Azreal did return to his chamber last night and Elysia had to feign sleeping so as to avoid looking or speaking to him, fortunately, he did not try to wake her up and laid down beside her, falling asleep almost immediately.
It was in the early hours of the morning, Elysia was able to close her eyes to rest after staying awake all night. The morning sunlight peeked through the windows, causing Elysia to stir up. A yawn escaped her lips as she turned to see the King standing at the doorway. His gaze lingered on her, his eyes soft.
"Elysia," He called out, his tone gentle. "Are you well? Has everything been good while I was away?"
Elysia felt her heart skip a beat at the concern in his voice. She quickly composed herself, offering a small, practiced smile. "Yes, Your Majesty, everything is good. Good morning." She replied, keeping her tone steady.
Azrael studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Good." He replied, though his voice hinted at skepticism. "If there is anything you need or anything that troubles you, do not hesitate to tell me." He added.
Elysia nodded, maintaining her calm exterior. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your kindness is always appreciated."
After another moment of silence, he gave a slight nod, as though satisfied, before turning to leave. Elysia watched him go, relief and tension mixing within her as she silently reminded herself to stay focused on her plans.
She waited until she was sure Azreal and Sevastian had gone out before she began to make her move. Elysia's hands shook as she packed a small bag, her heart pounding with both excitement and fear. She tucked away a few essential items, a small amount of money she had managed to save, a cloak to keep her warm.
The storm clouds hung heavy overhead, dark and unyielding. It was as if the heavens were warning her, or perhaps spurring her onward. Elysia let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle in her bones. This was the calm before the storm, and she would be ready for whatever lay ahead.
Elysia moved through the dimly lit corridors, the sounds of distant activity around her. Servants whispered, but she barely paid attention, her mind still replaying that short exchange. She sensed a slight change in him. His gaze had seemed heavier, as if he could sense something was amiss. She could not afford any slip-ups, not with her plans so close to unfolding.
With everything in place, she took one last look around the room, taking in its grandness, the heavy silk drapes, the expensive furniture, the gilded mirrors. This was not her true home, but it had given her comfort sometimes. Her true home was wherever she could find peace and a life of her own. Taking a deep breath, she slipped out, her footsteps light as she made her way down the corridors, praying not to encounter anyone who might question her.
When she finally reached the courtyard, she saw a palace guard who stood by the carriage.
"I need you to take me to the market." Elysia said, making her tone hard and commanding.
The guard raised his left brow at her, he looked around to make sure it was he, she was speaking to. "Are you speaking to me My Lady?" He still asked, even though they were the only people standing by the carriage.
"Clearly, I can not see any one else here. I want you to take me to the market, it is on the request of the King." She said, her hand slightly sweating from fear.
"I am sorry My Lady, but, I was not informed to take you anywhere. So, I can not do that." The guard replied in a calm tone.
Elysia knew this would happen, she had to try harder if she wanted the guard to believe her. "Are you saying that I am lying?"
"No, not at all. I only mentioned that I was not informed of this escort by anyone." He explained, trying to maintain respectful.
Elysia scoffed, pushing strands of her hair away from her face. "This was a last minute decision, the King did not have time to tell you himself as he was in a hurry." Elysia explained, trying to keep her voice firm. The guard only looked at her with suspicion, " I understand if have your doubts, I would just tell the King that you do not believe my words." Elysia let out a sigh and pretended to leave.
"Wait My Lady? Are you certain he gave you his permission?" The guard asked, taking a step forward.
Elysia almost felt bad that she was going to put the poor guard in trouble but, there was nothing she could do about that. She needed to leave as soon as possible. "I am certain." She replied.
A sigh escaped his lips, as he opened the door of the carriage. "Very well My Lady, I will escort you to the market."
Elysia almost squealed in excitement but, stopped herself by just offering him a smile. She climbed into the carriage and watched the guard close the door.
The carriage rattled as it moved through the palace gates and onto the cobbled streets. Elysia kept her gaze forward, watching the city pass by with a mix of wonder and fear. Her palms grew sweaty as they neared the market square. She knew her chance was close.
As soon as they arrived, Elysia stepped out of the carriage, her guard following closely behind. The market was bustling with townsfolk, vendors shouting to advertise their goods. She pushed her way through, darting between stalls and weaving through the crowd of people until she created a bit of distance between herself and her guard.
Then, without warning, she broke into a sprint, her heart hammering wildly. She could hear the guard's shouts behind her, but she did not dare turn back. She pushed forward, slipping through the alleys and side streets until she felt certain she had lost him.