Tasted New Freedom

What was he doing here? She was sure he was still talking to her uncle when she had left her room. She trembled at the thought of him asking her question so boldly.

It startled her into halting. The names of the girls are only taken by family members or lovers.

The word sounded so intimate when it came in his low and magnetic voice but instead of feeling touched, it felt alarming for he was the one proving her a lunatic.

She took a deep breath and turned, giving a bashful smile like a young maiden who had lived a sheltered life and was nothing more than a bauble, kept on the shelf. Her hands entangled to the threads of her dress and her eyes fixed on the ground.

"Yes, my lord?" she asked, "are you still angry that i questioned you that night? I was not in my senses." 

Looking at her shy look, a whisked smile on his face showing off his angular features to their best advantage. He was tall, lean and well-muscled, his dark eyes glittering unusually. He looked Amused by her presence there.

"You are more clever than your uncle thinks you are!" and he stopped her to tell her so?

"Why, yes? Thank you!" She looked confused as she intentionally fidgeted in her place as if she did not understand why he had stopped her and what he wanted from her. "But I am a very clumsy and shy person, so I do not think I should talk to a man in the middle of the night!" so go away and let me run.

The time was short and she had to hurry if she wanted to fetch the ferry.

His hair was black and glossy; from this high vantage, it looked thick enough to grab in great handfuls. She'd like to try it, and yank very hard.

What a heartless monster he was, assisting her uncle in selling her without even knowing who she was and now daring to speak to her in the middle of the night.

"Hmm, I've seen that since the moment I entered the palace!"

"....."

"But you should be careful, who knows what else you are clumsy with?" She took a step backward. That sounded like a threat.

 "Fine advice," she said breathlessly. "I'm ever so grateful for it."

"Is that so?" he asked with a sardonic smile on his face again "then i will give you another one, go straight to your room and sleep early tonight."

Her heart leaped in her chest and she felt it might explode. "I.. was going for a small walk first, my lord."

His smile faded, but the grim look on his face only made him more seductive, "Taking a walk late at night may be dangerous. Who knows what lies in the dark? Sleeping early would benefit a young girl like you. You should listen to others when you are warned."

His voice was threatening, mild but clear that he was warning her, but she remained deafeningly silent. There was no way that he knew where she was going.

She had made sure, planned enough and waited for a long time. Only the words of her uncle had triggered her to act upon it today.

"Oh, then you might be right. I will listen to your advice?" She bowed her head and returned silently to her room.

She turned and left for the building again, waiting for him to leave too. Her ears strained to listen to any kind of noise but there was not.

He remained there watching her every step like a hawk until she reached her room. She leaned on the door with goosebumps all over her skin.

That monster had such an intense gaze that held her captive.

"It will be better for you that you listen to me." he muttered as he slowly walked towards the exit and sat in his carriage.

Penny looked at the door again. It was already the middle of the light and even the maids were sleeping. Even if she leaves now, she is not going to get any carriage to the port or she might not get a ship too." her heart sank,

But the thought of her uncle proving her lunatic and marrying her off in the morning was more terrifying. She didn't know how much time she had.

She took a deep breath and then walked out again, even if she had to walk, she would!

She had waited, prayed, and deliberated for six years. For six years, she had been meekly obedient in penance for those first months when she didn't know any better, and she had spoken her mind without fear.

She had thought that if she stayed meek, they would let her live until she found a way to run away.

Marriage has always been one of those ways.. But now that it was going to get snatched, she could not wait anymore.

She walked out of the backdoor where one of her supporting guards was on duty. Now she could only pray that they would not check on her until in the morning.

She walked out, breathing the air that tasted completely different from the one in the palace. She dashed down the dark lane, too afraid to take the main road, where important carriages could arrive at any moment. She kept running as fast as she could with her fast beating heart when the strong rain started to pour.

Even the rain wanted to test her will tonight. The drops felt like whips on her body with the thin nightgown she was wearing but her feet did not slow down.

The sound of hissing leaves and thundering sky were no less than a monster following her to eternity. For some reason the words of the strangers ran in her heart like a warning bell. But she ignored them.

"I am going to get my freedom tonight." She came running towards the port, falling many times with her dress tearing a bit, her feet and heels covered with mud and her body turning white with the cold rain.

But the fire in her eyes did not dim. Only when she saw the small inn near the port city, did she slow down.

She had asked a guard to send the letter first after her aunt left her room. She just hoped that the letter reached its destination and the man was there to help her.

He was an old friend of her father and had promised her that he would help her if she ever needed it.

She did need it now. She spat a mouthful of rainwater while running a hand in her wet hair to get them away from her face. Her every action was unladylike but all she cared about was the freedom around the corner.

The rolling thunder was announcing it as she finally stopped in front of a large building.

Now all she needed was a husband and then she would be the sole owner of all the properties her father had left for her.

Despite her frozen body, her heart warmed as she smiled and stepped into her new freedom.