Let's go back a week to the moment when Vienna was about to meet with Duke Levendel.
"My lady, are you sure you want to go down, your heels are quite high...
"Don't worry, Hilda, I got sick in the carriage, and the meeting won't take place right now, so I think I can take a short walk.
"As you wish, just don't run into trouble, I'd go with you..
"No, you know that I don't like it when people follow me around.
_the weather is so good today, I wonder who died on the Duke's estate..or maybe he just got hurt, I don't want to bury a living person ahead of time.._
"Oh, they planted new roses here..! such a pleasant aroma..
_although now is not the best moment to enjoy such little things.. but.. I have to be in high spirits so that I won't be considered an arrogant bitch.._
"Long time no see, fox...
Standing in front of her, he extended his hand and took her palm, kissing her back.
"You...
Smiling, he bared his teeth and sharpened his words:
" you? In front of you is the second star of the empire.. show respect, heiress of the Marquis of Edingberg..
"Hail to the second star of the empire, the great prince 'Deutsch von Malch'
"So how did you live all this time? I'm sure you missed me.. heh
"Don't even dream, you moron...
She pierced him with a sharp gaze and turned away.
"Well, you definitely have problems with manners.
"See you soon, trash of the empire.
"That's impudent.
_but I like her even better this way, I will still bore her_
"Heh!
"Why are you pestering me?
Go where you were going
She ran away and he followed her, and so they wound a mountain of circles around the labyrinth of the imperial garden..
_these heels have already crushed all my legs, and this bitch isn't far behind me, I didn't want to go to extreme measures, but I have to..._
"Get lost, you bastard!
Having said this, she ran straight into the labyrinth where she got lost.
_I've been stuck here for about 15 minutes... but I just can't find a way out..._
Falling to the ground, she lowered her head as a hand fell on her shoulder.
"God!
Who is this?!
Turning around, she saw a familiar face...
"You?!
What are you doing here?
"well, so, I decided to go where not a single soul dares to enter.. and here you are..!
"It doesn't please you that I'm here?
"Come on, this place isn't my property..
"Did something happen? I'm sure that you wouldn't hide from prying eyes if everything was fine with you..
"Haven't you heard? I thought rumors had already spread everywhere...
"I...didn't really delve into the recent news...
"Then..can I lie on your shoulder..a little..
"Huh? Yes.. I don't mind..
They sat down on the path and Arzhen put his head on Vienna's shoulder..
His eyes were wet but he didn't shed a tear..
_I don't think I have the right to ask him what happened... let's just sit in silence.._
And so they fell asleep next to each other..
-- ----
"Hilda! where is Vienna?
"Your Excellency..! the young lady went for a walk an hour ago and said that she wouldn't be late.. but she's been gone for more than an hour.
"How could you let her go somewhere on such an important day?! You shouldn't have taken your eyes off her!
"But!
"Hey! You! You're her knight, aren't you?
"Yes, sir..!
"immediately find her, I don't think she could have gone far, we can't lose face in front of the emperor..
"Yes, sir..!
"Hans!
"Yes, Mrs. Hilda..!
"I know that you are worried about the young lady, but you won't be able to search the entire imperial garden in such a short time, so you better start with the hard-to-reach places..
For example..
"Labyrinth!
"Exactly! You look there and I will look for her in other places.. no one should know that my lady is missing.. especially the palace servants, because even the walls have ears..
Hans entered a thick and long labyrinth, it was full of plants and made of high walls made of foliage.. he walked along the path until he saw an interesting picture.. a girl was sitting on the path and next to her a guy resting his head on her shoulder.. their heads peacefully touched each other, the only thing that pulled them away from each other was a light and gentle breath... a light autumn wind blew and leaves fell on their hair...
"What a sight...said the knight scratching his head...
He approached them and lifted his lady into his arms.
"Sorry, my lady, but I can't let anyone else see you like this...
"Mmm..
