Chapter 4
It was a look I'd never seen before. Xavier's eyes were gentle, overflowing with warmth.
Turned out, he wasn't really aloof.
He just reserved all his warmth for that one person.
It felt like someone jabbed a needle right into my heart.
But soon, the pain faded and I felt calm again.
I should've known.
Now that I'd seen it for myself, I could finally put that last worry to rest.
I lowered the curtain, shutting out everything outside.
"Lola, let's go," I said. "Take a detour."
The coachman nodded, turned the horses, and prepared to take the side road.
Just then, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Stop that carriage over there!"
A chill ran down my spine.
So, I had been found out after all?
I didn't move.
Lola clutched my sleeve, her fingers trembling.
"Miss, it's... it's someone from the palace," she whispered.
I looked through the gap in the curtain.
A court steward was approaching, accompanied by several guards.
I recognized the steward.
It was Remy Irwin, Xavier's right-hand man.
What was he doing here?
Did Xavier send him?
Was he here to take me back? Or... to silence me?
A million thoughts raced through my mind.
I gripped the wooden hairpin hidden in my sleeve, my fingers tightening around it.
The sharp tip dug into my palm, a reminder of what I might have to do.
If it really came to that, I'd rather die than live a horrible life.
Remy strode up to the carriage.
He bowed respectfully toward the royalcarriage first.
Then he turned his attention to us.
His gaze swept over Lola and me.
There was a glimmer of appraisal and suspicion in his eyes.
"Who are you? Why are you sneaking around here?" Remy snapped.
His voice was cold as ice, sending a chill down my spine.
Lola froze, too scared to say a word.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady and neutral.
"We're just regular people leaving Regalville," I replied. "The official road was blocked, so we're waiting here."
Remy narrowed his eyes.
"Regular people?" he said, his voice full of suspicion.
"Look up. Let me see your face," he demanded.
My heart sank.
If I looked up, they'd recognize me instantly.
I didn't move.
Remy was losing his patience fast.
"Insolent! You dare ignore what I say?" Remy barked.
He waved his hand, and the two guards moved in to pull back the curtain.
Lola let out a startled cry.
Just then, a cool, distant male voice called out from the direction of the royalcarriage.
"Remy, come back," the voice ordered.
It was Xavier.
Remy stopped in his tracks.
He turned around, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"Your Majesty..." Remy said, uncertainty in his tone.
"Let them go," Xavier ordered.
Xavier's voice carried a trace of impatience.
He clearly didn't want to complicate things right now.
Remy looked resentful, but he didn't dare go against Xavier's orders.
He shot us a fierce glare.
"You got lucky this time!" he snapped.
With that, he turned and led his men away.
It was just a scare, nothing more.
I finally breathed out, my hands drenched in cold sweat.
I had no idea if Xavier had recognized me.
Maybe he did, but just didn't care.
Or maybe he never even looked this way.
In his eyes, I was already insignificant, someone who didn't matter anymore.
Either way, I was safe.
"Drive, now," I urged the coachman.
The coachman didn't dare hesitate. He quickly urged the horses forward and steered the carriage onto the side road.
The carriage rattled and bounced along the rough path.
My heart was all over the place, pounding with every bump.
Once the main road was far behind and everything was quiet, I finally let myself breathe.
Only then did I finally feel safe.
Lola pressed a hand to her chest, her heart still racing from the scare.
"Miss, I was terrified just now," she said. "I thought..."
"We're safe now," I said.
I was comforting her, but honestly, I needed it just as much myself.
"Once we leave Regalville, we'll be safe," I said.
The journey from Regalville to Celestiville was a long one.
We headed south, traveling by day and stopping to rest at night.
To stay safe, we always took the hidden paths.
We slept in the cheapest inns and ate the simplest food.
Life was rough, but I felt a freedom and happiness I'd never known before.
I was no longer the Queen locked away in the palace.
I was just Cadence now, just a regular woman, making her way home.
*****
Half a month later, we entered Celestiville.
The air was filled with humid mist and a light floral fragrance.
It was a familiar scent to me.
My spirits brightened along with it.
We found a small town called Veridale.
It was tucked between the mountains and a river, with beautiful views and genuine, down-to-earth people.
This was exactly the place I'd always dreamed of.
Using the last bit of secret savings my mother left behind, I bought a cozy little house with a yard in town.