"This is an insult! You can't just search without permission from His Majesty the King!"
"Permission is not required for emergencies. Moreover, this castle is still within the Palace grounds, and we, Palace Knights, reserve the right to inspect it at any time."
"In the middle of the night? Where are your manners towards His Highness Prince Axelle?!"
"There's no point in maintaining manners on a traitor's child."
"You…!"
"Sir Julius!" Axelle hastily restrained his knight who was about to attack Palace Knights. "It's all right."
"Prince Axelle!" Julius hissed at Axelle.
Julius looked like he wanted to say something, but Axelle shook his head, signaling him to be quiet. I know what you're trying to say, but please calm down. Getting angry will not make them cancel their intentions. That's roughly what Axelle meant.
Axelle came forward and said to the Palace Knights. "I won't let you in if you don't give me a clear reason," he said firmly. "This castle is indeed within the Palace's territory, but ownership has passed to me since I entered adulthood–as His Majesty the King promised."
The Palace Knights glanced at each other, they looked doubtful. Then one of them said, "We found one of the palace prisoners escaped." Axelle tried to calm down when she heard that. It's clear who they mean. "And we're looking for him."
"How long do you have to come here?"
"Yes, Your Highness. This prisoner is a dangerous prisoner. We must catch him as soon as possible."
"Is that so? You don't think I released this prisoner, do you?"
"Your Highness admits it then?"
"Hey, you!" Julius stepped forward, but was restrained by Axelle.
Axelle took a deep breath. He had had these kinds of events on his mind many times since he freed Rheannon. Don't be afraid, he always said in his heart. This is the risk.
"Come in and search for what you looking for," Axelle said resignedly. "But please don't make a fuss and a mess."
The Palace Knights immediately barged into Axelle's small castle.
"No manners at all," squeaked Julius. He looked at Axelle worriedly then. "Now what shall we do, Your Highness?"
Axelle stared blankly at the knights who had started wandering inside hir castle. "I'll turn myself in," he said quietly, making Julius pale. "It's not a big deal. I knew something like this would happen one day."
"Your Highness!" Julius demanded disapprovingly. "Then what about us?!"
"I'm sure you all will be fine."
Julius looked at Axelle in disbelief. "Just like that? What about the people who are still—"
"Sir Julius, Mom and Dad are no longer here," whispered Axelle bitterly.
"But that doesn't mean we have to give in, Your Highness," said Julius weakly. "Prince Axelle isn't weak. There must still be something Your Highness wants to do. The proof is that until now Your Highness is still alive and even risking his life to this extent."
Axelle was silent to hear that.
"If this is not a form of Your Highness' struggle, then what? Actually why did Your Highness do this?"
Why would Axelle do this?
A sense of responsibility? Guilt? For sheer self-gratification?
For revenge?
No. No.
Julius was right. Deep in his heart, by finding Rheannon, Axelle hoped that he could know the truth of what happened ten years ago. Rheannon is both a victim and a witness. And just like Axelle, Rheannon knows the truth behind all of this.
Really, this is not an intention for revenge. Axelle just wants to know what happened and the reason behind all this.
"Prince Axelle." Elias appeared along with the two Palace Knights. His expression was unreadable. "The search is over."
Axelle struggled to clear his expression. "What about the escaped prisoner?"
"He is not here," answered one of the palace knights. Axelle could sense a hint of annoyance in his sentence. "We apologize for disturbing you in the middle of the night like this."
The Knights Palace left Axelle's castle.
"How could that happen?" Axelle asked Elias.
Elias shook his head. "Your Highness had better see for himself." He led Axelle to Rheannon's room.
Rheannon's room was spotless, without any traces. Cold, like she never lived there before.
"I don't know how. But it looks like Lady Rheannon..."
"Running away?" whispered Axelle in disbelief.
***
I have to send a message to Prince Axelle right away so he doesn't worry, Rheannon thought as she held on to Chas as hard as she could.
"Are you all right, Rhea?" Chas asked for the umpteenth time.
Rheannon nodded, even though she was tired of holding onto Chas's arm and was a little cold.
