[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: Icarus ~ Phildel]
Done with dinner, Oriana left the dining room and went straight to her own room. She looked through the window, waiting for the right time to make her perfect escape. She had seen Adric going out with his friend, and after waiting for a few minutes, she slipped out of her room. Surprisingly, there was no guard outside her door.
"It worked," Oriana muttered to herself. All of Adric’s suspicion had faded because she acted right. Oriana was almost outside the palace when she saw Axilla standing all alone on the balcony. The princess was going to pass her and continue with her escape, but then she paused.
"Axilla, right?" Oriana called, and when the girl turned, she gave her a warm smile.
The girl quickly bowed, "Your Highness."
Oriana noticed how humble and polite the girl was with her gesture. And she also looked like she had a lot going on in her mind, maybe they had the same goal. Oriana decided to talk to her. "The air is always soothing, especially when you have a lot going on in your mind," she said, going to stand close to her.
Axilla nodded, "That’s true," she replied, and kept quiet. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Oriana turned to look at the girl; she was not much of a conversationalist. Oriana was going to keep the same energy, but for some reason, she felt really empty and wanted to talk to someone. "You want to know why I’m sounding this way? Yes, I do have something on my mind," Oriana whispered the last words, leaning her body on the balcony. She spread her hands with her eyes closed for a brief moment. It was a comforting position.
Oriana remembered the dreams she had as a child, to just live a normal life. Not one entangled with royal disputes and whatnot. Now she was not just entangled with it, she was getting married. A small sigh escaped her lips. Oriana opened her eyes when she felt someone hold her, trying to pull her back. It was Axilla, the girl had a worried look on her face.
Oriana bit her lips. She wasn’t always someone who said everything concerning her on the first day, but then she was desperate. Desperately yearning to escape. Maybe if she gave this girl a pitiful story about her, just maybe she would help her out. Oriana decided to go by the story her parents told her to give to the king of Valonia.
"I’m scared, I’m scared of getting married. Actually, this is not the life I wanted. I’m not even supposed to be Adric’s bride; my sister eloped with her lover, and my father decided that it was right to send me to Avon." The princess paused. "And Adric...." her voice trailed, "I feel he doesn’t know anything about me. I am not the type of princess he should be getting married to, you know, all prim and proper kind of princess. I am clumsy, I love getting into trouble and trying out new things. But the man I’m getting married to is going to be king soon, and he doesn’t need all of this." Oriana touched her eyes. Though most of the things she had said were a lie, part of it was true. And she didn’t want to get married to Adric, not to him at least. This wasn’t the life she envisioned as a child. She felt like her wings had been clipped.
"You can tell him about it; maybe he will understand and let you go," Axilla suggested.
Oriana turned to look at the girl. She was so innocent. Someone like her wouldn’t be able to help her escape. Oriana decided not to involve her because she didn’t know what Adric might do to her if the plan should fail. She didn’t want an innocent girl to be punished for her sake. At least not again.
"So innocent. You think that’s how the royal family works? I just have to go through with it and live that way the rest of my life," Oriana smiled, looking at the night sky. Deciding to change the wave of discussion so the girl doesn’t suspect her, Oriana said to her,
"I see why the young merchant fancies you so much. I wish Adric would also look at me the way Cortez looks at you, even for a moment." Oriana shrugged her shoulders. She looked at the girl from the corner of her eyes. She wasn’t denying that she was a lover to Adric’s friend. That meant she shouldn’t talk about her escape plan.
Oriana looked down at her hand when the girl patted her gently. It was a small gesture, but it warmed her heart because she knew it was genuine.
"Everything will be fine, and Crown Prince Adric is a nice person," the girl, Axilla, said.
Oriana almost wanted to laugh. Adric was anything but nice. He always put on a smiling face to an unsuspecting victim, then bit when you least expect it. But that wasn’t what she was going to say to the girl at the moment. She needed to look like a happy bride.
Oriana nodded, "If it’s not too much, you should catch my flower tomorrow, okay? I don’t have any friends here. Please?"
Axilla smiled, with excitement in her eyes, "It’s not too much, it’s an honor." She bowed.
Seeing how happy the girl was with the request, Oriana felt bad because she was lying, but it wasn’t her fault. She needed to save herself; nobody would help her if she didn’t. Then she remembered that even if she wasn’t there, the girl would still live a happy life with the man she loves. Oriana smiled, "You know I saw you, right?" she said, and when the girl furrowed her brows, Oriana continued.
"During dinner, my spoon fell on the ground. I saw him touch your—" Oriana quickly rushed to the girl’s back, touching her gently to stop her from coughing. It seemed like something got stuck in her throat.
"What’s wrong with her?"
Oriana paused when she saw Adric and his friend now walking in their direction. She was going to say what happened when Axilla raised her face, looking at her with plea. Oriana knew she didn’t want her to talk about what just happened. She decided to say something else. That’s the most help she could give to the girl after she has lied.
"I think it’s the food; it passed through the wrong pipe," Oriana lied flawlessly, and when she raised her eyes, Adric was staring at her unblinkingly.
"I’ll take her inside." Oriana moved away from her side when the young man walked to hold Axilla.
"Goodnight, Axilla," she waved, as she watched them disappear inside through the door. Oriana turned to face the night sky, still aware of Adric’s presence.
"You should go back inside; it’s a cold night," Adric finally said to her.
Oriana inhaled softly. She really didn’t want to disappoint all the guests that have gathered for the wedding. Especially after she had met this young girl who was just kind-hearted. There were many others like her who had come for her wedding. Trying to test her luck one last time, Oriana asked,
"Are we really going to get married tomorrow?"
Adric paused for a second, watching the girl’s golden hair that now moved with the gentle night breeze. She wasn’t looking at him, but he knew she was aware of his presence. "We are."
"And you won’t change your mind, knowing how much I hate you?" Oriana asked, gripping the rail tightly.
"I won’t," he replied, with his hand now inside his pocket.
Oriana turned to look at him, her eyes bearing unshed tears. "Please let me go... I don’t want any of this. What can I do to finally leave this place?"
Adric walked slowly to stand in front of her, then he raised his hand to touch her, but Oriana flinched, taking a step back. The prince dropped his hand back to his side. "There’s only one way, Princess, to leave this place."
Excited that there was something she could do, Oriana nodded happily. She was willing to do it, provided that she wasn’t going to be Adric’s wife. "Tell me, I’ll do it."
"Then that’s settled," Adric replied, stepping away from her front, to go rest his back on one of the pillars with his eyes still on Oriana.
Oriana clasped her hands together, "What do I need to do?" she asked, wondering why Adric didn’t tell her since.
"An heir," Adric’s brown eyes lazily moved from Oriana and settled on the trees outside. "Give me an heir and you’re free to leave."
"What?" Oriana was almost at a loss for words, "You know—I,"
"Your Highness," Adric’s personal guard arrived, "You need to come and see this," Rowan informed, bowing to Adric, then to Oriana, who had a stunned look on her face.
Adric pushed himself away from the pillar, turning to look at Oriana, "You should get some sleep; your big day is tomorrow." Without waiting for her reply, he followed Rowan out of the place.
Oriana blinked. He was never planning on letting her go from the onset. An heir? Why would she have a child with Adric? But that would mean that the wedding will still hold tomorrow? No. Oriana shook her head. She needed to leave this place, and tonight was the only time she could do it. Because after tomorrow, any other attempt to escape, she would be punished for leaving her husband. Society was only cruel and unfair to women.
"An escape it is," Oriana muttered, stepping away from the balcony.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com