Sneaking Out at Midnight

Talk about disaster. The dinner was a disaster. After Ashley spitted on his face, she was traumatised and didn't utter a single word. She didn't even know how she got in her room.

Ramier was extremely unhappy because of what happened. How dare she spit on his face after he politely offered her a drink. She could even get executed due to that disrespectful act.

Even the servants who watched the scene were baffled by her boldness. They couldn't even look directly at the Emperor's face, much more to spit on his face. They pitied the girl. She clearly didn't know who she was up against.

Even though Ramier seemed like a nice person at first, they knew how ruthless he was. He wouldn't become a renowned Emperor if he wasn't.

After Ashley went to her room Ramier was left speechless. Soon, he clenched his jaw which turned into a sarcastic smile. The servants who saw this couldn't help but shiver in fear.

He clicked his tongue. He signaled his servants to leave then he decided to retire to his room. 

**********

Ashley immediately ran to the bathroom and washed her mouth over and over again. When she was alone, she finally let out her frustration.

"Aaarrrggghhh—F*ck!" she said and pulled her hair. Just thinking about almost swallowing the blood earlier made her feel sick.

That was so freaking disgusting! Who the heck puts blood in a bottle?! Vampires in her world didn't do that! They never did that! 

Though they didn't exist.

But that's not the point. She really needed to escape this place. She had already decided. She will leave tonight.

In addition, Ramier's face looked awful when she saw him as she exited the dining hall. He was frowning and his red eyes had a sharp glint. She felt really stupid for staining his beautiful face. He'll probably kill her. So before he could do that she needed to escape. 

'Yes, that's right! I need to get out of this place.'

However, she has a tiny problem. She didn't know how to. 

She didn't even know the layout of this Palace. She only knew the hallways they passed through when they went to the Emperor's palace but other than that there was nothing else. She didn't even know where the exit of the Palace was.

She convinced herself that there was plenty of time for her to roam around and find the exit. Though there are guards all over the palace, she will try her best to not get caught.

She planned to sneak out during midnight or later than that. It was safer for her to not wake the servants up.

She sat patiently on her bed and waited for midnight. Good thing there was a grandfather's clock in her room which creeped her out at first, but she realizes that it was actually useful.

When she couldn't take the boredom anymore, she sang a song and repeated it over and over again. She didn't know why out of all the things she had to do to distract herself, singing songs came to her mind. She couldn't care less. And with that, she relieved her boredom.

Time ticked by and  finally the clock struck midnight. Ashley stood in front of the door. Slowly, she turned the knob and held her breath. She carefully took a step forward. When she was completely out of her room, she leaned to reach out for the door and close it silently.

'Click.

She remained stiff and listened to her surroundings. There was no movement nor sound. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

The servants in the palace seemed to be asleep for there was no sound except the ticking of the clock. And there wasn't even a single light on. The hallway was completely dark. Only the moonlight peeping from the big windows illuminated her path. It was enough for her since she could at least see where she was going. She didn't want to stumble in the dark. Especially that she wasn't familiar with this place.

She continued her steps carefully till she reached a hall that had three different pathways. She didn't have any idea. She only knew that the pathway on the left was to the Emperor's palace, which has an x-mark on her head. Going to that place was a no-no.

'Which do I choose the one on the right or in the middle?' she pondered.

She pointed to the middle then to the right and vice versa. She couldn't decide so she just went with her instincts.

'I'll go to the middle.'

She narrowed her eyes and looked left and right before dashing towards the center hallway. She noticed that everything was safe and sound. She exhaled deeply when she was already at the end of the hallway.

'Phew' she wiped the imaginary sweat on her forehead. She calmed down her fast beating heart and took a look at her surroundings.

She was now outside. The pathway led her to a maze garden. A rose garden in particular.

'Wow.. Pretty.'she thought.

She wanted to stay a little longer to enjoy the beautiful scenery under the moonlight but unfortunately, her top priority at the moment was escaping.

She was about to turn around when she heard footsteps. She quickly hid herself at the corner, over the bushes.

In a distance, were two guards patrolling the area. They instantly stopped and surveyed the area. The other guard murmured something under his breath and the other guard looked at him.

They glanced at Ashley's direction. Ashley held her breath and clutched the hem of her dress tightly. She then covered her mouth afraid she would make a sound.

The guards turned their attention elsewhere. It was the tall bush not far from her. Their expressions changed from alertness to puzzlement. They glanced at each other and looked at that place once more.

They hesitantly turned around before scurrying off, back to where they came from.

Seeing them leave, Ashley tapped her chest lightly and was glad that she could finally breathe. It seems that she was better at hiding than what she thought.

The coast was clear and Ashley slowly stood up. She went out of the bush and went the opposite way from where the guards came from. She slowly sneaked into the path while glancing at her back from time to time. She was afraid that the guards would come back and discover her.