Blood ran across the white marble floors staining them a deep crimson red. The nobleman that had approached’s head was laying on the floor. The knight had severed the man's head in one move and had done so without a drop of blood landing on them self.

After the other nobles registered what they were seeing. It was only moments before there there were screams all around the ballroom nobles and servants alike were in fear for their lives. Many of the nobles that had weaker constitutions had fallen to the floor and began to puke their guts up.

The emperor yelled out his voice booming “Guards!” but not a single person stepped up. The large force of knights drew their swords and began to advance.

Rose could feel panic start to set in but took a breath and forced the panic down. She knew she needs to stay calm. She needed to escape and fast looking around the room her eyes went to the balconies and she got an idea. It was risky but it was a plan and it was all she had.

She did not have long before the knights reached her. Even the few nobles who could fight were useless without their weapons. Just as she got ready to move she felt pain in her chest. She realized what it was “The contract..” She whispered under her breath her mouth in a grimace. Whether she liked it or not she had to protect the prince or she would end up dead.

She looked over the crowd after a few moments she found the prince. He was back against the wall shaking like a dog in the rain. Whether it be by good luck or fate he was right by the balcony which would make this far easier for Rose. She retched down and ripped the side of her large dress also removing the heels as well then took one last breath before taking off sprinting.

She was charging straight at the prince. Rose had yet to be noticed with all the panic going on in the room but that would only last for so long. She ducked and weaved through the crowd then as soon as she was next to the prince heaved him over her shoulder.

The prince yelped as she picked him up “What are you doing!?!?” he said in a far too loud voice causing the knights to notice.

“Saving you, you idiot,” Rose said her voice was pained she was breathing heavily and the stupid corset that had been forced on her was making her body start to hurt.

The knights had started to close in on them, ignoring the other nobles. To Rose, it was clear they were after the prince. But it was too late. She was already at the edge of the balcony. She took a breath, then she jumped.

“What the hell are you doing? You are going to get us killed!” the prince screamed as they fell, his voice shrill. Just below them was a large pound Rose had noticed from the other balcony. Rose grabbed her shoes and tossed them below her. The shoes hit the pound just before them, breaking the surface tension.

Rose felt water surrounding her as she was submerged in the pound. She started to swim up fighting against the weight of the man she was holding. Each motion takes more willpower than the last but she manages to swim up to the edge of the pond and grabs it.

She pulls herself and the prince out of the pound their clothes soaking wet. Coughing up water before turning to the prince “Come on we have to keep moving!” she said in a hurried voice. Grabbing his arm and pulling him up.

The prince looked at her, wide-eyed his mouth agape he appeared to be ready to yell something but he stopped himself from speaking in started scrambling to a stand.

Rose looked at him “What's the fastest way out from here?” her voice was rushed but persistent.

“Um, am-” The prince's eyes darted around like a prey animal surrounded by predators “That way” he finely said pointing toward the garden. Rose hoped he was right and then picked him up once more before starting to run with him in her arms.

They ran through the garden there wet cloths making the run harder then it would other ways be. The prince pointing the way while Rose keep a look out to see if they were any of the knights around. After some time they had arrived at a large brick wall that surrounded the palaces. Many of its bricks were sticking out of the wall making it perfect for climbing. Rose set the prince down and started climbing the wall first.

I can’t wait to get out of this damned-soaking wet dress! She thought as she climbed the wall. She managed to reach the top despite the circumstances. Rose looked around to see if there were any of the knights following them. But it seemed that they had not followed them.

Odd Rose thought but she did not have the time to think about such things now she knew they needed to get out of the city.

Rose turned back to help pull the prince up but he was already halfway up the wall by then. Rose’s eyes widened “I did not think he would be able to climb this so fast.” She said under her breath as she grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

Rose lifted the prince tightly holding him in her arms. She was glad that he seemed to be clam by this at this point."Hold on tight," Rose said as she jumped down from the wall. Landing with a thoued.

"Now are you going to put me down?" The prince asks his body sifting clearly trying to get Rose to put him down.

"Fine but try to keep up," Rose said as she let him down. After which she takes a moment to get her barrings then she heads walking off. I'm glad I have been saving favors Rose thinks as she walks.

“Wait! I said wait!”The prince said as he was trying to catch up with Rose.“Were are you going?” he continued.

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“I'm going to cash in a favor to help us get out of the city,” Rose said her voice unwavering.

The prince follows Rose as she walks through the moonlit city keeping to the ales and avoiding being seen as best as they can. Rose thinks back to the contract regretting that she signed it so fast if only she had just said she would sign it after the party she would not have to babysit a useless prince.

Did he know they were coming? No there's no way if he did he would not have reacted like that. She thinks debating the validity of her theory. She regained focus when she noticed she nearing there destination.

At the end of the alleyway, sits a red door. It's bright color appears out of place from the colorless bricks around it.

Rose holds her hand out stopping the prince. "Wait here for a moment" she says as she approaches the door and knocks on it and then says "Open up granny!"

A moment latter the door creaks open revealing old woman that looks to be at lest seventy years old. Her beady eyes stares at Rose with annoyance.

"It's you," the old woman says with a hiss, one of her eyes twitching. Rose knew all too well that this was a sign that she was upset with her.

"Good to see you too," Rose says sarcastically her arms raised "Now can I come in?" she continues a small smile on her face.

