How long had I been asleep?
Odelliana, stirring from unconsciousness, blinked and sat up, immediately noticing the absence of the presence that had lingered by her bedside all night. The warmth that had enveloped her back was now gone, leaving the inside of the tent eerily quiet, almost chilly. Were it not for the blanket someone had tucked up to her neck, the cold would have been suffocating, keeping her awake.
Despite the less-than-ideal sleeping conditions, she had drifted into a deep slumber. Whether it was from sudden exhaustion or the relief of finding Matthias, she couldn’t say, but she awoke feeling refreshed. However, his absence left her unsettled.
“Stay calm,” she told herself. “He wouldn’t just abandon the house. Maybe he stepped out briefly.” It seemed more plausible to think he had gone to fetch something to eat, bringing her some relief. “He’ll return if I wait,” she reassured herself.
With little energy to spare, she resigned herself to staying put. Overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, Odelliana lay back on the bed, her gaze fixed on the shabby ceiling. “Things must be chaotic by now,” she mused aloud, her mind turning to Blair.
She could imagine him enduring hell after losing his sister. The guilt gnawed sharply at her chest, knowing she could never fully repay him. The longer she stayed, the longer he would suffer. So, when Matthias returned, she resolved to get straight to the point: would he come with her or not?
As the commotion erupted outside, Odelliana’s first thought was that Matthias had returned. Becoming the talk of the town overnight, dubbed the “bride who brings the groom back in a day,” would undoubtedly draw attention in this close-knit community where rumors spread like wildfire. She suspected the noise might be fueled by the lavish praises the village children had showered upon Matthias.
Yet, something felt off. The clamor escalated beyond what she expected. Amidst the din, the sound of shattering and raucous, aggressive voices cut through the air, dispelling any hope of Matthias’s return.
It wasn’t until then that she realized the disturbance wasn’t caused by Matthias, but by another unwelcome intruder who had forced his way in.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find you hiding here, trying to claim everything for yourself?”
“I-I told you not to enter! Th-this isn’t the newlyweds’ room…”
“Out of my way, you beggars!”
The footsteps drew closer, ominous and heavy.
With a resounding crash, the wooden door burst open, unleashing a gust of dusty wind. Through the haze emerged a formidable figure, the uninvited guest who had invaded someone else’s home. Muscular and rough-hewn, he bore the marks of a rugged life—weathered skin, elongated pupils, a nose that seemed to have seen better days, and prominent front teeth. Clad in animal skins and armed with a hefty sword, his appearance was undeniably barbaric.
Behind him, the cries of children mingled with the chaos. In the distance, Odelliana glimpsed a boy with a bloodied face, surrounded by his peers—a futile attempt to confront the intruder that had ended in turmoil.
A grown man assaulting children. Odelliana couldn’t help but wonder at the sheer ridiculousness of such a sight.
Odelliana regarded the intruder with a disdainful glance, her curiosity mingled with a hint of apprehension. “Who are you?”
“So, you’ve been hiding here, the woman who rendered my boys useless,” the man retorted, his tone accusatory.
Confusion clouded Odelliana’s features. “Huh?”
It dawned on her that this man must be the ringleader of the troublemakers who had besieged Matthias the day before. “Are you here seeking revenge for your boys?”
“Revenge? Do I strike you as someone idle enough to seek revenge on the likes of you?” His response dripped with sarcasm, prompting Odelliana to refrain from pointing out his apparent lack of occupation.
Sighing, she offered her own justification. “I regret what happened to the children. But it was self-defense. Your kids instigated the violence, and I couldn’t stand idly by. If they hadn’t attacked first, I wouldn’t have intervened.”
“What nonsense! That kid got what he deserved,” the man retorted callously, his words striking a nerve.
Rubbing her throbbing forehead, Odelliana felt her patience wane. “I have no desire to converse with someone as ignorant as you.”
A vein pulsed on the man’s forehead. “Ignorant?” he spat incredulously.
