After their romantic moments, Stephen turned to Alicia with a smile and said, "Be ready. We're escaping from here tomorrow," unable to hide the determination and excitement within him. However, Alicia had some worries deep down. Though she trusted her lover, she was afraid this escape would fail.
Alicia looked at Stephen with a hint of unease on her face. "Do you have a plan?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Stephen, trying to ease Alicia's worries, responded calmly. "Yes, I do," he said with determination.
Alicia continued curiously, "What's the plan then?"
Outside, the moon was shining dimly, and the air was cool. Alicia's worries added a slight tension to the night. Stephen's confidence and excitement, however, illuminated the night. Their future was uncertain, but the strength of being together made them ready to look ahead.
Stephen was considering "borrowing" Cedric's invisibility cloak for the escape. But first, he needed to take the money he had received from his stepfather and never spent. They would live off this money for a while. Of course, it would be difficult to get by until the war ended. Alicia would also use her savings and sell some items that were heirlooms from her mother. After the war ended, they would find jobs and work. He had planned everything. Now, only the execution of the plan remained.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Stephen spoke in a determined tone. "We will be invisible. The rest will be easy. Just wake up early tomorrow and wait for me," he said, turning to Alicia.
Alicia, a bit dejected, replied, "Okay," her voice tinged with sadness.
Understanding Alicia's emotions, Stephen continued, "I know it's tough for you to leave your loved ones. But you need to be patient, my dear," he said sincerely. "Everyone will come to terms with it eventually. Then we can both be at ease."
Alicia, still full of concern, expressed her worry, "I might be fine, but you won't be. You're of royal blood, Stephen. If you escape, it will be hard to meet your loved ones again."
Stephen, even more resolute this time, replied, "Forget about me. I've gotten used to it," reflecting his determination.
Outside, the night was silent. Stars twinkled in the sky, and the soft chirping of a few birds made the atmosphere even calmer. After their emotional and determined conversation, Stephen and Alicia were preparing for a night filled with uncertainties about their future.
"No, I can't just forget. Who wants their loved one to be upset?" Alicia said with determination in her voice.
"I'm already distant from my father and sister. The only one I still respect is Master Albert. And I can barely talk to him," Stephen continued, sharing his complex emotions.
"Alright then. But you know..." Alicia was about to speak when Stephen hushed her by placing his finger on her lips. "Shh," he said. After a brief pause, "Nothing like that will happen," he declared with seriousness and determination. For a moment, Alicia marveled at the effect of the love potion.
Alicia pretended to object to Stephen's decision, but due to the effect of the love potion, Stephen was so bound to her that he was rejecting all the wealth, money, and even the prospect of marrying a beautiful woman like Alicia. Instead, he was choosing a life of poverty. Alicia suddenly smiled slyly. Although Stephen didn't understand the reason, he smiled back in return.
⚔️⚔️⚔️
After fastening the buttons of Alexa's dress and making the final touches, the maid made sure she was completely ready. Finally, she styled her hair and left the room. Princess Alexa then went downstairs, eager to talk and confide in her closest friend, Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth approached Alexa, she initiated the conversation by asking, "How have you been since yesterday?"
Alexa replied despondently, "What do you think?"
Elizabeth, trying to understand the turmoil within her, continued, "How did you manage to fall in love with him so quickly?"
"That's love. Can you control such feelings?" Alexa asked.
Elizabeth thoughtfully responded, "I don't believe in love at first sight. I think you've become obsessed with him."
"You praised him so much that even if I'm not in love, I think it's quite normal to be obsessed," Alexa said, sharing her complex emotions.
Elizabeth continued seriously, "But it's clear he doesn't want you. What will you do?"
"I'll take revenge on him. He'll pay the price for choosing that cheap, ordinary girl over me, the most beautiful princess in the Magical World," Alexa said with determination, her face expressing her anger.
"How will you take revenge? I think you should kill that girl," Elizabeth suggested, presenting a dark proposal.
"I'm thinking of doing that. She wore that tacky dress and he chose her over me. Let him lose her and see his day. Elizabeth, I have a favor to ask of you," Alexa said, her anger seething.
"Of course, go ahead," Elizabeth replied, curious and waiting.
"I want you to find out who that girl is. You're the one with the most connections to Rivelia," Alexa said with determination.