The woman lets out a sigh "Fine Your guest can come too," the woman says reluctantly as she steps aside letting Rose walk in the prince following just behind her.

The Room is set up like a antique shop there are small nicknacks all over. The room is lit only by a small lantern in the center of the room hanging from the celling which gives off a bright orange glow.

“Who is she?” Leo asks his voice just a whisper.

The woman turns to Leo a mad glint in her eyes. She grabs a book off a near by shelf and tosses it at Leo. Leo’s eyes go wide and he raises his arms covering his face. Rose snatches it out of midair just before it hits Leo. She sets it down on a near by table.

“Don’t talk about someone behind their back You rude brat!” She exclaims as she slams her foot down.

“You Insolent-” Rose covers Leo’s mouth before he can finish his what he was trying to say.

Rose’s eyes are wide with panic “I’m sorry about his rude behavior Granny” Rose says taking a breath before continuing “This is Leo Solest the-”

The old woman cuts Roses off “I know who he is, he’s the former prince and your trying to get out of the city after a attack at the ball right?” she says with a hand wave. She moves over to a old chest in the corner of the room oping it before continuing “Your outfits are too eye catching, I should have something here.”

“So you know… WHY DID YOU NOT WORN ME!” Rose yells at the old woman.

“Well you never came to see me after being out of the city for months so I think we are even,” The Woman says. She looked thorough an old looking chest tossing cloths out on to the floor slowly making a pile.

Leo manages to pull Rose’s hand off of his mouth then speaks “You knew there would be an attack and you did not inform my father and what's this about me being a former prince! I’m the prince of-”.

“Silence!” The woman says with a hiss. Leo opens his mouth to speak but nothing will come out no matter how hard he tries. His hand shoots to his throat.

“Did you have to resort to magic Esther!” Rose exclaims. But she dears not to make a move after all she is well aware of out dangerous Esther is.

“I don’t think I ever gave you permission to call me by my name Missy.” Esther says looking at Rose her finger covering her mouth. “Now as it seems you don’t know boy I will tell you this that was not a simple attack on but a coup and I would bet they seceded.”

There are many thoughts racing through Rose’s mind but the first thing she asks is “You're a mage is there any way you can undo the Magic contract?” Rose's voice is desperate hoping she would not have to protect Leo for the next half a year.

“Aha!” Esther says as she pulls out a black cloak. She lets out a small cough then says “No theres no way I can undo a contract if it was not a apart of the contract. But I found your know outfits!” She then tossed an outfit to both Rose and Leo and with a snap a blue magic circle appears on the ground and from it emerges a portable changing room.

Leo’s eyes are wide its clear that he has never seen someone use magic for this. Even Rose had to admit that this was a strange use of magic from an outsider's perspective.

“Rose you go first!” The woman has a grin on her face.

A short time later Rose comes out of the changing room in the new outfit. The shirt is mostly blue with some white highlights. The pants were simple black they were neither tight nor loose making them good for combat. Then lastly there was a simple black cloak which would be good for traveling but less so for combat.

“Not bad granny. This is far better than that dress.” Rose says a smile on her face happy to finely be out of that soaking wet dress.

“Of course its not bad.”Esther says sounding offended that Rose would even consider that she would have given them something that Rose would consider bad. “Now you next boy do it fast and I will remove the spell after.”Esther says as she pushes Leo in to the changing room. After which she turns back to Rose.

“Now let us talk escape roots Rose” Esther’s voice was far more serious than before. She walks over to the nearby counter Rose follows after. “There are two ways I can think of first you can just go out the gates but I would bet they will be watching them. Secant you can go through the sewers for which I have this here,” She sets down a map on the nearby shop counter. The map looks old and worn and appears to be a blueprint of the sewers. “Now you can enter here,” she says as she places her finger on a cereal mark then follow this path and you will be out of the city,”

Rose holds her hand to her chin as she thinks. The gates are closed in till the morning and if we were to get attack there I would have no space to fight so that means the sewers would be better on the other hand they probably expect us to use the sewers so they may not realize who I am red hair is not common but not that rare. No that want madder after all just one look at his eyes and it will be over so sowers it is.

“Let's go with the sewers I think that's the best bet,” Rose says grabbing the blueprints.

Esther grins before saying “Then you will need this.” She places a simple long sword on the counter “I’m sure you know why. After this I don’t owe you anything.” Her voice upbeat.

Moments later Leo steps out of the dressing room. He is wearing a simple white shirt and black pants with a simple cloak. But he can’t seem to hold still clearly not a fan of the outfit he goes to move his hand before Esther snaps a spark of blue light comes off both her hand and Leo's neck.

Leo's hand goes to his neck once more before speaking “Is it gone?” Leo asks as soon as he hears is own voice he almost jumps for joy. But its cut short when Rose speaks.

“Come on its time to go Prince.” Rose says as she fastening her sword and it’s sheath to herself.

“Wait I have more to ask her!” Leo complains.

“Do you have a way to pay her?” Rose asks sass in her voice. She heads toward the door.

“I’m the prince once I get my position back I could give her what ever she wants!” Leo says standing in place.

“There nothing I would ever want from you now leave,” Esther says matter-of-factly. Rose turns back and grabs Leo pulling him toward the door he resists for a short bit before giving in. Rose opens the door and heads out waving to Esther as she steps out.