In the shadow of the palace walls...
Astra was still in the palace at night, waiting for an opportunity to escape from the palace.
The guards were securing her chambers, and she couldn't escape. She sneaked out of the window to see who was outside.
She wanted to use the window to get out, but the building was too high, and she realized that she would hurt herself if she tried to get out.
As she was looking outside, she saw one of the maids who was her friend in the palace and called her, "Riza!" Riza turned to look who was calling her and saw Astra, and was astonished.
Astra requested her to come inside, and Riza immediately walked into her chambers.
As she was about to enter the room, the guards blocked her way and asked what she was doing. Astra immediately told them that she had called her.
The guards were suspicious but later realized that Astra was supposed to have dinner tonight, as they saw Riza holding a food tray.
Riza had everything planned and knew that this would happen, so she pretended that she had come to give Astra food, and they allowed her to come in.
She did and also brought another maid with her. Astra was happy to see her and gave her a warm hug.
Astra didn't want to waste much time and immediately asked Riza to help her.
Riza asked her what she could do for her. Astra exclaimed, "It will be very difficult for me." Riza took Astra's hand and held it, saying not to worry and she would do whatever she asked her to do.
Astra was delighted to hear that from her and requested her to dress as her and to give her her maid's clothing to wear to escape the palace.
Astra immediately wore the maid's clothing and thanked Riza for accepting her request. Astra said it while crying and hugged her with affection and appreciated her repeatedly.
She covered herself with a scarf to get out of the chambers and left with the other maid.
After getting out of the palace, Astra went to her home and walked to the corner of the house where there was a window which was her young sister's room, and called her name,
"Freya!" She appeared as she was calling her.
And told her to take care of her mother, as she was leaving. Freya was feeling very sad as Astra was leaving her behind, and tears dropped out of her eyes.
Astra couldn't go to see her mother because she knew that if she did, she would stop her from leaving, and her father would do everything to stop her from leaving her mother and her sister.
Then she went to the spot that Lycaon had told her to go to and waited for him there. Lycaon appeared, and Astra immediately ran to him and gave him a warm hug.
Lycaon apologized to Astra for keeping her waiting.
He held her hand, and they both ran together to the north, to find safety in the jungles so that when they came looking for them, the king's knights wouldn't find them.
King Herod was ready to go to his bride's chambers to spend the night with her. He was drunk and out of control.
He was excited that he had married Astra and dreamed of having her as his bride, and his dream had come true. He was looking forward to spending the night with her and headed to her chambers, telling the guards to step away from the door.
He walked into the room and closed the curtains. The room was dark, and he couldn't see who was in the room. What he saw was his own bride sitting on the bed, waiting for him.
The prince couldn't realize that the one who was sitting there was not Astra but the maid disguised as her.
Herod walked closer to her and touched her shoulders, arms, and brushed her cheeks. "Astra, you don't know how happy I am to be with you today.
Finally, you are mine," he whispered, his voice husky with desire. He swooped her up with his lips, and the maid, Riza, felt a wave of fear and disgust wash over her.
She tried to play along, pretending to be Astra, but her body stiffened with anxiety.
Herod didn't seem to notice, too caught up in his own passion. He undressed her, and carried her to the bed, their bodies entwined as he gave in to his desires.
Riza felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as Herod touched her, his hands rough and demanding.
She bit her lip, trying to hold back a sob, as he moved above her, his breath hot against her skin.
The room was dark, and Herod was too drunk to notice the difference, too caught up in his own fantasy.
Riza felt a wave of shame and disgust wash over her, but she knew she had to keep up the act, for Astra's sake.
After Lycaon and Astra ran to the jungle, they found a house and decided to take a rest there. The house was broken and dusty, full of grass.
It seemed like the people might have abandoned it. Astra said while looking around the house.
Since the house was near a river, Astra and Lycaon decided to refresh themselves in the water for a while. Lycaon took off his shirt and jumped into the river.
Astra felt inappropriate about taking off her clothes and decided to jump into the water without taking them off. They swam together and played, pouring water on themselves.
After spending the night with the maid, Prince Herod woke up, called Astra's name, and when he looked, he found out that it wasn't her. He closed his eyes and opened them again to make sure that what he was seeing was right.
He opened them widely and shouted, and the maid woke up. He aggressively held her hair and hurt her, asking her where Astra was.
She bent down on her knees and apologized to him, "I'm sorry, my prince. I don't know where Astra is."
He asked her what she was doing there, and she told him that Princess Astra had told her to wear her clothes and spend the night with him and didn't know her whereabouts, saying Astra hadn't told her where she was going.
Prince Herod called the guards to seize the maid and imprison her.
The maid kept apologizing to the prince, falling on her knees and begging him. He later summoned the guards to go and look for Astra.
"All the army must leave the palace to look for her," he said, breathing heavily. Prince Herod was very angry. The guards all went out to look for her.