Seraphina was fully aware of what she was doing. If Movira found out, she couldn’t even imagine the kind of punishment that would follow.
But escaping was necessary. After a brief hesitation, the thought of losing what she cherished most forced her to make the decision—she had to get out!
During the past year, Seraphina had taken some time to learn sewing. She had stitched a rough pocket inside her skirt and stuffed all the things she could carry into it.
After finishing everything, she nearly collapsed, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. Her heart pounded wildly, as if it might burst out of her chest.
As she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered that when out in the world without family, having gold coins meant anyone could become your family.
Without money, you couldn’t get far—but how could she get any?
Her attention was drawn to a Night-Luminescent Pearl on the table, about half the size of a palm. But if she took it, she’d have to give up a piece of bread.
“Oh well! What can’t be bought with a treasure pearl?”
She could just endure a few bouts of hunger on the road! Missing a piece of bread wouldn’t kill her.
With that thought, Seraphina resolutely exchanged a piece of bread for the pearl, carefully inspecting it to ensure its glow wouldn’t show through her skirt.
After a brief rest, she also planned her sudden yet long-pondered escape in her mind. Only one guard route seemed lax enough—toward the north.
The northern side was backed by a mountain, so it was practically safe. Besides, she had met the northern guards a few times; with some decent words, she had a good chance of being let out.
Taking a deep breath, she summoned every ounce of strength left in her body and shakily moved toward the door.
She cracked the door open—no one was in the corridor, only dim light from crystal stones hanging on the walls.
She was barefoot—not because she disliked shoes, but because the shoes Movira had prepared would make noise when she walked, even if she tried to be careful.
Of course, she couldn’t go without shoes forever, so she brought them with her.
Seeing no one outside, she slipped back into the room, tied the small leather shoes together with a rope, and slung them over her back.
She shook her body a bit to make sure the makeshift rope was secure enough to prevent them from falling.
With that done, she reopened the door and stepped quietly onto the cold stone floor, careful not to make a sound.
Her small figure staggered through the massive corridor shadows like a ghost.
The route in her memory was vague but sufficient—every turn and area to avoid memorized, staying mostly within blind spots.
Her heart pounded like war drums. This was undoubtedly a gamble; every distant footstep made her freeze, holding her breath until the sound passed.
Her violet eyes were sharp with alertness and tinged with fear. Her nerves were stretched to the limit, but more than anything, there was a resolute, do-or-die determination.
Her first task was to retrieve two maps from the study—simple enough since Movira never entered the study due to official documents inside.
It was also close to her bedroom, so she easily brought them back.
In this world, clocks were rare—especially in this broken Demon Realm, where only martial prowess was respected.
Clocks? A primitive technology of working by daylight and resting by nightfall, how could they exist here?
So Seraphina cleverly devised a method unique in this world.
She came to an open space, like a small garden at the building’s center, holding the Patrol Shift Schedule facing south, then fixed her gaze on the Moon’s position.
By matching it to the schedule’s chart, she could roughly determine which shift was closest to the present.
“About… ten minutes left?”
After some light movement, Seraphina felt half recovered. Though her legs were still weak, she was satisfied.
She skirted the Demon King’s Palace, passing through a seldom-used Servant Passage. The cold stone walls grazed her bare arms.
The faint, persistent sting gradually helped restore her body’s functions.
Seraphina moved slowly, hugging the wall, her heart pounding as if it would shatter her ribs, yet she forced herself to stay silent and alert.
At this upcoming shift change, this was the safest route to the northern area—rarely any visitors.
“Almost there… almost there…” she murmured internally, both as a mantra and encouragement. Though her weakness persisted, it was no longer overwhelming.
Her survival instinct overpowered panic and the lingering effects of the medicine.
She forced one step after another, as if her legs belonged to someone else.
At the end of the passage was a heavy wooden door reinforced with metal strips, leading to the North Courtyard—a known blind spot for the patrol.
Once past the courtyard, she could approach the section of the wall where the guards were relatively lax.
“Ugh…”
Summoning nearly every bit of strength left, she cautiously pushed open the door a crack. The icy night wind rushed in like a tide, sending a chill through her.
Seraphina slipped out, catching the door just before it could slam shut to muffle the sound.
But she underestimated both the door’s momentum and her own strength, relying only on her palm to slow the closing wood.
“Snap!”
A faint noise, like thunder in her ears, came from her hand hitting the hard wood, followed by—
“Ugh—!”
A sharp, explosive pain erupted from the center of her left palm, shooting through her wrist like lightning to her forehead.
It felt as if an invisible hammer had slammed into her hand bones, numbing her entire arm and nearly robbing it of feeling.
With her other hand, she clamped over her mouth, biting her lower lip to stifle the following cry laced with sobs, releasing only a short, suppressed whimper.
Tears welled instantly, blurring her vision.
When did she become so fragile?
For a moment, she just wanted to find someone and cry like a real little girl.
Gently wiping the tears from her eyes, she reminded herself she couldn’t stop now. She was almost out—that was the priority!
Ignoring the now faintly reddened arm, and the pain pulsing with each heartbeat, she pressed on, holding her injured hand with the other.
“Princess Regent Seraphina, what are you doing here?!”