I locked the door behind me as I enter my room. Armed with a piece of paper, a quill, and some squeezed lemon juice, I began writing a letter to Jarvis, informing him to expect me to visit their manor in secret in two or three nights at most.

Queen Corianne, despite her threats, rumors, and surveillance, was right about one thing: with the king gone, my only source of support is Evrart. However, remaining in the palace and encountering her on a daily basis would only make my life more difficult.

I needed to find a way to protect myself from any potential "accidents" that she might orchestrate.

Just as I was lost in thought, a soft knock echoed from the door. Upon opening the door, I discovered the servant who had previously intruded into my room while I was bathing.

"Your Highness, apologies for the late notice, but Her Majesty wishes to meet with you tomorrow morning at nine. She invites you to join her for tea in her private garden," she spoke with her head lowered, confirming my suspicion that she was one of Corianne's loyal servants. It made me realize how cunning individuals can sometimes be blinded by their own foolishness.

"Tell her I’ll come. Is there anything else?" I asked, and upon receiving confirmation that there was nothing else, I abruptly closed the door in her face. I no longer cared about what she thought of me.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

The queen's private garden was adorned with an array of vibrant flowers, creating a visually pleasing atmosphere.

However, the mere thought of being in her presence made my stomach churn. Corianne, already seated in the gazebo, greeted me with a warm smile as she noticed my arrival, gracefully brushing aside her golden hair that cascaded over her shoulders. The table was set with a teapot, cups, and a selection of macaroons.

I curtsied to show a semblance of formality. "Greetings, Your Majesty. It is pleasant to see you in good spirits," I forced myself to utter the words, inwardly cringing at my insincerity. If words were food, I would surely vomit.

"Have a seat. There are matters I wish to discuss with you," she invited, and I complied with her request. The queen's rare silver eyes gazed into my soul with intensity, causing a sense of unease to settle within me.

"Help yourself with some tea. Despite the recent dramas we have faced, rest assured that there is nothing in that teapot other than tea," she reassured, but her words rang hollow. Even if the tea itself was not poisoned, it wouldn't be difficult to contaminate the cup instead.

I poured myself a cup of tea, and she observed my actions with keen interest. The tea had a yellowish hue, but instead of drinking it, I discreetly dropped a Tiaiell hidden in my sleeve into the cup. The Tiaiell resembled a sugar cube, but its purpose was to detect and neutralize any form of poison.

"I didn't realize you prefer sugar in your tea," she commented, and I watched as the tea transformed from yellow to black. It was indeed poisoned, just as I had suspected. If only I could laugh at a time like this without appearing rude. Her methods were far too predictable for me not to anticipate.

"In certain situations, I find it necessary to do so," I replied, a sly smile forming on my lips. Allowing the Tiaiell to restore the tea to its original color, and Corianne hardly noticed what I’m doing with the tea.

"I don't like the way you smile. Perhaps I am overthinking, but it seemed as though you found out something amusing," she remarked.

"Because I am amused," I clarified. "Regardless, I believe you have something of importance to discuss. It is unusual for you to invite me here. Only you, important guests, selected servants, and the gardener are allowed in this space. I hardly consider myself important to you, so I am curious why I suddenly received an invitation."

"I do not wish for anyone else to overhear our conversation, so you should be grateful," she sighed, rolling her eyes.

She avoided eye contact as she continued. "I would like to apologize for everything, particularly at Evrart's coronation. I crossed a line there. You are an intelligent young woman, and I trust you understand what I mean. I do not want us to have a bad reputation. I do not wish to hear rumors about the princess and the queen treating each other harshly."

So, this is about preserving her reputation and appeasing her conscience, rather than genuinely wanting to mend our relationship. How immature of her to resort to such tactics. Perhaps the reason she insisted on our privacy is that she does not want anyone to witness her apology, believing that I will die from the poison anyway.

