The prophecy of a blind heiress

The Ultimate sacrifice

As Princess Hazel and the loyal guard emerged from the secret passage, they found themselves at the edge of a dense and mysterious forest. The trees towered above them, their branches creaking and swaying in the gentle breeze.

The guard looked around cautiously, his eyes scanning the forest floor for any signs of danger. "We need to keep moving," he whispered to Princess Hazel. "The forest is our best chance of escape, but it's also full of dangers."

Princess Hazel nodded, her small hands grasping the guard's arm as they set off into the forest. The trees seemed to close in around them, casting deep shadows that made it difficult to see.

As they walked, the sound of leaves crunching beneath their feet was the only sound that broke the silence. Princess Hazel's heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the guard's tension as he scanned their surroundings for any signs of danger.

But just as they thought they had escaped, the sound of horses' hooves echoed through the forest, followed by the shouts of Lady Victoria's guards. The guard's eyes widened in alarm as he pulled Princess Hazel behind a nearby tree.

"They've found us," he whispered, his voice trembling with fear. "We have to get out of here, now."

Princess Hazel's heart was racing as they took off in a sprint, the guard pulling her along as they ran through the forest. But no matter how fast they ran, the guards were gaining on them.

The guard suddenly stopped, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "I'll hold them off," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "You have to get out of here, Princess. Run as fast as you can and don't look back."

Princess Hazel's eyes widened in horror as she realized what the guard was planning to do. "No," she cried, grabbing his arm. "You can't sacrifice yourself for me. We can fight them together."

The guard's face was set in a determined expression. "I'm sorry, Princess," he said. "But this is the only way. I'll buy you time to escape, and you can find help and come back to reclaim the kingdom."

Princess Hazel was crying now, begging the guard to come with her. But he just smiled and kissed her forehead. "Go," he whispered. "Go and save the kingdom."

With a heavy heart, Princess Hazel turned and ran, the sound of clashing steel and the guard's shouts echoing through the forest. She didn't dare look back, fearing what might happen to the guard..

As she ran, the trees seemed to blur together, and the sound of her own heartbeat was the only thing she could hear. She was alone now, with no one to protect her. But she was determined to make it out of the forest alive, and to one day reclaim her rightful place on the throne.

As Princess Hazel ran through the forest, her small feet pounded against the earth, her heart racing with fear. She stumbled and fell, skinning her knee on a hidden rock. She cried out in pain, but she knew she couldn't stop. She had to keep moving, no matter what.

She scrambled to her feet, her hands outstretched in front of her. She stumbled forward, her senses on high alert as she navigated the treacherous forest terrain. She could hear the sound of leaves crunching beneath her feet, the snapping of twigs, and the distant rumble of the guards' horses.

As she ran, the sound of clashing steel grew louder, and Princess Hazel knew that the loyal guard was fighting for his life. She heard his shouts, his grunts of effort, and the sound of his sword slicing through the air.

But despite his bravery, the guard was vastly outnumbered. Princess Hazel heard the sound of his sword falling to the ground, followed by a loud thud. She knew that the guard had been defeated, and she felt a wave of grief wash over her.

The guards' shouts grew louder, and Princess Hazel knew that they had found her. She turned and ran, her heart pounding in her chest. But she was too slow, and the guards quickly caught up to her.

They dragged her back to Lady Victoria, who was waiting for her with a look of fury on her face. "So, you thought you could escape me," Lady Victoria spat, her voice venomous. "But my guards have caught you, and you will pay for your foolishness."

The guard who had been in charge of the pursuit stepped forward, his face pale and sweaty. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," he said. "We managed to kill the guard who was helping her, but the princess escaped. We had to chase her down and bring her back."

Lady Victoria's face turned red with rage. "You fools," she shouted. "You let a blind girl escape, and you had to chase her down like a pack of dogs. You are worthless, every one of you."

With a wave of her hand, Lady Victoria summoned her personal guards. "Take them away," she said. "I want them executed immediately. They are not worthy to serve me."

The guards dragged the men away, screaming and pleading for mercy. Lady Victoria watched them go, a look of satisfaction on her face.

As for Princess Hazel, she was thrown back into her cell, her heart heavy with grief and her spirit broken. She knew that she would never escape, that Lady Victoria would never let her go. She was trapped, and she would have to endure whatever torments Lady Victoria had in store for her.