PBAOM ★ CH 20

Episode 20

The Masked Stranger

“Why are you so late!”

As Ginger and Wilshire rushed into the inn room, out of breath, Friedkin shouted at them.

The princess was in another room, and Friedkin had already finished preparing to leave.

Wilshire looked out the window before closing the shutters.

“We have to be careful from now on. Someone was following us.”

“What? Who was it?”

“I don’t know. He was fast—like a shadow. Dressed in black. I think he realized we were escorting the princess.”

Friedkin looked shocked.

“How could he possibly know that?”

“In any case, we can’t stay in this village any longer. The Mermandi soldiers might discover her soon. We should leave immediately.”

So, the prince’s knights waited until it was late at night before quietly slipping out of the village.

***

I didn’t show it, but I already knew that the Duke’s knights had arrived in Sienna Village.

Even with my poor eyesight, I’d caught a glimpse of their red cloaks through the tavern window.

Maybe this was a chance to escape.

But after thinking it over, I decided not to.

Disobeying the prince’s orders could cause serious trouble, and besides — if I went with the Duke’s knights, I’d just be dragged back home anyway.

Still, something about the knights’ behavior had changed since we left the tavern.

They looked tense — as if they were being chased — and kept urging their horses to go faster.

It couldn’t be because of the Duke’s soldiers; royal knights wouldn’t lose to them easily.

I asked, watching them hurry,

“Weren’t we supposed to rest in the village for one more night? Why did the plan change all of a sudden?”

The knight behind me, Ginger, answered while helping me onto his horse.

“I’m sorry, Lady. We don’t have time to explain now. Please ask Sir Friedkin later.”

He didn’t say another word. The moonlight quietly filled the silent village as we galloped away into the night.

***

Under the bright full moon, I was running alone down an endless corridor.
Strangely, my sight was clear — bright and perfect.

It felt like I’d gone back to the days before I lost my vision.

Had the antidote finally worked?

Or had my soul returned to my original body?

That hope lasted only a second.

A sharp, snake-like hiss came from behind me. A dark shadow was chasing fast.

It was the same nightmare again.

Just before I reached the side building’s room, something yanked my hair backward.

I screamed — “Ah!” — and hit the ground hard.

Dragged helplessly across the floor, I looked up to see Devon grinning down at me.

“Running away again?”

“P-please… help!”

“I should’ve finished you off earlier. What a nuisance you’ve been. My mistake, Princess.”

He pressed a blade under my chin — then suddenly smirked, as if remembering something.

“Oh, wait. You’re not really a princess, are you?”

“……”

“I know your secret. You’re a fake — pretending to be Natania. You must’ve had a hard time acting blind all this while. But no need to keep pretending anymore.”

Even the darkness of night seemed to avoid him.

He pulled off the mask tied around his head, revealing a high nose and dangerously sharp features — his eyes deep and dark, like an endless pit.

He looked almost… inhumanly beautiful, like a demon.

“Tonight,” he whispered, “I’ll take your other eye.”

“What?”

No. No!

I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn’t come out.

I covered my face, bracing for pain—

“Lady Natania!”

A voice called out beside me.

Please… leave me alone!

“Lady Natania!”

The firm, urgent voice jolted me awake. I gasped and sat up, breathing hard.

In front of me was Ginger, crouched near the cave entrance, watching me with worried eyes.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and sighed in relief.

A nightmare… thank goodness.

It must’ve been a strange dream caused by exhaustion.

Just as I was calming down, Ginger said urgently,

“We don’t have time to rest. We have to move now.”

We crossed the wastelands for several days until we reached Guret Fields.

Beyond the vast golden wheat fields lay the river and road leading toward Mermandi.

The prince’s men acted as if there were a deadline to deliver me somewhere — always rushing, always looking over their shoulders.

They were clearly afraid of meeting the Duke’s army again.

Following Ginger’s lead, I went to where the horses were waiting.

Friedkin and Wilshire were cleaning up the campfire.

Dark clouds were rolling in above us.

Friedkin frowned.

“I saw scouts not far from here. We’ll take the long route through Greenfield.”

“But sir, the sky looks ready to pour rain… Wouldn’t the wheat fields be safer?”

“No. His Highness expects our report tomorrow, but we can’t rush. We’re too close to the Duke’s territory — we must stay cautious. Come, Lady. Follow me.”

We rode along a gentle ridge.

Thunder rumbled overhead — and underneath that sound, faint hoofbeats echoed in the distance.

Friedkin’s face tensed.

“Hide in the wheat fields!”

Rain started to fall in heavy sheets.

A group of riders was charging toward us at high speed. Their faces were hidden by cloaks and hoods — we couldn’t tell whose side they were on.

Friedkin and Wilshire spurred their horses down the slope. Ginger followed, kicking his horse hard.

Rain blurred my vision as I grabbed his cloak tightly —

Then, fwip!

An arrow struck the ground near our horse’s hooves.

Startled, the animal neighed and reared up.

I clung harder to Ginger’s cloak, but the rain made my hands slip — and I fell.

Pain exploded through my head as I hit the ground. My body wouldn’t move.

So this is how I die…

Through the pouring rain, I could barely see the others galloping away.

“Lady Natania!!”

Ginger’s shout echoed in the storm — but before I could answer, a rough hand clamped over my mouth.

A sharp, chemical smell filled my nose — and everything went black.

***

When I woke up, I heard water dripping.

The air smelled damp and rotten.

I was lying on straw, my hands tied behind my back, a cloth gag over my mouth.

I crawled toward the small barred window in front of me.

No sign of Friedkin or Wilshire — only rough-looking men chatting outside.

They wore fur and leather — clearly bandits.

They must’ve been the riders who chased us earlier.

Something about their stolen silver cloaks felt… wrong.

One of them noticed me and grinned.

“Oh! You’re awake already?”

“Hey, are you sure she’s blind? She moves like she can see.”