The forest was a maze of shadows.
Evelyn followed close behind Edward, her breath misting in the cold air as they climbed deeper into the northern hills. Every branch that cracked beneath their boots sounded like an alarm.
They had been walking for hours when Edward finally stopped near a clearing lit by moonlight. He knelt, pressing his fingers into the damp earth.
"There were horses here," he murmured. "Three riders. Not from the village."
Evelyn's pulse quickened. "How can you tell?"
He brushed aside the soil to reveal a broken seal — a silver insignia shaped like a falcon clutching a dagger.
"The Hunter's Crest," he said grimly. "My father's personal guard."
Evelyn felt the air leave her lungs. "Your father sent them?"
"No," he replied, eyes dark. "He wouldn't. Not unless…"
He paused.
"Unless someone has taken control of the royal court."
By dawn, they reached the old ruins of an outpost — one Edward had once used during border inspections. The stone walls were crumbling, but the watchtower still stood. From there, they could see the faint smoke of the village far behind them.
Inside, Evelyn lit a small fire. The light caught on Edward's profile — tired, worn, yet burning with defiance.
She asked softly, "Do you ever regret it? Leaving the crown, the palace?"
He met her gaze. "Not once. But I regret not seeing this sooner. Whoever wears that crest is not hunting us for the throne. They're hunting us to bury the truth."
Later that night, Evelyn found an old chest beneath the tower floorboards. Inside lay a few maps, and a torn letter sealed in wax.
The seal bore the same falcon emblem — but written inside was a single line:
'The daughter of the traitor must never return.'
Evelyn's hands trembled. "They're not after you," she whispered. "They're after me."
Edward crossed the room in an instant, taking her hands.
"No," he said fiercely. "They're after us. They fear what we've become together."
Evelyn looked into his eyes, the flickering firelight softening the shadows between them. "Then we face them together."
He nodded, voice low. "Together — until the end."