Valeria felt a rush of adrenaline as she savored the crisp morning air on the balcony. For a fleeting moment, she felt alive—free. But the reality around her quickly set in. Her eyes scanned the surroundings. Jumping from this height would break her legs. The balconies to her left and right were also far apart, but maybe—just maybe—she could make the leap.
Before she could weigh the consequences further, the door to her room burst open. Guards rushed inside, panic etched on their faces, no doubt drawn by the sound of shattering glass.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" one of the guards bellowed.
There was no time to think. Acting on pure instinct, Valeria climbed onto the railing of the balcony. Without hesitating, she jumped.
For a single exhilarating second, she felt weightless, the wind rushing past her as her hands reached out and gripped the railing of the next balcony. A triumphant smile spread across her face as she hung there, her fingers clutching tightly. With all her strength, she pulled herself up and scrambled onto the balcony.
She didn't pause. Darting through the unfamiliar room, she ran toward the door and threw it open, relief washing over her when it wasn't locked. She glanced down the hallway, spotting the guards rushing out of her room. Without missing a beat, she bolted in the opposite direction.
Her heart pounded against her ribcage, her breathing ragged as she sprinted down the corridor. It didn't matter where she was headed; she just needed to keep moving. She spotted a set of doors leading outside and made a beeline for them, barreling past guards who shouted after her.
"Stop her! She's not allowed to leave!" one of them yelled.
She ignored their voices, focused only on the fresh air and the rapidly approaching gardens. The guards were close on her heels—five of them now—but she refused to stop. Her legs burned, her lungs screamed for air, but she pushed on. The palace walls loomed ahead, her potential escape route.
Desperation fueled her as she scanned the wall for a way out. Her eyes landed on a section covered in climbing vines. It wasn't perfect, but it was her only chance. She sprinted toward it, the guards shouting behind her. Reaching the wall, she jumped and grabbed hold of the vines, using them to haul herself up.
"Stop! Come down at once, my lady!" one of the guards called, his voice laced with desperation.
Valeria ignored him, focusing on climbing. Her fingers dug into the vines, her muscles screaming in protest. She was so close to freedom. But suddenly, a strong hand clamped around her ankle, yanking her downward.
"No!" she cried, clutching the vines tighter, but the guard's grip was too strong. The vine she held onto loosened, and with a gasp, she fell.
The impact knocked the wind out of her, but she didn't have time to recover. The guards were on her immediately, pinning her down. She kicked one in the face and clawed at another, but more hands restrained her until she couldn't move.
"Stop fighting!" one of the guards growled, his grip tightening on her wrists. "The king will be furious..."
Valeria's rage blinded her to the panic on the guards' faces. They were desperate, knowing the consequences they might face. The guards hauled her to her feet, and she thrashed against their hold.
"Let go, you bastards!" she spat, her voice trembling with frustration. For a brief moment, she had believed she could escape. Freedom had been so close, only to slip through her fingers.
"Please, my lady," a young guard with light brown hair pleaded. "We'll take you back to your chambers, and the king will never hear of this. If he finds out, we'll lose our heads."
Valeria paused, her fury wavering as she noticed the genuine fear in his eyes. She hated herself for feeling pity.
"Fine," she said sharply, her voice laced with annoyance. "I'll go back to my chambers."
The young guard let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, my lady. And please—don't tell the king about this."
"I won't," Valeria replied coldly. "Now let go. I can walk on my own."
The guards hesitated before releasing her, and for a split second, she considered running again. But she dismissed the thought. It would be futile, and she didn't want the guards to suffer further for her actions.
"What is going on here?"
The deep, unmistakable voice froze her in place. Valeria's blood ran cold. How did that man always manage to appear out of nowhere? She turned slowly, and there he was—the king.
"This isn't what it looks like," Valeria said quickly, her voice tinged with panic. Beside her, the guards straightened, lowering their heads in his presence.
The king's gaze swept over them before settling on her. His voice was too calm, too controlled. "It isn't? Then explain yourself, my dear."
Valeria's mind raced, scrambling for a believable excuse. "I... I was sleepwalking," she blurted out. "I woke up in the gardens, and these gallant guards helped me."
It was a terrible lie, and she knew it. One of the younger guards winced at her words, no doubt aware of how unconvincing she sounded.
"Sleepwalking?" The king's brow arched, his tone dripping with skepticism. "During the day? Let's try the truth, Valeria. I don't have all day."
His calmness unnerved her—it was the calm before the storm, and she knew it. Panic surged through her, and before she could think, she stepped toward him, taking his hand in hers.
"It wasn't the guards' fault," she said hurriedly, her voice trembling. "I did something stupid. Please, don't punish them. I'll explain everything to you. Let's just go inside and sit down."
The king's gaze bore into hers, his expression unreadable. Her heart pounded as she waited, unsure of what he would do. Then, to her utter shock, his lips curved into a soft, happy smile.
"You want to sit down with me?" he asked, his voice warm and almost... tender.
Valeria blinked, completely thrown off guard. She had braced herself for anger, for punishment—for bloodshed. But this? She didn't know how to respond, staring up at him in wide-eyed disbelief.