Chapter 15

How long had I been asleep?

Odelliana, stirring from unconsciousness, blinked and sat up, immediately noticing the absence of the presence that had lingered by her bedside all night. The warmth that had enveloped her back was now gone, leaving the inside of the tent eerily quiet, almost chilly. Were it not for the blanket someone had tucked up to her neck, the cold would have been suffocating, keeping her awake.

Despite the less-than-ideal sleeping conditions, she had drifted into a deep slumber. Whether it was from sudden exhaustion or the relief of finding Matthias, she couldn’t say, but she awoke feeling refreshed. However, his absence left her unsettled.

“Stay calm,” she told herself. “He wouldn’t just abandon the house. Maybe he stepped out briefly.” It seemed more plausible to think he had gone to fetch something to eat, bringing her some relief. “He’ll return if I wait,” she reassured herself. 

With little energy to spare, she resigned herself to staying put. Overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, Odelliana lay back on the bed, her gaze fixed on the shabby ceiling. “Things must be chaotic by now,” she mused aloud, her mind turning to Blair. 

She could imagine him enduring hell after losing his sister. The guilt gnawed sharply at her chest, knowing she could never fully repay him. The longer she stayed, the longer he would suffer. So, when Matthias returned, she resolved to get straight to the point: would he come with her or not?

As the commotion erupted outside, Odelliana’s first thought was that Matthias had returned. Becoming the talk of the town overnight, dubbed the “bride who brings the groom back in a day,” would undoubtedly draw attention in this close-knit community where rumors spread like wildfire. She suspected the noise might be fueled by the lavish praises the village children had showered upon Matthias.

Yet, something felt off. The clamor escalated beyond what she expected. Amidst the din, the sound of shattering and raucous, aggressive voices cut through the air, dispelling any hope of Matthias’s return.

It wasn’t until then that she realized the disturbance wasn’t caused by Matthias, but by another unwelcome intruder who had forced his way in.

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you hiding here, trying to claim everything for yourself?”

“I-I told you not to enter! Th-this isn’t the newlyweds’ room…”

“Out of my way, you beggars!”

The footsteps drew closer, ominous and heavy.

With a resounding crash, the wooden door burst open, unleashing a gust of dusty wind. Through the haze emerged a formidable figure, the uninvited guest who had invaded someone else’s home. Muscular and rough-hewn, he bore the marks of a rugged life—weathered skin, elongated pupils, a nose that seemed to have seen better days, and prominent front teeth. Clad in animal skins and armed with a hefty sword, his appearance was undeniably barbaric.

Behind him, the cries of children mingled with the chaos. In the distance, Odelliana glimpsed a boy with a bloodied face, surrounded by his peers—a futile attempt to confront the intruder that had ended in turmoil.

A grown man assaulting children. Odelliana couldn’t help but wonder at the sheer ridiculousness of such a sight.

Odelliana regarded the intruder with a disdainful glance, her curiosity mingled with a hint of apprehension. “Who are you?” 

“So, you’ve been hiding here, the woman who rendered my boys useless,” the man retorted, his tone accusatory.

Confusion clouded Odelliana’s features. “Huh?”

It dawned on her that this man must be the ringleader of the troublemakers who had besieged Matthias the day before. “Are you here seeking revenge for your boys?” 

“Revenge? Do I strike you as someone idle enough to seek revenge on the likes of you?” His response dripped with sarcasm, prompting Odelliana to refrain from pointing out his apparent lack of occupation.

Sighing, she offered her own justification. “I regret what happened to the children. But it was self-defense. Your kids instigated the violence, and I couldn’t stand idly by. If they hadn’t attacked first, I wouldn’t have intervened.”

“What nonsense! That kid got what he deserved,” the man retorted callously, his words striking a nerve.

Rubbing her throbbing forehead, Odelliana felt her patience wane. “I have no desire to converse with someone as ignorant as you.”

A vein pulsed on the man’s forehead. “Ignorant?” he spat incredulously.

