Rustle.
In the darkness, I carefully adjusted the hood pulled deeply over my head. Even in the dark, I had to completely conceal my bright silver hair.
Good. I got out safely.
Shocked by the news that my father had been injured, I had pretended to lie down in my bedroom to rest. The maids—satisfied that I was out of the way—quickly turned their attention away from me and retreated to the servants' quarters to gossip.
During that brief window, I had managed to slip out unnoticed and make my way to the Empress's Palace.
It's definitely quiet.
I had known in advance that security would be lax tonight, but there were so few soldiers on duty that I began to wonder if this was truly safe.
Did everyone get called away somewhere?
Had the Empress taken the entire guard with her when she rushed to attend the Emperor?
I don't know—but this must be why they couldn't catch the thief in my past life.
It was strange, but it worked in my favor.
I walked quietly through the garden, trying to suppress my presence as much as possible, and approached the palace building itself.
My small, slender build proved quite advantageous for silent movement. I had no difficulty weaving between the branches of low-growing ornamental trees without disturbing a single leaf.
Hiding among the foliage, I took a deep breath and mentally reviewed my plan.
The worst thing that could happen is if I'm unlucky enough to be caught by the guards.
In that situation, it would be better to quickly abandon the treasure and choose a safe escape route—rather than arouse Kavala's suspicions, even if it meant losing this opportunity.
If that happens, I can use the excuse I prepared. I'll say I couldn't enter the main palace without permission, so I came here to find out news about my father because I was worried.
If I said that, would Kavala really kill me—a princess?
Outwardly, Kavala pretends to cherish me. And the guards know my face, so they can't treat me too harshly.
If I just keep my wits about me, I'll be safe.
I had also prepared a secure route to avoid detection when carrying the treasures out.
The only real danger comes when I enter Kavala's bedroom to find the magical key.
At first, my heart had been pounding so hard I thought I might faint. But as I moved forward, I grew more confident with each step.
I quickly approached Kavala's private chambers.
I need to find an open window somewhere.
I moved stealthily, hiding in the shade of a tall fir tree—its branches thick with densely packed, pointed needles—while reaching out to test each window along the hallway near Kavala's bedroom.
Rattle.
A small noise came from somewhere nearby.
What?
Startled, I quickly dove between the branches and crouched low.
I peered through the foliage and saw someone examining a window in the hallway—not far from where I was hidden.
Is a maid trying to open the window?
The hallway was dark, with no lights burning, so I couldn't see the person's features clearly. All I could make out was the silhouette of a woman wearing a skirt.
I assumed it was a maid opening the window to ventilate the rooms.
How lucky. I can slip inside while she's busy.
As she passed by, I prepared to look through the open window...
Wait—
I froze, my mouth falling open in shock.
A woman suddenly leapt out through the open window.
At that exact moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
Could that be... the thief?
The woman—who had jumped from the window as nimbly as a squirrel—quickly gathered her skirts and began sprinting directly toward me.
Behind her, the corridor suddenly blazed with light. Guards came running, shouting.
"Where did she go?"
"Where is she hiding?"
"Over there!"
One of the guards pointed directly at the open window.
Don't come this way! Don't come!
I crouched as deeply between the branches as I could, silently cursing the thief who had to flee in my direction of all places.
However—
"...!"
"...?"
The moment the woman—who was running at full speed—passed the fir tree where I was hiding, our eyes met.
As soon as our gazes locked, I could see clearly that the wanted poster had not been an exaggeration.
In the light cast by the guards' torches, her red, voluminous curls scattered around her face like a flower in full bloom.
Brilliant. Unmistakable. Striking.
I was momentarily stunned—so shocked that I didn't even notice the cold metal wrapping around my wrist.
It happened in an instant.
Clank.
"What—!"
I jumped to my feet and stared down at my wrist in disbelief. A pair of shackles—the kind used on criminals—now dangled from it.
What is this? What's happening?
I looked at the woman in utter confusion.
She smiled arrogantly—and then suddenly began yelling. I didn't have time to stop her.
"Here! There's a runaway woman here!"
"What...?"
I immediately understood what was happening.
This foolish woman didn't even know I was a princess—and she was trying to make me her scapegoat.
"Hey! If we keep going like this, we'll both get caught!"
I cried out in frustration, but it was already too late.
"Over there!"
"Stop her from running away!"
We were instantly surrounded by guards.
I didn't expect to get caught like this.
I looked at the guards encircling me and sighed softly.
This was precisely the worst-case scenario I had imagined.
My treasure...
It was unfortunate, but I had a backup plan in place. I tried to keep my expression calm.
The guards must already recognize my face.
After all, it wouldn't be easy to confuse that woman's gorgeous red curls with my straight silver hair.
Or so I thought.
But something absurd happened.
"Catch that woman and lock her up!"
One of the guards pointed directly at me and shouted.
Even though I had my hood thrown back, they still didn't recognize me.
I tore off my hood completely in disbelief and glared at the guards who were reaching for my arms.
"What are you doing? Don't you recognize me? Open your eyes and look properly!"
She has red hair and I have silver—almost white!
It was so absurd that I forgot to maintain my usual timid facade.
But even though I showed my face fully, the guards didn't recognize me. They simply laughed mockingly.
"What is this ratty little bitch talking about?"
What? Ratty little...?
Even though I wasn't treated well in the palace, this was the first time I had ever heard a guard swear like that in front of me—a princess.
They grabbed my wrists—which had flown apart in shock—and fastened the shackles that had been dangling from one wrist tightly to both.
Meanwhile, the thief who had sacrificed me was slipping away into the shadows.
"We have to catch that woman! How dare you lay hands on me! I am Princess Chloe!"
I struggled and screamed.
Then, suddenly, I caught sight of something reflected in the window behind the guards.
A head of brilliant red curls.
The color was so vivid that even the reflection in the glass was striking.
What...?
The thief was clearly running away in the distance—so why was I seeing her reflection in the window in front of me, surrounded by guards?
And why did the thief's reflection mirror my own movements?
What the hell is happening...?
Could this be magic?
As I stood frozen in confusion, the guard who had grabbed my arm yanked it violently.
"How dare you, a filthy gypsy, speak the name of Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
My weak body—completely devoid of physical strength—swayed like a reed in the wind.
Meanwhile, my mind raced with questions.
A gypsy? Not a thief? Not a burglar? Why does the guard speak as if he already knows who the thief is?
Do the guards already know the identity of the thief who broke into the palace?
At that moment, another guard standing nearby brought his index finger to his lips and whispered urgently.
"Knock her out so she can't make a scene. We have to do this quietly—without anyone knowing."
Before I could even begin to explain the situation, I felt a brutal shock to the back of my neck.
"Ah—!"
I felt my body crumple limply, like a marionette with its strings suddenly cut. My vision plunged into pitch darkness.
Just before everything disappeared, the last thing I saw was the thief glancing back as she vanished into the night.
She was smiling confidently—as if she knew that nothing I said would make any difference.
And then there was nothing.
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