Evrart was right—she only thinks of herself. It is a harsh judgment coming from her own son, but Evrart was not mistaken.

"You claim that I am intelligent, and I suppose you can say that," I responded. "You plan to dispose of my body after this conversation, don't you? That is why you insisted on speaking here. Well, I shall grant you your wish one last time, Queen Corianne," I declared, taking the teacup and swallowed its contents in one gulp.

"Is that what you wanted me to do? I apologize for disappointing you, but I will remain alive even after consuming that. Just be honest and admit that you can no longer bear the sight of me. Do not worry, the feeling is mutual. I assure you, Queen Corianne, I am the victor in this little war between us, so do not flatter yourself. You will soon come to understand, trust me," I concluded, forcefully placing the teacup back on the table before abruptly leaving her alone in the gazebo, denying her the opportunity to voice her thoughts further.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

The moon illuminated the palace grounds, casting a radiant glow on the sleeping inhabitants. Only the palace guards remained vigilant, patrolling the premises. I dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and secured a corset around my torso for added support.

Comfortable pants and boots completed my attire, and I fastened a sheathed dagger to my leg. Retrieving the hidden sword from under my bed, I unsheathed it to inspect its condition. The padparadscha sapphire accessory on the hilt shimmered in the moonlight, assuring me of its readiness. Satisfied, I returned the sword to its sheath.

I’m ready. I can now leave this place.

I concealed my identity by draping a black cloak with a hood over myself. With the sword in my left hand, ready to defend myself, if necessary, I hastened through the passages, skillfully avoiding the routes frequented by the guards. I had meticulously mapped out these paths weeks ago.

However, as I neared the exit, a voice called out, interrupting my progress.

"Who goes there? Reveal yourself!" the guard commanded. I chose to remain motionless, refusing to budge. Eventually, the guard approached me, seeking a closer look. I fixed him with a piercing gaze.

"Your Highness!" he exclaimed, bowing deeply upon recognizing my face. I motioned for him to maintain silence.

"Lower your voice and listen carefully. I need to leave the palace, and I order you to keep your lips sealed about this," I cautioned. The guard appeared torn, unsure whether to comply with my request.

"I ... I will keep this a secret. No one will know. I will escort you," he finally declared, agreeing to assist me. Together, we made our way to the hidden passage that led outside the palace. This passage had been designed for discreet escapes, particularly when the main gates were inaccessible due to invaders.

Stepping out of the concealed passage, I turned to the guard and inquired, "What is your name?"

"Theodore Greaves, Your Highness," he replied.

"One day, you shall receive your reward for your loyalty, as long as you keep your word," I assured him, expressing my gratitude.

With that, I swiftly departed from the palace, embarking on my journey to freedom.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

As the clock struck three in the morning, I arrived at Vassezac Manor. I had specifically requested that Jarvis not tighten the security during this time, so there was only one guard stationed at the back gate.

"I will accompany you to Lord Jarvis' room," the guard informed me.

"His room? Not his study?" I questioned, my eyes widening in surprise.

With half of my face concealed, I doubted the guard would recognize me.

"He insisted on speaking in his room, claiming it to be safer. I apologize, sir, I am merely following his instructions," the guard explained.

Sir? Perhaps Jarvis had instructed him to address me that way to avoid arousing suspicion.

We entered the manor through the back door, and the guard led me to Jarvis' room.

He promptly opened the door with a single knock. How long had he been waiting?

As the guard departed, Jarvis made way for my entrance and shut the door behind him.

"It is good to see you, Your Highness. As you mentioned in your letter, I believe we have much to discuss," Jarvis began, his voice low yet filled with eagerness.

"From now on, you must refrain from calling me that. I am simply Thyra, as I am leaving the palace for good," I declared. His eyes widened upon hearing my words, but didn’t contradict. "Please, enlighten me."

