Cassian stared at Maria's retreating figure for a brief moment in disbelief.
Then he jumped down from the carriage.
"What are you doing?"
His voice echoed sharply through the forest road.
"Get back in the carriage immediately."
Maria continued walking.
"The palace is only a few hundred steps away."
Her voice was distant.
"I know these woods well enough."
Cassian followed quickly.
"This area is not safe."
She did not turn around.
"Then you should return to the palace before something dangerous finds you."
Cassian's patience snapped.
"Maria."
His voice became sharp.
"Stop this nonsense and return to the carriage."
Instead she suddenly broke into a run toward the deeper woods.
"Stop chasing me like a wild beast, Cassian!"
She shouted over her shoulder.
"I am not a lost child who requires your protection!"
But he was faster.
Within moments he caught her arm and pulled her back.
Her back struck gently against a tall tree.
He pinned her there before she could escape again.
"Princess."
His voice was heavy with anger.
"You are proving my point perfectly."
"Running through a forest at night because you are upset."
Maria's eyes burned with sudden fury.
"You call me childish?"
Her voice trembled.
"What about you?"
Cassian frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Her voice cracked with emotion.
"What were you doing during the banquet?"
"You stormed away like a spoiled boy without allowing me to say a single word."
Tears filled her eyes.
"How could you become so cold toward me?"
Cassian loosened his grip slightly.
Maria pushed him away.
"You accuse me of being careless?"
Her voice rose.
"You are the one who ignored every single letter I sent you!"
Cassian froze.
"What?"
Her anger finally burst free.
"I wrote to you every day!"
Her voice echoed through the forest.
"For two years I waited for a reply."
"HUNDREDS of letters, Cassian!"
She wiped her tears angrily.
"Every night I prayed for your safety."
"And yet not once did you answer."
Cassian stared at her as though the world had shifted beneath his feet.
Maria continued bitterly.
"You never cared about my feelings."
"You left for war without even telling me."
Her voice trembled.
"And when you finally returned…"
She looked away painfully.
"I hear whispers that you grew fond of some mysterious woman from the enemy kingdom."
Cassian's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You believed that?"
"Yes!"
Maria shouted.
"I believe it ,your love is so shallow that you abandoned me for some witch from Noctyra!"
She turned away from him.
"You cruel man."