Tangled By Fate

"Do you have any idea how powerful the elves are? Even a human army isn't enough to defeat them. What kind of power do you have to punish them to avenge some dead people?

"Dead people are already dead. They won't come back!"

"Stop! Stop! Stop it!"

Veronica shouted as she covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to hear such cruel words.

"I know what I did was selfish, but I never wanted to be a blessed child. I never wanted heavy responsibilities. I just wanted to see the world and help people in need."

Saint Ava crossed her arms. Her poker face showed no emotions.

"And I didn't stop you from doing so. You shouldn't have come here. Why didn't you listen to me?"

"If you hadn't moved the scroll and contacted the prince, I wouldn't have been here right now!"

"It's too late. I told you to never set foot in the capital city, but you did. Even when elves were no match for you. Now that you are here, you have no other option left."

Saint Ava took a deep breath and continued, "From now on, you have to stay in this place. You MUST NOT leave the city, let alone the kingdom."

Veronica grabbed her hand and desperately questioned her, "Why are you doing this to me? Why aren't you explaining everything to me?"

Saint Ava narrowed her eyes as she noted her disciple acting like a madwoman.

"Just listen to what I have to say. If you leave, disaster will be brought in this country. You disobeyed me. Now take responsibility for your actions."

After that, Saint Ava went away, leaving Veronica alone.

Veronica's silver strands moved forward as she hung her head. Those shimmering locks blocked her view.

'If you don't tell me anything, how am I supposed to learn? How am I supposed to tell right from wrong?'

She closed her eyes and thought of dead bodies in the pool of blood. The innocent eyes of the pitiful children came to her view.

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

'Screw your disaster. I don't care anymore. All of you see me as a blessed child. No one sees me as a human with a dream or life. Who do you think you are?! Who do you think I am?! I have had enough! I'm getting out of here on my own.'

An unknown flare burned in her emerald eyes.

A few hours later –

'I don't know how to get out of this place. It's so heavily guarded. Someone, please help me!!!'

Veronica internally cried.

It wasn't that she didn't try. However, she was under heavy guard.

Guards were stationed outside her door. Whenever the maids came to serve her meal or clothes, one of the guards would accompany the maid to keep an eye on Veronica.

There were guards outside the palace, under her balcony, and on the rooftop.

All the guards were mean-looking. Whenever she asked for something, they would glare at her and say nothing.

It was already evening and sleeping time. It was dark outside.

Veronica was too tired to lift a finger.

'This can't be happening. Too many guards. How am I supposed to get out at this rate?'

'Maybe because of the guards, Zinnia and Ironin can't come to rescue me.'

She sat down on the bed and covered her face.

'It could be for the best. At least I don't have to see Arthur's face.'

As she thought of Arthur, her heart became heavy.

'What is he doing right now? Doesn't he know that I'm locked up here? Maybe not. Maybe he doesn't care now that he has all those experienced women with him.'

The more she thought of it, the more suffocated she felt.

She hung her and let out a deep breath.

'I can't take this anymore.'

----------

At Morina's Palace –

Arthur's tired eyes were staring at the paper he was holding. The dark eyebags were getting darker.

At that moment, someone opened the door.

"Arthur, are you still working? It has already been two days since you last slept. At this rate, you will faint."

Darius came inside and nagged his friend.

Arthur's eyebrows creased as he couldn't stand the loud voice. It gave him a headache.

He said, "Lower your voice. If you can, make me some tea."

"Fine, fine." Darius made him a cup of tea and sat on the couch.

"I must admit you know a fine place. I will never get bored here."

Arthur sipped on the cup and commented, "I guess you had a good time."

"You bet." Darius glanced at the pile of paper on the table.

He remarked, "Ovior sent these papers to you, didn't he? But I don't understand why you are working here. You can work if your house is just fine."

"I won't be able to. I'll be distracted." Arthur put down a paper and took another one.

'Distracted? How so?' Darius wondered.

As they were spending quiet time, Ironin came to the room.

"I have a report," he said.

"Weren't you with Veronica? Why are you here?" Darius inquired in a lazy tone.

Ironin reported, "She… is in the Saint's palace. The king ordered the guards to lock her up."

"…" Darius's jaw dropped.

Arthur stared at his friend. His tiredness and headache both went away in a blink.

"Tell me everything."

After Ironin told them what he knew, Darius sighed.

"We can't let her be alone for a single time, can we? Let's go and rescue her." Saying that he stood up.

"No," Arthur forbade him. "We can't let the royal family or the temple know that we are involved."

Ironin shared his opinion, "We can't just go to her room. She is heavily guarded. If we don't create a diversion, we can't reach her."

'So, it is impossible without getting assistance from someone inside,' Arthur narrowed his eyes as he thought that.

He told them, "Then she has to create the diversion herself."

Darius was confounded. "I know she is a troublemaker but how is she going to do it?"