She slept sweetly in the arms of the knight, not even suspecting that all this was reality.
"Mmm...
Rubbing her eyes, she saw a beautiful ceiling with a chandelier.
_Where I am..?_
"Milady..! you woke up..
"What happened? Why am I in these chambers..? I remember that...
"You've lost consciousness!
"Sorry..what? when? I don't remember anything like that...
"When you got out of the carriage.. your head began to spin.. and Sir Hans carried you to the guest quarters of the imperial palace..
"Clear..
_so it was all a dream...
Ugh, pull yourself together! It isn't the time to think about him!
"What about the meeting? I wasn't unconscious for long , right?
"well... since something urgent happened, it was postponed until tomorrow... they came to find out if it would bother you, to which we responded with your poor health...
"I see..well, good!then..let's go back to our estate..
"Milady...due to your poor health...the emperor ordered you to stay here for a while...and when you finish all your deals, you can return..
"Um...what is it, I feel terribly uncomfortable here..
"Don't worry, since the Duke left for the south today, he will return in 3-4 days
"I think I can hold out for about a week...
"By the way, you have a tea party with society ladies scheduled , should I accept the invitation? You have a mountain of letters...a girl from the Wyle family also sent you an invitation to her debut in society..
"On what day?
"Excuse me? What event are you talking about?
"I'm talking about Mina Wyle, the daughter of Viscount Wyle.. will she have a late debut due to illness? I think it's worth visiting it..
"Then I will prepare your outfit..
"I have a request... although no... forget it
_I want to go out to the night market... but I don't think they'll let me go, I'll have to sneak out quietly at night..._
In the evening:
"I'm tired and will go to bed early today..please don't disturb
"Are you hurt somewhere? Should I call a doctor?
"No, it's just a headache, it will go away after a good night's sleep, so please don't make noise or disturb me without unnecessary reason.
"As you command, my lady.
Hans!
"Yes, Mrs. Hilda?
"Guard my lady's chambers and don't let anyone in until the morning.
"Will be done!
The girl went into her bedroom and immediately began to think of a way to escape.
_so.. I have a window and a balcony, a balcony is best suited, it can be opened on both sides, but the window can slam shut... there is a huge tree growing near the balcony... I can climb on it and go down.. the problem is that ..how to get out of the castle..the security is too strong_
"I figured it out!
Oh damn..quiet..quiet..
"I can dress up as a maid and there won't be any problems, the garrison doesn't know what I look like since I didn't go through the gate in the carriage...
_All that remains is to find clothes that are not flashy... but where to get them...
Got it! nothing will happen if I borrow a dress from Dina..right?
There was an additional door in her room, it led to the maids' room, it was used as a warehouse, but since her stay was delayed for a week, the maids who arrived with her put their things there..
She changed her clothes and began to climb down.
_I hope everything goes smoothly_
"Stop, who are you? I've never seen you before
"Oh, sorry, I'm Lady Vienna's new maid, a guest who will be staying in the palace..
"Oh, that same one..okay, you can pass..
"Thank you
"But, stop! Why did you need to go out at such a late hour..?
"Ah, my lady went to bed early and I was given permission to visit the night market, haha...
"Exactly, I heard about this... but where is the pass?
"Here, here is my lady's signature...
"Okay, you can go out, don't forget that you will need to go through the same check with the second shift patrol.
"Yes, thank you!
Walking through the night streets illuminated by lanterns, in the distance a crowd of people could be seen laughing and having fun..
"It's so much fun there, I have to hurry!
Wow, I've never seen this before... they're going to set off fireworks, right?
"Girl...do you want to take part in our competition and win a prize?
"Prize? What is the prize?
"Here are these plush toys...
_if Hilda sees the toy it will immediately found out about my outing, it's better not to risk it and come empty-handed.._
"Sorry, but I have a meeting...
Having walked a little further, she got lost between people and loud screams and laughter...
_how noisy.._