Ever since that day, I now found myself counting down the days before the founding celebration. It was now five days until the start of the festival. For the past days, Sam had been very busy, and I knew the reason, and like usual, I did my duties and just repeated everything in a blur.

"The palace had been rather calm despite that the delegations from other countries had arrived," Yul said while he walked me back to my quarters. "I heard the princess of the Cross Kingdom had been spending too much time with the king."

"I heard." Only deaf wouldn't hear about it as everywhere I went, that's all I heard about. "It won't be a surprise if Stefan and the princess came to terms and joined forces."

"And you look rather relaxed about it."

Well, that was because I'm about to bid everyone farewell, but I wouldn't tell Yul about that... or should I? That thought caused me to halt abruptly as a deep exhale escaped my lips before facing him.

Yul furrowed his brows as he stared at me straight in the eye. "Lilou?"

I didn't speak for a moment and studied him. Yul was my blood brother — he was my last kin. Hence, I felt bad about abandoning him after waiting for me in this hellhole all these years.

"Yul." I took a step forward while he tilted his head to the side. "Give me your hand."

I raised my palm, waiting for him to place his hand on it. Yul seemed a little puzzled but still placed his palm on mine.

"Yul." I took a deep breath, sensing if there were people around us. Fortunately, there wasn't. So I opened my eyes and gazed at him solemnly.

"Will come with me?" I asked, and his brows knit even more. "You said you will support me whatever my decision, so…"

"So?"

"If, I…" My hand instinctively squeezed his hand. This was more difficult than I thought. "… if I don't want to do what our clan wants and just, you know, turn my back on it… what will you…"

"You want to run away?"

My breath hitched at his straightforward inquiry. I bit my lip and gazed down, keeping my silence.

"Lilou," Yul called before placing his other hand to our hands, making me raise my head to him. "I told you, I'm merely a pawn and you are my Queen. Thus, whatever decision you make, I will respect it."

"Yul…" A weak smile resurfaced on my lips until his expression suddenly grew solemn.

"However, it won't be easy, Lilou. Entering the palace is easy, but getting out is impossible. Even Hell who had tried to leave this place always finds himself coming back."

I bit my inner lip because deep down, I knew that. Leaving the palace was the easiest step. The chase that would come after was a different case.

"Come with me, Yul. I don't want to leave my only family behind." I squeezed his hand and smiled weakly. "I know it's cowardly, and it's insensitive of me to say all this, knowing that you've endured everything until now. But… I don't want this."

Yul smiled faintly as he raised his other hand and placed it on my head. "Thank you for thinking of me, sister. Your concern and sincerity are good enough for me."

"So, will you come with me?"

He shook his head, closed-lipped. "I'm sorry, but I had to refuse your offer."

"Yul."

"Lilou, look at me." Yul bent over as he stared at me straight in the eye. "I told you I will protect you, no matter what. It's not that I don't want to come with you, but someone had to stay behind and keep an eye on everything. Claude's parents, Lucia and Dyrroth, made the same decision, and I had to witness their deaths."

My eyes dilated as that news was new to me. I've been wondering whose child Claude was, but it wasn't my top priority, so I didn't ask. Now that I thought about it, Claude had told me about his parent's death in the past.

"That happened to them because they didn't know what was happening in here. I will keep in touch if leaving is your final decision." Yul explained, giving me mixed emotions as I gripped his hand tightly.

"Yul, how can you —"

"It's my decision." He smiled and stroked my hair. "As I've said, you, considering me as your family, is good enough for me. I am doing this not because I'm your subject, but because you are my sister."

Yul and I stared at each other for a long time. It was painful to hear that kind response despite my insensitive, cowardly, and selfish words. But there was no turning back now. I had agreed with Sam, and I was prepared to leave everything behind.

"Don't feel sorry for me, sister." He let out a soft chuckle as if he could read my thoughts. "Sometimes, choosing what is right and what makes you happy is hard. But know that I made this decision because it is what makes me happy. I hope your decision will make you happy as well."

"Yes." I nodded as my eyes softened while staring at his pair of calm azure eyes.

****

When Yul left, Mildred was waiting for me in my chambers. Lena had asked me permission to leave as she had to go to her hometown and would return before the founding week. Her timing was perfect as I had planned as well, before the founding week.

"My lady." Mildred followed me behind after she shut the door. I stopped when I was in the middle of the room and faced her.

"Someone from the Spade Kingdom came earlier to give you this." She handed a letter with Zero's family seal on it.

The corner of my lips curled up as I immediately tore it apart to read it. My smirk stretched wider upon skimming through it, before I trudged towards the desk, and hovered it over the candelabra, burning it.

"Mildred, I will go out tonight," I informed her as I faced her.

Her expression was aghast, wide-eye. "But my lady, what will I tell to His Grace if he asked me where were you?"

"I will return as soon as possible. Tell him if ever he returned I was on the training grounds." I explained and waved.

"My lady… what are you… yes, my lady." Mildred hesitated but ended up just not prying on things too much.

My eyes glinted as they squinted. Zero… he had answered my letter and agreed to meet.

'Sam proposed our current plan after meeting that guy.' I thought as my eyes sharpened. 'I don't want to know whatever they had discussed, but what I need to do is to refrain him from doing something stupid before the founding week.'

"Just one more day and night, Lilou… you'll be free," I whispered while my hand curved into a ball.