5

Sophia was beyond exhausted from walking for hours but still, it felt like there was no hope for her, it was already midnight, everywhere was dark and she was nowhere near finding a house or anyone, this was bad, the more she walked the more it felt like it would be better to just sit in one place and wait for her death because as it stands there was no hope for her, she was exhausted, her legs were shaking, she was cold even though she had on so many layers of clothes, if she doesn't die of exhaustion, hunger will do the work or there maybe wild animals too, either way, she looks at it, she was going to end up dead, she just didn't want to die without fighting, she couldn’t just sit and lose, which was why no matter how tired and hungry she was, she kept walking, it looked like it was going to rain too, she hoped it won’t, that would make it worst for her, she just wished she had super powers this moment that would have helped her through this.

No way had she thought her life would take this turn when she had woken up today, not only has she lost a highly-priced treasure given to her to deliver somewhere by the king, she also didn’t know where she was and what would happen to her in the king run, she felt pity for her poor baby, she felt sorry that she couldn’t even keep her safe this early, how would she be able to do so in the future, that’s if there was even a future for them, tears gathered in her eyes at the thought of dying like this after trying so hard to survive these past few years, how could she come this far, endure so many pains and hurt just for her to end up dead in a more sad and lonely way? Fate was cruel to her, the universe have made her unhappy and they weren’t planning to give her any hope, she wiped off the tears and continued walking while holding for a miracle.

Just when she was about to give up and just accept her fate, she heard someone coming before turning to look at the person, at first she was scared that it might be more dangerous than walking this deserted part of the kingdom alone but when she saw who it was all thought of that left, the person walking towards her was a woman, a woman couldn't possibly be a threat to her, but what was an old woman doing in this part of the desert? It was so lonely and devoid of life, or maybe she was a ghost? Sophie didn’t believe ghosts existed so she ruled that out, even if they did, why would she start seeing one now?

"I said it, that someone was walking past this night, isn't it too late for you to be out my dear?"

The woman asked, Sophia couldn't see her face properly but by the way she talked she could tell she was an old woman.

"I lost my way,"

She said bursting into tears, this was so surreal, she wasn't going to die in the wilderness after, hopefully, she didn’t know just yet but the sight of another human made her hopeful that she might not be so far from town.

"My dear, you don't need to cry, you can come to my house, you look tired and hungry,"

The woman said. Sophia didn't care who she was, she was just thankful that she could find someone.

"Thank you, ma'am,"

"It's too dangerous out here for a young lady like you to be out by this time of the night, I am not talking of humans, because there aren't many people around here but there are a lot of wild animals, how did you get this far? Are you from this kingdom?"

She asked pointing the torch she held at her, Sophia didn't know how to answer that question because technically, she wasn't from the kingdom but she couldn't say that, what if she said so and she decide not to help, the people of the kingdom weren’t the nicest people to foreigners and she didn’t want to give up this opportunity, God knows what will happen to her if she keeps walking

"Nevermind, it's not like I am considered part of the kingdom anyway, come let's get you to warmth,"

She said and Sophia followed behind her, they walked a few meters before reaching her house, the house wasn't the standard house she was used to seeing in Otano, it was a house made of wood, but it was better than nothing, when they entered inside, it looked better, it was obvious that the one was a very clean woman because despite being made of wood, the interior of the house was warm and homey, very clean and organized.

"I know this might be small but you can rest here, you look too exhausted, I should get you food and some clothes to change into, I still have some clothes I haven't worn before, wait here,"

The old woman said and went into the other room, Sophie didn’t know what to do so she stood and waited for her, she came back out a few minutes later, holding a dress and smiled at her.

“The restroom is that way, take a bath and change into this, I will heat the food on the stove so that you can eat, I am sorry this is all I can offer you,”

She said giving the clothes to her, Sophie accepted them with a grateful heart.

“This is more than enough, I don’t know what I would have done if I had not met you this night, I was so scared of dying in this desert,”

She said and tears fell from her eyes again.

“Don’t cry my dear, nothing is worth your precious tears, just go take a bath, I promise everything will work out just fine,”

She encouraged, Sophie, thanked her again, and walked in the direction she had shown her, the restroom was made of wood too but like the rest part of the woody house, it was clean, she took a warm bath in the warm water there which the old woman must have left for her, her body was so tired and the water helped to ease the tension in her body, as she bathed, her mind went to the event of the last couple of hours, starting from when she had found out she was pregnant, to the king asking for her and giving her a job to do and to her being held at gunpoint by the driver, everything just flashed before her eyes, she knew there was a lot of trouble waiting for her once she gets back to the city but she didn’t want to dwell much on it, for now, she was safe and that was all that matters, she would address everything else once she was able to gain back her strength.

When she got out of the washroom, the smell of bacon hit her nose, she didn’t know how hungry she was until the smell hit her, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation.

“The food is ready, I know you must be hungry, come sit and eat,”

The old woman invited, Sophie didn’t wait to be told twice, not with how hungry she was anyway, she sat down and started eating, the old woman watched her eat in silence, Sophie could feel her attention on her but she didn’t look up, she just concentrated on eating until she was full.

“Thank you so much for the meal,”

She said and the old woman smiled.

“It’s a pleasure, it’s been a while I saw someone eating here, you should get some rest, you still look exhausted, you can use that room, don’t worry, the woods are strong and everywhere is properly sealed and no one dares to come close here so you are safe,”

She said and for a moment Sophie was scared of who she might be, why was she so sure no one would trespass? The house looked quite vulnerable seeing that it was in the middle of nowhere but once again, Sophie was much too exhausted to care much, maybe she would when she woke up tomorrow, but for now, she needed to sleep and gain back her energy.

“Thank you for your hospitality ma’am,”

She said as she tried to carry the plates she had used to eat but she stopped her and told her to go rest, Sophie thanked her and went to the room she had shown her, it was clean too, like the rest part of the house and surprisingly, the bed wasn’t wooden, it was even much bigger than her bed in the palace, she got on the bed and her exhausted body gave way and she fell asleep only a few minutes after laying down….