[Music Recommendation: Tattoo ~ Loreen]

Oriana walked straight to her room after spending some time on the balcony. She tried to act less suspicious, thinking Adric would put someone to watch her. When she got to her room, there was no guard. Oriana quickly entered and had her bath, changing out of the dress that would attract more attention if she were to escape.

Putting on something simple, Oriana walked to the door with just her necklace and gown. Then she paused.

"I need money to sustain Freya, Louis, and myself." She walked inside the room and packed some of her best jewelry before getting ready to depart. When she first opened the door, a maid was passing by. She closed it and waited for a few minutes before checking again. This time the passage was clear with just a dimly burning lantern.

Oriana padded her feet out of the passage. The first room she passed was Walter and Kai’s room. She really wanted to say goodbye to the children, but Walter would be heartbroken to hear that she was leaving.

"Grow up strong and happy," she wished the children at their door. Then she passed, going towards the entrance. She stopped at the room that belonged to the young girl she spoke to earlier.

"I’m sorry for lying to you, Axilla," she muttered before turning to leave. Every time she saw maids coming, she hid behind the pillars, holding her breath so that nobody would notice. She needed to be far from Avon before anyone noticed her absence.

As Oriana was leaving, she stopped in front of the royal storage when she heard a familiar voice. It was Jasmine’s husband, the creep! She cursed in her head. She was going to run quickly and pass, but then she saw a royal dress. Oriana wondered what the couple was doing inside the carriage when she heard the girl moan.

"They should get a room!" Oriana whispered, feeling her ears needed extra washing. She waited patiently, then counted her steps before running out of the place.

Caspar, who was in the storage, stopped what he was doing and looked outside. He caught a shadow. "Did you see that?" The person he was with shook their head, and the lovers continued.

Oriana ran as far as her legs could carry her. She was almost seeing her freedom. This was it, a proper life for her. Soon she would be on her way, and there would be no more Adric.

"Give him an heir? Like have his child?" Oriana scoffed at the absurdity. She was lost in thought and almost bumped into a group of maids, but they didn’t notice her because they were occupied with something.

Oriana hid at the nearest pillar, holding her breath, but the maids stopped walking. She heard them speak.

"Shut up!" A harsh slap was heard, and the receiver winced. "I’m really trying to be gentle with you because the Queen has asked to get you ready, but trust me, I won’t hesitate to teach you some lessons if you disturb the palace with your silly noise."

Oriana listened to their conversation, wondering who Gwen had asked to be treated gently. The woman didn’t look like it at all. She waited patiently for the maids to pass, but they stood there. Oriana peeped to see what was holding them and saw a maid looking in her direction. She hid back immediately, afraid she had been caught. But then she heard, 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"None of the members of the royal family attended the party tonight," the maid who was looking in Oriana’s direction looked away, shaking her head. "I’m sure this wedding won’t hold tomorrow."

Oriana nodded where she was. Yes, because she wouldn’t be around to witness it. No bride, no wedding, except Adric would go to Orion and bring back Sophie.

"So many people wish for the wedding not to hold. Haven’t you noticed that the Crown Prince no longer goes to his usual spot? The women there said business is bad for them," the maid continued with a deep sigh.

Another maid chimed in, "I pity the princess, though. But do you think the Crown Prince loves her?"

"I’m not sure it’s about love. This is just another pact marriage, I guess," the first maid replied. "Let’s take this one inside the palace quickly. I need to sleep and wake up early for the big day." The maids dragged the young girl, now weak, and they walked inside the palace.

Oriana finally let go of the breath she was holding, wiping off the sweat on her forehead. She continued walking towards the gate, checking her back at intervals to be sure nobody was following her.

"Are you running away?"

"Ah!" Oriana gasped. She wasn’t expecting someone to be outside this late. She held her chest tightly. "Kai?" It was the young prince.

Kai moved his eyes lazily from the bag Oriana was carrying. "Are you running?" he asked again.

Oriana gulped. "N-no," she cleared her throat, trying her best to compose her expression.

