(Aeris's POV)

The garden had given me a moment of peace—a fleeting illusion of freedom.

But I wasn’t free.

Not yet.

As I walked through the grand halls of the castle, my heart pounded against my ribs. Every step was careful, calculated. I didn’t know how much freedom I had here, but I wasn’t going to waste it.

Zephirion… he was powerful, terrifying, and unpredictable.

But even he couldn’t keep an eye on me at all times.

Right?

I glanced around. The corridors were silent, the torches casting long shadows across the marble floors. Servants and knights roamed in certain areas, but I memorized the paths they didn’t use.

"If I’m going to escape, I need to know this place inside out."

I had spent enough of my life as an orphan observing, analyzing, surviving. That instinct hadn’t left me.

So, I walked.

Through the hallways.

Up the staircases.

Past the doors that led to places I didn’t recognize.

Until I reached my chamber again.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, my breath uneven. The chamber was vast and luxurious, unlike anything I had ever dreamed of. But I didn't care about any of it.

All I cared about was the window.

I walked toward it, my fingers pressing against the cool glass.

And there it was—an opening.

From here, I could see a long stretch of rooftops and the distant horizon.

More importantly, there were no guards in this area of the castle.

My chest tightened.

"This is it."

The first real possibility of escape.

I could get out of here.

I just needed to figure out when and how.

My fingers curled into fists as I made my decision.

"I won’t be his prisoner. I won’t let myself be trapped again."

I needed a rope.

I rushed to the wardrobe, pulling out the soft silk sheets. They would do. I worked quickly, tearing and knotting them together, my hands shaking but determined.

When it was done, I tested the knots. Strong enough.

I folded the makeshift rope and hid it beneath the bed.

Now, all I had to do was wait.

Dinner.

Nightfall.

Then freedom.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the window. I could almost taste the fresh air, feel the wind against my skin as I ran away from this place.

From him.

Zephirion.

The Dragon King.

I thought of his red eyes, his terrifying presence, the way he had smirked when I told him to kill me.

Would he care if I left?

Would he chase me?

I shook the thought away. It didn’t matter. I had no place here.

I just had to survive.

What I didn’t know…

Was that he was watching me.

That somewhere, beyond my sight, Zephirion’s crimson eyes were locked onto me, his expression unreadable.

And he knew exactly what I was planning.

To be continued