The girl did bury herself under the coins, seconds before one of the survivors came back to check his blood money.

"Phew! The money's cart is still here" shouted a soldier to another.

"Jeez, Thanks the heaven," he said with relief. "Should we count it, uh... just to be sure?"

The girl's heart skipped a beat. she couldn't move a muscle, breathe or get her dagger to defend herself.

"...And risk my head for counting some coins. Me after you !"

Diana felt relief.

With the battle ended and the money is safe, The soldiers regrouped after the battle. Two of them took the role of driving the horses like usual. Without ever knowing of the additional hidden cargo they had to pull.

The girl slowly emerged her face to see the cloth covering the cargo above her, as she got up from beneath the sea of coins to get little fresh air entering her crushed lungs.

"You have a way in, now what is next?" the girl thought. She did not have an answer. All those days of planning, and practicing shooting with her bow were just to help her reach the castle not telling her a word about what she should do once she gets inside or how she would get her father out. If he was there...

It was a suicide sneak attack. If she was caught, she would be lucky if those animals sold her as slaves and didn't...

"No, think positive! Turning back is not an option now, You must focus".

"Ok, 90 men crowding in one castle must be overwhelming. As slavers, they must have servants of their own. A humble servant under their eyes could be a good way to slip in" the girl guessed.

"I must also put in mind how I should act if I was spotted as an intruder, I need an escape route"

Unfortunately, when the cargo arrived and the new plan was made (the one that is in effect now). She abandoned all of her tools (that included the bow) along with her horse in the forest. All she had left is her faithful dagger.

" I need to improvise there. What else should I do..." the girl kept daydreaming and planning every possible way to and out of the castle, adding consequences to each scenario regardless of how foolish it could be.

Suddenly the girl noticed how the cargo wheels were hitting different landscapes, she wasn't moving on the forest road anymore. The wheels were moving on stone terrains.

She was closing on the castle.

The girl's heart echoed inside her chest. She could hear more men outside, about 20 not including the guards who were returning. She must find a way to leave the cargo.

the cargo stopped

and the girl waited patiently

then she heard a loud voice of moving chains, the sound kept getting louder until it stopped with a big crack ... a crack of a steel gate. The cargo was entering the castle at this very moment. Diana who was on maximum high alert dared to take a peek at her surroundings from underneath the cloth.

She didn't see much of the castle but she noticed how the walls were fortified by bowmen and anti-siege weapons like large crossbows and numerous ballistics behind the wall to counter anyone who dared to enter the mighty Red Castle. The girl backed away, she thought how lucky she was to have found this cargo on that day or she would have dealt with all those guards.

During her stay in the cargo, she heard a soldier shouting at a woman by her name.

She thought, "Strange, I thought that only male soldiers used this castle," the girl noticed. She was ready to make her next move once a window present itself.

Eventually, the cargo reached her final stop. where the horses were unhooked and some men took the cargo to a room. She heard a key unlocking a locked door. before they proceed with her inside, they put the cargo down, then She heard the same footsteps leaving, and the door once again was locked as Silence began to spread inside the room afterwards

Diana slowly but carefully removed the cloth so as to scan her surroundings.

She was alone in a room full of golden coins and every expensive thing she couldn't ever imagine. "This must be the treasury room, I need to leave before they return to count the money"

When the girl sneaked to look through the keyhole, she found two men guarding her room.

"No way out," Diana thought "I need to move". She scanned the room and found a window.

Carefully, the girl looked through it and found a small edge that could be used to reach a window to an adjacent room.

Despite resisting looking down, she did look down out of nature to find deadly height straight to the castle-stoned ground. The girl swallowed hard; there was no other way.

"What's with those mad decisions I am making these days, Damn it! " the girl cursed.

She slowly began to find a place for her left foot then her right one on the edge.

But suddenly the girl felt dizzy and was about to lose consciousness. The distance below was justifiably horrific.

Luckily the dizziness didn't last long. It took her a few seconds to recover, however, her heart didn't stop racing from right on.

"Okay, easy now. One step at a time" the girl tried to assure herself. Slowly she moved along the edge towards the other side with her back against the castle's cold stones and with her leg's nerves shaking inside. She took every step with utmost carefulness.

Suddenly, two figures showed up under her nose. They were marching towards the gate. Talking and laughing.

One eye looks up, and she can kiss her plan goodbye. But because it was almost midnight, the darkness hid her from their eyes.

She looked to her left side towards the other window. She was about to reach halfway distance when suddenly apart from the edge as small as little stone fell straight into the abyss below making a loud echo.

Her eyes widened in fear and swallowed hard. DEFINITELY someone heard that. She closed her eyes for a moment "Don't think about it, don't think about it ". The girl tried to move on. And with each trembling step to the side. She was one closer foot to safety.

Barely keeping herself from crying like small children, trying to recall every gathered lesson she learned and every drop of courage she had, trying to prove to herself, that she was no longer the baby girl that would wait for her charming prince to save her, like in the fairytales. Why don't they talk about the girl who stormed the famous Red castle and freed the nation of this obnoxious fortress, All by herself?

