My Crippled Ex-Husband Is An Emperor

Escape

For three days, Styles was kept in the dungeons with no food or water. His stomach was growling ferociously but there was nothing he could do.

He was weak and hungry. His throat hurt from dryness caused by lack of water. His vision was blurry out slowly.

With the way it was going, he was bound to pass out soon.

“Hey,” he heard a soft whisper and opened his eyes. It was his hallway savior. He let out a weak smile.

“Here to save me again?”

“You bet!” She winked, passing him a plate through the bars. His eyes nearly bulged out at the sight of food.

Even his stomach grumbled in excitement. He opened the plate quickly and started digging in.

“Easy, tiger. Here, have some water. You must be thirsty.”

He took the cup carefully and gulped down the water. It was so refreshing. Heaven on earth.

“I don't know why you still stick around here with everything happening. Do you not have a place to run to?” She asked him.

Styles stopped eating. The girl was surprised by the sudden pause and was about to apologize in case she offended him unknowingly.

“I do have a place to go. Home,” he answered.

Her lips pulled into a smile, “like they say, there is no place like home.”

Styles was silent for a while, contemplating telling her what he was about to say.

“Is everything okay? Did you suddenly lose your appetite?” She asked him.

“No. You see, four years ago, my father died and I was greatly depressed. There were so many responsibilities and I was just a new adult. I guess I was terrified so I did the only thing that made sense to me then,” he paused.

“Which was?”

“What a coward would do. Run. I ran without looking back. I ran until I came upon a small village that didn't require much to survive. I started life there, and one day, I met Mona. She came to visit a friend and just like that, it was love at first sight. I was almost happy,” he let out a sigh.

“Now, you're a prisoner. Smooth transition, isn't it?” She joked and he chuckled sadly.

Taking a proper look at her, he realized she was indeed more beautiful than he realized.

“Why are you being so nice to me? I have a scarred face and no legs.”

“That is the more reason I should be nice to you. Everyone deserves love, Styles. It shouldn't just apply when you have a pretty face,” she said.

“You know, every time you came over, I soiled your shirt with tea,” she started.

“It was an accident,” he chuckled.

“One that earned me a lot of slaps and whips in the past but you just brushed it off like it was nothing and asked if I was hurt. It was the first time I felt human in a long time. Not to sound like a stalker, but I watched you after that. Every single time you came over. You are indeed a nice person, sir.”

“I never got to catch your name,” Styles said suddenly.

“Ivory. Yes, like the flower,” she answered before he could ask.

“Ivory,” he tested the name on his lips. “Soon, I'll come take you away from this place. And it won't be to a place where you have to work or swallow insults. It'll be something close to heaven where you can live like a queen,” he promised.

Her eyes glistened as she smiled.

“Before you dream of taking me to heaven, how about we get you out of here first? You need to go home.”

“I intend to.”

And just like that, the servant girl helped him clear his belongings and posted another letter to his people.

It was risky but she helped him escape without considering what was at stake.

Getting past the guards was not a problem. She happened to know a secret passage to the outskirts of the city.

“Be safe,” she whispered between their hug.

“I'll come for you soon,” he promised again. “Tell me you'll wait.”

“I will.”

With Ivory gone, the black horses emerged from the shadows.

“Your Highness!” General Ragi got off his horse. Kneeling on one knee, he continued, “We have waited so long for your return.”

“I know, Ragi,” Styles patted his shoulder. The man raised his head, shock taking over his features.

“What have they done to you?!” He gasped. “Did those… just say the word your Majesty and I will have them wiped out!”

“There will be no need for that Ragi. I will heal, trust me. I just need to get home first. The medicines there are more effective,” Styles said.

“May I lift you, your highness?” He asked.

“Yes, please.”

Ragi lifted him off the wheelchair and placed him carefully on his horse. He flew over and wrapped a protective arm around Styles before riding into the woods with the other soldiers behind him.

***********

“Where is that good-for-nothing? How could he have escaped under your watch?!” Duchess Elena barked at the guards.

“We're sorry, Your Highness. We don't know how he escaped. We were on guard all night and we didn't see a thing. Even the guards at the gate saw no one.”

“Useless! All of you! A cripple left easily in a palace filled with armed men and none of you saw anything?! How useless can you be?!” She barked.

“Forgive us, Your Highness!” They bowed.

“I don't care how you do it but you have to find Styles and bring him here! He owes me a huge sum and if he's not here to pay it by sunrise tomorrow, you all will pay me thrice the amount!” She threatened.

The guards took turns interrogating all the maids in the palace in the hope of finding information about Styles.

For hours, all their efforts were futile until they came upon a maid.

“I didn't see him leave but I know the last person that went into the dungeons was Ivory. I don't know what she went there to do but she took quite a while to return,” the maid answered.

“So you are saying she might know where the missing cripple is?”

“I didn't say so. I only said she was the last person I saw go in there. You should question her.”

That was how Ivory was surrounded by seven grumpy-looking men. From their expression, it seemed like they were going to tear her apart if she as much as breathed the wrong way.

“Where is Styles?” Was the first question thrown at her but it didn't catch her off guard. From their mean expression, she already expected it.

“And why would I know where he is? He is your prisoner, isn't he?” She retorted without flinching.

“Now is not the time for stupid games. If you know where he is, I advise you to speak now before you make things worse for yourself,” the chief guard threatened.

“And I don't understand the whole point of this interrogation. I don't know where he is and frankly, it is not my business!” She stated.

“You went into the dungeons last night!”

“To eat stolen food,” she rolled her eyes. “Our mistress wouldn't give me good unless I completed my duties and I was starving. The dungeon is the only place safe from these nosy maids but for you to know that, I guess I wasn't as sneaky as I hoped.”

They stared intensely at her and Ivory returned their gaze. She had practiced it over and over.

She made sure to give a believable story, one most likely true when confirmed.

“If we find out you're lying, you're dead meet,” they threatened but Ivory was only relieved they were gone.