Knights of The Dauntless Princess

Chapter 27: Trauma

Nina never expected that the man who bid for her would be none other than Ranz and that all the guests at the auction were actually their companions, elegantly disguised. Chaos ensued, and they displayed the fierceness of their group. They spared no lives and rescued other women in the auction, including Nina's sister, Noreen.

"Big sister!" Noreen exclaimed tearfully as she embraced Nina tightly.

"Hey, don't cry. It's over! We are safe now," Nina said, patting Noreen's back.

"Where is the princess?" Ranz asked.

Nina looked at him and saw the young man's worried eyes. It pierced Nina's heart as she realized that the one Ranz really wanted to save was Amara and not her. She thought that was the reason why Ranz was there because if she were the only one who got caught, she knew he wouldn't move an inch in his seat and would have simply ordered his companions to save her.

"I don't know where she is, but she's with that terrifying man, the master of Fardowsa, Leonard," Nina replied, averting her eyes away from Ranz.

"She was with Leonard—"

"Quick! Go to her! She's the one you want to save, right?" Nina interrupted.

"Big sis?" Noreen frowned when she felt Nina trembling as she held back her tears.

"W-What are you saying—"

Ranz fell silent when Nina turned her back and guided Noreen away. "Come on, Noreen, let's free the other captives."

"Nina!" Ranz called out.

Nina stopped but didn't look back at Ranz. "If possible, tell the others to rescue the other women in the cells as well. There are many beautiful women there. You have plenty of options."

Ranz gritted his teeth in frustration at Nina's behavior. He found her cold and irritating. Nina decided not to face Ranz anymore, realizing that her foolishness with a man who didn't want her shouldn't continue. In those moments, Nina resolved to free her heart from her unrequited love for her leader.

Meanwhile, Amara was once again brought to Leonard's chamber to suffer his punishment. He pulled her by the hair and threw her onto the bed. Amara cried out in pain and tried to escape his grasp.

"You ruthless demon!!!" Amara yelled.

"I've known that for a long time," Leonard chuckled before slapping her face. "You are so annoying! How dare you try to escape, you wretch!"

Amara recoiled from the force of the slap, still trying to break free from Leonard's hold. She cried out, breathless, as she struggled against his grip.

"Ah!!! Let go of me!!! Stay away from me!!! Ahh!!!" Amara screamed, gasping for breath, desperately trying to free herself from his grasp.

Leonard pinned Amara's hands to the bed and loomed over her. He grinned like a maniac, and her screams seemed to intensify his desire for her. He ripped off her clothes, exposing her body. Amara's eyes welled with tears, feeling utterly humiliated by the man before her.

"You're so beautiful, princess," Leonard sneered. "I don't think anyone else has already touched you like this. I must be fortunate!"

"N-No! L-Let me go!!! Stop!!!" Amara sobbed, trembling, as Leonard leaned in to kiss her neck. "No!!! Please!!! Stop!!!"

As Leonard violated her body, Amara's disgust and tears only fueled his desire. She tried to fight back, but her crying overwhelmed her. Amara tried to push Leonard away, but her hands felt weak and powerless. She kicked him to make him move away, but he only wrapped her in his arms and pressed his body closer to her.

No! Please!!! Stop!!! I don't want this! Why? Why is this happening to me!? All I wanted was to save Nina, but why? Why!? Why like this!?

Help. Please help me…

"DRAVIS!!!" Amara cried out, calling upon the man who lingered in her thoughts, and in an instant… the door opened.

Leonard paused his devious acts as the door opened. He surprisingly turned to see a man standing there, glaring at him with intense anger. It was Dravis, unable to contain his fury as he witnessed the despicable acts Leonard was forcing upon Amara.

"W-Who are you—" Leonard couldn't finish his question as Dravis swiftly drew his sword and, with one quick motion, he slit Leonard's throat.

As Dravis sheathed his sword, Leonard's lifeless body fell to the floor. Amara gazed at him, unsure if it was really him.

"D-Dravis?" Amara mumbled, sobbing.

Dravis looked at her. His rage was immediately replaced with concern as he saw the princess in a pitiful condition.

"Amara!"

Dravis approached Amara and wrapped her in a blanket, worried their companions might arrive and see the princess in such a state.

"Forgive me, forgive me for not making it on time," Dravis said, embracing the distressed young woman.

Amara seemed to find peace in Dravis's warm body, resting her head on his chest.

"Dravis, thank you. T-Thank you for saving me again," she whispered as she gradually lost consciousness.

****

Amara slowly opened her eyes, greeted by the blinding light from the window. She felt the pain in her body, making it hard for her to move comfortably. The young lady surveyed her surroundings as if she were not entirely herself. No one else was there, but she deduced that she was in their room in Ranz's fortress.

She managed to sit up, enduring the pain in her body. She noticed bandages on her body and wondered what had happened to her. Trying to recall everything, memories rushed back, and she trembled all over again. The trauma inflicted by Leonard had left a profound impact, and no matter how she tried to calm her body, the trembling wouldn't stop.

The door opened, and Dravis and Cyrus appeared. Cyrus's face brightened when he saw Amara awake and rushed to her side.

"My beloved princess! I'm glad to see you awake," Cyrus began, but Amara's reaction to his approach took him aback.

Amara tightly closed her eyes and hugged herself, causing Cyrus to stop in his tracks and glance at Dravis. Dravis also looked at Amara, realizing the fear she must be experiencing. He guessed it likely resulted from what Leonard had done to her.