Those daydreams were the only strings that helped her to carry on. However, She knew that they were mirages. A part of her imagination, Not real at the moment and as all daydreams in the mortal world. They all had one common enemy.

Reality.

A strong wind suddenly attacked the girl. Overcoming her balance and swaying her like a coconut on a pine tree. while the cold winds stung her skin through her the tiny gaps in her clothes.

The girl burst out.

Her tears began to fall. She was on the verge of being consumed by her despair. She wished if Louis was here to comfort her or her father was here to give her a hand. or even seek the advice of the queen whom she loved the most.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The wind continued to bite the weak and shaking body of the blonde girl. The broken Diana closed her eyes to give a waterfall of tears. She raised her chin to the sky and whispered, out of breath...

"What should I do, Mother?!"

She knew that no answer would come from the other side, but she couldn't resist it. She needed help, her legs refused to move any further, and her arms were totally paralyzed. Her heart was unable to continue out of fear. Her brain entered a state of paranoia. Her nose and eyes couldn't stop flowing.

Till something strange happened...

That light was special, it was bright but calm [https://img.wattpad.com/ff3739c0a8d6a1b1ce5ce9452e7a8b4814116fd6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f54365770426d64427147344947673d3d2d313039363136333030362e3137356531616562656165326633376538393836383638323138352e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

That light was special, it was bright but calm. Distracting yet encouraging. An illumination that engulfed her body putting her furious being in a peaceful state. Her eyes finally opened as she felt a strange power flowing through her veins.

Whatever her uncle said about the necklace before, he widely missed the bigger point. It was never just raw energy that reacted to the surroundings. It was a companion. A silent pet made in the shape of an amulet, Whoever made this amulet must have been a good person in heart.

Through the thick tears covering her swollen eyes. The girl recovered a very little part of her courage. So small that it barely helped her see the target which was 3 feet away.

"Ok, One jump that's what it all takes. Now pull yourself together. Ok, here we go" She positioned herself a bit closer to the window making her 1-2 feet nearer to the safety.

"Here goes everything....one...two... three......Hah!". Her legs leapt off the edge

*****

Quietness...

She opened her eyes. She was inside the room with the window on the other side. She looked around and saw no one. That horrible and deadly edge was behind her. Her legs collapsed on the room's floor as she leaned her back to the wall behind her. She couldn't help but close her eyes and take a rest from those weak moments she had.

Her heart was still bounding with a silent yet powerful pace even when she was aware that she was not in danger anymore. "I Did it," the girl said taking a great and well-deserved breath. She wiped the tears that distorted her beautiful sad face with her sleeve, feeling yet another victory over the Red Castle.

Costly but owned.

"Thank you, little fella. I needed that". She hugged the necklace to her breasts, feeling no longer alone in her quest.

At the end of that line of hers. The orange lights steadily retreated to the amulet once more and disappeared.

While providing her body and mind some time to recover. She noticed her surroundings carefully. It was dark but thanks to the moonlight that window permit she was able to glimpse what's inside. She was inside a dressing room. On her right were two large closets, and on her left was a big dirty mirror.

Her curiosity got over herself and she opened one of the closets. And She found out what confirmed her theory...

...Old uniformed clothes were organized and folded, it was inappropriate by all means to be dressed by a girl. It was too exposing and had a rough surface.

"Those could be for the servants, couldn't they?". Before she had time to examine more, she heard footsteps approaching the room.

The girl tensioned and rushed inside the crowded closet. Breathing heavingly. she heard someone open the door and enter the room. Hiding her fright, Diana put both hands on her mouth and just waited for the person to leave...

Small that she knows that her high hopes of secrecy in this castle will be crushed soon enough.

She couldn't go anywhere else and the closet barely kept her hidden. She kept waiting hoping that the person leave quietly,

But the person didn't leave. Instead, its shadow suddenly crawled behind the closet-stripped girl's door and appeared in front of Diana's terrified eyes. She barely holds her internal scream.

She was about to be caught.

Diana realized the inevitable was about to happen, she drew her dagger, deciding that whoever was on the other side must be dealt with right now, or the next thing she would know, the whole castle would know there was an intruder.

Her heart began to bump with blood and adrenaline. She could feel the nerves of the hand holding the dagger twitching. Her eyes were on full alert. Memories of how she hid in that hay cart flashed through her mind. How she was in the same scenario. Hidden, with her dagger. Waiting for the right moment...

The closet door was opened but the person behind the door didn't expect to be charged backwards and threatened to the wall with a dagger so close to her throat and a clean hand on her mouth.

"One shout and I will slit your throat, Do you hear M_". Diana's eyes widened as the surprise cut the threatening speech while slowly backing away from the person.

"OH. My. Lord!" The other girl gasped with full-grown eyes."Diana !"

Diana's dagger unwillingly slipped from her hand to the ground, backing away on the recognition of the familiar person she just attacked.

"M-MARIA!" Diana revealed with a stunning voice mixed with happiness

The two girls rushed to hug each other, exchanging crying voices.

