Chapter 3 of, I, The Absurd Princess Wants to Runaway: Shadows in the Twilight
At last. Away from palace, Luna felt a strange sense of ease—not because the road had grown any safer, but because the presence of her unlikely companion, Shade, made the vast, unfamiliar world seem a little less daunting. Though she wouldn't admit it aloud, the thief's sharp wit and steady confidence gave her a flicker of reassurance.
Shade, on the other hand, found himself both amused and unnerved by the princess's mix of absurd humor and steely resolve. This wasn't a helpless royal desperate for rescue; this was someone who had lived behind gilded walls and yet remained wildly unpredictable. And as much as her eccentricity intrigued him, it also made him wonder just how much trouble she was bound to attract.
For now, the borderlands awaited them, and though they had found an uneasy camaraderie, both knew that trust was a luxury neither could afford.
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Date: 29th Day of winter's crescent, Nighttime , Year 1438. 6.37 pm
Location: Solerian Ville Border
The last remnants of daylight faded as the forest thickened once again, casting the world into twilight. Luna tugged her cloak tighter around her shoulders, suppressing a shiver. Despite her reservations, Shade's presence brought a begrudging sense of security—though she'd never admit it aloud.
He walked ahead of her, a shadow moving effortlessly through the underbrush. Occasionally, he glanced back to ensure she was following. His movements were deliberate yet relaxed, like a predator stalking prey but uninterested in the hunt.
"You're awfully quiet for someone who loves to talk," Luna quipped, breaking the silence.
Shade glanced over his shoulder, his amber eyes glinting in the dim light. "And you're surprisingly loud for someone who's supposed to be avoiding attention."
Luna flushed, biting back a retort. She refused to let him rattle her again.
As the path curved sharply, Shade raised a hand, signaling her to stop. His playful demeanor disappeared, replaced by sharp focus.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Shade pointed to the dirt path ahead, where faint tracks led away from the main road and into the trees. "We're being followed."
Her stomach dropped. "How can you tell?"
He crouched beside the tracks, brushing his fingers over them. "Two sets of boots. Heavy, deliberate steps. They're close."
Luna instinctively reached for the dagger at her side, her pulse quickening. "What do we do?"
Shade stood, his expression unreadable. "We move quickly and quietly. If they catch up, leave the fighting to me."
She bristled at his tone but nodded, following as he led her off the main road and into the dense underbrush.
---
Location: The Solerian Palace, Capital City of Myrvindale
Date: 29th Day of winter's crescent, evening year 1438.
In the dimly lit halls of the palace, Marchioness Dementia Caestrella strolled with unhurried grace. Her magenta hair glinted in the candlelight, coiled high atop her head in an elaborate style that rivaled the grandeur of the empire's finest architecture.
Her destination was the private study of Archduke Of the North, Cedric Vanderlyn.
When she arrived, she found him standing at his desk, pouring over a map of the empire with a scowl etched deep into his features.
"Hard at work, as always," she said, announcing her presence with a soft chuckle.
Cedric didn't look up. "What do you want, Marchioness? I'm busy on my schedule."
Dementia stepped inside, the door closing softly behind her. "To offer my assistance, of course. The princess's disappearance affects us all."
His silver-blue eyes finally lifted to meet hers, cold and unyielding. "Spare me your false concern. You've made it clear you care little for the empire's stability."
She smirked, undeterred by his hostility. "You misunderstand me, Archduke. Luna's escape is a symptom of a larger issue—the emperor's weakening grip on power. Surely you see that."
Cedric's jaw tightened. "You tread on dangerous ground, Dementia."
"Oh, come now," she said, stepping closer. "We both know this empire is teetering on the edge. The princess is merely the first crack in the foundation. If we're not careful, everything will come crashing down."
"And you think you're the one to prevent that?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
Her violet eyes gleamed with ambition. "I think I'm the one who can turn this situation to our advantage. But only if we work together."
Cedric didn't respond, his gaze hard as stone.
Dementia's smile widened. "Consider my offer, Archduke. The emperor won't tolerate failure, and neither should you."
With that, she turned and swept out of the room, leaving Cedric to brood in silence.
---
Back at The Forest, 3 hours later. 09:21 pm. 29th Day of winter's crescent. Year 1438.
The shadows deepened as Luna and Shade pressed on, the tension in the air growing with every step.
They had barely gone a mile when the first arrow whizzed past them, embedding itself in a tree just inches from Shade's head.
"Down!" he barked, pulling Luna off the path and into the underbrush.
Her heart pounded as she crouched low, clutching her dagger tightly. Shade unsheathed his blade, his movements swift and fluid.
From the trees ahead, two figures emerged—roughly dressed men with wicked grins and weapons drawn.
"Well, what do we have here?" one of them sneered, his gaze flicking to Luna. "A pretty little thing lost in the woods?"
Shade stepped in front of her, his posture relaxed but his grip on the sword firm. "You've got two choices," he said, his voice cold and dangerous. "Turn around and walk away, or stay and regret it."
The second man laughed, a harsh, guttural sound. "Big words for someone outnumbered."
Shade didn't respond. Instead, he moved.
It happened so quickly that Luna barely had time to register it. One moment Shade was standing still, and the next, he was a blur of motion. His blade flashed in the dim light, and the first man crumpled to the ground, clutching his side.
The second man lunged, but Shade sidestepped effortlessly, disarming him with a swift strike to the wrist.
The fight was over in seconds.
The surviving bandit scrambled to his feet and fled into the trees, leaving his companion groaning on the ground.
