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Swiftly, Arabella helped Masha sling onto the back of her horse and began riding away with her. It was a very complicated ride since Masha was unconscious and unstable on the horse, but Arabella was thankful she didn't fall off.

Her heart kept cracking at the sight of Masha. The whips had torn some of the fabrics of her dress, leaving her bare skin open and wounded. Her face had imprints on it, and there was even a little cut on her lip. She was a total mess.

"I am so sorry, Masha," Arabella kept apologizing. "We are almost home."

She spurred her horse on, urging it to gallop faster through the dense woods. The wind whipped through her hair, and every jolt and bump in the terrain made her stomach churn.

After what seemed like an eternity, they finally got to the palace, and the guards ran after Arabella immediately. As soon as she climbed down from the horse, one of them took Masha down as well, carr