"You are aware that I can no longer trust anyone within the palace, and my relationship with the dowager queen is bad. She has warned me about it, and my servants serve as her spies, observing my every move and plan. That is why I have been cautious ever since my father's death. She attempted to poison me just this morning," I paused as I remember the scenario.

"Fortunately, I used Tiaiell to neutralize the poison. She invited me in her private garden, offering a hollow apology. My theory is that she chose that location so that she could dispose of my body once the poison took effect. Remaining in the palace would only lead to my demise. Furthermore, it has become uncomfortable to interact with others, as they now view me as a monster instead of expressing gratitude for eliminating over half of Marrossi's army. That is why I have devised a plan to live as a fugitive, as it offers me a chance to start anew in a distant place," I explained, releasing a sigh as I leaned against the couch.

"You're planning to become a fugitive? Where do you intend to go?" Jarvis asked, his voice filled with concern.

"I'm heading straight to enemy territory. I need to make someone pay. I plan to make Corianne pay as well, once I return here." I replied.

"Marrossi is enemy territory. If they discover who you are, you'll be killed on the spot," Jarvis ran his fingers through his hair, his face filled with worry and disagreement. Although he didn't directly express his opposition to my plan, his concern was evident.

"I plan to turn them into allies," I gave him a reassuring smile. "Have faith in me, because I know what I'm doing. Do you have a map? I want to see an overview of the places I should expect on my way there."

Without a word, Jarvis checked his bookshelves and retrieved a map from one of his books. He spread it out on the table, and traced the path from Eurhyia's capital to Marrossi.

"The Ruivenfiere empire consists of eight regions, each of which used to be independent kingdoms. Marrossi is the capital, and if you go there, you'll pass through ..." Jarvis paused, studying the possible routes I could take.

"You'll be heading north. You can either take a boat directly there or pass through a forest, a small town, a hill, and one of their regions, Alryne. From there, you can enter Marrossi. This journey will take at least a week. Thyra, I really don't approve of your plan. It's too dangerous, especially since you'll be going alone. Let me accompany you," Jarvis suggested.

"It's not wise to take a boat. While it may seem easier, my mother warned me about how Marrossi guards their borders, especially the sea. They don't want humans in their territory. I might receive flaming arrows as a welcome gift, which would defeat the purpose of this trip. I appreciate your generosity, but you can't come with me. You're a marquess with responsibilities in managing this household. I value your kindness, but you would only be putting yourself in danger. Izavenes like me can enter Marrossi, but I'm unsure how they would treat humans they come across. So please, save your life," I pleaded.

"Who cares about this toxic household?!" His voice was raised as tears began pouring from his eyes. "You know my life is nothing without you. This life is dedicated to you, and I don't care what I'll lose as long as I'll make sure that you'll live," He knelt in front of me, like how a poor person would beg a powerful noble for mercy.

I'm aware of what he meant by toxic household – his father, the Duke Kayden Vassezac, gives him training in different aspects for him to become a perfect marquess. His sister Zenobia is no exception, for her father tried hard for her to have the qualities of a queen. This is why his actions are no longer surprising to me.

It would look like an elopement if I'll take him with me, and he can't enter Marrossi because he’s not an Izavene. I don’t know how Izavenes treat humans in their empire, but considering their violent nature, he might suffer that fate.

On the other hand, if his father finds out that he left, he might be killed if he returns. Choosing a path with me will lead him in a point of no return, which will ruin his life.

“I'm going to ask two things from you. I'll be needing a horse, and send at least one spy to the palace. I still want to know what's happening. I'll send you messages with each stop I'll make." I said, ignoring his plead. He knows me well; therefore, he understands why I answered him that way. He sat on the floor and leaned his back, my legs next to his level. He faked a laugh and hid his face as he leaned his head on his arms.

“This reminds me of how insignificant my feelings are to you, after all these years,” he admitted, which I’m aware of. However, not all feelings are meant to be reciprocated, and nothing can change a heart made of stone.