Desperate, my fixed gaze lingers, reluctant to accept his apathy. I furrowed my brows at him with pursed lips, daring to wait out this stalemate. However, at the peak of my fury, I felt my eyes begin to swell. Years of pent up frustration, now threatening to boil over. I turned to excuse myself, growing suffocated by the tightness in my heart. Tears I had been holding onto began pooling around my eyes. I regrettably wiped them away past my cheek, furious at my own fragility. But as I tried to collect myself, the warmth of a hand latched onto my wrist. My eyes dart towards the unwelcome touch, quickly realizing it’s His Grace. I’m met by those same shades of hazel, and evident in his expression is conviction, devoid of any uncertainty I may have succeeded in impressing on him.

“My Lady, while I sympathize with your cause, I cannot in good faith honor your request.”

“In good faith?” His grip remained firm as I motion for him to let go.

“You have neglected to mend fatal holes in your logic, and I truly fear their impact.” I gave him a stern look. Is he so blatant as to call me dull? My pride is enraged by his condescension, and I jerked away from his touch.

“Are you so blatant as to call me dull?” I pressed, shooting daggers at him. “Is it so obvious that I’m helpless? No, I dare not trouble you with my woes, Your Grace,” I retorted bitterly.

“What? No, Ava, I didn’t mea—!” he began to say, the restraint in his voice apparent. I flinched upon hearing my name pass his lips so casually.

“No, Your Grace,” I mocked, “I shall make haste to leave, lest I inconvenience you further.”

“But you can’t just go, Ava!” he pleaded. “Y-You cannot simply flee!”

“Yes, I can!” I replied, struggling to wrestle my wrist out of his grasp.

I then motioned to jerk my arm away, but soon saw his stance unshaken by my attempts. Peering up at him, I noticed his height looming over mine and shuddered, realizing how easily I’ve been overpowered. Frantically, I glanced at my surroundings, and caught the faint glow of party lights. “Let me GO!” I shrieked, loudly enough in hopes some passerby might hear me. As if triggered by this, he quickly reached his other hand over my head, ushering me towards him. My knees hit his lap as he pulls me towards his chest. I tried pushing myself away from his embrace before he shusheD me.

“Do you want the whole world to hear of your treachery?” His tone was a terse whisper. My face devolveD into a scowl of contempt.

“No, I hope they hear this!” I shouted, wanting to yell so loudly his eardrums burst. However, he’s no longer looking at me, his eyes following something out past the courtyard. Seemingly distracted, I took my chance. I vehemently jerked my knee towards his abdomen and lurch out of his clutches, clashing with the hedges in front of me. The sound of his wince in pain assured me as I pushed through the thick brush.

Breaking through to the other side, I found myself in the midst of a maze, surrounded by hedges twice my height. To my right the corridor stretched down to a dead end, but to my left, it seemed the labyrinth continues. Hmm, but for me to be here, that must mean that the center is…

My gaze is caught by the sound of rustling behind me. Shit.

With only seconds to spare, I kicked off my heels and dart down the left path.

“Ava?” he called out, his face seemingly exasperated. Almost as though he was the one just chased through the brush. Hidden behind a hedge wall, I could see him looking for me, and in his grasp he carries my shoes. What? Why did he take them? As much as I didn't like wearing them, I still felt a bit slighted at him having stolen them.

“Ava, where are you?” Why does he keep calling me that? He appeared disoriented as he navigated the clearings within the maze, almost as though he didn’t know the way out, either. Hmm. “Please, let me speak with you,” he said weakly, a stark contrast from his robust tone, “I wouldn’t want you to get lost out here.”

I’d say I’m not here, but I don’t think that would suffice.

However, I wasn’t too keen on finding myself lost in a maze with the likes of him, either, so I kept an eye on the bushes we emerged through. If I can wait long enough for him to leave, I might just be able to escape the same way we came through.

Glancing back at His Grace, I watched as he walked aimlessly about the maze, before oddly coming to an abrupt halt. Hmm. My eyes narrowed at him before softening in realization. He’s listening. I tried to quiet my breathing.

He stood there, waiting, for a good while, before moving on, seemingly only turning the corner after he felt certain I wasn’t there. Perfect!

Emerging from my hiding place, I hiked up my skirt and treaded lightly towards the exit. In a brief scan of the ground before me, the lawn appeared well kept… So no twigs or branches to give me away.

As I drew near to the exit, I threw a quick glance over my shoulder, looking for him. But it appeared he’s become lost. Good.

“There you are!” came a disturbingly friendly voice. Standing between me and the exit, my eyes widened in horror at the sight of His Grace reaching out to embrace me.

As I backed away from his approach, I realized he’s emerged from what I had previously assumed was a dead end. Guess I just couldn’t tell from that far.

“Stay back!” I called, but for every step I take back, he took one closer.

“But Ava—?”

“No! And stop calling me that!” He stopped. With the slowest tilt of his head, he continued.

“You don’t want me to call you by your name?” he asked curiously.

“Not so informally, no!” His eyes narrowed tentatively as if genuinely confused by my words.

“So, then, what would you prefer?”

“You may refer to me as the Lady that I am,” I stressed, holding a firm stare while I speak. “But I will ask that you step aside from there,” I said as calmly as I can, referring him to the exit. He glanced back in its direction before returning his gaze to me.

“Are you saying you truly mean to leave?”

“Yes!” I said, not sure how much clearer I could be, “So step aside so that I may leave and never turn back!” His gaze lingered in a stalemate with mine, before slowly shaking his head no.

“No,” he said softly, bending his knees to set my shoes gently on the ground, before reasserting his stance, “I won’t be stepping aside.”

“Why?” He narrowed his eyes at me discerningly, as though considering his next words very carefully.

“Because…” he began tentatively.

“Because what?” I repeated.

“Because I’d like to help you, actually.” I don’t believe him for a second.

“I don’t believe you,” I declared, shaking my head.

“Then don’t,” he shrugged coolly, “You’re free to wander the rest of the maze if you’d like.”

“Well, I just might!”

“But we both know you won’t,” he prodded slyly, calling my bluff, “And I won’t be stepping aside in any circumstance—not unless you hear me out, first.” Glancing back at the labyrinth behind me, I consider his proposal.

“Then speak,” I scoffed. His Grace knelt, startling me as he bared the back of his neck. I narrowed my eyes at him, not accustomed to the sight of such a courtesy. What would compel him to act this way? The gesture is reserved for people at the mercy of those at the receiving end, and certainly unbefitting of His Grace.

“While I understand your desire to leave,” he said, briefly lifting his head to catch a glance of my expression, “there are certain facets to your plan I am curious about.” Hmm.

“Such as…?” I asked with the tilt of my head, accepting I will at least humor his interrogation.

“Well, have you at least considered the means which will facilitate your new lifestyle?” I narrowed my eyes at him and considered if His Grace has never actually seen currency up close before.

“I beg your pardon—do you mean to ask how I will pay for lodging?” I prodded, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, My Lady,” he replied.

“Well, if you must know,” I teased, “I intend on using the same currency we use here. Perhaps people in your court have dealt with it before?” He purses his lips in annoyance.

“Yes, but with what funding? You couldn’t possibly find work under the title of a traitor,” he argued, placing a hand to his temple. He’s since raised his head but kept his knee on the ground before me.

“Why would I work?” I said haughtily, “I could just pawn off a sack of jewels whenever I need.”

“So you could carry a lifetime’s worth of jewels on your person?” he asked, narrowing his eyes in objection. I mulled him over, noticing the glint of the purple jewel adorning the collar of his suit.