The night air was crisp against Danielle’s skin as she sprinted away from the palace walls, her breath coming fast and uneven. She had never run this far before, never ventured beyond the gates that kept her caged. The thrill of it sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins, but she couldn’t slow down—not yet.
Staying to the shadows, she made her way toward the village, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
The moment she stepped onto the cobbled streets, a whole new world unfolded before her.
Lively voices filled the air as merchants called out their wares. The scent of fresh bread, roasted meat, and spiced wine lingered in the breeze, making her stomach ache with longing. She had seen the village from the palace towers before, but standing here, in the midst of it a
