woof woof, Don't you know the mad dog?

Let's leave everything behind!

The carriage rolled along the dirt road, the wheels creaking rhythmically with each turn....That alone was making me feel sleepy. It was this rhythmical noise that was relaxing to hear.

Finally!

After all crazines I went though!

Finally!!!

It was time!

I stared out the window, watching the familiar landscape of Callisto's castle fade into the distance. It felt surreal, leaving everything behind. Callisto had appointed me as the foreign minister, granting me diplomatic immunity and a new title. It was an opportunity to start anew, to escape the games setting and actually live my own life. The biggest thing I hated was people judging me by who I was. Now that I was free and out, I would certainly sharpen my fangs more and more. I was not someone to mess with.

I broke out of prison after all.

I broke the next duke Eckharts nose, aka Derricks.

I broke into the Castle.

I basically could have killed Callisto but let's just leave it with dumping water on him.

Made a place for myself under the mais till no one was questioning me anymore.

I was hard working!

I deserved some rest of all this crazy shit.

As a foreign minister, my task was to negotiate with neighboring countries, build alliances, and foster partnerships. It was a role that required both intelligence and diplomacy, and I was probably not the best person for this seeing how I did threaten Callisto at first or how I did get out of prison.... but hey, it was an opportunity and I wouldn't turn this one down for sure.

The road ahead was long, but for the first time, I felt a sense of relief and freedom.

Callisto had assured me that he would handle the aftermath of our recent troubles. I trusted him to clear my name and bring those responsible to justice. The dagger I had from bacl then is in his hands too. It was a strange feeling, relying on someone else, but Callisto had proven himself to be on my side. He was helping me out after I kinda made sure that he would get back on his feet after a poisoning attempt and the fever. Scratching each otheres back!

Our relationship was complicated—part friendship, part enemy—but there was mutual respect between us for sure. Maybe because we both were called dogs and mad or crazy at one point.

As the carriage approached the outskirts of the city, I saw a familiar figure standing by the roadside. The Duke—my so-called father. His expression was a something I couldn't understand. He should be happy to see me leave since I was not getting him in any kind of trouble anymore and a Ivonne would come back soon anyways. It was just a matter of time till Winter would find her and I so didn't wanted to be there for that. 

Anyways, he stepped forward, his hand raised as if to stop the carriage.

Driver: Should I stop, Lady Penelope?

Me: No. Keep going.

The driver nodded, urging the horses to maintain their pace. 

AH DARN IT!

I wanted to leave everything behind.

Why does he had to come out now?

Does he think I need to listen to him?

To someone who didn't even come to see me in prison?

HAH!

Screw off!

The Duke tried to keep up, his voice carrying over the sound of the wheels.

Duke: Penelope! Wait! Please, we need to talk!

I leaned out of the window, my voice cold and firm.

Me: There's nothing to talk about. You made your choice. Now, I'm making mine.

Duke: Please, don't do this.  Come back home.

Me: Home? That place was never my home. I'm done with the Eckharts!!! For all of you, I was just the dirty little begger you brought home! I was never part of the family to begin with. 

Duke: But... I'm your father.

Me: You're a stranger to me. How many times did we spend time with each other? When was the last day we had a tea or talked for more than 2 sentences? When did I call you father the last time? Huh? Callisto has given me a chance... something you and the young duke never could. I'm not going back to being your prisoner, the mad dog of the Eckharts. Just go on the streets and search for another girl to fit that role..

The Duke looked devasted when I said tht but it was the truth. Why should I lie. I had my point there. I couldn't even remember any of the time we spend together for that long. He would just call me over, scold me or try to cover up but never did we just talk like a father and a daughter or spend some time together.

He slowed his pace, eventually stopping as the carriage continued onward. I watched him grow smaller in the distance. This was it—the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

The road ahead was definitely not an easy one, but I felt as if this was the right one. With diplomatic immunity and a new title, I was no longer the "mad dog" of Eckhart. I was a foreign minister, tasked with representing our country on the international stage.

I was no longer someone who was actually imprissoned by the system.

No more Callisto, no more Eckharts, no winter and no Eckless.

I didn't needed Ivonne and I didn't needed the system.

This was my life.

I felt the joy, the pain and the pleasure in it.

So why shouldn't I claim it back?

As the carriage sped towards my first destination, I couldn't help but think of Callisto. He had become an unlikely ally, someone who was my enemy because of that stupid system and the likability I had to gather but he was also a friend to me for the last couple of days. No one ever understood me but he kinda did... It was not a lot that we talked together but it was enough to see how he treated me. He could have thrown me into a dungeon for breaking into the palace for sure but he didn't.... why? Who knows! I don't even care.

Our relationship was complex and I didn't wanted to think about it.

Let's just say I was lucky.

As the carriage rumbled on, I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill my lungs. 

Me: Finally... it's over.....

With this, I was on my way to a brand new life somewhere far far away from everything... somewhere, where I didn't had to think about my neck being still intact and my head attached to my neck.

~~END~~

A/N: Thanks for reading this story and I hope you enjoyed it as well.