That night Elin prepared herself but not for the wedding. No, for that she prepared after her fiance left. The rest of the day preparations were made and she felt it was better to pass over than endure any more. But her dear step mother was watching her closing and Elin didn't want her to suspect anything.
For that night she planned to run away.
It wasn't a very complicated plan, actually, but the key was nobody suspected it.
After her frugal dinner, nothing compared with her royal breakfast that day, she was finally left alone for the first time since she got out of that dark room. She packed a few clothes, those who were made for a servant that she was usually wearing when no guest was visiting.
She went silently to the kitchen to grab something to eat, however, due to the late hours, there were only cold breaths to be found. That would have to do until she found her mother.
Finding her mother was the real problem. Elin knew she went to some vacation house of the Elshers, somewhere the duke and duchess didn't visit often. She herself never went to any vacation houses. In fact, she never went beyond the protection of the tall walls of the city. She had to learn.
Many times Elin tried to find out where her mother went, but nobody knew anything, besides her father and most likely his wife. Some servants pitied her and tried to help but in vain. One time she even asked her sister when she was helping her get ready for a ball at the palace. She hoped her sister's good mood would let her make a mistake and reveal something, anything.
"Aurora, do the Elshers have many estates?"
"Why are you interested?"
"Well, you will be staying at the capital house the next few nights and I was wondering if there were other houses besides that."
"There are. Three or four I know of. But why the curiosity?"
Her sister was sharp, but Eling tries to feign innocence. Aurora studied her through the mirror she had in front of her. Her light red hair so different from Elin's was gathered in a complicated braid at the top of her hair. She was wearing a light blue dress which complimented her eyes perfectly. Elin thought, not for the very first time, that she looked like an angel. Too bad her personality was so contrary to that of an angel.
"I am just curious, sister, for I have never ventured outside."
She went to town so many times, she probably knew it as well as the palm of her hand, but her sister did not need to know that.
Aurora was not convinced. "Whatever you plot, it won't work. The manor is heavily guarded. Or do you think anyone can go in and out?"
"No, sister, I was just…"
"You will never be able to leave this place."
The determination in her sister's voice made her heart tighten like someone took it in their hands. It fell real and that night she found refuge in her nanny's arms again. Her nanny would often console her at such times.
Elin looked through her stuff again. There would be need for funds as well, money to buy other food if the bread won't be enough, to find lodging and transport to different towns. For that, Elin gathered the few jewellery she had. It wasn't a fortune by far, but it had some value.
Going over her plan again, she grabbed her things and left her room determined. She knew the house well enough to be able to escape there. And while outside, she will be able to find something about her family's estates and how to reach them.
She thought many times of running away and now it was happening. Her hands were trembling and her heart was about to jump from her chest. It was time. A last look at her room, barely decorated and mobilated, didn't make her change her mind.
The way out was pretty simple. Nobody cared to monitor her movement before and she was left free most of the time. That is when she didn't carry on with her many labours or when she was punished.
She left the house easily, knowing the habits of the maids. But outside it wasn't that easy. There were many guards on duty, probably due to the visitor. A light at the guest house, not far from the manor, was still lit and Elin wondered what was duke Burned doing so late in the night.
Their meeting that day was surprising to say the least. Not only because he looked so differently than she imagined. The duke was a handsome man, keeping his elegance and good manners despite so many years of war. His ice eyes didn't miss a thing.
But what amazed Elin the most was his warmth towards her. He looked her sincerely in the eyes when he proposed marriage based on respect. So much so that she almost believed him. She did not know the man, but she knew her father who would never let her flee to a happy place.
Elin took her thoughts from the young duke and continued advancing to the back gate which the servants often used to get out. She had the key to the gate. Few days before coming of age she prepared to run away for the first time. Then she stole a key from the maids but didn't use it yet. For more than a year she waited, hoping that her father would let her go himself. He didn't.
There was still no reason to hurry and stayed to find more about the location of her mother. That was fruitless as well.
Elin went carefully to the back door, hiding in the shadows and behind trees and bushes, finally arriving at the gate. Her trembling hand took the key and tried to open it, but she shook so hard she missed the keyhole every time. After the fifth or sixth attempt, the key went in and she turned it. The click she heard relieved her heart.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned to see a guard smirking down at her.
"What do we have here? A sneaking rat. The duke will compensate me generously to bring his loving daughter home safely."
"No, please. Pretend you didn't see me…"
Her pleas didn't change the soldier's mind and he dragged her to the duke who was enraged. His face was red with anger and his eyes threatened to escape their sockets.
"You ungrateful daughter of a bitch. You try to pull such a trick on us? You should be kneeling at my feet, thanking me I found you such a husband. Many girls would die to have duke Burundi as their husband."
"Let them have him then. I never asked for any of this."
"You won't miss this wedding even if I have to tie you and bring you myself to the altar. There is no better match in the whole kingdom than the duke."
"Then have Aurora marry him. Shouldn't she have to do so from the beginning?"
"Ha," the duchess spoke for the first time. "My daughter is to be queen, not life a miserable life with such a man."
"Wasn't he the perfect man? You hypocrite amazes me!"
Her father aproched her and raised his hand. Elin closed her eyes, waiting for the blow. But it didn't come.
"You will leave this house. In two days, as the wife of the bloody knight! Or I'll have to make a visit to the sick!"
A vile smile formed on his face. Elin's heart sank. She didn't know what he would do if he went to her mother in that state. Her knees failed her, falling to the floor in front of them.
"That's more like it. Take her away and lock her."
"In the dark room, Your Grace?" The soldier inquired, grabbing Elin's arm and pulling her up.
"No, we don't want the duke to find out where her future wife sleeps. In her room and put guards outside."
"Yes ,Your Grace. Right away."
Elin didn't resist and let him drag her to her room. There she cried herself to sleep.