"You are lying," Kai muttered, turning his back to continue what he was doing.

Oriana looked around the place, wondering what the boy was doing outside. She walked to stand beside him and wanted to touch his shoulder when she remembered he didn’t like to be touched. She took back her hand. "Kai, you should be in bed."

The boy turned to look at her. "Then I won’t see the fireflies gather in one place to form stars," he pointed at the beautiful sight in front, which Oriana had failed to notice as she was busy planning to escape.

"They are beautiful..." Oriana’s voice trailed off. She had forgotten how much she loved simple things like this.

Kai dropped his hand back to his side, with his eyes still on the fireflies. "Do you hate my uncle?"

Oriana felt her throat dry up. What was she supposed to say to this little boy who could detect lies easily? "I- Kai, when you grow up, you will understand."

"I don’t need to," Kai interjected, his eyes still forward. "Adults can be complicated. Why marry someone you don’t know?"

Oriana snapped her fingers. "Exactly!" She exclaimed, the boy had said it all. "Why?"

Kai finally turned to look at her. "But my uncle is a very kind person. He puts his family first and protects all of us from evil people."

Oriana rubbed her hair. The boy was still a child to think that Adric was kind when he was all alone, the evil person. But she didn’t need to spoil the boy’s mind just to make her point, she just smiled.

"You don’t always have to lie about everything," Kai stated with a sigh.

Oriana was going to reply when she heard someone coming from behind.

"Kai?" It was Adric! Oriana gulped, looking back and forth. She was almost seeing her freedom. Oriana sat on her heels and said to Kai.

"Please, Kai, I know you don’t lie, but just don’t tell anyone you saw me. Please," Oriana begged desperately.

"Kai!" Adric called again, his voice getting closer.

Oriana turned to look at the boy with her hands clasped together. She checked around the place and found a small grass patch raised higher than the others. She went to hide behind there, covering her mouth.

"Kai!" Adric finally got there. He ruffled the boy’s hair. "Watching the fireflies again? What are they today? Crown?"

Kai shook his head. "Stars, but they got scared and flew away," he replied, his eyes looking at the place where Oriana was now hiding.

Behind the grass, Oriana held her fingers over her lips. It was dark, but she tried to beg the boy not to talk.

Adric followed the boy’s eyes. "Is anything the problem, Kai?"

"Let’s go inside," the boy replied, holding his uncle’s hand for them to walk back inside. Adric’s personal guard ran to them.

"Your Highness, the princess is missing from her room," Rowan reported.

Oriana gulped. They would start looking for her soon. Her heart started thumping so fast, and she prayed desperately that nobody would hear it.

"Have you checked the balcony she was resting on before?" Adric asked, and Rowan nodded.

"I had a maid check her room. Some of her jewelry is missing. It seems like she is on the run," Rowan replied.

Adric let go of his nephew. "Get the guards. She won’t have gone far. Let’s find her."

Oriana almost let out a sigh of relief when she heard Adric’s footsteps pause.

Adric turned to look at Kai, who was also looking at him with the same intensity. He asked,

"You didn’t happen to see my bride, did you?"

Oriana prayed for the boy to reply negatively. He was her only hope.

Kai nodded. "I did," he replied.

Adric smiled, walking back to where Kai was. He ruffled the boy’s hair. "Did you see where she went?" Kai looked down at his feet without replying.

Adric smiled. He remembered Kai looking towards the grass earlier. He touched the boy’s shoulder before walking towards where Oriana was hiding. He moved the grass aside.

"Look I caught a firefly," Adirc said causally his voice dripping of sarcasm, "You must be very bad at playing hide and seek," he grinned.

Oriana closed her eyes, trying to run, but Adric held her wrist, pulling her back. The princess turned to look at the little boy, who was also looking at her. She wondered why the boy hated her so much.

"It’s not too deep, Oriana," Adric said, noticing the exchange of looks between his nephew and Oriana. "Kai is too special; he just can’t lie."