"Cyrus, let's go. Let the princess rest," Dravis said, turning away and leaving the room.

"H-Huh? Oh, okay," Cyrus replied, redirecting his gaze at Amara. "We'll just ask someone to bring some food for you later, princess. Rest for now."

Amara remained silent and kept her head down. The two men left the room, and she stayed that way, lost in her thoughts. Amara felt frustrated with herself for reacting toward them in that way. Dravis and Cyrus had not hurt her; she knew they would never harm her. Yet, even they were now being avoided by her.

Forgive me, Cyrus, Dravis.

Amara stayed in her bed, gazing blankly into space, seemingly disconnected from herself. She no longer knew what had transpired or if everything had been resolved after losing consciousness. But it seemed like she didn't want to remember anything anymore.

Successive knocks brought her back to her senses. She felt apprehensive as the door opened, but her fear faded when she saw Nina.

"N-Nina," Amara said with teary eyes. "Thank goodness you're safe!"

Nina smiled warmly and approached, carrying a tray of food. "Yes, I'm safe! We're all safe, including the other women they imprisoned."

Amara's face brightened upon hearing Nina's words. "Really!? That's good to hear!"

"It seems like someone watched over you all night, huh?" Nina remarked, sitting on a chair beside Amara's bed.

"H-Huh?" Amara was surprised, realizing the chair wasn't there before.

"I wonder which of the two stayed by your side the whole night," Nina said with a grin before chuckling softly. "Who do you think it was, Cyrus or Dravis?"

Amara's face flushed, and she didn't know which one it was, but a part of her secretly hoped it was Dravis.

"I feel ashamed of myself," Amara confessed sadly. "I didn't act appropriately towards them earlier. I should have thanked them for rescuing us, but instead, I seemed to disregard their efforts."

"Hmm? Why? What did you do?" Nina asked, furrowing her brow.

"I don't know why, but I couldn't face them. My body trembled uncontrollably when Cyrus approached me, but it wasn't intentional. I felt so frightened at that moment," Amara explained, looking at her hands. "And until now, I still can't stop shaking."

"Tell me... did Leonard do something to you?" Nina inquired.

Amara fell silent again, feeling intense fear at the memories that came rushing back. She couldn't speak, but Nina understood.

"Some of the women there shared what they endured at Leonard's hands. That man is monstrous! When he takes a liking to a woman, he forcibly desires and claims their bodies!" Nina retorted.

"Well, h-he didn't succeed in claiming my body, but I'm still haunted by what happened. I didn't know he was capable of that! I thought... I thought I could fight back! I thought I could defend myself, but apparently, I couldn't! I'm sorry; I almost got you all in trouble!" Amara cried.

Nina held Amara's hand reassuringly, "No! I know you did it to save me, and... I really appreciate it. Thank you so much, my dear princess!"

"Nina," Amara said, looking at her friend with gratitude.

Nina took a deep breath before recounting the rescue operation, "I learned what they did from Orson. My younger sister, Nube, told him that we had been abducted. Orson immediately informed Ranz, who ordered an investigation in Fardowsa to plan our rescue. However, you suddenly disappeared. They didn't expect that you would secretly follow them to Fardowsa. They didn't know that you were the seductive lady talking to the guards and entered that place due to your disguise. When Dravis and Cyrus found out you were missing, they talked to Ranz. They quickly devised a plan and followed you to Fardowsa. They intercepted all the guests for the auction and took them to the lake with their eyes covered and hands bound. They dressed in their clothes and used their carriages to enter Fardowsa unnoticed by the guards."

Amara was amazed by what Nina revealed. She had no idea they had gone to such lengths to rescue them.

"I almost gave up when I thought they had sold me. Little did I know it was Ranz who bought me. He bid on me, and only then did they reveal themselves and confront Leonard's men. They also rescue the other women imprisoned there while Cyrus and Dravis search for the Fardowsa's leader. Their plan was to kill Leonard and put an end to the horrors in that place. They didn't expect you to be there with Leonard. Dravis killed Leonard and rescued you. After ensuring everyone escaped, they set the entire place on fire to erase all traces!"

"So, Fardowsa is literally gone?" Amara asked.

Nina nodded and smiled at Amara, "Yes, thanks to you... Fardowsa is already destroyed!"

"Hmm? What do you mean? I did nothing but put everyone in danger," Amara said, clenching her fists.

"No, if you hadn't gone there, they wouldn't have been so determined to take such actions," Nina explained. "If it were just me, they would have waited for the right opportunity to get me back. Ranz wouldn't have risked himself just to save me. So, thank you because we were able to return to our families."

"You're mistaken! It wasn't like that!" Amara pleaded. "Truth be told, I regret acting impulsively without thinking. Ranz was right, and I should have followed Dravis' lead and let them plan it out. But I couldn't find peace with the thought of you being there, so I took matters into my own hands. I almost put you all in danger. If only I had agreed with them, it would be likely—"

"It's likely we would have been sold," Nina chuckled softly. "If you had waited for their decision, you probably wouldn't have found us anymore."

"Nina."

"Let's not dwell on that. What's important now is... it's over, and we're safe!" Nina said, "I'm happy to be with you again and have our talks, princess."

A smile slowly formed on Amara's lips, and she nodded. "Me too, Nina. Thank you so much for being safe."