AS MIDNIGHT came, Solvahne and her lady-in-waiting execute their plan.
When Grace already made sure that no imperial maids and imperial knights were roaming around the hallways of her room, Solvahne immediately went out of her chamber.
As planned, she continuously walked quickly down the hallway and hastily descended. She took a few glances around.
She was still wearing her nightdress. She didn't even bother to change and just go on with her plan.
When she was already near the wide door of her manor, she unexpectedly saw the imperial head maid.
"Your Highness? Why are you still awake at this hour?" the head maid asked worriedly.
She feels herself panicking inside of her mind. What if the head maid suspects her of running away?
She smiled at her, "I'm just going to take a walk in the garden," she said softly.
The head maid stared at her for a long time before speaking again. "Is something bothering you, Your Highness? Tomorrow is your wedding with His Majesty. Are you perhaps ..." the head maid chuckled. "Your Highness, there is nothing to be worried about for your wedding in the morrow. The emperor is a great sovereign to his subjects and I could assure you that he would take care of Your Highness."
She fixed her gaze on the head maid, whose name, as far as she could recall, was Delice. She exhaled a sigh of relief because she didn't think she was trying to escape.
She did as the head maid instructed. "I can't help myself, Delice; I was just a princess of a kingdom when, all of a sudden, I was a reigning empress of an empire."
The head maid sighed. Thinking of something inside her head.
"Do you mind if I accompany you to your walk?"
She no longer objected and allowed the head maid to accompany her.
It revealed a great deal about the empire to her. She just listens to it from the beginning to the end.
"Have you seen His Majesty, Delice?" she asked the woman.
"I have, Your Highness, a few times; how about you?"
To be honest, she has never seen the Emperor. Although the emperor had previously visited her while she was still in Nirvana, she had simply refused to see him.
Solvahne smiled a little, "yes, I do; I have seen him before when he visited me in our kingdom," she lied.
She never intended to lie, but she doesn't have any other option. She didn't want the head maid to question her about why she hadn't seen the emperor yet.
They reached the gazebo near the lake where Grace had to wait for her.
From afar, she could see her lady-in-waiting, eyes widened as they saw the head maid she was with. She just signaled her to be quiet and just wait for her.
"Could please make me a tea, Delice?" she intentionally saddened her voice.
"Of course, Your Highness; then I'll go get your tea for the time being."
As she sat in the cold chair, she only stared into the distance.
As the wind blows by, the scent of mist fills her nostrils. It even brushed against her white pale skin and swayed her long black raven hair.
"Thank you."
Delice walked away quietly, and when she was sure she was far enough away, she looked around. She quickly went to Grace's location after making sure no one was there.
"You're Highness, are you still going to carry out your plan?" it worriedly asked.
She gave her a firm nod, adamant about what she was going to do.
"Yes. Now you're going to my chamber and get my suicide note. Approach Delice, tell her about it, and no one will suspect you. You just have to act and lie as if you never knew about this plan," she said solemnly.
"Your Highness, please stay safe ..." Grace said.
She could see her lady-in-eyes waiting's well up with tears. Grace gave her a nod.
Grace, on the other hand, hugged her before Grace finally left.
"We'll see each other again, Grace," she said softly, her gaze fixed on Grace's back.
Princess Solvahne smiled as she watched Grace hurry back to her room.
Now that she was alone in front of the lake, she could see the moon's reflection in the clear water, how it shined and lit her surroundings.
She also notices her own reflection. Her blue eyes shone brightly in the moonlight. Her nose was flushed, possibly from the cold breeze that was drying out her lips.
She closed her eyes and softly prayed.
And as soon as she heard Grace yell her name, she jumped into the water.
That lake is deep, and anyone who cannot swim will die horribly.
Before swimming into the dark part of the lake, she removed her dress. She dashed up the side and into the forest. There was a leather case full of her personal belongings.
There is also a simple color green dress that she immediately wears.
While getting dressed, she hears the head maid and Grace's horrified voices.
"Her Highness! C-Call the knights right away, Grace, Her Highness!"
As she hid in the bush, she sighed. She even saw the head maid try to dive into the water real quick. The knights, however, prevented her from doing so. She stood there watching them for a while before deciding to leave.
She made her way through the dense forest. Despite the fact that it was dark, she was not afraid. From the moment she stepped foot in this empire, everything has been planned. She studied every nook and cranny of the palace where she was staying.
She devised a means of eluding capture. There was a secret passage out of this forest. And a carriage will be waiting for her at the end of that passage.
Solvahne sighed and raised her gaze to the sky.
She is now all by herself.