He told her that he had sent a message to Galatada proposing that her marriage be postponed, to buy time. But she knew the messenger would never reach the other kingdom.
On a previous night, the former king had sent one of his own messengers to her room. He had known all along that Nenah was going down this path. She would leave this nation without telling Azure, in order to protect him, and she would never see him again.
She asked Azure to go downtown with her, to show him around where she used to live. She wanted one more memory with him before she was gone.
They went first to the marketplace, in disguise, where he told her to make sure she kept her eyes hidden. They stopped by a fruit stand that Nenah used to steal from all the time, and Azure gave the vendor a gold coin as compensation, paying what she owed. Another vendor offered Azure jewelry for his girlfriend, and Nenah's heart gushed, because he did not deny it. She began to pout, thinking she shouldn't let her heart sway, knowing they were going to be torn apart.
Continuing their walk, Nenah learned that Azure couldn't remember his original name. She couldn't tell him that she wanted a special name to call him by. He did tell her, though, that she was the only one who called him as she did — and then he said her name, making her blush.
She took him to the grave area then, and brought up that a boy who had been like a younger brother to her was buried here. Since they hadn't had money for a doctor, they couldn't do anything about his illness. The boy had told her that was the star he was born under. She had always hated it when people said that.
Azure brought up that since Fortna was a wealthy nation, they should be doing more to reduce poverty. He believed they would do it someday.
Nenah reflected on Azure's golden eyes, the ones she had seen the night Saji sold her. They had terrified her at first, like the eyes of a beast glowing in the darkness. But now she saw them as a much kinder color, like the moon illuminating the darkness of the night.
She decided to hug him then, all of a sudden, catching him off guard. He couldn't take it anymore, and showed her his love with a kiss.
She felt warm and weightless, and a tightness in her chest. She wanted to fill her heart with this moment, lock it away, and treasure it forever.
She thought it was no fun to hear him say they couldn't go out like this all the time. But then he told her the next time would probably be at the fall harvest festival. Hearing that broke her heart, but she told him she was looking forward to it. Knowing she wouldn't see him again, she thanked him with a saddened smile, knowing the path she had chosen.
On another day, her maids were in awe seeing her in her Galatadan clothing. She was shocked to learn that they were not coming with her. She really would be alone on this journey. All alone, without anyone she knew.
She was scared. It felt like the ground was disappearing beneath her feet, and when she reached out, she only found darkness.
Muilam came crying then for his big sister, who was leaving ten days earlier than planned. She explained that the former king had made arrangements for it to happen on this day, because Azure was busy and away from the castle. Muilam didn't want his sister to leave, and she hugged him and told him not to be selfish, and that she would watch over Fortna. She promised that once she acquired power in Galatada, she would come back to see him — and he thought that idea was so scary.
Riding with Ditus, Azure mentioned that something felt off. He went to where he was supposed to handle business, only to learn that it was the former king who had set this up. Azure felt betrayed by his attendant. He took his horse and rushed back, thinking about how Nenah had seemed off to him, and how his messenger had suddenly gone to inspect the countryside instead of returning. It had all been to keep him away.
He realized now that Nenah had most likely set this up, and was already a substantial distance from the kingdom.
She wondered whether Azure would be angry with her by now. Regardless, she couldn't let him stop her.
But her tune quickly changed as her eyes welled up. She wished for him to come and stop her. She didn't want to go. She wanted to stay with him. She cried, wanting to see him one more time.
Guards tried to stop Azure from leaving the kingdom, and he had his horse jump right over them. He was frustrated, because he had told Nenah that he would have figured something out.
Just for now, Nenah swore, she would cry — and never again.