It was a cloudy morning in the palace. The sky remained covered in gray clouds as if a storm was about to break. Laos got up and gazed out of his window. He didn't like this sight, but what truly concerned him was the possibility that this view might shake his resolve and make him consider postponing the escape planned for today.
Alright, this is the day. The promised day. Today will be my first attempt to escape this fucking palace. We have a great plan—one that's nearly impossible to fail. Well, not impossible, but I don't know... I feel like it's a really strong plan. Ugh, this weather is awful! I hate these dark clouds. Where is that beautiful sun? The wind is howling, and lightning strikes every now and then. Should we postpone the escape?
Impossible! We're escaping today... but... wait! We don't even have a destination. I think Maris and Petal know a place, but they haven't told me anything. I haven't had time to think about it either, because my mind has been occupied with annoying scenarios—like getting caught. By the way, what will they do if they catch us? Fuck, I've been feeling so confident since last night that I even forgot about the possibility of dying... but maybe the desire for freedom is making me brave enough to take risks.
I don't care how others define freedom or what it means to any bastard, but to me, freedom is getting out of this fucking palace. Freedom is one of the five sacred things in my life, so I have to do whatever it takes to secure it... Yes, I have to escape and leave this palace no matter the cost. I'm convinced. This is my decision. This is who I am... and I have to do it!
This moment felt like a melody—a beautiful tune passing through my ears and touching my soul. I don't know why I'm saying this, but I just realized how much I've changed. Is it because of Malin and the others? Honestly, their presence was like a candle lighting the path leading me to the right place... Laos, you're standing before a difficult staircase. So, will you take the step?
I know you've struggled and suffered a lot... way too much. But despite that, you did nothing to stop this suffering. All you did was sit in your room—playing, reading, or watching. But today is different... This time, you've decided to put an end to your suffering. You've chosen to escape from this palace, to end your torment in the hardest way possible... Laos, you've changed. You've truly changed.
At this moment, all the scenarios that had been running through my mind disappeared. The only thought that remained was: When will it be time? I can't stay in this palace any longer. I can't keep walking into that whore princess' room while she tries to seduce me with her clothes. I don't want any of this... I just want to get out and see new places, witness breathtaking landscapes, talk to different people, develop my new sword abilities, and do all the other things an isekai protagonist is supposed to do!
I'm really serious. But that's what happens when you stand before a staircase capable of changing everything. I know this goes completely against my usual personality—I even noticed it myself—but as I said before, tough moments create tough people. Yes, I'm serious... Today, I saw myself in a way I never had before.
"I, Laos Martin... swear that my story will truly begin once I escape this palace!"
◆ ◆ ◆
Camellia's POV
Somewhere on the second floor, I was gathered with the others. It seemed that the time for their escape had come. Laos stood with determination, alongside Petal and Maris. They were serious. Nothing would stop them. I felt a deep sadness... Of course, I'd feel sad—I'm about to say goodbye to my dearest friends, especially after what Laos said last night... I still can't believe that this kind-hearted person, whom I thought we would all continue living with in this palace, has decided to escape.
The same goes for Petal. A funny and kind boy I met a long time ago. And Maris—she's not just a friend, she's like a big sister to me. No, I can't hold back the sadness. But this is fate, and I can't stand against it, so all I can do is bid them farewell.
"Alright, the four of us will head down to the first floor. Once we're out, go and talk to Gaziel," Laos said, his expression dead serious. He had changed so much since yesterday—he felt like a completely different person.
"Aren't you coming down with us, Evol?" Petal asked.
"I don't want to raise suspicion," Evol replied.
"You coward..." Petal muttered, placing a hand on the horned boy's shoulder.
"Those who are cautious survive in the end... Take care of yourself," Evol said, shaking Petal's hand.
"Goodbye, Evol," Maris added.
"Thank you for everything... I hope to see you again," Laos added after shaking his hand.
"Well, it's impossible for you to return, so I guess I should say goodbye instead of see you later, right?" Evol repeated.
After that, we went down the stairs, and Evol said his goodbyes properly, but despite all these conversations, I didn't see a single smile. I turned to look at Evol's face, and he wasn't smiling either. Oh my goddess, this saddens me. It feels like I'm in the middle of a funeral. I even feel like crying... sadness... will this feeling always surround me? Can't I taste happiness a little... First, my mother, then my father, and now my closest friends. I think I'll commit suicide after this farewell...
We reached the first floor, where most of the servants were out enjoying their break. Inside, I saw my father. It was him, standing with his tall figure and blue hair, similar to mine, talking to Bonnie. I had agreed to Laos' request, so I had to speak with him. But oh my goddess, I was already sad, and now I'm nervous as well. Suddenly, I felt a warm body hug me...
