?Chapter 1155:


    With Marehelm’s location etched in my mind, I steadfastly charted our course toward it.


    By day, we sought shelter in the woods, only daring to travel under the cloak of night.


    Whenever distant barks or footsteps echoed, I would scoop up Winfred and dive into the nearest cover, waiting in tense silence until the threat passed.


    In those moments, my nerves were frayed to the breaking point. Yet, I knew I had to endure, clinging to the hope of reaching Marehelm and finding Makenna.


    Under the veil of night, evading the soldiers on our trail, I carried Winfred into a secluded cave.


    The cavern was frigid and damp, its stone walls cloaked in moss, the air heavy with a musty scent.


    Winfred huddled in my arms, his small form trembling with hunger’s relentless cries.


    My heart shattered, but I could only draw him closer, whispering tenderly, “Hold on, Winfred. I’ll find us food soon, I promise.”


    Since our escape from Antoni’s grasp, we had wandered without proper respite, scraping by on whatever sustenance we could find. A proper meal had long eluded Winfred.


    At that moment, a mor of footsteps reverberated from the cave’s mouth—weighty and disordered, as though a crowd was drawing near. My chest tightened. I gently covered Winfred’s mouth, stifling my own breath.


    The steps drew nearer, and I held Winfred close, retreating into a shadowed nook.


    Torchlight pierced the cave’s gloom, its flickering glow creeping closer. A band of soldiers stormed in, their boots resounding through the hollow space.


    My hand remained gently pressed over Winfred’s mouth, my heart fervently whispering that they wouldn’t notice us.


    New chapt3rz ababl3 at g??l??ovels.??o??


    The soldiers scoured the cave, their torchlight dancing across nearly every crevice and shadow.


    I held my breath, my body rigid with dread, but by some miracle, they overlooked our hiding ce.


    One soldier, his voice tinged with impatience, barked, “No one is here. Let’s move on!”


    A quiet exhale escaped me, and I eased my hold on Winfred’s mouth, relief washing over me.


    But then, piercing the silence, Winfred’s cries erupted—sharp and unmistakable.


    My heart plummeted.


    In an instant, torchlight flooded our shadowed corner, and a grim face loomed before us.


    The soldier’s lips twisted into a chilling smirk. “Well, well… found you atst.”


    Clutching Winfred tightly, I shielded him in my arms, a tide of despair crashing over me.


    This time, escape seemed an impossible dream.


    Alice’s POV:


    Once my pursuers captured me and Winfred, they chose not to finish us off right away. Instead, they hauled us into a shadowy and foreboding building that seemed to absorb every bit of light.


    Soon enough, we found ourselves in front of Antoni.


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