"Did the Crown Prince really say that?"
Yorick's question made Josselyn stop in her tracks.
The light brown-haired man with moss-green eyes stood beside her, looking straight ahead. His tone was as gentle as ever, yet to Josselyn it sounded like a soldier conducting an interrogation.
"What do you mean?" Josselyn tried to sound casual.
Yorick turned his head slowly. "I'm just curious whether that truly came from the Crown Prince."
Josselyn held her breath. Her hands clenched the fabric of her green dress.
"Of course," she answered quickly.
Yorick smiled faintly, but his eyes did not. "As far as I know, the Crown Prince has never entrusted such an important message to anyone."
Josselyn bit the inside of her cheek.
"Except Darius," Yorick added quietly.
The air around them tightened. They resumed walking, but the atmosphere had shifted.
"And today," Yorick glanced at her, "you spoke before the King. In the Crown Prince's name. Without any of them by your side."
Josselyn said nothing.
"It seems I've missed something," Yorick continued lightly. "Since when have you gained that much trust?"
Josselyn's shoulders slumped, as if all her strength had drained away. "I only conveyed what needed to be said."
Yorick narrowed his eyes, deepening her unease.
"I didn't lie," she replied quickly.
"Didn't you?"
Josselyn opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"I…" she swallowed, "I haven't received permission to speak to the King directly."
Yorick's brows lifted. "So you did it without permission?"
Josselyn looked away. "The situation was urgent."
"I can see that," Yorick folded his arms, "you've just created quite a mess. How are you going to face Killian's anger when he finds out?"
Josselyn pressed her lips together, refusing to answer. Killian's voice echoed again in her mind.
"I will personally behead her if she cannot keep her mouth shut."
Her breath hitched. 'Damn it…'
Her hands clenched so tightly that her nails left crescent marks in her skin.
"Should I run away?" she whispered.
Yorick stared at her, eyes widening.
"Why would you run?" he asked, probing.
Josselyn flinched, looking at him nervously.
"My neck…" She held it with both hands. "I need to save myself first, don't I?"
Yorick recognized the panic. From her pale face, and the way her formal speech had slipped.
The physician immediately grabbed her arm, gripping it firmly.
"What exactly happened, Josselyn? If you tell me, I can help you."
Josselyn did not answer right away. She glanced at Yorick's moss-green eyes, searching for the warmth she usually found there. A second later, she looked away. Guilt crept in.
Yorick should not be dragged into a problem she had caused.
"Josselyn."
His voice was firmer now. His gaze lowered, studying her face more closely.
"Is it that bad?" he pressed. "What exactly is the Crown Prince planning to tell the King?"
"I… that…"
Josselyn bit her lower lip.
"I can't tell you, sir. But he did say that if this secret gets out, he will cut off my head."
She looked at Yorick intently. "How much longer do I have left to live?"
"Josselyn…"
"When will the King hold the council meeting?" she cut in quickly. "Tonight? Tomorrow?"
Yorick held her gaze for a few seconds.
"Probably tomorrow. I'm not sure either." He exhaled. "Can't you apologize and discuss this with him first?"
Josselyn scoffed. "Do you think that ruthless Crown Prince would listen to my explanation?"
She shook her head. "Before I could even finish my first sentence, he would already have my head."
Yorick ran a hand roughly through his light brown hair. "I don't know what happened.
But running away is not the right solution."
"Then what?" Josselyn turned to him. "If I leave before they decide, at least I still have a chance to live."
"Are you sure?" Yorick crossed his arms. "Or will that only make things worse?"
Josselyn stared straight ahead, silent.
"Think about it," Yorick continued calmly. "The Crown Prince hasn't spoken yet, the King has already made a decision, and the one person who delivered the message… disappears."
Josselyn fell quiet.
"Wouldn't that make you look guilty?" Yorick asked softly.
Her fingers locked together tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"I already look guilty," she muttered.
Yorick watched her for a moment, then sighed.
"If you want to run," he said quietly, "at least think about the consequences."
Josselyn did not respond.
"And one more thing," Yorick added, gently taking her hand, "you won't be able to leave that easily."
~
Night came faster than she expected. Josselyn sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly ahead.
"I'm going to die…"
The words felt foreign on her tongue.
"I'm really going to die, before I can even finish my revenge. Damn it…"
She raked her fingers through her long hair.
"The gods helped me get closer to Killian. But I forgot, getting close to him also means getting close to the edge of his blade."
Killian's face surfaced in her mind again. His cold gaze when he pressed his sword to Duke Corven's neck without hesitation. Then his smirk when he casually declared he would cut off her head if she spoke a single word outside that room.
Josselyn shook her head hard.
"No… I can't wait."
She stood.
"If I stay here, I'm certain I'll lose my life first." Her hands trembled. "Just like Mother. Maybe she was right to run, to avoid punishment. At least she had a few more days to breathe freely, even if in the end…"
Josselyn drew a long, heavy breath.
"I have to go."
~
Josselyn made sure the palace corridors were empty. Even so, she moved as quietly as possible, almost soundless. Slipping through shadows, avoiding the guards.
"One more turn…"
Her breath caught as two guards passed through the hallway ahead.
"Now."
With a swift movement, she crossed before they could turn.
Her heart pounded.
"I can…"
The words echoed in her mind, even as she slipped out through a side door of the palace.
The night air greeted her immediately.
Cold. Vast. Free.
Josselyn almost smiled.
"Just a little more…"
Valenroth Palace was surrounded by a vast, dark forest, bordered by the outer walls.
Josselyn ran toward a cluster of dense trees. Wet grass brushed the hem of her dress. Leaves rustled under her steps.
"Faster…"
Her breathing grew uneven, but she did not stop.
Until the gray wall came into view. Solid, towering, nearly as tall as the trees beside it. Josselyn quickened her pace.
"I did it." Her heart raced with excitement. "I just need to climb this tree, and then I can get over the wall."
She stopped in front of the largest tree closest to the wall. Her hand touched the trunk. Tilting her head back, she assessed the steps she needed to reach the top.
Once she felt certain, she reached for the rope in her bag, but suddenly a horse's neigh cut through the air.
"Stop."
Her hand froze instantly.
That voice. Cold, calm, unmistakable.
Josselyn closed her eyes for a moment. A faint click of her tongue escaped her before she opened them and turned toward the sound.
Killian stood a few steps behind her. No crown, yet his arrogance remained undeniable atop his large black horse.
Beside him was Darius and his mount, looking imposing in a brown gambeson, the padded layered armor.
Three or four other figures stood behind them, indistinct in the dim light.
Damn it. They really went this far to chase me, even bringing soldiers.
Their gazes were fixed on her. Her heart pounded harder.
Josselyn's throat went dry.
"…Your Highness."
Killian did not answer immediately. He simply stared at her.
She could not read that look. It felt like being pierced by an icy blade.
"Didn't I say I would personally cut off your head if you couldn't keep that mouth of yours shut?" Killian finally spoke.
Josselyn's body trembled. Her hands gripped her bag tightly.
"And I always keep my word." Killian glanced slightly at Darius.
"Drag her back to the palace."