Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3
The next day, Leticia was dragged to court. Count Grey and his wife made Leticia their step-daughter. They signed documents that made Leticia officially their third daughter.
Nonsense! My only parents are my mom and dad!’
Leticia was strongly against this decision. However, a twelve-year-old without her substantial guardians could do nothing
“You should thank your step-father and mother for giving you this opportunity because you can now escape the poor life of being an orphan.”
She just listened to the employee who knew nothing of her situation.
Before she knew it, the Count and Countess sent a message saying they would send their third daughter to the Halstead castle.
Just a few days later, a carriage to the North departed at an amazingly fast pace.
Surrendered. That was the word she could describe herself in that carriage. No matter how many times she thought of it, she couldn’t understand how this happened. Then, she asked herself a weird question.
‘Did I commit a grave sin in my past life?’
However, that wasn’t the case because Leticia was a kind woman in her past life.
Even if she was poor, she lived out her life helping her neighbors.
‘Yet, I end up with this ending.’
Leticia looked out the window with a sad face that did not suit a twelve-year-old. The carriage drove several days before reaching the North. They went past the forest’s scenery. As she thought to herself, this might be her last time seeing a forest. Soon, she saw signs on each thick tree hanging onto it.
<Soon the North Territory> <Take the chance to leave. Your life is precious.>
They continued and ignored the warning posted by the Empire. When they were close to arriving at the castle, Leticia started preparing her heart.
“The Halstead’s Lord is apparently so cruel! He takes a bride he likes, but if he doesn’t, he’ll eat them alive!’
‘What happens when the devil’s grandmother leads you to the room of sacrifices? If they open the locked room, the dead virgin’s items will pile up.’
A shiver went down her spine as she recalled the stories her cousins told her.
‘I can’t be nervous. First, we have to calmly poke his eyes and then……
The carriage suddenly stopped when she was revising over her plan.
“Ouch!”
Leticia let out a scream while grabbing onto the seat handle. Her stuff fell down with a ‘thud.’
“Can’t you do your job properly?”
The teen who was chosen to escort her let out an annoyed response.
“The horses aren’t moving! The area is weird!”
“What?”
When Leticia looked out her window, they could see the wasteland over the cloudy sand breeze. They were not near the North, but were already in the North. They have arrived in the demon’s land, Pandemonia.
She realized that the demons messed with the signs because she was sure they didn’t go past the North border yet.
“Let’s go back! Hiyah!”
No matter how many times the coachman yelled at the horses, they didn’t listen. Struck by fear, they fumbled around.
It was at that moment they heard a tremendous sound from far away. It was the sound of metals bumping against each other that grabbed their attention.
Everyone looked towards the sound, terrified. Through the grains of sand, horrendous wagons came into view one by one. Metal barrels were hanging on the side, and were lighting the way like one big torch. Other than that, the one who was riding one of the wagons was not a human.
They had horns on their heads, bat-like wings, and a bloody red skin color.
They call these creatures ‘imps’.
“Demon! The devil arrived!”
The coachman and maids were looking at the imps with fear. The next moment, they jumped out of the carriage and ran for
their lives, leaving Leticia behind.
“Take me too!”
Leticia shouted. However, no one turned back for her.