"Well, if she's noble, it won't be difficult for me, but I don't think she's very noble, considering her dress," Elizabeth thought aloud.
"That's why you should investigate the poor people in the palace first," Alexa said, revealing her plan.
"What if she's not from the palace?" Elizabeth asked, unsure.
"If she's not from the palace, I'll have Stephen followed and find out who she is that way," Alexa replied, firmly.
"Wow, Alexa, you never run out of solutions," Elizabeth said, admiringly.
Alexa proudly adjusted her hair, while Elizabeth smiled slyly at her. Both of them had a deep understanding of each other. Elizabeth used the excuse of visiting her relatives to teleport to Rivelia's castle. As Rivelia's relative, Elizabeth had easy access to the palace. After entering the palace, she hid in a corner and used magic to change her appearance, disguising herself as a servant. She then snuck into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, she quietly moved to a corner and began observing her surroundings. She was looking for that girl with her eyes, but hadn't found her yet. Moving calmly among the women entering the kitchen, she made sure not to draw attention to herself. Perhaps, she could catch a clue from the conversations of the women there.
The kitchen was noisy and bustling. The chef's commands combined with the clatter of pots and pans, creating a symphony. As Elizabeth waited silently, she carefully listened to the women's conversations. Observing everything around her, she tried to find the clue she was searching for.
"Your niece Alicia danced with the prince yesterday. I think they're in love. Congratulations," said one of the women, instantly grabbing Elizabeth's attention.
Elizabeth, filled with inner excitement, listened carefully to the women's conversation. Could she find the clue she was waiting for?
"Are you kidding me?" Sarah replied harshly, her voice filled with anger.
"Oh, don't get angry, Sarah," said the woman with a sly smile. Sarah's irritation was steadily rising.
Elizabeth was practically holding her breath with curiosity about the conversation. Listening intently, she felt a hidden excitement and anxiety.
"Oh my God, she keeps teasing me!" Sarah thought angrily.
"Oh well. Is your niece like a mistress now? Hahaha. Thanks to you, we've got some juicy gossip!" the woman said mockingly. Sarah's anger was reaching its peak, and Elizabeth's excitement grew as she listened to the conversation.
Unable to withstand the words any longer, Sarah grabbed the woman's hair and yanked it fiercely. This sudden action shocked everyone. As the woman screamed in pain, the other women quickly intervened and separated them. Until the situation calmed down, there was a tense atmosphere.
After waiting a few minutes, Elizabeth noticed that the situation had settled down and approached Sarah. She was looking for an opportunity to speak with her quietly. Sarah's anger was still at a high level, but Elizabeth patiently waited to calm her down. Finally, when things calmed down a bit more, Elizabeth gently called out to Sarah and started speaking with her.
"Yes, dear? Why did you call me?" Sarah asked curiously.
"Where is Alicia?" Elizabeth responded with a tone full of concern.
"Unfortunately, I don't know either. She hasn't been around since yesterday. I'm starting to worry about her. Why did you ask?" Sarah answered with a concerned expression.
"I had something important to discuss with her. Anyway, good luck to you. I better be on my way," Elizabeth said, bidding farewell to Sarah and quickly leaving the area.
Stephen had been waiting by the pond for about 30 minutes with his cloak in hand, awaiting his beloved. Despite asking her to wake up early and wait here, she was still nowhere to be seen. This started to worry Stephen. Hearing some footsteps approaching from behind, he quickly hid the cloak and turned around in haste. It was Sarah.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I have something to ask," said Sarah with a serious expression.
"Of course, go ahead," Stephen replied, waiting curiously.
"Do you know where my niece Alicia is?" Sarah asked with a worried tone.
"I last saw her last night. Haven't you seen her?" Stephen responded, his face full of concern.
"I haven't seen her since last night," Sarah explained, her face showing worry.
Stephen felt his heart racing at Sarah's words. He was overwhelmed with worry and fear, not knowing what to do. After questioning Sarah a few more times and realizing he couldn't reach any conclusion, Stephen bid farewell to her and left. Just as he was about to leave, he heard footsteps again.
By the pond, with the rustling of branches in the light breeze, Stephen's despair lingered around him. There was a tense atmosphere, and even the silence of nature felt anxiety-ridden. As Stephen tried to calm his racing heart, he scanned the surroundings with his eyes.