The Abandoned Empress: Aristia La Monique

Chapter 1: Farewell to the Present

While traveling to Tia's mother hometown for a visit, they took a break in a nearby forest, since the duration is about two days by carriage. They rested until a group of masked men came to ambush them and seem to target Aristia though while fighting, her maid Lina got caught by one of the men. The man stopped near the edge of a cliff threatening Lina with a sword that was held near her neck as her life was at risk. Tia chased after them then the man shouted

"If you don't cooperate, the maid is dead!"

Lina was frightened and Tia hesitated

Aristia surrendered so Lina won't be killed then walked towards the man while Lina was at the ground as she felt at ace as her life wasnt at stake. The man demanded Tia to drop her sword while he was still holding his, Tia squinted her eyes then threw away her sword to the side.

Lina cried out
"You mustn't, my lady!"

Tia quietly whispered that everything will be fine and continued walking towards the masked stranger until she was about six feet from him. The man grinned as he thought it was easy to capture a noble then Aristia took out a dagger hidden in her dress, swung towards the man's neck but as he noticed the sharp dagger coming towards him. It was too late by then, it was useless to move away from his current position, the dagger made a clean cut that slashed through the neck. Blood spilled from the cut which was angered by the man who suddenly swung his sword to every direction and from Aristia's perspective, she knew he wasn't trained so she dodged the sword swings until she finds a chance to attack. As she kept dodging and fighting back she kept getting closer to the edge but Tia missed her footing and accidently tripped which gave the man a chance. He swung his sword to Tia's shoulder making her fall from the cliff and all she heard and saw was Lina screaming her name and the relief look on the masked man.

"Why did this happen?"

To be continued.