Maria was the dearest friend that Diana had back at Endora. She was always a supportive sister and possibly Diana's only best friend left alive.

Once a chubby girl descendant from a good and rich family, Maria is now perfectly slim, her white face is covered with dirt and there's an odd red colour on her left cheek. And one could easily realize how she was treated by just looking at her dirty, wet clothes.

The girls kept hugging each other for some time, exchanging much-needed support.

"I thought the king took you to his palace, how did you escape?"

"That's a long story,"

"Then let me hear it then"

"Not now! Tell me, are there others left of Endora, like you!?"

Maria's smile vanished.

"Only a handful of us remained. Endora is gone, hon"

"I know" Diana nodded with a sad expression. "Tell me, Is my father...

"Alive. He Survived-"

"REALLY!?"

"Shhh, How about we invite the soldier to the room instead?!" Maria teased.

"Just tell me how is he! Does he still think of me? Does he eat well?! Who does the cooking for him in this fortress? Does he sleep sufficiently_"

"Chill the heck down, will ya?" She turned to the closet as it took one of the uniforms. Here. Wear this and for Richard's sake don't spook yourself out there."

Diana stared with confusion. Her cheeks reddened at the sight of clothes. They were too exposing.

As the girl changed her clothes, she was immediately stunned by how half of her chest was nude, the lower part of her body was screaming for ungrateful attention."God, how can a girl be comfortable in these rags!"

"They Don't. Welcome to the heart of slavery. Where death is your only escape from this building"

"You are not helping."

"And you are wasting time. Hurry!". Maria said she went for the door to guard it.

The clothes fit Diana flawlessly like if she was a worker in a brothel. Not to mention how it was rough and itchy on the skin. It made her question herself if they treat the women here like this. How are the men doing?!

"You finished?".

Diana nodded positively. She knew that once Maria opened the door, her actions would be watched. So for that, She safely hid the dagger and the necklace. There was no space for mistakes.

"Good, now for your face"

"Wait, what -hey!".Diana rallied her hand to try to stop Maria from smearing a considerable amount of dirt across her face with a swift hand motion. The indignity of being covered in filth was an affront to the daughter of the protector, yet certain compromises were necessary for her acceptance within the castle's walls.

The two girls left the room. None noticed the new blonde servant. "Tell me, Where is my father held in this castle?" Diana insisted with a whisper while walking with Maria.

"The prisoners are located on the second floor but it is forbidden to meet any of them unless it is time for food. Our filthy job is to cook and serve the prisoners, so they can be in the best shape whenever they are ready to be sold later on"

"Is my father among them?"

"He was captured along with the other protectors, but I didn't see him for a while now."

Diana tried not to think of the worst, so she wouldn't upset her spirit any further. She needs what's left of it to continue on.

"You will need to wait for the eating time to see your father".

Diana responded with a sad nod. The two girls marched to the kitchen where the servants were cooking an abnormal number of meals but none of them had the right to even taste those meals or else...

As time passed Diana learned how to cook those meals, the years of experience cooking at her own house back at Endora became a great help today.

After the servants finished, they went to serve food. That's when the moment that Diana waited for more than a year had finally came now...

The female servants spread to the hall serving food left and right to the hungry men, while Diana's tray full of food was balanced perfectly between arms, her eyes were just darting in every corner searching for her father's sharp face.

She scanned 20...30...40...50 Face. None. He wasn't among them.

With too many miserable faces that don't match with her father's description, She began to lose hope again. She checked the hall all over twice, but she didn't find him. with despair and sadness on her face and anger spreading through her veins, she noticed the guards looking at her suspiciously; she was the only one who didn't serve her tray.

Knowing that what she feared become true, she realized she had failed her father and now she will pay for her dead quest. The tears were on the verge of her eyes as she was serving the food a table of prisoners. While the girl was performing her work. A hand bolted and grasped her hand. She flinched looking at the man.

Another familiar face...

"Protector Sebastian!". The girl gasped.

"Shh, act normal" The protector began, retreating his limb back. Now that he mentions it. She had been acting suspiciously since her foot entered the castle.

"How on earth did you get here, I thought the king's men caught you?!". He said while Diana was serving the plate to him avoiding his gaze.

"I escaped with someone's help, is my father here, sir?"

"Your father..." he smirked with a faint side smile "I pity him, he was devastated after you were captured, he kept crying every night repeatedly chattering that it was his fault. He changed, Diana, and not for the good side"

"But I am here now, I can bring the old Richard again! Just please tell me he is still in the castle!!".

"Hey you, get your dirty ass moving!". One of the soldiers barked at Diana.

"Y-Yes, sir!". Her trailed voice indicated that her enthusiasm could easily crushed if she didn't stop exaggerating her mission

The protector answered quietly but urgently. "He is not in the prisoner cells, he is in the underground dungeon beneath the castle. He was imprisoned there alone for sparking trouble, that was his punishment." With that said, Diana, as an imaginable sense of hope invaded her, was never so closer to to get to him like now.

"You shouldn't have come, no one gets out of here free person. Only slaves". He added.

"We will see about that" Diana answered with a smile and a wink before she left the table