Nyx continued to smile as each step she took caused her soul to resonate with the drum-like beat, the one that had reappeared after her moment with Granny, seemingly suggesting that her current line of thinking was the correct path.

The sensation, which subconsciously made her move in time with its rhythm, felt incredibly comfortable. Yet as it increased, Nyx felt a somewhat foreboding sensation start to grow in her stomach.

Now that she had escaped the delusional artificial bubble she had created, Nyx had begun to see the glaring contradictions and knew that she would be forced to act soon or risk get swept up into a political game that she wasn't interested in or even cared for.

Like enchanting summer giving way to a desolate winter, Nyx's smile slowly left her face, making it seem as it was never there, as she started to think about her current situation and its implications.

Even if she ignored all the observational data she had unconsciously gathered, just by analysing Harold's words and actions, as well as those of the doctors and guards that she had interacted with, Nyx knew that there were turbulent times ahead for the princess. She may have escaped from her kidnappers, but it seemed the damage had already been done.

With that realisation, the thought that she could use her body's position and title to aid in her goals disintegrated, leaving Nyx feeling somewhat put out and disgruntled.

This caused her to grumble to herself, inaudible to even those nearby. "Nothing is ever easy."

Sighing, Nyx let go of those frustrations and started to assume that seeming lull in change during the time she was unconscious, was probably the same time the forces behind the scenes were fighting it out. Trying to decide how to deal with her.

Seeing as she was now being discharged, as well as the happy yet forlorn look that Harold showed when he thought she wasn't looking, Nyx felt it was likely that like the victor had already been decided and all that was left was for them to go through the motions.

Nyx felt irritated at this thought. That she was seen as nothing more than a pawn to be manipulated and moved so that the desired outcome could be revealed to the public, similar to how she had been treated in the past. Yet Nyx also knew she that it wasn't the time to openly rebel and challenged those in power.

She might not be in a stone cell anymore, but Nyx felt as if the materials had only changed. Her new prison was made out of flesh and bone. It was made out of the guards that surrounded her as well as the population that would undoubtedly turn on her if she revealed who she truly was.

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So far, the actions she had taken to date, while not a conscious decision, could all be seen in the light of a mentally unstable woman, trying to deal with her troubles while seeking attention.

With this, as well as the fact that she didn't get the impression from Harold or the others that her life was in danger, Nyx decided that she wouldn't reveal her hand too early.

Even still, the fact that everyone she met displayed an awkward look of pity, sometimes mixed with morbid curiosity, towards her troubled Nyx greatly.

She knew that if she wasn't careful, she could find herself more entangled than she already was.

Feeling the penetrating gaze of Granny on her back, Nyx fought back the urge to try and escape, knowing it would be useless in the face of overwhelming power.

By this time, Nyx had approached within a couple of meters of the exit.

Even though the two guards were meant to wait for the all clear from the outside, their intuition told them that they shouldn't provoke the entity before them and, with straight backs, they opened the doors and stood at attention to the side.

Roaring crowds, kept back by two lines of brown leather armoured men and women as they made a path towards an open top carriage, covered the street outside.

The sound of their combined voices, a mixture of joy, mocking and even a hint of anger, hit Nyx like a brick wall, causing her steps to falter for but the briefest of moments.

This enabled Harold, who had quickened his steps, to arrive behind Nyx. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, Harold linked his arm with Nyx in an obvious display of solidarity and support.

As he did so, the prince leaned in. "Don't worry Sis, when we get back to the palace, the royal guard will take over, and we won't have to play along with this farce anymore."

Normally, Nyx would have dodged Harold, or anyone's for that matter, approach and even though she found the arm linked with hers extremely uncomfortable and awkward, she didn't dislodge it.

With everyone watching, Nyx decided that it would be better not to cause a scene and tried to ignore it.

Seeing that Nyx hadn't pushed him away, Harold's smile widened, feeling he had finally bridged some of the estrangement that had been present since she had returned.

Little did he know that Nyx's focus had already moved on, no longer paying him any attention, and was analysing the other side of the street.

Behind an open-top carriage that seemed to be waiting for Nyx, stood soldiers adorned in power armour.

Unlike the average looking soldiers that were holding back the crowd, these fully armoured soldiers appeared like silver gods of war, a coat of arms appearing on their right shoulder, just under the line of their impressive-looking cloaks.

Nyx's eyebrow twitched. The soldiers on the other side of the road were obviously those of the royal guard, donning the same crest that Harold had on his shoulder, yet it seemed that for some reason, they couldn't approach.

Instead, half of them stopped any more people from crossing over, while the rest scanned those that had already passed with a critical, if somewhat murderous, eye.