Chapter 20: End of the dark passage
Anastasia stood behind the wall of the next corridor so that she could avoid the Mother Queen questioning her. Earlier, when she found the older woman struggling to stand, she couldn't get herself to walk away and felt compelled to help.
Placing her hand on the wall for support, Anastasia leaned to take a look at the Mother Queen and the minister walking away in the other direction. She heaved a sigh of relief.
"That was close," she said, pressing her hand on the wall, ready to head towards the main hall when a brick moved back, a part of the wall next to her opened like a door. "A hidden passage?"
Anastasia looked left and right before staring at the narrow passage that invited her. Curious, she stepped inside, and when she began to walk, she heard the wall automatically close behind her.
The hem of her green gown brushed the ground behind her as she walked through the passage for a little while, before catching sight of the light at the end which was blocked by creepers. Pushing them away, she stepped outside and noticed it was a balcony.
Anastasia stared at the sight as she murmured, "To think I have spent eight years here without knowing the existence of this place."
The walls and the arch of the balcony had green creepers running on them with little red flowers that gave off a sweet fragrance surrounding it. But it was the view of the sea that shone under the moonlight that captured her attention.
The cold wind greeted her as she walked towards the short railings, and she had to mind her steps. Wondering if the royal family had ships or boats at the bottom, a curious Anastasia craned her neck to look below.
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