As the forest returned to its quiet state, Mary dusted off her hands and grinned. "Well, that was fun. Think they'll spread the word not to mess with us?"

Raziel sheathed his sword. "They'll have to if they want to keep their limbs intact."

Layla sighed, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. "This is only the beginning. The prince won't stop until he gets what he wants. We need to stay ahead of him."

Mary smirked. "Let him come. It's been a while since we had a proper challenge."

Luna let out a satisfied rumble, curling up beside Layla. As the group settled in for the night, they knew the road ahead would only get more dangerous. But for now, they were ready to face whatever came their way.

Layla and her companions moved swiftly through the forest, their steps light and calculated as they left Verdeti far behind. Despite their best efforts to remain unnoticed, Layla knew that their departure wouldn't go unnoticed for long. The prince's forces would likely be scouring the area within hours.

"We should pick up the pace," Layla said, glancing over her shoulder as Luna kept pace beside them. The dragon's size made her an obvious target, but Layla refused to leave her behind.

Raziel nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Agreed. The sooner we put distance between us and the town, the better. I don't trust that prince to give up easily."

Mary, walking alongside Luna with a casual stride, smirked. "Oh, he won't. But that makes this more entertaining, doesn't it?"

Layla sighed. "Entertaining isn't the word I'd use."

______

Back in Verdeti, Eighth prince Alderic stood in the middle of the town square, his fists clenched as he listened to the report from his guards. His blue eyes burned with frustration.

"They're gone?" he hissed, his voice sharp enough to make the guard flinch.

"Yes, Your Highness. They slipped out sometime during the night. We're organizing search parties now to track them—"

Alderic raised a hand, silencing the guard. "Useless. All of you are useless. How could you let them slip through your fingers?"

The guard stammered, but Alderic waved him away. His fury simmered as he turned on his heel, his mind racing. That woman, Layla, was becoming more trouble than she was worth. And now, she had the audacity to flee under his watch.

"Prepare my horse," Alderic ordered his attendant. "I'll find them myself if I have to."

The prince didn't wait for an answer. He stormed out of the square, mounting his horse as soon as it was brought to him. He didn't care how far Layla had gone—he would catch her, no matter what.

As Alderic rode through the dense forest, his thoughts consumed by his pursuit, he suddenly came upon two familiar figures standing in the middle of the path. His horse reared slightly, forcing him to pull the reins.

Rossette and Adam, two infamous mercenaries known for their sharp tongues and sharper blades, stared up at him with bemused expressions.

"Well, well," Rossette drawled, crossing her arms as she stepped forward. Her fiery red hair caught the sunlight filtering through the trees. "What's a prince doing out here in the middle of nowhere? Lost your way, Alderic?"

Adam chuckled, his spear resting casually over his shoulder. "Or maybe he's chasing something shiny, like a magpie."

Alderic's jaw tightened. "I don't have time for your games. I'm pursuing a group of suspicious individuals. If you value your standing, you'll aid me in my search."

Rossette raised an eyebrow, her smirk growing. "Suspicious individuals, huh? Sounds interesting. Care to share more details?"

The prince glared at her, unwilling to divulge too much. "A woman and her companions. They have a dragon."

Adam's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. "A dragon, you say? That's not something you see every day."

Rossette exchanged a glance with Adam, her smirk fading into something more serious. "And what do you plan to do if you find them?"

"That's none of your concern," Alderic snapped. "Are you going to help me or not?"

Rossette sighed, shaking her head. "Oh, we'll help you, all right."

Before Alderic could react, Adam's spear moved with lightning speed, knocking the prince's sword from its sheath. Rossette grabbed the reins of his horse, forcing the animal to stop in its tracks.

"What are you doing?" Alderic shouted, struggling to regain control.

"Helping," Rossette said with a grin, her tone dripping with mockery. "Just not in the way you expected."

It didn't take long for the mercenary pair to disarm Alderic completely. Despite his protests and threats, they bound his hands and guided his horse to follow them deeper into the forest.

"You'll regret this," Alderic hissed, his face red with humiliation. "When the imperial family hears of this—"

"They'll do nothing," Rossette interrupted, her tone calm but firm. "We're not interested in harming you, little prince. We're just borrowing you for a bit."

Adam chuckled. "Besides, it's not like you were making much progress on your own. We're doing you a favor, really."

Alderic's glare could have melted steel, but he said nothing further.

As Rossette and Adam pressed on, Alderic's mind worked furiously. He had underestimated these two, but he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. For now, he would bide his time and gather information.

"Why are you so interested in this group?" Rossette asked as they walked. "You said they had a dragon, but I get the feeling there's more to it."

Alderic hesitated before answering, his tone measured. "The woman leading them—Layla—is dangerous. She has ties to the imperial family, and her actions could disrupt the balance of power."

Rossette raised an eyebrow. "Ties to the imperial family? That's a bold claim. Got any proof?"

"That's none of your concern," Alderic said sharply.

Rossette smirked. "Touchy, aren't we? Fine, keep your secrets. But don't expect us to go easy on you if you step out of line."

Adam added with a grin, "And don't forget—we're the ones in charge now."