As I stepped outside, I noticed that Noel wasn’t in the living room as usual. Lately, Theo had been holed up in his study, consumed by work. In the evenings we’d have simple conversations and the occasional s*x, but otherwise, I hadn’t seen much of him. I was curious as to what kept him so busy, but I didn’t ask – I was too focused on my escape.

As I stepped into the garden, the bright sunlight hit my head, making my heart race even faster. I took out my bike and pedaled along the winding path. I passed the narrow path leading to the back gate and rode up to the front gate, peering through the iron bars at the bridge below.

I couldn’t tell if the carriage had arrived or if it was still on its way.

It felt surreal. I could hardly believe that today was the day we had planned to escape.

Back in the garden, I sat quietly by the fountain. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be cameras hidden among the plants or along the walls. What if an alarm went off when I went through the back gate, or the cameras were recording my every move?

If I were caught going through the back gate, I would say I was just going out for a bike ride. They probably wouldn’t believe me completely, but if they saw me coming out with nothing but me, they wouldn’t immediately think I was trying to escape.

After resting for a while, I slowly got up. My hands were wet with sweat as I gripped the handlebars of the bike. I pedaled slowly towards the narrow path leading to the back gate. When I reached the path, I pulled the bike along with my hand. The uneven gravel crunched under the tires, making a rhythmic sound that seemed unusually loud today. The path felt longer than usual but, as the day had inevitably come, the back gate finally came into view.

It was a heavy wooden door surrounded by thick vines. I remembered Mio showing me how to pull the lever next to the door. There was no hesitation. The lever acted like a fulcrum and the door slowly creaked open, revealing the outside world to me.

I realized I was sweating profusely, my back damp with cold sweat. It felt as if at any moment a camera would catch my movement and Cane or Theo would rush in to grab me.

I got on the bike and started pedaling as hard as I could. I rode through the back gate, over the wall, and onto a wide path. Lush green fields stretched out before me. A cool breeze brushed against my forehead, cooling the sweat that had formed there.

I had escaped the mansion!

I didn’t stop. I pushed the pedals with renewed vigour, racing towards the bridge in the distance without stopping to catch my breath. My lungs burned and I could feel my heart pounding so hard it seemed to drown out all other sounds.

The bridge came closer.

Fifty metres away I could make out the carriage. A large, black carriage stood proudly to the right, just beyond the bridge. My heart quickened even more at the sight.

I came to a stop, skidding to a halt about 20 meters from the carriage, then 10. The bike, a gift from Theo, fell to the ground. Watching it fall was all too reminiscent of our relationship, causing a pang of regret deep within me.

Suddenly, the carriage door swung open. Mio’s head popped out and I gasped at the sight of her after almost two days apart. She was wearing a dark navy hat trimmed with lace and a simple navy dress that complemented her beautifully.

I took Mio’s hand and climbed into the carriage. Unlike mine, her hand was neither sweaty nor shaking. Inside, the carriage was spacious and comfortable. Mio gave instructions to the driver and the carriage began to move.

Everything happened in an instant.

Through the small window, I saw my fallen bike and the big mansion getting smaller in the distance.

I finally freed myself from Theo, gradually putting distance between us. The basement, the chains, the beautiful mansion, and the three men were all left behind.

“Three carriages left one after the other. The stolen gold you provided is all extremely valuable, so we had plenty of security. One carriage went to Redin, the other to the capital. As soon as they find out you’re missing, they’ll probably try to find out who hired the carriages. Even though they were rented anonymously and no names were left, they will still trace the destinations”.

“Won’t it raise suspicion if the carriage goes to Bluein?”

“The carriage is mine.” Mio replied confidently. “I rarely use it because it doesn’t have a horse, but I used to help an old master of the house when he wanted to meet a lover discreetly. He gave it to me. The two carriages rented from the company are just for show.”

The carriage moved forward. We left the fields behind us, wound through the village, and then entered the forest path. The Goldrain mansion was now out of sight. The scent of trees and earth drifted in through the window and the sound of birdsong filled the air.

I still couldn’t get rid of the tension. I pressed myself tightly against the bouncing seat of the carriage, glancing outside occasionally as I listened to Mio’s explanations.

***

“Mio, thank you so much.”

I finally said as the evening approached. It felt like I was coming back to my senses. I had tried to stay calm, but everything had been a blur, driven by a burning sense of duty.

We had left the area where Goldrain Mansion was and arrived at a small village on the way to Bluein. The horses needed feeding and the driver needed a rest.

We stopped at a small inn where we stabled the horses and the driver prepared a room for us. Mio and I shared the same room, and the driver seemed completely indifferent to us. Although he was polite, probably because of the generous payment for the trip to Bluein, his friendliness ended there.

Mio had brought me a wide-brimmed hat. When I put it on, it covered most of my face.

After washing up, I lay down on the bed and I could feel my body starting to relax after being tense for so long. *Phew…* I exhaled deeply. The bed was firmer than the luxurious one in the mansion and the realisation that I had crossed a point of no return sent shivers down my spine.

I hadn’t quite escaped yet, but I was certainly a long way from Goldrain.

