How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 16 - The Taste of Freedom

--Valeria POV--

The palace gates faded behind me, swallowed by the winding roads as I strayed further and further from the place which I called home. I could not breathe until those walls were fully out of sight, clutching onto the edge of my cloak as I pulled it closer around my face.

Beside me, Linus walked like a silent shadow, always half a step behind, and always watching.

"Are you certain about this, your imperial majesty?" He asked, although I found that it was a bit late to ask such questions when the palace is already out of sight.

"Linus, I told you to call me-"

"-Valeria when it is just the two of us, I understand, but I still do not think it is appropriate." He mumbled under his breath, holding onto the hilt of his sword which lay hidden under his cloak, seeming to be more on edge than I was.

"It is appropriate, we are friends after all." I hummed, a small, excited smile playing at my lips as we continued down the street, heading to the nearby market.

"Well, I still think this is very risky. If anyone recognises you-"

"-Do not worry, Linus. These people see hundreds of faces every day. I am no one worth remembering in this disguise." I have my personal servant to thank for that. I had realised all too quickly that not one of my outfits are fit for going undercover in the market, so I had asked her to give me one of hers. So, if anyone is to ask me any questions, then I could simply say that I was a servant that worked at the palace.

"Oh, is it not simply wonderful, Linus? I feel so truly free right now." I sang to myself, breathing in the air as I jumped in my steps.

"Well, you do look quite happy," Despite his high guard, his eyes softened at the sight of me, smiling along with me as we passed through the gates of the lower city.

The scent of bread baking hit me while smoke curled up from chimneys. Laughter rose in the distance as carts clattered along the dirt path. This is the familiar scene which I had been so desperate to see. Raw and uncurated. I had almost forgotten it.

For a moment, the tight coil in my chest loosened. I drifted among the crowd, my steps light as my eyes took in the sight of me. But as I saw this, I could only be reminded of the day where I had bumped into Stacius in this very market. 

This day could have been perfect if he loosened his chains on me to come and enjoy it with me.

"What are you thinking about that has caused your smile to wane? Is this bustling chaos not as perfect as you remember it to be?" Linus asked, snapping me out of my thoughts to which I was quick to shake my head in denial.

"No, not that. I am just a little worried... About how Stacius will react if he is to ever find out about this little escapade..." I mumbled to myself.

"I do not believe that he will be happy, especially after all those warnings he gave you." I glared at the taller man to which he innocently raised his hands in surrender. "But since we are here, and he is not, you must not forget how hard you worked to escape, and instead, enjoy this freedom for now, Valeria. You can worry later." I quite like the sound of that.

"You are right. I cannot remember the last time I was able to breathe without someone watching." As I said that, I inhaled another breath of crisp roman air.

"I am watching." He glanced at me sideways.

"You do not count." I jokingly slapped his shoulder, chuckling.

"Now, what shall we do? We do not have long before someone is to catch onto your absence, so you should make the most of this time." He reminded as my eyes went to scan over our surroundings. There were stalls set up, selling fabrics of different kinds as well as food and other goods, people hanging around them as they argued over prices.