I finally made it to the exit instead of my seat. I knew one of the men I had danced with would report me to my supposed mother, so I decided to escape early.
I tried to climb over the railings to move past the guards, but the gown hindered me. I struggled, managing to get one foot over the rail within a few seconds, but my other foot was stuck.
Oh, why me?
I tried to free myself, shifting and pulling, but every attempt failed.
"You seem to be very skilled."
I froze when I heard the voice. It wasn't my supposed mother.
I turned slightly and saw a young man wearing a mask.
"Please, can you help me get down?" I begged.
"Finally," he said lightly, "glad to hear the woman of few words speak again."
"If I help you down, you answer all the questions I ask," he said.
I thought about it for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay. Jump down—I'll catch you," he said.
"How am I supposed to trust that you'll catch me?" I snapped. "Do I look like I'm trying to ruin my own life?"
He tilted his head. "You do look like you're about to do something reckless. What sane person climbs a railing this high?"
"Jump," he said again.
I closed my eyes and jumped. When I opened them, I realized I had landed on my feet.
He clapped. "Looks like you didn't need my help after all," he said.
"What if I hadn't landed on my feet?" I snapped, annoyed that he hadn't even tried to catch me.
"Well, thank goodness you did," he replied calmly. "I wouldn't want a brown-headed girl's blood splattering all over my clothes."
His words made my anger flare instantly.
Why was this masked lad troubling me so much with his words? I asked myself silently.
"You seem very calm and arrogant with your replies for someone who almost made me maimed and lame," I said calmly, not even looking at him.
Two can play the calm game, masked lad, I told myself.
"Seems like you took me helping you realize your hidden talent the wrong way," he said, and then he began to walk away.
I didn't spare him a glance. Instead, I turned back to the railing and began to climb again—this time more desperate, more intentional
He looked at me, stunned. Why would she climb the railing again after begging to be brought down? he wondered as he walked closer.
"You know that with this, you could die," he said calmly. "Or your parents could throw you into the dungeons—for wolves to feast on you and termites to gnaw at your bones."
He paused, his gaze still steady. "They are not very lenient with judgment or punishment, even when it concerns their beloved daughter."
I looked at him then, and it dawned on me that I had nowhere to run. They were the King and Queen of Thaloria. Whether I wished it or not, I would always be dragged back to this strange castle.
I sighed and said, "Do you know the absurd and stupid rules that govern this place? I don't want to be here… but why am I here ?
"I cannot give a definite answer as to why a beautiful lady is here trying to escape," he said, looking at me. "There are many—perhaps thousands—of reasons why you are here."
"You know, you could have ignored the beautiful part," I said, staring at him.
"I felt it was necessary," he replied smoothly.
That made me laugh, and in that brief moment of distraction, I lost my balance on the railing.
"Ahh!" I screamed as I began to fall.
The masked lad stepped forward, reaching out to catch me—but it was too late. I fell, my head striking the wall hard enough for pain to explode behind my eyes. I felt something warm trickle down from my head.
I touched my head, and when I pulled my hand back, it was stained with blood. My hands began to tremble, and my vision blurred.
"You're bleeding," the masked lad said, his voice still calm.
I looked at him, everything around me spinning.
"I'll take you back inside," he said.
I shook my head weakly. "No."
"You're bleeding," he repeated. "And I can't take you to my place—it's miles away from here."
The moment I heard the word miles, my head spun even more. Images flashed through my mind—a woman with a bloodied face, surrounded by thorns. The pain intensified.
Without thinking, I grabbed onto the masked lad tightly, clinging to him as if he were the only thing keeping me grounded. I held on so hard I feared I might hurt him.
He patted my back, clearly realizing that something was wrong.
"Princess?" he called softly, trying to pull me out of my dazed state.
I still held onto him tightly.
"What's your name, princess?" he asked, trying to make me speak.
"A… az…" I tried to say, but my words failed me.
"Seize him!"
My supposed mother's voice rang out sharply.
After she said that, he straightened up as guards surrounded him. They tried to restrain him, but he walked calmly in the direction they pushed him, as if he had already accepted it.
Maids swarmed around me, lifting and guiding me away. Soon, they had taken me back to my quarters. The music from the ceremony still played in the distance, as if nothing had happened.
I didn't lose consciousness. Instead, images kept flashing through my mind over and over again.