When Angelica reached the base of the mountain, she hid on top of a tree and observed the area.

She climbed to a vantage point and took a look at the surroundings. As far as she could see, there was not a single living thing in sight. Not even any wild animals or birds.

She traveled a bit further by jumping through the dense trees. This was to ensure her safety just in case the people from the temple decided to look for their visitors who were running late.

Angelica stopped at the edge of the row of trees, right in front of the grasslands.

Since it was already late into the night, the place was quiet.

Suddenly she heard the sound of sheep coming in her direction.

The first person Angelica saw after going on a rampage, was a small shepherd boy hoarding a flock of sheep.

He was holding a lantern in one hand and a cane in the other. He looked around nine to ten years of age.

"Hey" Angelica called out to him, appearing out of the air.

"Can I help you?" The little boy asked calmly.

He didn't seem to be surprised by her sudden appearance behind him, which left Angelica impressed.

"Go and find the nearest guard tower" Angelica said sizing him with her eyes.

"Tell him there is a bunch of heavily injured people on the top of the mountain"

"Hmmm" The little boy contemplated.

His appearance looked cute with bushy blonde hair and bright orange eyes.

"What do I get from it?" The little boy asked back looking straight at her face.

'Wow....would you look at that' Angelica smirked.

She tossed him a gold coin.

"Now can you do it?" She asked with arched eyebrows.

"Sure can do lady" The little boy smiled innocently. His angelic smile was in absolute contrast to his bargaining side.

Pleased by his attitude, Angelica ruffled his hair with her hand.

"You look like a smart boy"

"Do you know someplace where I could get some fresh clothes, a nice bath, and food.......... without attracting unwanted attention if you get what I mean"

"What if I do?" He shot back as if he was waiting to be asked, his eyes full of expectations.

Angelica smiled and tossed five more gold coins into his tiny hands.

With the smile of a satisfied businessman, the little boy signaled her towards him.

"Follow me"

"Oh! I'm Danny by the way. It's a pleasure doing business with you"

Danny extended his hand for a handshake.

"Likewise" Angelica replied and took his hand. She was impressed by his business mind.

"Let's go to my home. It is a little far from here"

Danny started walking, pointing his hand towards the meadows up ahead.







After a few minutes of walking through the grasslands, aside from Danny, herself, and the sheep there was still not a soul in sight.

"Aren't you suspicious of me?"

Angelica followed him while helping with the sheep. She was carrying a little lamb in her hands which injured itself by slipping on the rocks.

"No" Danny answered in a carefree tone.

"Why not?" Angelica asked back concerned about his unawareness.

"You shouldn't trust random strangers who give you money. What would you do if I kidnapped you?"

Danny stopped walking and looked at her from top to bottom

"Nah you won't" He chuckled.

"You won't hurt a fly"

"Wha..?" Angelica felt oddly offended, but also couldn't think of anything to refute him.

She followed him quietly while thinking about what he said.

'Wouldn't hurt a fly?'

'Me?'

'Does he have any idea of who or rather what I am?'

There was a deep frown on her face. She was confused by his words.

"What if I change my mind?" Angelica asked at the end of a long thinking session.

"I might be a bad person you know. I could be hiding my true persona" Angelica complained with a pout.

"I'm a farmer. I know a bad egg when I see one" Danny joked without turning around.

"And also, you don't look all threatening with little white in your hands" He continued, holding back his laughter.

"I thought you were a shepherd" Angelica changed the topic, trying to ignore his earlier statement.

"I'm multi-talented" Danny answered and ran a few steps ahead.

He stopped on top of a small hill and called out to Angelica.

"We're home"

It was a small cottage with vegetable plantings by the side and a barn in the back.

*woof* *woof*

A little dog came running towards Danny on hearing his voice. She pounded on him and licked his face continuously till he shushed her to stay still. On closer inspection, the little dog was a German Shepherd.

For some reason, the cottage felt nostalgic to Angelica. It was familiar to the cabin where she lived with Chirpy.

"Give little white to me" Danny extended his hands.

"I'll take him to the barn along with the rest of the sheep"

Danny left her behind and headed to the barn.

Angelica waited for him to return while leaning on the fence. She didn't want to intrude in the house and scare whoever was inside. She was absentmindedly staring at the house.

The cottage looked cozy and well maintained.

"It's just me, Mimi, and my mother here"

Danny spoke from beside her, snapping her back to her senses.

"So feel free to go inside the house"

"What about your father?"

"He died when I was four years old" He said, opening the front door for her.

"I'm sorry. That was rude of me" Feeling bad Angelica scratched her cheek and turned away.

"That's alright" Danny waved his hand as if it was not an issue

"I'll get your bath ready. Wait here" He said, opening the door to a room

"Oh! What kind of clothes do you prefer?"

"Something that I could travel in"

"Hmmm.." He pondered.

"Then I think my brother's clothes will be perfect for that. Will that be a problem with you?"

"Nope" Angelica plopped on a chair and surveyed the interior of the house. It had all the essentials needed for the winter and was well equipped.

*woof*

Mimi wagged her tail and sat in front of her. She was curiously looking at her master's new friend.

Angelica gently patted Mimi's head. Instead of being wary of the stranger inside her house, she was being friendly just like her master.

After a few minutes, Danny came back with clothes in his hands.

"Your bath is ready"

He handed her the clothes and guided her to the room he previously disappeared in.

"Feel free to use this room too. It was my brother's but he no longer lives here"

Angelica wanted to ask him more questions but she felt tired and dirty. She decided to put it off till after her bath and went inside the room.

She removed her clothes and put them in the basket beside the tub. The gorgeous dress looked like it was torn into shreds by wild dogs.

"Haah..." Angelica sighed.

She removed the weapons belt and stepped in the warm water, throwing it into the same basket.

The sensation of warm water against her cold skin provided a brief sense of security.

Angelica closed her eyes and submerged into the water.

In fairy tales, the princess attains her happily ever after once she is rescued by the prince.

But life was not that simple.

What about the others who were destroyed in the path for their happiness?

What happens to their story?

Will they ever reach their happiness without leaving behind any regrets?

Within a few days, Angelica's life was turned upside down. She lost her identity, her rights, her belongings and was even about to lose her life.

No matter what she does now, she won't be able to turn things the way it was before.

'I'm gonna live my life to the fullest without having any regrets' She rose up from the water with newfound determination.

'And I'm gonna cut down anything that stands in my way' She ran her fingers through her hair thinking about Edward and the other protagonists of the novel.

"Now that I think about it..." The corners of her lips raised into a wicked grin.

'They should have found my little gift by now' Angelica smiled slyly, before submerging into the water again.







Hours after the carriage left, a scream was heard throughout the Frost residence. It was head maid Lynn, who was cleaning the master's bedroom.

When she pulled the quilt covering the master's face, to her horror she saw something she never even dreamed of.

The people in the Frost residence were flabbergasted when they saw the state of their master.

Nathaniel was bewildered at first from the sight until he remembered the young noble lady who was holding back her laughter while being escorted outside.

"Hah"

Nathaniel smiled as if he was outplayed, which was unusual of him. He shook his head as he looked at his master's face, leaving the rest of the servants confused.

It was the calm before the storm in the Frost residence.