Seraphine took a deep breath, clutching the small, soft leather bag that held her travel necessities. Inside were her comfortable clothes, a thick map she hoped she could read, and, most importantly, her pouches filled with homemade herbs and natural remedies. The moon was high above Asteruya, and the cool night air was her only friend.
She was the runaway heroine, but she wasn't exactly known for her grace.
Her escape route was through the old West Wing—a path that was supposed to be quiet and dark. Seraphine's plan was simple: get out, and run toward the nearest forest.
The Clumsy Runaway
She started her journey in full stealth mode, but her natural careless nature turned the escape into a series of funny, silent disasters.
She had barely taken three steps when her long, flowing hair snagged hard on a decorative wall sconce. It wasn't a small snag; it was a loud snatch that echoed in the quiet hall. Seraphine froze, her eyes wide with panic. She had to pause for a frantic, two-handed battle with the plasterwork, silently cursing her long hair.
Finally free, she moved on to the next challenge: the grand staircase. She was so focused on keeping her footsteps soft that she failed to notice the one loose step near the bottom. Her foot caught, and she let out a tiny, high-pitched eep!!
She wobbled dramatically, arms windmilling, nearly toppling down the last three steps in a messy heap. She managed to catch herself just before a loud crash, but her heart hammered so loudly she was sure the guards could hear it a mile away.
"Oh, Seraphine, you are hopeless," she scolded herself under her breath, a faint, embarrassed blush creeping onto her soft face. She was definitely the "stupid-act adorable" type.
A Loyal Promise
Back in the main palace, Kael Arisugawa couldn't sleep. He had seen the determination in Seraphine's eyes and felt the tightness of his own hidden, pure love since childhood.
He spotted the guards assembling near the main gate. They weren't doing routine patrols; they were organizing a search party. Kael's sharp mind instantly understood: They know she ran.
Fear for her safety pushed him to action. He ran to her room but found it empty. On her perfectly made bed lay a tiny, hastily written note:
Kael, I need to go. Don't worry, I packed snacks. Tell Father I went looking for cinnamon.
Kael couldn't help but smile faintly at the silly, typical Seraphine message. He knew she was kind-hearted, but she sometimes missed the seriousness of a situation. This only cemented his resolve. His protective instinct kicked in hard.
He wasn't going to let his childhood love wander the world alone. He would follow her and keep her safe—even if she never knew he was there.
Into the Wild
Seraphine finally slipped out of the palace and into the open night air. The fresh, cool scent of freedom hit her face. She was the princess of Asteruya, but tonight, she was just a girl with a bag of healing herbs, a terrible sense of direction, and a fierce desire to find her own way.
She took the forest path, leaving the city of light behind, heading for the unknown.