What was Theo doing now? He must have noticed my absence by now. Perhaps Noel, who was looking for me for dinner, had already realised I was gone.

He must be angry.

The thought of Cane sent a shiver down my spine. He was usually playful and teasing, but I knew he wouldn’t let me go easily when it came to this escape. Lately, he had been more persistent, clinging to me and tormenting me with his obsessive affection.

“Young lady!”

Mio suddenly said from the bed next to me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Yes, Mio? What is it?”

Despite the turmoil inside me, my words came out calmly. I didn’t want to show her the fear and anxiety that was gripping me. Mio was taking a big risk for me.

Suddenly, the realization that I would have to part with her hit me, bringing a wave of sadness and pain.

“Do you still love him?”

“…”

I was taken aback, struggling to find the right words. Why was she asking me that all of a sudden?

“What makes you say that?”

“I just have that feeling.”

Mio really was perceptive.

“It’s surprising that you still love him after everything he did to you.”

“People’s hearts don’t always work the way they want.”

“Then I guess you’ll meet him again someday.”

“When I get to Arkel, I’ll report him and then the guards will examine Theo. It will be forced, but maybe he’ll get some treatment. He’ll have to face up to what he’s done.”

“Will you be able to forgive him then?”

Mio turned her bright, curious eyes towards me. Her question was genuine and I was at a loss for words.

“I… I don’t really know.”

I really didn’t know. Perhaps I had already forgiven him. Maybe that was why I was struggling along this road, hoping for his recovery. My feelings towards Theo were complex.

So were my feelings for Cane and Noel.

“I think when you’re unsure, it’s best to just follow your heart. To be honest, I hesitated a lot about helping you. I wondered if I could really help you or if I should. But deep down, my heart wanted to help you.”

Her simple answer made me smile and I nodded in agreement.

“Mio, I really like you.”

Should I thank her or apologise? Instead, I just spoke from the heart. Mio remained silent, her expression pensive.

“I like you too, young lady.”

Mio finally whispered after what seemed like an eternity, as if the words had taken their time to emerge from a storm of emotions.

***

The next morning we set off again. As we left the inn and climbed into the carriage, I was filled with anxiety, fearing that at any moment Theo might suddenly appear in front of me.

But that moment never came, and the carriage continued to move smoothly along the paved road.

I felt hot and aching all morning. Mio watched me with concern as cold sweat trickled down my forehead. She gently wiped my brow with a cloth, but her touch brought little relief. My body ached for its owner and even with Mio beside me, I bit my tongue to hold out.

I didn’t know what would happen if I left this fever untreated. Fortunately, after what felt like an agonizing few hours, my frayed nerves began to settle. I took deep breaths to calm myself.

Mio didn’t ask any questions.

Just a little further and we would reach Bluein by the end of today or the middle of tomorrow.

We spent most of the afternoon talking in the carriage. Mio vented her frustrations about her future brother-in-law, who was going to marry her sister. Although he was a kind and good man, she complained that he was too soft-hearted and unable to refuse anyone’s wishes. He often spent recklessly trying to help others, which left him unable to save money.

To lift my spirits, she told her stories with a touch of humour and exaggerated expressions.

I found her anecdotes amusing and laughed out loud at her words.

The tension gradually dissipated as we laughed and chatted, leaving only hope and positivity for the future.

My emotions felt like the unpredictable waves on a rainy day, rising and falling.

Late in the afternoon, we stopped at an old roadside tavern for a quick meal before continuing our journey.

My butt was sore and I felt a slight wave of nausea, but I managed to endure it. Mio, on the other hand, looked much better than I did. She seemed more alive now than she ever had in the mansion.

“I love traveling,” she said enthusiastically. “Of course, I don’t get to do it very often because life keeps me busy. But I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.”

“That makes sense.”

“But I’ve never left Seyon. To go beyond its borders, you either have to use illegal routes or be a wealthy businessman. Even then, if you’re a businessman, you have to get permission from the royal family every time you want to leave.

My route to Arkel was indeed illegal. I couldn’t help wondering how Theo could move so freely between Seyon and Arkel. Even if he had permission from Seyon, Arkel wouldn’t just let him. It might go unnoticed for one or two trips, but living in Seyon regularly was beyond the pale.

The fact that there were no records of his entry or exit, and that he’d never been caught, gave me the feeling that he was shrouded in layers of mystery that I couldn’t unravel.

In the evening we arrived at a small town near Bluein. Close to the sea, it was famous for its fish market. The horses were tired, so we replaced one with a new one and also changed the driver.

When I expressed my curiosity, Mio explained: “Seyon has many public services that operate nationwide, which makes it convenient in situations like this.”

It was a stark contrast to Arkel, where private enterprise flourished.

That day Mio and I enjoyed steamed fish and apple wine, which she said were local specialities. The apple wine was refreshing and sweet, while the steamed fish was tender and light. I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of parting with her. I had promised her several times that I would write her a letter.

We got up at dawn the next morning and set off in a hurry. Only a few more hours of travelling and we would reach Bluein. I could smell the sea in the air. Once again, a fever washed over me, but this time neither Mio nor I panicked. We knew it would pass in time.