In the afternoon, I was walking through the forest on a trail where there were several small but very delicious animals when I cooked them, I had to be careful because the tree branches were small and what made walking difficult was that there were thorns among them.

Slowly and crouched, I entered the area where there were usually rabbits and some armadillos. I was about to take out my things when suddenly all the animals came running out, making noise.

I was so angry that I pulled out my bow and aimed with an arrow from where the noise was coming to release my anger. Then I heard a hoarse voice passing through the bushes in a hurry, saying, "I have to get out, I have to get out, I have to get out!"

It was a girl with black hair in a bun on her head and a long blue dress, white skin like a water lily, and her face a little red. I could describe her as a beautiful woman, but as she approached, I saw how her dress was torn. I could only think that this girl was foolish or stupid.

I lowered my bow and climbed up a tree. Before she reached me, I said, "Don't ruin my good mood and get out of here."

"Who are you? Sir, could you show me the way out?"

"What are you talking about? This is a forest, I don't have to take care of you."

"Please! I have gold to pay with, just show me somewhere I can live peacefully."

"Go to the right and keep going, you'll find a small cabin. If you see anyone, just tell them you're homeless."

The girl did something they would call a reverence and left. I found it curious that someone like her would enter the forest. I followed her in silence, and she couldn't notice my presence.

When the girl arrived at the forest and saw the cabin, I only saw her fall to the ground covering her face and begging not to be killed. I could only laugh a little at seeing this scene. This girl seemed more and more interesting to me.

As several dwarves stood in front of her, the oldest one said, "I don't know what you've eaten, but why would we want to kill someone so vulgar? You're not from here. Don't try to deceive me. Why have you come?"

"Yes... yes... I... My stepmother tried to poison me and then sent several guards to get my gems. It's the only memory of my mother she left before she left...

With the help of a butler, I managed to escape, but I don't know where I am, and on the way here, someone told me to come to this cabin for refuge."

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"I see, take this, there are some fruits inside the bag. You can't stay here; you're too big and would destroy our house. Near here, there's someone of your own race. Follow that muddy path, and you'll arrive. Ask for help."

Several dwarves offered to give her some water and a small knife to scare off the animals. As soon as I saw this, I cursed the dwarf who gave her that suggestion.

If this girl, with that outfit and her arms uncovered, how would she even know how to handle a knife for hunting? Damn dwarf even sent her back to me. I let out a small sigh and halfway through, I decided to reveal myself.

After all, once she was at my house, I didn't want to dwell on the matter any longer.

"Hey, I heard a little about your situation. You can stay, but you'll have to hunt for yourself."

I don't know if she heard me, but as soon as she saw me, she took out the knife and started cursing me with her trembling hands.

"Have you been following me? How can I stay with someone who only seeks to take advantage of me?"

"If you leave, you'd only be doing me a favor. You've already ruined my hunt, and now you come to my house. I live here. Wouldn't you be the one following me?"

Although it wasn't entirely honest, in the end, we ended up going in, and as soon as we arrived home, she took out a tiny pouch and gave me two gold coins.

"What's this for?"

"As long as I stay here, please accept this and leave me alone. I'll cook, sweep, or do whatever you ask, just please don't try to take me back to my stepmother."

"I don't need it. I just want you to owe me a favor and not steal anything. If I see anything or things start to disappear, I'll kick you out without hesitation. Understood?"

"As long as you keep your word, I agree, Sir."

"Stop calling me that. I'm not even 20 yet. You can call me New, and what's your name?"

"My name is Rose..."

We started living like that, and soon she asked me to teach her how to hunt. It took us about fifteen days, and she stopped wearing dresses, knowing the basics. Now, as we ventured into the forest to search for food, it began to rain.

And quickly, the voices rose.

"Alive or dead, find her. Whoever brings her to me will be my loyal knight and receive 100 gold coins."

Rose turned and began to run as fast as she could. She knew more or less who they were, and as soon as I stood in front of her, she began to beg me not to hand her over.

"I won't hand you over, but in exchange, I want that mirror. Remember the favor you owed me, right?"

"Yes..."

"Good, I'll help you with the guards chasing you, but you must deliver the final blow to that woman. Do you agree? I want you to use your bow and deliver the final blow. If you can't do it, then I'll take care of it myself and come for you..."

"I'll do it... I'll do it..."

And so I began to scatter them one by one as they fell. I was about to finish my job when there was silence.

I turned around only to see the scene. It was that girl who had managed to pierce through that piece of flesh with an arrow, the one she had targeted. Without saying a word, she began to feast on it, offering a new offering to the ants.

I didn't take long to finish what was left. As I approached her, I heard her say, "Since we both want something from each other, I'll give you a bit of peace."

With that said, she took the mirror and handed it to me.

"Now that the favor is fulfilled, I ask to stay with you."

"Things have returned to their place, and with that said, today I break your happiness."

As I finished saying this, it was now Rose's turn to stand still, watching as the woman who had been pursuing her wrinkled and aged before her eyes. With just one look, all the beauty she had seemed to be just a small tale.