The princess's escape plan was unfolding perfectly. Everything was taking shape. But the more they advanced in their preparations, the more they realized one thing: this was no longer just a plan. It was real.
The princess was really going to do it. In a few days, if everything went as planned, she would no longer be a princess.
She would no longer be Elena of Valoria. She would be free. And the world, for the first time, would belong to her.
Now that everything necessary for her survival outside the castle had been meticulously prepared, they needed to find a better escape route, one that would ensure the princess's safety.
But how could they avoid the guards?
None of this would matter if she couldn't find a way to leave the palace unnoticed.
She was under constant surveillance. Every servant knew her face. The guards posted at the gates and walls had orders not to let any member of the royal family leave without an escort. If she disappeared, the Queen and Adrian would order every exit to be locked down, and she would be found before even crossing the palace walls.
So, where was the flaw in this fortress? Which path could she take without raising suspicion?
They had to find the weak point in the palace's security and choose the path that would lead her to freedom.
She knew the palace by heart. She had been born there. She had grown up there. She had walked its halls more times than she could count.
So, she started observing differently. During meals, she noted the guards' routines, their shift changes, their absences.
As she walked through the hallways, she paid attention to doors left ajar, to rarely frequented corridors, to staircases leading to forgotten areas.
And little by little, she saw the cracks.
The palace was not invincible.
Everything had a flaw. But it was extremely risky.
Once in her room, she sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze lost in thought. Anna, always near her, seemed to be thinking just as intensely.
— Anna: "There are several ways to leave the palace. But none of them are without risk." the servant finally said.
The princess nodded, her heart beating faster as she considered the options.
Anna sighed, crossing her arms.
— Elena: "The main gates are guarded day and night. Even the servants are searched when they leave. If I try to go through there, I'll be stopped immediately."
There was no way she could simply blend into the crowd and walk out of the palace. She needed an alternative.
— Anna: "The palace gardens lead to the outer walls. If you could reach one of them, you might be able to climb over..."
— Elena: "Climb a stone wall several meters high, with guards patrolling?" She shook her head. "No. Too risky. And if they see me, I'm finished."
Anna bit her lip, visibly troubled.
— Anna: "Then there's only one solution."
She had to find a passage no one was watching. A forgotten place. A neglected place. Perhaps a dangerous place… but one that would lead her to freedom.
She took a breath, as if hesitating to speak. Then, finally, she murmured:
— Anna: "There is an underground passage beneath the palace."
Elena's head snapped up.
— Elena: "What?"
— Anna: "An old tunnel. It dates back to a time when the palace could be besieged. Few people know about it, but… it exists."
A shiver of hope ran down the princess's spine.
— Elena: "Where does it lead?"
— Anna: "Outside the palace, beyond the walls. It opens into an old abandoned alley, behind the merchants' quarter."
Elena could hardly believe it. It was perfect.
— Elena: "How do you know about this?" she asked, intrigued.
Anna lowered her eyes.
— Anna: "My father was one of the palace's former guards. He knew every stone of this castle. He often spoke to me about these forgotten passages… I've never been inside, but I know where the entrance is."
The princess took a deep breath. This was their best option. If this tunnel truly existed, it might offer her the only realistic chance to escape unseen.
But there was one problem.
— Elena: "Is it still usable?" she asked.
Anna shrugged.
— Anna: "I don't know. No one has used it for decades. It might be blocked, or in ruins… But we have to try."
Elena stood up, her decision made.
— Elena: "Show me the entrance."
— Anna: "It's only 7 PM. We'll wait until it's later."
The princess nodded, hoping that the solution to all her problems lay there.
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The
♥
Twilight
Kiss
♥
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That evening, under the cover of darkness, Elena and Anna discreetly left the royal apartments.
They moved through the dark corridors of the palace, carefully avoiding the guards. Every step echoed too loudly for her liking, every shadow seemed to hide a threat.
After several minutes, they reached a forgotten wing of the palace, a dusty corridor where no one came anymore. Anna stopped in front of a frayed tapestry depicting a battle scene.
— Anna: "It's here," she murmured.
She pulled the fabric aside, revealing a small wooden door. Elena felt her breath hitch. The servant took an old key from her pocket and turned it in the lock.
The rusty latch creaked, and the door opened onto a stone staircase descending into darkness. A cold draft rushed out, lifting the dust that had accumulated over the years.
The princess shivered. This was her only chance. She turned to Anna.
— Elena: "Find me a lamp. We need to see where this leads."
Anna nodded and left discreetly. A few moments later, she returned with a lit lantern.
Elena took a deep breath and stepped forward first.
The staircase was narrow, damp, silent. Every step echoed under her feet, and the smell of cold stone and mustiness assaulted her senses.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the stairs. The tunnel stretched before them, a long arched corridor of stone.
Anna lifted the lantern, and in the flickering light, they saw what awaited them. The passage was ancient, covered in cobwebs, but it still seemed solid. Elena felt a surge of hope.
— Elena: "We can use it," she whispered.
They moved forward cautiously, testing the ground beneath their feet. It was stable, though slippery. At last, after several meters, they reached a wooden door reinforced with metal. Anna placed a hand on it.
— Anna: "This is it. On the other side, there's an old abandoned courtyard. If we can open it, you'll be free."
The princess's heart pounded wildly. This was her path to freedom.
— Anna: "We'll come back tomorrow night with everything we need." she murmured. "If the door opens… then you can leave."
Elena closed her eyes for a moment. Then, she placed a hand on the old door. In a few days, she would be on the other side. And no one would ever see her again.