Shade turned back to Luna, his expression unreadable. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, her voice caught in her throat.
"Good," he said, sheathing his sword. "Because this is only the beginning."
---
Date: 30th Day of Winter's Crescent, Year 1438 Location: Mirella's Tavern, Edge of the Solerian Border
The smell of roasted meat and cheap ale hung in the air as Luna slipped through the tavern door, her hood drawn low over her face. The place was crowded, filled with rough travelers and locals nursing mugs of lukewarm beer. The warmth of the fire in the hearth was a welcome reprieve from the biting chill outside.
Shade walked in after her, his presence drawing a few wary glances from patrons. He was used to it. His sharp features and the deliberate grace in his movements screamed "danger," and it was a reputation he had no interest in shedding.
"Keep your hood up," he murmured to Luna as they moved toward an empty corner table. "You don't exactly blend in."
"I can be inconspicuous," Luna shot back, but her fiery eyes gave away her irritation.
"Right," Shade said dryly. "Because nothing says 'commoner' like a cloak made of imperial silk."
Luna bit back a retort, taking a seat at the table he pointed to. Shade left her there, disappearing into the crowd. She tried not to fidget, her senses on high alert.
She had been outside the palace only a few days, but already the world felt both larger and more dangerous than she had imagined. The tavern was a far cry from the grand halls she was used to, but she had to admit, there was something thrilling about being here—unseen, unknown.
Her musings were interrupted when Shade returned, carrying two bowls of steaming stew and a loaf of bread. He set them on the table with a smirk.
"Food's on me, Princess," he said, sliding into the seat across from her.
"I didn't ask for charity," she replied, but the smell of the stew was too enticing to resist. She took a hesitant bite, surprised at how good it was.
"You're welcome," Shade said, tearing a piece of bread. "Enjoy it while you can. Meals like this don't come easy on the road."
Their conversation was interrupted when the tavern door swung open, letting in a gust of cold wind—and two men in heavy cloaks.
Shade's posture stiffened immediately, his hand drifting toward the dagger at his belt. Luna noticed the shift in his demeanor, her own tension rising.
The men scanned the room, their eyes lingering on each patron for just a moment too long. They were searching for someone.
Luna's heart pounded. Were they looking for her?
"Stay calm," Shade whispered, his voice low. "Don't draw attention."
The men moved toward the bar, speaking in hushed tones to the barkeep. Luna strained to hear, but the din of the tavern drowned out their conversation.
"What do we do if they recognize me?" she whispered back.
"They won't," Shade replied, though his gaze never left the men. "And if they do, I'll handle it."
Luna didn't find that particularly reassuring, but she forced herself to focus on her stew, pretending not to notice the growing tension in the room.
The barkeep pointed toward a table at the far end of the tavern, and the men moved in that direction, their eyes scanning the crowd as they went. Luna held her breath as they passed her table, her hood casting deep shadows over her face.
Shade's hand remained on his dagger, but the men continued past them without a second glance.
Once they were out of earshot, Shade relaxed—though only slightly. "They're bounty hunters," he said quietly. "Probably looking for someone else, but we should leave soon, just in case."
Luna nodded, her appetite suddenly gone. She hadn't considered how dangerous her escape would make her, not just to herself but to anyone who helped her.
"Let's go," she said, rising from her seat.
Shade stood as well, tossing a few coins on the table before guiding her toward the door. The night outside was colder than before, the wind cutting through their cloaks like a blade.
As they mounted their horses and rode away from the tavern, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was about to become even more perilous.
And she was right.
---
Location: The Solerian Palace, Capital City of Myrvindale
Date: 30th Day of winter's crescent, year 1438
In the Solerian Palace, Emperor Ezekiel stood in the war room, his gaze fixed on the map spread out before him. Archduke Cedric stood at his side, his expression grim.
"We've received reports of Shade's movements near the eastern border," Cedric said. "If he's traveling with the princess, they'll likely head south toward the Aetherion Kingdom."
The emperor's jaw tightened. "Then we must cut them off before they reach the border. Double the patrols in the southern provinces. I want every road watched and every traveler questioned."
Cedric nodded. "And if we find her?"
"You know what to do," the emperor said coldly.
Cedric hesitated. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, Luna isn't just a fugitive. She's your daughter."
Ezekiel's eyes hardened. "She's a threat to the empire as long as she remains outside these walls. Bring her back, Cedric. At any cost."
Cedric bowed, though his heart was heavy. He would do his duty—but the thought of forcing Luna back into a life she had clearly rejected weighed on him more than he cared to admit.
As he left the war room, one thought lingered in his mind:
Was it really loyalty to the empire that drove him? Or something far more personal?
---
Meanwhile, back on the road, Luna and Shade found themselves pressed against the edge of the forest as a patrol of imperial guards passed by.
Shade held a finger to his lips, signaling for silence as they crouched behind the dense undergrowth. Luna's heart thundered in her chest as the guards' voices grew louder.
"...orders from the emperor himself," one of the guards said. "We're to detain anyone suspicious, no exceptions."
"Think they'll really be stupid enough to come this way?" another asked.
"You never know with that thief, Shade," the first replied. "He's slippery as hell."
As the voices faded, Luna exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Shade glanced at her, his amber eyes serious for once. "This is only the beginning, Princess. And we already encountered first stage of what's to come more. Are you ready for what's coming, Princess?"
Luna met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "I didn't come this far to turn back now."
Shade smirked, his usual cockiness returning. "Good. Let's keep it that way."
And with that, they vanished into the shadows of the borderlands, the hunt for the runaway princess just beginning.
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