"Everything will be alright," Maris said as she embraced me.
After that, I walked with them to the open gate of the palace to bid them farewell and watch them leave. Still, I didn't see any happiness in their faces. They were still sad, yes, I'm sure. goddess!. what's wrong? The escape plan will succeed today; why are they like this? Please, at least smile... I don't want to see anyone achieve their goal while being sad... It... it would make me weak, like you're all telling me, "Even if you achieve your dream, you won't feel any happiness."
"Well, here ends our journey, we're leaving now," Petal said.
"Take good care of yourself," added the one with the cat ears, his face unfamiliar, no longer wearing that smug smile.
"Go talk to Gaziel now," Laos murmured with a grey face, devoid of any emotion.
"Goodbye, Camellia," Maris added.
"I will... but first... could you smile?" I repeated as I stared at their pale faces.
After that, each of them gave me their own smile. And although I knew it was fake, I saw it, I saw their usual smile, and that made me feel a little better. It even encouraged me to talk to my father a bit. After that, they left, leaving me standing alone in front of the big gate. They were walking away, shrinking little by little into the distance, three figures, close to me, becoming distant...
"Oh, I have to distract myself with my father now!"
I walked toward him, filled with a huge amount of anxiety and nervousness. I was scared. I had only asked him to talk a few times since my mother died, because I'm afraid of him. His actions and the way he speaks always make me say, "I won't speak to him again." But, as my mother said, this is my father. He's just in shock, and he will come back to me soon, so I shouldn't abandon him.
"Father, may I speak with you?" I asked as I looked into his golden eyes, which stared down at me with disdain.
"Follow me," he said, walking toward the room with his desk, leaving Bonnie behind without saying a word.
I was so tense. My heart was pounding frighteningly. What should I even say to him? Should I talk to him about my feelings? No, it's not a question. I have to do it... I walked in and sat in the wooden chair near the desk without asking for permission... Okay, let's begin!
"What do you have for me now? I'm busy," he said coldly, with a stern expression. He hadn't changed at all.
"Father... I wanted to ask you how you're dealing with the shock... I mean, Mom told me years ago not to leave you alone, and I said that you'd return to your usual self after overcoming that shock. How is it with you now?" I asked.
"Goddess, what is this nonsense?!" he replied loudly.
"What do you mean by nonsense?! I'm speaking to you seriously... I'm your daughter, and I always feel like I'm your mother. I care about your mental state, and I always say that you're mentally ill, but you'll return to normal after you heal. Our relationship will go back to normal, and you'll take care of me again, and then we'll live happily. Isn't this what Mom would have wanted? Not just Mom, but all of us... Or at least me and Mom, two women looking for happiness through family... But you, you ruined that dream... Please, Father, overcome this shock and take my hand... your daughter's hand," I said, raising my voice and crying. It was clear that I wouldn't be able to say all these words without shedding tears.
"Camellia... Your words are wonderful, but I hate them because you succeeded in your task," he said, looking into my eyes with a strange smile.
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion, wiping my eyes from the tears.
"You've succeeded in distracting me until they reached the ruins... I admit, you've tricked me, my daughter."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"What do you mean, Father? What do you mean by task or distraction??!! They're just wandering outside!!" Oh my goddess, no, no, no.
"Let me guess, they're running around, skipping the ruins? Wow, that's a new way to wander," he said as he stood up from his desk.
Oh my goddess, impossible. How did he sense that? How did he feel their aura from this distance? Unbelievable... I felt a huge weight falling on my heart. It was a real disaster. I felt a huge regret... Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why did I do this? Noooooo, they've found us!! This is terrifying, especially since the one who found us is my own father.
"Well, it's time for some fun," he said, heading out of the room.
"By the way... Camellia, as a punishment for you, I'll tell them that it was you who betrayed them," he said before leaving the room.
"What?!!!" I shouted.
I jumped up from the chair, trying to follow him, but all I could do was fall to the ground with my tears. Please, don't do it, Father! Not this... I clenched my fists and began hitting the ground I had fallen on. My tears were flowing heavily. Oh my goddess, my whole life ended in that moment...
"No, no, no!!! Please, Father, noooooooo!!!!" I screamed as loud as I could.
At this moment, Camellia saw her life's tape slowly playing before her eyes. She saw all her mistakes and all her actions, but she didn't regret any of them, except for this one act. She was lying on the ground, shedding tears, trying to process the problems that had come crashing down on her like a storm of knives stabbing her every part of her body, stabbing and making her realize she had lost everything... Yes, everything. And in this moment, Camellia saw herself as a person, a person who was dying bit by bit.