that made her appearance unique. Her clothes were expensive, I could tell, from the velvet and tulle to the big diamond ring on her ring finger.

"Hello, I'm sorry for such an late intrusion, but I was wondering if I might find shelter here for the night?" Trying to make a good first impression of me. She looked at me for a while before a big smile splattered on her face.

"Of course, But let me tell you that this is not where I live. I rent this place to commoners . If you'd like, I could let you stay here for the night."

"Oh, thank you, MyLady, I will repay you as much as you want." I said in relief.

"No need, you seem like you would've no other place to go."

"Yes, but still thank you, and I will still find a way to repay you." I said with a smile on my face. She giggled at my reaction before giving me a bow.

"What's your name?" She suddenly asked me, I wasn't sure if I should give her my real name or not, it could be dangerous giving her my real name.

“Katerina.” Lying is the best option in this case. I don’t know if anything will happen if I tell her my title or standing in this society.

"My name is Rebecca, Dutches Rebecca of Nantes." Suddenly I'm very glad that I didn't choose to tell her my real name. Isaac visited her today, it's the entire reason that I needed to run away. She noticed my changing expression.

"Why are you looking so... different?" She said, her voice was full of fear. I quickly tried to disguise my facial expressions.

"It's nothing, the name just seems familiar. I try to recover where I heard it." I lied. It felt bad and right at the same time. She seemed to be convinced by my lie and a smile found its way back on her face.

The night was cold, the cold blanket didn't help and I couldn't start a fire because there was no dry wood available. I try to find a warm place on the hard bed. The room was dark and the only light that came in was from the curtainless window from the moon. I walked towards the window and stared out of the window. The view was beautiful, the trees were beautifully belightend and the moon was full on display. Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, I jumped in shock and moved away from the window in fear that someone might see me. Another knock, another jump. I slowly moved towards the door and tried to listen if there were any voices. None. Another knock. I grabbed a broom that was placed in a corner in case someone came to attack me. I opened the door and before I could see who it was I tried to stab them with my broom while keeping my eyes closed.

"Is this your protection?" A familiar voice said as the broom was stolen by him.

Arthur.

He stood in front of the door. He had a smirk on his face. I don't know if it was the moonlight or something else but the air between was sucked away and it suddenly reminded me of the evening I shared with Isaac. "Arthur? What in the world are you doing here? How did you find me?" I rambled on with questions, while I stuck my head out of the door to look if he brought more people with him. It was only him. Which bought me some comfort. I grabbed his arm and pushed him inside of the house. I wrapped my blanket tighter around myself in case any skin was showable.

"I came searching for you, you suddenly disappeared and all the woods are covered with guards and knights of Isaac." I sighed in response. Wait, Isaac?

"The knights of the King are searching for me?"

"Yes, who else? The Queen is glad that you left her territory and her man. Isaac would've come on time if you would've stayed. Now everyone thinks you are guilty because you ran." He says in frustration. Isaac came to save me? He came on time? I knew that there would be such a possibility except I hoped that it wouldn’t get worse.

"What if he wouldn't have made it, I would be dead by now." I spoke in frustration. His eyes showed anger while his jaw clenched and unclenched.

"Of all the things you could've done you ran, which was the worst option. Thousands of guards are searching every corner of France for you. They will soon reach this place and you will be brought back with force, which would have horrible consequences."

"You suggest I come back willingly? How stupid do you think I am Arthur? It was a horrible idea to come to a French court at all." I said almost shouting the words in his face, how delusional does he think I am?

"You can't regret things that have already happened, because it is too late. Isaac will find you sooner or later." He said with a more soothing voice to make me calm down.

"Why did you even come here? What good did this visit do? Are you keen to bring me back?" I told him. I was angry and frustrated. He suddenly barged in and told me what I needed to do.

"I came here for you ro make a decision. Either come back, willingly, or run as far as you can." He spoke. At that moment I knew he was right, I just didn't want to believe it.

"Why are you giving me two options and not just the one?" I asked. He stood straighter and sympathy covered his eyes.

"Because it's your life and you are guilty for a crime you didn't commit." He spoke. I forgot that I lied to him. One day he'll find out and I don't want to know when.

"I don't want to go back, but I neither want to run away nor live my life fearing them. I just want everything to return to the way they were." The last part was a whisper. He sat down next to me on the wooden bench.

"I know, but that's impossible." He reminded me, again.

"Everyone will know your name for the wrong reasons." He continued.

"What would you do in my position?" I asked. He turned to me while he thought of his answer.

"I will come back."

"Why?" He seemed shocked at my question, he seemed like he didn't expect it. But I'm desperate right now so I want to hear his reasoning.

"Because I, in this case, could clear my name, make some sort of a deal with The King, and then return back to my homeland. And this situation would just turn into one big rumor," After a short break, he connected my eyes with his and continued. "Not a fact." He was right, but the worst part just is that I can't face Isaac. Not after everything that has passed between us.

"I don't know if you know how these rumors go, but it won't do anything good for you." His statement intrigued me.

"What could the rumors do?" I asked.

"They could make you The King's mistress, because everyone knows that The King and Queen only share words like politicians, not kisses like lover. But in case of the rumors you did."

There's no way I would become Isaac's puppet. So, I have no other option. "I will return back then."