For the next few days, Flora continued to act obediently in front of Ilya. She learned to answer in a soft whisper and hide her inner schemes with a gentle expression.
Occasionally, she would show a hint of reluctance to make her “submission” appear more authentic.
Meanwhile, she secretly gathered information and confirmed several key points. The southern gate was too bright and open; it was impossible to pass unnoticed.
The east had the densest patrols, as activity in the administrative hall and the training ground easily alerted the guards.
To the north, the direction leading toward the forest, it was relatively quiet. The sound of the wind could mask footsteps, and the soft soil would leave tracks but was also easy to confuse.
Most importantly, there were vines in the northwest corner. A tangle of dense vines crawled up the wall, some even draping over the top.
It was the only visible spot on the entire perimeter where one could potentially climb.
If she could successfully navigate the garden and reach the base of those vines, she could climb up, flip over, and reach the northern woods.
If she ran forward with enough luck to avoid being immediately spotted by pursuers, she might reach a more secluded area.
Today, she even felt a strange illusion—as long as she dared to take that first step tonight, the world would turn back toward the direction she knew.
All her restraint, acting, and repression over the past few days were for this moment.
Once the sky completely darkened and the night wind blew through the window cracks with a chill, the candles inside the palace gradually dimmed. The rhythmic footsteps of the patrolling guards began their rotation.
Flora sat on the soft couch and listened quietly for 15 minutes. She had memorized the general patrol route.
Two guards passed from the direction of the Central court, their steps synchronized and the friction of their armor regular. The next round would pass again in about 12 minutes.
In other words, she had a window that wasn’t particularly large but wasn’t small either.
“It’s now.”
Flora stood up. At this moment, there was no trembling like she had imagined, nor was her heart racing with tension. Instead, it was a calm born of being pushed to a dead end.
She changed into her thinnest clothing, dark in color and difficult to spot. As her feet stepped onto the carpet, she was so focused she could even hear the sound of her own breathing.
Flora gently pushed open the door. The corridor was deep and dark, with only the luminous stones leaving a faint, cold glow between the carpet and the walls.
She closed her eyes, counted 3 seconds, and then slowly took one step, then two. Her hem didn’t drag, and she made no sound. Her footsteps were light, swallowed by the carpet.
She was like a shadow, quietly slipping out from the depths of the west wing’s corridor. She knew she couldn’t move too fast.
If she rushed, she would mess up, and if she messed up, she would be caught. The closer she got to the side door of the west wing, the lighter her breathing became.
Until she pushed open that side door and the cold wind hit her face, her heartbeat finally accelerated uncontrollably. It was her first time stepping onto a path that truly belonged to an “escape.”
The garden felt vast and more dangerous at night. The night wind made a sharp whistling sound as it blew through the petals.
The leaves that looked soft during the day now shimmered with a metallic luster under the moonlight. As Lena had said, they might be sharp, poisonous, or both.
Flora knew she had to move quickly and steadily. She wasn’t strolling; she was passing through.
Staying low, she moved along the shadows on the west side of the garden. Because of the cold wind, her body grew cold bit by bit.
Suddenly, a soft voice rang out:
“Your highness — ? Is that you?”
Flora froze. The voice was weak and tense, sounding as if the speaker was afraid of shouting too loudly and startling someone.
It was Lena. Why did it have to be her?
Flora slowly turned her head and saw Lena standing by the shadow of a flower hedge under the moonlight, holding a basket of gathered herbs.
The girl’s face was flushed red, clearly from the biting night wind. As soon as she saw Flora, she jogged over.
“Your highness, why… why are you out so late? If you get hurt… His Majesty will be worried.”
Flora’s heart sank. ‘Of all times, you had to show up now…’
But on her face, she only showed a faint smile, looking as if she were drowsy and dazed by the night wind.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Flora whispered. “I came out for a walk.”
Lena breathed a sigh of relief, her small face full of concern. “Your highness, the garden is dangerous at night. Truly… some plants might cut you when they open their leaves… I’m also afraid you might get hurt if you can’t see clearly in the dark…”
Flora remembered, of course. So she tried to make her voice sound as natural as possible. “I’ll be careful. I’ll head back soon.”
However, Lena immediately shook her head, looking so nervous she seemed ready to cry from a single gust of wind. “No, you can’t stay here alone! If Your highness gets hurt… I… I…”
The more she spoke, the more anxious she became, even crushing the plants in her hands.
For the first time, Flora felt a subtle pressure. It wasn’t the oppressive force of someone like Ilya, but a soft restraint brought by a well-meaning person that made it impossible for her to remain completely cold-hearted.
She couldn’t let Lena follow her. Even more, she couldn’t let her notice anything unusual. Otherwise, tonight would be a total failure. Everything would be over.
Flora took a deep breath and gently reached out to touch Lena’s arm. It was only a brief touch, but it was enough to make Lena freeze.
“I really am just clearing my head.” Her tone softened, like coaxing a startled fawn. “I’ll head back after a few steps. Don’t worry, I won’t wander off.”
Lena bit her lip, clearly hesitating.
Flora was forced to add, “If you’re worried… why don’t you go get a shawl? I’m not wearing very much.”
Lena was indeed startled and immediately nodded. “I—I’ll go get one right away! Your highness, please wait for me here. Don’t wander off! I’ll be right back!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the girl jogged away. Flora’s stiff shoulders finally relaxed a little.
She looked up toward the deeper shadows where the vines in the northwest corner were. They were only several hundred meters away.
She couldn’t wait. She couldn’t let Lena return and find her gone.
Flora exhaled softly and whispered to the wind, “I’m sorry, Lena.”
Then she turned and headed into the deeper shadows. The night was like a giant curtain, concealing her footsteps. The garden paths were winding and tortuous, and the sound of the wind rustling the leaves felt like it was gently tearing the air.
Flora quickened her pace. Every breath sounded louder than it did during the day, and every step felt like walking on the edge of her own fate.
She could already see the vines. In the darkness, the thick branches and leaves looked like a natural ladder, clinging to the wall and leading up high.
As long as she grabbed the lowest vine, she could start climbing, flip over, land on the ground on the other side, and run into the forest.
She already began to imagine the sound of her feet hitting the dirt. She could already feel the coolness of the night wind on her face, tasting like freedom.
One step, two steps, three steps.
The sound of the wind suddenly swelled in her ears. She was only 15 meters away from the vines.
Just then, a distant shout came from deep within the garden: “Your highness — ? Your highness, are you there — ?”
It was Lena.
Flora’s heart tightened, but she didn’t look back. She couldn’t stop. She couldn’t answer. She couldn’t go back anymore. If she didn’t succeed tonight, there wouldn’t be a second chance.
As if driven by something, she quickened her pace again. The wind whistled past her face, and blades of grass cut into her calves. The darkness contracted, and the vines drew closer and closer.
Then, she reached out her hand.
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