Charles, who had just entered Victoria's room, found her asleep on her bed in her daytime attire. He couldn't determine if she was being vigilant or not, but regardless, she appeared to be in a deep slumber. Charles was careful not to make too much noise as he approached her, but if she was indeed awake, she would have heard him entering the room.
As he walked towards her, Charles noticed that she was still wearing her full set of clothes, which led him to believe that she might not be entirely comfortable in her new surroundings. He reached out to check her pulse, but as he looked at her face, he was struck by her appearance. Her features were relaxed and soft, with delicate white skin and lips slightly parted. This was the true form of Victoria, he realized.
Charles' gaze lingered for a moment, taking in her beauty, before he reached out to check her pulse. The sensation of her soft skin under his fingertips was like touching flower petals. However, this realization made him feel uncomfortable, and he quickly withdrew his hand, clutching it to his chest. Despite the intrusion, Victoria continued to sleep peacefully, and Charles left the room without a backward glance. He gave Kurt some brief instructions and then retreated to his study, deep in thought.
Victoria was sound asleep and completely unaware of Charles's visit during the night. However, a sudden, unfamiliar beeping noise caused her to stir and awaken. Confused, she opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital storage room. The muffled sounds of voices could be heard beyond the door, but she could barely make out what was being said. Suddenly, a voice announced, "Patient number DC0827C, four hours remain of your treatment.”
Hearing a plea for help, Victoria sat upright and realized she must be dreaming. The room was filled with medical equipment, supplies and patient records, and it was simply an ordinary, albeit spacious, storage room. The sight of the hospital surroundings reminded Victoria of a rule that always irritated her: a doctor was not allowed to refuse treatment to a patient as long as they were under the doctor's care. This thought brought back memories of the man who accused her of a******y earlier that day, and who had since been arrested.
Victoria had always tried to keep her distance from others to avoid being held responsible for their well-being, but was she now responsible for the fate of the man she helped put in jail? These thoughts raced through her mind as the dream began to fade away.
Victoria found herself awakening once more, this time in the luxurious bed located within the War King's magnificent mansion. She was aware that she had a mission to fulfill, a task that was of the utmost importance to her. The man who had wrongly accused her was due to be executed within a matter of hours, and she knew that she had to save him no matter what the cost.
However, she was currently trapped within the confines of the War King's mansion, unable to escape its walls. The situation was becoming increasingly complex, like a mythical beast that grew another head whenever one was cut off. Despite the mounting difficulties, Victoria couldn't bear the thought of leaving the man to face his unjust fate. Rescuing him could provide her with an invaluable ally, one that could help her navigate the treacherous waters of her current predicament.
Despite her reservations, Victoria made the bold decision to slip away from the mansion undetected. Though she knew the risks involved, she was not planning on running away permanently. She was merely going to be absent for a short period of time and then return to the safety of the War King's abode. With a determined heart and a fearless spirit, Victoria set out on her mission to save the man who had been wrongly accused.
The War King's mansion was a massive and sprawling estate, with numerous pavilions and servants present on the grounds. Upon her arrival, Princess Victoria was surprised to find that despite the presence of these servants, there were very few actual residents living within the mansion itself. This discovery led her to believe that it might not be as difficult as she had initially thought to sneak out of the mansion.
Victoria felt as though she had been kidn*pped and, as a result, made a conscious effort to memorize the path to the mansion's exit as soon as she entered. Confident in her new plan, she quietly opened the door and breathed a sigh of relief when she found the yard to be empty. She then proceeded to hide behind various objects and structures, moving from one courtyard to the next in an effort to avoid detection by anyone in the mansion.
Two hidden guards stationed nearby couldn't help but laugh as they observed Princess Victoria's attempts to escape. "Should we report this to the king?" asked one of the guards, Finn. His colleague, Chad, responded by shaking his head. "Kurt said that Princess Victoria is free to move around. We just need to keep an eye on her." Despite Chad's assurances, Finn remained concerned about Victoria's prolonged wandering. "She's been walking around for over an hour now, and she's already been through several courtyards. Is she just taking a walk?"
Chad raised an eyebrow at Finn's question. He suspected that Princess Victoria might be lost and in need of assistance. "Don't worry about it. Just keep an eye on her. If she can't find a way out, then she'll come back eventually," Chad said in a low and indifferent tone, as if he wasn't at all concerned that Victoria might actually escape. However, Finn was not reassured by Chad's confidence and pointed out that Victoria was now heading toward the War King's private courtyards.
The Awakening Courtyard was a place held in high esteem by the inhabitants of Little Venice. Except for two secret guards who were stationed outside the gate, no one was allowed to enter the courtyard without the express permission of Charles. It was a well-known fact that if the young and reckless Victoria were to recklessly enter the courtyard, she would be putting her life in danger and there was a real possibility that she would return to Little Venice in a coffin.