“Yes, ignorant,” Odelliana affirmed, her voice unwavering. “Barging into someone else’s home like this is not only ignorant but also…”

“It’s only natural for the master to enter the doghouse,” the man interrupted brashly. “Who are you to interfere? What’s your relationship with that brat that you’re poking your nose into our business?”

Their relationship?

It wasn’t like the priestly relationship of this era with Matthias yet. They were merely acquaintances of a day. There was no need to explain her relationship with Matthias to this man, but if she had to define it…

“Didn’t you hear what the kids were saying outside?” she countered, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

“Are you truly the bride brought by Matthias?” the man inquired, a skeptical edge to his tone.

“Otherwise, why would I be here?” Odelliana responded, a mixture of excuse and anger lacing her words.

In truth, her explanation served partly as a shield for her interference and partly as a spur-of-the-moment retort. Yet, now that she had uttered it, a wave of embarrassment washed over her. It felt like a mistake, a sudden realization dawning that she was inadvertently blocking the bright future of a young child. Even if her conscience didn’t twinge, the notion of turning a mere sixteen-year-old boy into a makeshift groom seemed ludicrous. Thankfully, Matthias was absent.

“If you understand, cease this commotion and depart,” she demanded, her voice firm.

Her words elicited a fierce scowl from the man. In a swift motion, his large, calloused hand seized Odelliana’s collar.

“Whether or not I know your relationship with that beggar, my business with you remains unfinished. Why should I leave?” he growled, his grip tightening.

“If words fail, do you intend to resort to violence? It’s no surprise from someone raised without guidance,” Odelliana retorted, her tone steely.

“You’re correct. A lack of guidance breeds ignorance,” the man admitted, a smirk playing on his lips. “But what brings a noble lady like yourself to play the beggar bride with nothing to offer?”

Odelliana faltered. Before she could respond, the man retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket and thrust it toward her.

“Listen, clueless miss,” the man sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Even if you’re naive, consider your family. Flyers offering a reward for your capture are circulated throughout Anatolia. It would bring shame upon them to have a disobedient woman like you roaming free.”

With a flourish, the man thrust a flyer into Odelliana’s hands. It bore her likeness and a description of her appearance, accompanied by a generous reward for her capture.

“Haha, Matthias, you sly fox. I knew it. Disguising you as a bride to claim the reward and hiding out in a place like this?” he chuckled, a cruel glint in his eye.

“I’ve never seen such a spectacle. The reward on your head is mine. So, it would be wise for you to cooperate quietly, miss,” the man continued, his tone laced with malice.

Dumbfounded by his audacity, Odelliana burst into laughter. “Do you truly believe I would let you take me?”

The man’s expression darkened, confusion flickering in his eyes. “What?”

“If you deliver me to the lord of Anatolia, the same lord who distributed those flyers, I’ll immediately request your execution,” she declared boldly.

“Kidnapping is a capital offense, isn’t it?” Odelliana spat in the man’s face, her defiance palpable.

As the transparent saliva obscured his vision, the man’s rage boiled over. “You crazy b*tch!”

With a roar of anger, he hurled Odelliana against the wall with brutal force. She flew helplessly, crashing through the flimsy structure and landing in a heap on the dirt floor. The hut, already frail, crumbled around her.

“That’s right. If you don’t want to get rough, you should have behaved yourself more appropriately, miss. Perhaps your upbringing has left you lacking the refinement expected of someone in your position,” the man sneered, his eyes glinting with madness.

Lost in his excitement, he hovered over Odelliana as she lay on the ground, her fingers grazing the fabric of her sleeve. With a twisted smile, she began to speak.

“Listen… whether you see yourself as a savior, a captor, or whatever role you imagine, whether you understand it or not… one thing is certain,” she paused, “none of those roles belong to you.”

“There’s someone else,” she continued, his voice growing hoarse, “to play that role!”

In a swift motion, Odelliana’s arm shot up, the sharp blade concealed within her sleeve piercing the man’s wrist that gripped her hair.