When midnight came, I sat in the bed, dressed not in my nightgown but in thick yet simple clothes that looked comfortable to wear and would not stand out. I strained my ears, trying to catch any conversation floating nearby. There was only silence, and I was sure, aside from the guards, most people within the palace were already asleep. I was sure it was the right time for me to leave this palace without getting caught.

When I went out with Brother Cian, I had counted the number of knights guarding the place and noticed the small corners in the corridor to hide when those knights would stroll around. I was not sure if my escape plan would succeed given the number of guards in the palace, but since I had done it when I was a kid, it should not be difficult now that I am more capable.

With a shaky breath, I calmed myself, trying to boost my confidence. I took the small pouch where I kept some of the snacks I sneakily hidden from my earlier meals. I also took some small items I think I could sell so I would have coins to spend once I had left the capital.

'I can do this!'

With a poker face, I opened the door expecting to see two knights standing on either side of my bedchamber's door. I first had to deal with my two assigned guards.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, the two knights turned to look at me. Seeing me, the two knights immediately stepped aside and lowered their heads as they paid their respects to me, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"I wish to take a walk. No one should disturb me," I said in a commanding tone without even looking at them and turned to leave without waiting for their response.

The two knights didn't dare to disobey my order and stayed rooted in their place. After all, I was a princess of the royal family, and they served my family. Moreover, their crown prince, my elder brother Cian, had already instructed them to let me do what I wanted and not to follow me when I said not to.

Since they thought I would only be inside the part of the palace which was well protected by their fellow knights, they didn't have to worry about me; I should be safe even without a companion.

My walking pace was neither fast nor slow, and it could be considered leisurely as if I was out on a stroll. As I walked, I could feel their gazes on my back, yet I remained calm and composed so that they wouldn't even think that I was planning to run away.

Soon, I took a turn in the corridor, and when I was sure the two knights behind me couldn't see me now, the calmness in my pace disappeared. I hurried to reach another turn in that silent corridor. Though this entire corridor was empty, after one more turn, I knew there would be knights stationed there.

I softened my steps as I reached the area where there were lamps hanging on the walls. Suddenly, I heard voices echoing in the corridor, and they were growing louder with each passing second.

'They are approaching me!'

My mind was filled with alarm that I would be caught, but my entire body froze in its place and would not move.

I thought that when running away, my greatest trouble would be evading the detection of the knights, but now I realized that it wasn't the case. My shaking body was proof of it.

Hearing those voices echoing within this empty corridor, I closed my eyes, but fear still continued to paralyze me. Inside my head, the horrific scene I had witnessed that night replayed. In my garden, the shadows, that blood...Those painful screams buzzed in my ears, and I felt like running away to somewhere safe, but my body betrayed my thoughts.

With sweaty palms, I clutched my dress's skirt and stepped back. My breathing hitched, and my heartbeats thundered inside my chest. My eyes once again carried the same fear from that night.

From where I was standing, I saw two looming shadows about to take a turn. Instead of running away or hiding myself, I could barely manage to make my legs move and only made a few steps back. I held my breath, knowing soon those shadows would approach me, and I shut my eyes tightly.

The moment I gave up hope, ready to face the worst, I was suddenly pulled away and cornered by a tall body.

In shock, I was about to scream, but a rough yet gentle hand covered my mouth as I heard a familiar masculine voice whispered into my ears, "I don't wish to turn deaf."

'I know this voice.'

With my mouth still covered and my body trapped in someone's strong grip, I opened my eyes, feeling scared to my bones. The first thing that came into my sight was the snake-like tattoo on the man's neck.

'It's him!' I screamed in my head and then moved my gaze up, only to see a pair of red eyes staring back at me. The same red eyes of the man who intruded inside my chamber, red eyes that shone even under the dim light of the lamps, as if they were engulfed in flames.

Before I could react, my ears caught the sound of the same voices approaching. I tried to push the red-eyed man to let me go before those guards could find me, but that man was too strong to even let me move an inch.

The next moment, I felt like a strong gust of wind crashed against my body, but it was gone in a flash as if I only imagined it. However, my head felt light, and I felt nauseous.

The only thing that kept me on my feet was the rough yet gentle hand holding me.