Translated by MissQ

Chapter 2: Escape

The woman continued to visit the chained prince intermittently. Just when he thought he had been abandoned to die in the darkness, an unexpected event brought him a glimmer of hope.

Frantic footsteps echoed from the distance.

Hearing the commotion, Ian knew something had happened outside. Could this be his chance to escape? Although he was fed daily, his body had wasted away to the point of emaciation. With enough effort, he could slip his wrists and legs out of the shackles. He had tested it before, twisting his limbs just right to free himself.

But in the past, he had never found the right moment. The guards and servants would check on him occasionally, forcing him to quickly slip his hands and feet back into the restraints, always cautious not to raise suspicion.

Yet now, with the madwoman’s footsteps rushing so urgently—could today finally be his chance?

As a prince, his disappearance would undoubtedly draw attention, particularly from his mother, the Queen, who would be deeply troubled by his absence. She would most likely be the first to notice and become suspicious. The last known trace of Ian was at the Duke’s mansion before he vanished, so whoever was sent to locate him should ideally possess the cunning to find him imprisoned here.  

For the first time, Ian found himself anticipating the madwoman’s visit. He hoped she would come, as it would give him the chance to assess whether this was a viable opportunity for escape.  

“Your Highness, Prince Ian!” The woman abruptly threw herself into his arms, the torch still clutched in her hand; the flame nearly singed his hair. With fervor, she cradled his face and pressed her lips against his repeatedly, her unwanted affection making him feel increasingly nauseated.  

The woman’s face radiated joy. “Your Highness, we will soon elope and enjoy our freedom together! Just wait and see. My dear Prince Ian, I will return shortly!”  

With that, she hurriedly departed, so elated that she forgot to lock the door behind her.  

At last, an opportunity had presented itself! From her brief words, Ian was able to infer several things: he wasn’t far from the Duke’s mansion, since she had mentioned they could “soon elope.” The Duke must disapprove of her relationship with him; otherwise, why would she wish to flee with the prince? Perhaps the Duke was trying to help Ian extricate himself from this woman, especially since he and Ian’s father were very good friends.  

However, something serious must have been happening at the Duke’s mansion to throw it into chaos. After all, what else could explain the madwoman’s excitement? She was eager to seize this chance to take him and flee…  

Thinking through the situation, now was not the right time to seek out the Duke. Instead, he needed to escape to the outskirts for treatment before returning to the Royal Knights or the Temple. In short, the moment had come for him to escape!  

Ian quickly twisted his hands and feet, managing to slip free of the shackles. However, he didn’t anticipate that the old servant would notice the clanking chains and enter the cell just then. The servant stood frozen in shock at the unexpected sight. Seizing the moment, Ian grabbed a rod and made his move.  

Despite his weakness from a prolonged period of inactivity, the prince knew how to handle the old man. With the rod in hand, he swung decisively, landing a couple of blows until the servant crumpled to the ground. After ensuring the man was unconscious, Ian hastily locked the door behind him and fled.  

All the events unfolded quickly, but moving forward proved to be a challenge. Ian had little strength left, and the exertion from his earlier attack had pushed him to his limits.  

The staircase spiraled upward, revealing that he had been trapped at the bottom of a tower all this time. Ian surmised that this might be one of the two towers of the Duke’s mansion. As he neared the top of the basement, he could faintly see an open door in the distance; a subtle light spilled through the crack, accompanied by loud noises from outside. The clanking of boots and armor, shouts of commands, and the clashing of swords filled the air, each sound amplifying his anxiety and hesitation.  

After gently pushing the door to ensure it wasn’t locked, Ian managed to open a gap just wide enough for him to slip through. Even that small effort seemed to sap his remaining strength. Once outside, he shakily gathered a few branches and leaves, using them to cover his tracks.  

With his trail concealed, the prince let out a sigh of relief. His hands still trembled, fingers twisted and fractured twitching in discomfort, yet he dared not leave his hiding spot. Fear held him back, making him hesitant to venture out; he worried he might encounter a foe rather than a friend. If that were to happen, wouldn’t his escape be in vain?  

However, the turmoil in the distance continued unabated, and the prince soon grew impatient. He realized that if he waited too long, the guards might secure the premises, leaving him with no chance to escape. He needed to get moving! After taking several deep breaths, Ian summoned his strength and cautiously approached the doorway.  

The pile of branches stacked against the wall blocked any light from shining through the entrance. Ian carefully navigated past the branches that disguised the opening and slowly emerged through the crevice, quietly shutting the wooden door behind him.  

Once he surveyed his surroundings, Ian decisively plunged into the nearby forest. The Duke’s mansion was surrounded by a dense thicket of bushes, thick enough to conceal his traces. Unfortunately, the shrubs rustled loudly as he brushed past them.  

Before long, the prince was discovered.  

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