Rowan carried Freya inside one of the rooms, with Louis trotting behind him. The man’s face was filled with worry. He wished to be the one feeling the pain instead of his daughter.

"I will get someone to take a look at her," Rowan said, placing the girl on the bed. His eyes moved to her leg as he asked, "Do you remember what happened?"

Freya, who had been crying since the previous day, pressed her pale lips gently together. "We were trying to get to the border, Queen Oriana and I, when... the prime minister and his men attacked," she whispered in a low voice.

Rowan nodded at the girl’s reply. "That’s okay. The wound on your leg is not too deep. You’ll be fine," he reassured her, moving to the side to give the girl’s father space with his daughter.

Louis sat on the bed, his eyes filled with unshed tears as he gazed at his daughter. "I’m so sorry, Freya, that you had to suffer all alone."

Freya shook her head gently. "It’s okay, Pa. I’m happy everything is fine now," she whispered.

Rowan stood in the corner, watching the warm moment between father and daughter. It was evident how much they truly cared for each other, and that was what family was all about. Family wasn’t a word Rowan was truly familiar with, as he had grown up serving the royal family. They were the only family he had ever known. Though things were better when the former Queen was alive, now everything had become twisted. But seeing the bond between the girl and her father made him smile for some reason. Quietly, the guard left the room.

Meanwhile, Gwen struggled with Bessie as they tried to lift an unconscious Adelaide up from the floor. Fear gripped the former Queen’s heart. She knew that Adric was going to be merciless with his vengeance, especially after what they had done to Oriana. This time she knew they had gone too far. All Gwen wanted was to scare Oriana; she didn’t know that Nicholas was going to force himself on her. Gwen had been confident when they told her that Adric was no more. But right now was not a time for regret, and the woman knew that. All she had to do was run as far away as possible.

"Hold her legs properly," Gwen called out to Bessie, who was carrying a small bag while also holding the legs of the princess.

Adelaide stirred, opening her eyes. She found herself moving, and the first face she saw was that of her mother, who was sweating profusely.

"Mother! Put me down!" the girl raised her voice.

"Adelaide, it’s a relief you’ve come around. Now you need to start running," Gwen signaled to Bessie, and the maid carefully lowered Adelaide’s feet to the ground. Before she could even regain her balance, Gwen tugged her wrist with force.

Adelaide almost stumbled as she tried to keep pace with her mother’s frantic movement. "Mother, please stop!" the princess exhaled. "What’s happening? Why are we running?"

Gwen paused, turning to look at her daughter with a furrowed brow. "Why? Do you not remember? Adric is back... wait, don’t tell me that getting hit made you lose your senses."

Adelaide frowned at her mother’s words. She didn’t like that she was being talked down to in front of an ordinary maid. She pressed her lips together and looked at her mother.

"So where is brother Adric right now?"

Gwen scoffed, "Maybe you should go and look for him since you have spare time." She sneered. "I don’t know where Adric is. The last time I saw him, he was going after Nicholas. We should run while we have the opportunity. You know who your brother is."

Adelaide sighed. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how cold Adric was when it came to handling things like this. It was just that she was too embarrassed, and she turned her gaze to meet the maid standing next to them.

"You, why is she running with us?"

Gwen nodded. "I asked her to come with us. We need someone to help carry our bags, and you were too heavy for me to lift."

Bessie bowed, sensing that the two women were about to leave her behind, judging by the way the princess was looking at her. Staying behind wasn’t an option for her since she had already betrayed her two masters.

"Let me go with you, please. I can be useful outside the palace. Since I’m just a maid, there are things your royal hands shouldn’t touch. I will do all of it," Bessie pleaded desperately.

Adelaide stared at the maid for a moment, contemplating her words. The truth was that she didn’t want to leave with the maid. Someone who could betray her own master so easily could betray just anyone at any time. But the girl wasn’t entirely wrong. Adelaide decided to let her follow them and maybe sell her off when they were far away from Avon.

"So where are we running to?" she asked Gwen. "Did you prepare the carriage?" the princess continued, making her way outside the palace.

Gwen’s lips pulled up in a smirk. "Adelaide, you need to get off your high horse. You might as well ask if I had organized singers and dancers since you want to announce your departure," the older woman scolded her daughter.

"I am telling you that we are supposed to be hiding and running right now, and what? Prepare a carriage, you say? You should probably go back inside and wait for one. Pray Adric doesn’t find you first." Without waiting for her daughter, Gwen walked faster, stepping into the darkness as she tried to find her way outside.

Adelaide huffed. "She should have calmly explained the situation to me." Trying to flip her hair, her hand brushed against the maid behind her, adding to Adelaide’s irritation. "Watch where you’re going, idiot!" she shouted at Bessie.

"I’m so sorry, Princess Adelaide." Bessie tried to apologize, but her words only fueled Adelaide’s anger even more.

Adelaide dragged the maid’s hair. "It’s ’Princess’ now, but what about calling me ’Queen’ like you were groveling at my feet earlier, you lowborn filth?" the princess spat with anger. "Mother! Wait for me," she ran after her mother but froze in her tracks when she saw her mother returning.

"Mother, wha-" Beside Gwen was Rowan with a calm expression on his face, and behind him were other guards who served Adric.

Adelaide cleared her throat, raising her chin proudly. "What are you doing, Rowan? My mother and I are taking a night walk."

"She said so," Rowan replied. "But His Majesty would like to have a short talk with you... all three of you." Snapping his fingers, the guards moved to seize Adelaide and Bessie.

"Lock them up in the dungeon," Rowan ordered.