He was currently in Chas' arms. Escape from the palace, hoping not to be caught. And, hopefully, not causing chaos in Axelle's little castle.
Although Rheannon is not sure about this.
***
It's been a tiring journey for Rheannon who hasn't quite recovered yet.
Actually the distance between the Palace and the Coltons' townhouse was not that far. But because Chas had brought Rheannon with, they had to make detours and occasionally stop to hide. Rheannon was sure that if Chas was alone, he would have been able to get there in no time because he was jumping over rooftops and walking on the veranda of a closed shop. With Rheannon in his arms? Well, Chas was busy covering up Rheannon.
I'm cold too, Rheannon thought midway through the trip.
Rheannon would never do this again. It seemed easier to finish off the people in the Palace than to run away like this. But considering the kind Axelle wouldn't like it, Rheannon didn't.
What is Axelle doing now? Rheannon thought.
"Rhea, stay here for a moment," Chas said as soon as they reached their destination–they entered through the window. He sat her down near the fire. "I want to tell Dad first. You… it's okay for me to be left alone, right?"
Rheannon nodded.
Chas hugged her. "I missed you," he whispered.
Rheannon instantly recognized where she was. A room with lots of wooden ornaments, a dark red shades, also smells of spices. Obviously this is Chas' room in this townhouse.
It had been a long time since Rheannon had felt Chas' presence in her life.
Rheannon waited alone for a long time until finally there was a soft knock on the door. Chas and Duke Colton appeared in the doorway.
"Rhea? For God's sake…" Duke Colton hugged Rheannon softly, but filled with warmth. His large, rough hand stroked Rheannon's back. A hug from a family she hadn't felt in a long time. "I have been looking for you everywhere," he repeated.
If only she could speak, Rheannon didn't even know what to say at this point. One thing is clear, she is happy.
"Chas already told me," Duke Colton said as soon as their arms separated. "There's a lot I want to ask you, but now eat and rest comfortably first."
"Axelle?" Rheannon asked. It would be a lie if she didn't worry about the Prince now.
"Don't worry, we have spies there to keep an eye on things."
"The Palace?"
"You don't have to worry about that, Rhea. From here on out, I will take care of it, including if something happens to Prince Axelle. I promise at least you and Prince Axelle don't have to feel prison," promised Duke Colton. Rheannon nodded in understanding. "I'm so glad you're back. I've been looking for you everywhere."
After speaking for a while and making sure Rheannon ate, Duke Colton came out. There was a lot to plan once Rheannon arrived. Chas accompanied her in the room.
They both slept side by side in Chas' bed. They hug each other. Rheannon could hear Chas' steady heartbeat.
Human signs other than herself. Other signs of life.
"I missed you," Chas whispered softly against the top of Rheannon's head. His whisper was so low, it was as if he was afraid the world would hear him. Chas would only be like this if he was scared. "I miss you. I promise I won't let you go anywhere again."
Rheannon inched closer to Chas, signaling that she wasn't going anywhere either.
Axelle's castle was comfortable and everyone treated it well. But the castle is still on the Palace grounds. Every night Rheannon was still terrified that the Palace might find him there. Axelle and her people must be doomed right then and there.
The memory of being confined in the Tower of Shadows still haunts her. Alone and scared with no one else to talk to. If the Palace found her in Axelle's castle, Rheannon would definitely be sent straight back to the Tower of Shadows. That is the worst place.
Whereas here is different. This place is quite far from the Palace. The Colton family can defend themselves well. And most importantly, this is her family home.
Here Rheannon felt able to surrender and entrust herself.
***
It didn't take long for Rheannon to fall asleep. The way she slept made Chas a little wary of how calm she was.
Her breaths and movements were too faint, Chas had to make sure whether Rheannon was still alive or not.
"What am I thinking?" Chas scolded himself.
He stroked Rheannon's short hair, begging God to grow it back again. When his hand went to her arm, he again asked God to give Rheannon health so that her body could be full again, and not bone and skin like this.
"Please give her safety and happiness too," added Chas.
He rarely prays and he makes many mistakes. So Chas added to himself,
telling if God could exchange his safety and happiness for Rheannon's sorrow and misery.