Chapter 01 | Accident

Princess Elena

I woke up in the middle of the night and heard a noise outside my room. I slowly got up and adjusted myself carefully before going out.

I saw the palace's servants walking left and right. They all looked in despair. Everyone had this emotion on their faces that I couldn't explain myself, as if someone had caused great disturbance to them. I ignored them and continued walking to the room where Papa was always.

I was almost there but stopped walking when I saw the Prime Minister of Maldonia enter the room.

What's going on?

I know that there is a day when the Prime Minister visits the palace, and today is not that day. Especially in the middle of the night. He came here for a reason, and I'm sure it had something to do with politics.

At the age of twenty, I knew my destiny as the country's reigning King's eldest daughter. I was born and raised to be the next leader of the Maldonia Kingdom, but deep inside my heart, I don't want to be stuck forever in a royal box like this.

How can I raise my voice if my father will immediately cut me off when I speak?

I want to free myself, but I'm still unconfident with my escape plan. My preparation is still lacking, and I know I will fall behind if it continues incompletely. I was the only one who knew about it, and I kept my escape plan a secret from my only sister.

"Elena..." My name was called from a corner, and I immediately turned.

"Zara, what are you doing there?" My sister didn't answer and just pulled me inside her room. "What's the matter? Why is there a commotion outside?"

"The palace is alert because the Estonia wall had fallen."

Estonia is just like Maldonia. Small, beautiful, and peaceful country before the colonizer entered Estonia and killed the last living Czar and his family. There is chaos in that country now, and no one knows when the war there will end.

I don't like politics, so I ignore what is happening now. I am strange to be considered because my only dream is to experience life outside this palace as an average person.

An imaginary bulb suddenly lit up. Everyone is busy when a neighboring country is stuck in a war. There's a better chance they won't notice that I'm missing.

Now's the perfect time for my unripe plan to happen!

"What are you thinking, Ellen?" Zara asked me.

"I'm going to escape, Zara. I don't want to be stuck here forever and will follow my dreams." I replied meaningfully to her.

"Are you crazy? When you leave, who will take your position?" I eyed my sister. "Are you going to leave everything on my shoulder? No way, Elen! Makeup your mind and stop being selfish."

Selfish?

Am I being selfish if I put myself first? I know that my father will never leave his post soon. He is still strong and can keep up with the inexperienced leaders of neighboring countries.

"Help me, Zara. I know you'll have a hard time, but I can't be imprisoned here forever. I have dreams that I need to chase. I don't want to be stagnant, and people only know me for being the crown princess."

"This is ridiculous, Elen. I'm going back to sleep. I can't help you. I'm sorry."

My sister turned her back on me, which signaled that I needed to get out of her room. Neither Zara nor I want to be trapped in this palace. Leave our dream outside and claim the title that is not really for our family.

We were living a simple life outside the palace before, but a cruel abdication stole the simplicity of it. Papa inherited the crown, and I, as the eldest daughter of the reigning King, must prepare myself to be the next crown inheritor.

I took a deep breath as I closed Zara's bedroom door.

I slowly returned to my room and quickly packed my only needed clothes. I sent a message to my accomplice in the plan, and they already knew what to do. Even though my goal was not very polished, I had to take advantage of the fact that everyone was busy.

I need to run away from here and go somewhere I won't be recognized. A place where I can start over and make my dream come true.

What is it that I want in my life?

I want to be a ballerina someday and be known because of my talent, not because I have a title that I bear. I belong to a family that is known for being influential in the whole world.

Being royalty isn't just about the beauty you possess. It is about the dignity, the power, and the authority to rule one nation. It doesn't matter if you are a talented type of person because what matters is that you can lead your own country.

Responsibilities that, let's just say, I can't bear it yet.

No one knows how long a person will live. It might be lucky if Papa is still alive until I grow old and will never think of passing the throne to me. I know that my father is not confident with my leadership too. So, this is me, deciding not to give him a hard time. I will choose my fortune outside the royalty box where I'm currently in.

Before my father loses his life, I have to leave, and I know they will all forgive me for running away from my duty as the eldest daughter, but it will be a long time before that happens. I just really need to reach my dreams to say that I have no regrets whatsoever in my life.

After I packed my things, I went out through the secret passage towards the back of the palace. From there, I will climb the high wall until I can get out without them noticing.

There is a rental car outside that I will use as a getaway vehicle. I now have a target area, and that is in Luciana, a place that used to be a province of Maldonia but seceded and formed its government to rule the people. No one knows much about people like me who are members of the royal family because they have their leader, and the type of government they have is not a monarchy.

Every action I take is slow, and I feel nervous as I walk where I'm going to climb. I immediately threw my bag on the other side when I reached that place.

I started the gentle climb up there when the light from the lighthouse passed. I moved faster to fall immediately to the other side when the light hit the wall. I took a deep breath and removed the hood from my head.

Finally, freedom at last!

I quickly got into the car as soon as I got there and removed the hood from my head once inside. He promptly did what I told him to do, but I didn't tell him the details of my plan.

Getting caught is hard, and he'll end my happy days. I texted him while packing, and he quickly prepared the needed things. He gave me a phone I could use and destroyed the one I am using now. He also drove me to the train station.

While on the trip, we were both silent and making our way to my destination. It was raining that night which was one of the reasons why the guards in every corner of the palace didn't notice me.

I took one last look before we left because I couldn't say goodbye to Zara correctly. I just really need to do this to say that I'm pleased with my life. I don't need luxury, power, and many political allies.

Ever since I was a kid, I have had anything about politics. Mama hated it, too, but she had to go with the flow because of the title she's currently holding.

I sigh heavily upon realizing that I am traveling down memory lane.

I prefer our life back then; that was simple and didn't have many guards. It's not a sin because the country didn't expect anything from us, and our happy days ended when Papa's brother, who, like me, just followed his dream, stepped down. Selfish move, but I won't regret choosing myself if it's about happiness.

Yes, this is me choosing myself above all else.

"You have to keep everything a secret from now on. This is the last time we will see each other." That was my strict order to my car companion when we got away from the vicinity of Maldonia Kingdom. "Dispose of this car after you drop me off at the train station. I already dispose of my phone, and I am using this one with no sim card." He just nodded in obedience to my orders.

The rain got more potent, causing our car to slow down. He turned on the headlight to light the way. It's mid-morning, so it's still dark, and it's obvious how strong the wind is dancing in every tree we pass.

"We have to stop," said my companion. It's hard for him to drive, but it just doesn't seem to me.

"No. I'll be late for my car and train if we go further until the rain stops.

"But –"

"Do what I commanded you, okay?" I said with authority. I know it's dangerous, and he's just being careful, but I need to get out of Maldonia so I can genuinely say I'm free. "I need to do this for myself. The crown won't complete me, and it will steal the life in me,"

My accomplice continued driving until we crossed the boundary where there were royal guards standing guard. We were not stopped as the rain was heavy, so it was a great relief.

As we made our way to the train station, the news of the fall of Estonia and Destonia's move to take it overcame over the radio.

Neither of us spoke again, and my attention was awakened by a dazzling light that greeted our car. I felt the shaking of the vehicle, followed by the loss of all noise around me.

It was as if I was floating in the air, and for a moment, the world I was living in stopped spinning. I felt pain all over my body, and before everything went dark, I was able to speak.

"Zara,"