Chad, one of the guards, was beginning to feel a headache coming on. He was becoming increasingly frustrated with having to continuously watch over this foolish princess and was eager to be relieved of his duties. He turned to the other guard and said, "Follow her, I'll go report to Kurt." However, before Chad could leave, Victoria let out a cry.
"Ouch! That hurts," she exclaimed as she rubbed her nose. She had just collided with something and she was unsure of what it was. She had been so certain that the path was clear, but apparently, she was wrong. Tears began to well up in her eyes. As she raised her head, she was frozen in place by the sight in front of her. There was a person standing directly in front of her.
The man was incredibly handsome and Victoria momentarily wondered if there was something in the air that made everyone in Little Venice so beautiful. Although this man was not as handsome as Charles, he was still quite attractive in his own right.
Finn spoke with a voice that was devoid of warmth, as if he was preparing himself to engage with a formidable adversary. He inquired, "Can you identify the person standing in the courtyard? And what could be the reason behind his presence here?"
Chad fixed his gaze on the man, studying him intently before he replied. "He is Jason White, the young lord from Fairfield. It's likely that he has come to have a discussion with the prince. I don't anticipate that he would permit Princess Victoria to wander into the Awakening Courtyard, so let's observe quietly for the time being."
Jason had arrived at the grand mansion for a meeting with the king, but little did he know that he would encounter a young woman wandering around the estate. He was taken aback by her beauty and her audacity, as she even dared to venture near the Awakening Courtyard.
As he took in her appearance, he couldn't help but smile. While he had met many gorgeous women in his life, there was something special about this particular girl in front of him. Her skin was fair and delicate, her eyebrows were shaped like delicate brush strokes, and her lips were soft and pink. Her small face had a youthful expression, possibly due to her reddened nose, and she had a rebellious look in her eyes, as if she had just been challenged.
Jason considered teasing her, but decided against it. Instead, he chose to be a gentleman and offer his assistance. He was well-known for his charm and good looks, and was considered one of the most eligible bachelors in the area. He thought about what his friends would do in this situation and put on a warm and friendly smile, saying, "I'm so sorry for my carelessness and for bumping into you. May I ask where you are headed? Are you on your way to the War King's study? I hope I'm not causing any trouble for you."
Upon hearing the words "War King's study," Victoria was abruptly pulled out of her admiration for Jason's handsome features. She realized she had taken a wrong turn and was now lost in the vastness of the mansion. She let out a yelp, hoping it wouldn't attract the attention of Charles. Before she could even think about it, she grabbed onto Jason's wrist and pulled him along with her as she quickly made her way back in the opposite direction.
Jason was stunned and excited by the girl's boldness. He couldn't help but wonder if she was one of the servant girls in the mansion and what she might be planning. The thought of a secret rendezvous filled him with excitement, but he also knew that the War King would not take kindly to any misbehavior taking place within his estate.
His friend Finn, who was with him, couldn't contain his curiosity and asked, "Sir, what should we do? What if Princess Victoria is having an affair?" Jason was known to have a bit of a wild reputation.
Chad, another one of Jason's friends, scolded Finn for his foolishness. However, considering Jason's reputation and the circumstances, as well as the young woman's beauty, Chad decided it was best to keep a close eye on them. "Just keep watch. I'll inform Kurt, who will then inform the king," Chad instructed. This was the first time the prince had brought a woman to the War King's mansion, and no matter what his intentions were, Chad couldn't let him do as he pleased.
Charles was engrossed in his writing when he received a request for an audience from Kurt. He put down his brush and prepared himself for Jason's arrival, who he believed would be visiting soon. "Come in," Charles said with a light tone. Kurt walked into the room, appearing calm and collected. He had been tasked with reporting to Charles, and he did so with a steady voice.
"Your Highness, Princess Victoria has left her rooms and encountered the young lord from the White family, who had come for a scheduled appointment. She then proceeded to drag him along with her and fled into the garden," Kurt reported. Charles was taken aback by this information. He was under the impression that Victoria was not familiar with Jason. However, if they were indeed acquainted, he would have to reevaluate Little Venice's intentions. Little Venice had always been the weakest of the four regions and caused the least amount of trouble, but if they had a relationship with Fairfield, who controlled the food market, it could have significant political implications.
Kurt, however, informed Charles that according to Chad's observations, the two of them did not seem to know each other. Charles was not pleased with this situation, given Jason's reputation and Victoria's beauty. He asked Kurt if Jason had a death wish, to which Kurt replied with a smile, "Perhaps not, Your Highness. It was the princess who dragged the young lord away, not the other way around. He seemed to be just as confused as the rest of us."
Charles was even more intrigued by this development and asked Kurt what he believed Victoria was planning. But before Kurt could respond, Charles waved his hand, telling him not to worry about it. He didn't have time to keep track of every move she made. Kurt then added that he had already checked Victoria's clothes and belongings, as well as her injuries, and there was nothing out of the ordinary to be concerned about.
Unbeknownst to Victoria, while she was sleeping, both Charles and Kurt had entered and exited her room to check on her. This was something she never would have imagined.