(Seren's POV)

After my brother left, I spent my time quietly inside my bedchamber. I had taken my medicines and eaten my food without a fuss, wanting my body to recover as much as possible given the short time I had left. A week was all I had, and I needed to be at least strong enough so I could run away.

Though Cian cared for me, in the end, I was being sent away, and he couldn't stop it. It was better to run away on my own and not implicate him. Since everyone wanted this witch to get out of this kingdom, so I would fulfill their wish—but on my own terms. I felt bad that I deceived my brother by using his words and permission as my way to escape this palace, but it could not be helped.

Around the evening, I found myself standing by the window, enjoying the refreshing sensation of wind against my skin.

Under the dark starry sky, I could see some servants on the ground and a few guards patrolling the gardens holding lamps, looking like tiny fireflies amidst the darkness. I looked at the tall walls surrounding the entire royal palace, at the night sky over the capital and the sight beyond, those distant mountain ranges which were not completely visible but with the height of the palace, one could see the vague outline across the huge curtain-like sky.

"This must be the last time I am seeing this view from the palace. Not humans but this starry sky and those faraway mountain ranges, they were my constant companions in each and every lonely night I had spent inside my tower."

A large eagle landed on my windowsill. His sudden arrival caught my attention and pulled me out of my daze.

I couldn't help but appreciate this adorable bird and wonder who had raised such a kind and intelligent bird. This bird's master must be equally kind and intelligent, but why did his master send food for me? Did that person know me? Who could be that person looking out for me?

My mind filled with a lot of unanswered questions, I reached out my hand to pat that eagle's head. By now, I understood he liked to get patted gently on his head.

"This must be the last time we are seeing each other," I murmured, and the eagle looked at me. I smiled, "I wish I had the chance to meet your master so I can thank whoever it is, but it seems like it is not possible."

As I stroked the eagle's head, something came to my mind. My hands went to my neck and unclasped the only jewelry I wore, a necklace with a thin gold chain holding a tiny water drop-shaped pendant with a purple gem.

"I can't be ungrateful towards the one who helped me," I said and reached out my hand towards what that eagle was wearing around its neck—a thick black thread that had a tiny red pendant in it. "Seems like your master likes red. Let me give you something purple."

As if it perfectly understood my words, the eagle stood still and allowed me to remove what he wore around his neck. I wrapped my necklace around that black thread, adjusting the positions of the pendants in the center before tying it back to his neck.

Those two tiny gems looked nice together.

I patted the eagle's head. "Only this much I can do to show my gratitude. Say thank you to your master on my behalf," I said, knowing the bird cannot do it.

After a short pause, I lowered my voice, saying something I didn't wish to say to this bird, but I had to. It seems like I would terribly miss him. "You don't have to come here after tonight. I won't be here anymore."

The moment I said it, the eagle who was enjoying my petting and caressing, suddenly stopped moving his head and looked at me.

"You don't want me to?" I asked.

The eagle pecked on my hand twice, and I understood what he meant.

"But I don't want to stay here anymore. I need to search for Martha. I don't know if His Majesty had punished her and threw her somewhere to die. She is the only one I have," I continued to talk as if that bird could understand everything I was saying. It's more like this eagle was the only one I could share my thoughts and worries without worrying that he would tell someone else.

It seemed like the bird got upset, and the next moment, he fled away from me.

With a sad smile, I continued to stand by the window. I was determined to leave this palace and go somewhere far away where no one could find Martha and me.

———-

After leaving Seren's window, Dusk flew in a wide arc before landing in the window of the chamber next to hers, where he saw his master sitting in a chair behind a wooden table, busy writing something on parchment with the help of the light coming from the lamp kept on the table.

Screech!

Dusk called out to get his master's attention. Drayce stopped writing and stood up to go towards Dusk. Dusk never screeched without any reason.

Reaching the window, Drayce, as usual, caressed Dusk's head and said, "I heard it all."

Dusk looked at his master as if it was asking if he should do something, but he heard his master speak again, "I have given my word to her father that I will respect her wishes. If she wishes to run away, then I should respect it, shouldn't I?"

Dusk pulled his head back from his master's caressing palm and stepped back as if he was not happy with what he heard. Drayce looked at his suddenly empty palm that was deprived of the soft sensation of feathers and pulled his hand back.

Drayce knew why Dusk was acting like this. He smirked. "How about I help her run away?"

Dusk still didn't look happy and flapped his wide wings as if to show his feelings.

Just then, Drayce's eyes caught sight of something purple shining around the bird's neck.

"A gift from the Third Princess herself?" Drayce moved his hand to touch that shining gem, but Dusk stepped back and flew away in a hurry as if in fear that his master would take away that gift from him.

The slight smirk on Drayce's lips widened as he kept looking at the disappearing figure of the bird in the dark. "He is already showing this much attitude after spending only a short time with her. It seems like he will abandon me for her sake once we go to Megaris."

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Dear readers, Dusk's POV is written below for fun. If you all wish to read his POV every time, let me know in the comment section so I will continue to write it in the coming chapters too.

(Dusk's POV1)

Seren: I wish I had the chance to meet your master so I can thank whoever it is, but it seems like it is not possible.

Dusk: Lady, just go to the bedchamber next to yours. That scary red-eyed man is the one.

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(Dusk's POV2)

Drayce: A gift from the Third Princess herself? (raised his hand to touch the purple gem)

Dusk (frowns): Don't touch it. Though the lady is yours, this gift is mine. Scary man! (flew away)