I escaped.
After eighteen years of my wealthy life in the royal palace, I escaped.
I've always been free.
Was I supposed to be freer now? Or did I lose all my rights to freedom? Only time could decide that.
But now it was the moment to begin, run from the walls that hosted me all this time, and escape from the single future I never planned.
Getting married to a stranger, from the Erule Kingdom.
Seruel, the second Prince.
I heard voices about him, but never confirmed them or met him. And apparently it wasn't happening today either.
Maybe I should be thankful to Percival, first he put me in this situation, but then he gives me the chance to escape.
I had no idea what was going on trough his mind, was I supposed to be trustful? It was the first time I ever doubted him or my deceased father.
No reason to get back to it, I already spent my time struggling over that.
But the truth was: I was clueless. I had no idea what to do, where to go. How I was supposed to survive. If it was Lancelot, Percival or any other knights, even a commoner, they would know what to do, how to act.
But me? A spoiled Princess who enjoyed her life as nothing would ever harm her? I was lost.
What was the best thing to do? And what was right?
I ran straight, leading to somewhere I hoped wouldn't be found easily.
I never planned or participated in hunting events or any scouting, I've been treated as a kid my whole life. Maybe if I knew something would happen, I would have prepared myself.
Breathe, Namiya, breathe. There was no point in thinking "I should have done that" or "I should have not". What was done was done.
I had to act for myself.
And that was how I found myself drenched wet, at the lake shore, trying to wash blood off me. That was the first step I planned.
If only I planned more than that.
But that was still something.
What was the next step? Spending the night in the woods I didn't know? Weren't monsters or animals wandering?
No, no, if something was out here I would have heard and not be alive. I was also sure I wasn't far from the palace yet.
To the wildness or to the outskirts? I had more chance fo surviving if I stayed in the country, less unexpected things to happen.
Or so I thought.
"You look worn-out, little missy."
That was when trouble begun. But what was I expecting from being out in the night, blood smeared on my clothes?
I could have run, I should have run, but I didn't.
As much as I wanted to be able to do everything by myself, I knew I couldn't. That was why I always end up relying on people, good or bad.
I was taken to a big wooden house, not far from where I was found.
"The children are sleeping, I'll show you where you can sleep and give you a change of clothes."
I had no reason to refuse, the kindness I was proposed to was blinding. Someone found a girl drenched in water and blood and offers her shelter. I immediately felt reassured as I heard there were more people in there. I was spoiled, but that didn't mean I wasn't warned not to follow anyone suspicious or alone at night, not that it ever happen, it was a first.
That wasn't the single reason I followed the man. I didn't know why, but I felt a connection with him. Not emotional, but it seemed like I met this person in the past, why should I not follow my guts? He didn't sound or looked scary, instead, he was neat and composed.
Why was he in the same place where I was found?
The changing was immediate: the uncomfortable feeling of wearing clothes I was not used to, dirty and old, the colours of dried and frayed fibres. But it was for the best to get rid of that sinned clothes, burning was what I wished, but knew I couldn't. I left it there, in the corner of the room, so that I couldn't look at it any more.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I shook my head before realising I haven't spoken since I left the palace.
"T-thank you."
"We can talk later, you should get some sleep."
For how much I didn't want to fall asleep, but instead run away again, my physical strength went missing. I had to make sure to be far enough from the palace and my brother. Were they going to send soldiers on my tail, force the marriage on me? Or hide the whole story as it never happened? It didn't get exposed, so no one will ask about it. Or at least, that's what I knew.
I lost control over my body, as the tiredness of that long day fell on me, my eyes closing as I wished nothing really happened.
It was hours later, as I woke up in panic, words echoing between the thin walls.
"Send someone to the Palace, we have the Princess."
And the circle started again.