They had barely walked a few steps when Austin suddenly stopped. His entire body went stiff as he saw two n in dark cloaks standing at the far end of the corridor. One of them moved slightly, and firelight flashed against the hidden blade under his cloak.
"Turn around," he whispered.
Alina didn’t ask any question. She followed him as he led her down another hallway. Behind them, they could hear footsteps approaching them.
"Are they following us?" Alina asked, her heart racing.
"Most probably," Austin muttered. "Keep moving."
They turned into a narrow servants’ passage. Austin quickly pulled down a heavy banner behind them to block the entrance. Seconds later, a loud crash echoed through the hall, followed by angry curses.
Austin grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. The palace corridors twisted endlessly around them. He walked through them quickly as he knew every hidden hallway and staircase inside the palace.
Footsteps echoed behind them again. They were closer now. Austin opened a side door and pushed Alina inside. He followed after her and locked the door. He then dragged a heavy wooden chest and put it in front of it.
"Stay calm," he whispered.
Alina nodded but her whole body was trembling.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Austin moved Alina behind him before opening the door slightly, his one hand resting on the dagger hidden under his coat.
Chancellor Crane stood outside calmly with a cruel smile on his face. Two of his guards waited farther down the corridor.
"May I co in?" Crane asked politely.
Austin didn’t move.
"You can speak from there."
Crane smiled faintly and stepped inside anyway.
Austin’s jaw tightened but he let him enter to prevent the chaos. Chancellor Crane had the upper hand right now.
Chancellor closed the door and glanced around the room, looking annoyed before his gaze settled on Alina.
"So...you are the girl causing all this trouble," he murmured.
Austin imdiately stepped in front of her. Crane watched them and smiled again.
"How protective," he said calmly. "Very interesting, I should say."
"What do you want?" Austin asked coldly.
"I already know about the docunts you have," he replied as he walked around the room with his arms crossed. "Did you really think you could steal files from my archives without finding out?"
He then turned and looked at them again.
"The king is emotional," he continued. "He is too proud and very easy to provoke. But...I am not."
He smiled as his gaze moved towards Alina again.
"You are the real problem right now."
"Be careful," Austin’s voice was deadly.
But Chancellor Crane ignored him completely.
"If she disappears, everything will return to normal. You will marry Audrey and the kingdom stays stable. Everyone wins."
Austin moved so fast that even Alina flinched. He grabbed Crane by the collar and slamd him against the wall.
"Say another word about her," Austin hissed, "and I’ll kill you right here."
The guards hearing the noise imdiately pushed the door open but Crane raised his hand, stopping them.
"It’s alright," he said casually. "The duke is emotional tonight."
They bowed and left. Crane stared back at Austin without any fear.
"You won’t kill ," he said. "Because the mont I die, my n outside will kill her."
Austin’s grip tightened even more, making Crane cough. Alina moved towards Austin and grabbed his arm.
"Austin! Stop!!"
He looked at Alina’s pleading eyes and finally let him go. He calmly fixed his collar like nothing had happened.
"At least your mind is working properly even though your heart isn’t," he murmured. "Now we can talk properly."
"What do you want?" Alina asked.
"Austin will have to marry Audrey," he replied, looking at her.
"No," Austin replied imdiately.
Crane ignored him.
"And you’ll have to disappear quietly afterward."
Alina stared at him in disbelief.
"You expect us to agree to that?"
"No," Crane replied calmly. "I expect you to understand the stakes right now."
"What do you an?" Alina asked.
Crane took out a small glass vial from his pocket and placed it on the small table in the room. Dark liquid swirled inside it.
"Nightshade," he said. "I heard it’s very effective."
Alina’s whole body went cold while Austin looked terrified.
"One signal from ...and accidents will begin happening around you both."
He took a step towards Alina.
"You seem kindhearted, Lady Alina. So let ask you sothing," he lowered his voice. "How many people are you willing to sacrifice for your love story? I heard you have a lot of friends you love in Ravenmoor."
Alina’s hands curled into fists.
"You have until dawn," he said, straightening his sleeves. "Not the king’s silly twenty four hours. Choose wisely."
He turned and walked towards the door but then stopped.
"By the way...tell Eric he should learn how to lie. He is a noob in that departnt."
Then he left.
"He knows about Eric too," Alina whispered.
"He knows about everyone," Austin muttered.
Before either of them could anything else, they heard a noise from above. Austin looked up and the ceiling hatch burst open. A man dropped into the room with a dagger and aid straight at Alina.
Austin grabbed him imdiately and they both crashed hard onto the floor. The assassin fought fiercely, but Austin was much better. Blood oozed out from Austin’s shoulder when the blade cut him, but he didn’t react at all.
Alina looked around and picked up a heavy brass candlestick from the table. She slamd it on the attacker’s head and the man collapsed unconscious.
Then they heard more footsteps echoing outside, walking closer to them. Austin imdiately put the docunts inside his coat,"
"Ready?."
Alina nodded. They escaped through a hidden servant passage Austin rembered from years ago when he visited the palace with his father. They hurried through dark corridors, narrow stairs, and old tunnels under the palace as voices rose behind them.
By the ti they reached outside, both of them were breathless. Austin saddled the horses quickly while Alina kept watch.
Then finally, they rode off into the darkness.
But this battle was far from over.
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