Scarlett heard the sound of footsteps approaching the storage room and she knew that time was running out. Her mind raced with possibilities as she scanned the room for any possible hiding spots or escape routes, but her options were limited.
There was only one door and the windows were too small to squeeze through. She could hear the guards calling out her name and demanding that she open the door.
Just as she thought she had run out of options, she noticed a loose floorboard near the shelves. With a surge of hope, she lifted the board and crawled inside the small space beneath the floor. 
She huddled in the cramped space, listening as the guards entered the room. The suspense was almost unbearable as she waited, unsure if she had escaped unnoticed or if her hiding spot had been discovered.
Her heart raced as she crawled into the cramped space under the loose floorboard. She held her breath as the door creaked open and the guards entered the room.
As she waited, the tension was almost intolerable because she didn't know if she'd gotten away undetected or if her hiding place had been found.
"Where is she?" one of them demanded.
"I don't know, she must have escaped somehow," the other replied.
Scarlett silently thanked herself for thinking of the crawl space as a hiding spot. She listened as the guards searched the room and called out her name. From the sound of their voices, she made a mental count and concluded that about five guards had entered the storage area.
"Lady Scarlett, come out wherever you are! It will be easier for you if you surrender now," one of them said.
"We need to find her before she causes any trouble," one of the guards said with urgency in his voice.
"Well, find her! The King gave us strict orders to watch her until he returns," the other guard barked.
"I understand, but what do we do now?" the second guard asked nervously.
"We search every inch of this place until we find her. And if she's not here, we'll have to report back to the King and face his wrath," the first guard replied with a scowl.
The second guard gulped nervously, knowing the consequences of failing the King's orders. "Yes, sir. I'll search the east wing," he said before quickly making his way down the hall.
"I'll gather a few others and start searching the area," the other guard said, already heading towards the door.
"Make sure she doesn't get too far. She's a crafty one," the first guard warned as he followed the other out of the room.
The first guard muttered curses under his breath and stormed out of the room, determined to find Scarlett and salvage what was left of his reputation.
Scarlett remained hidden in the dark, her heart pounding with fear. She knew that she couldn't let them catch her, or else she would face dire consequences.
She stayed quiet, her heart beating loudly in her chest. After what felt like an eternity, she heard the guards leave the room. She stayed hidden for a few more minutes before finally crawling out from under the floorboard.
Once she was sure they were gone, she took a deep breath and slowly stood up. She needed to keep moving, to find a place to hide until she could figure out her next move.
"That was too close," she whispered to herself, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Scarlett took a deep breath and assessed her situation. She knew that she couldn't stay in the palace for much longer without getting caught. She needed to get out of the city and disappear before the guards found her. But how? She couldn't exactly just walk out the front gates without being recognized.
She needed a new plan, a way to escape undetected.
As she paced back and forth, her eyes landed on a window. It was risky, but it could be her only chance. She knew that jumping out of the window was a dangerous move, but it was her only option at this point.
As she walked over to the window, she slowly opened the window wider, feeling the cool breeze against her skin. She peered out into the night, the cool breeze blowing through her hair. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped out onto the windowsill. She prepared to take the leap of faith.
For a second, she considered whether or not she was making the best choice. She had never been a fan of heights, and the fall would be a long one. But she didn't have many options left, and time was running out.
Taking another deep breath, she climbed out the window and grabbed the ledge with both hands. The wind whipped at her hair and clothes, making it hard to see and even harder to hold on. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she looked down at the ground, far below.
The most viable option for her was to climb onto the roof and survey the surrounding area to find a way out. By doing so, she could get a better idea of the layout of the building and spot any potential escape routes.
Crawling on the roof would also give her a vantage point to spot any guards or obstacles that could impede her escape. While it was risky, it seemed like the best course of action in her current situation.
Scarlett knew that this was risky, but it was her best chance at finding a way out. She took a moment to steady her nerves, then began to crawl along the roofline. She moved slowly, careful not to make too much noise or lose her footing.
Scarlett moved slowly and carefully along the roof, her eyes darting back and forth as she searched for any possible escape routes. She peered over the edge and saw the sprawling palace grounds below, dotted with guards and their lanterns. She knew that getting past them would be nearly impossible, but she couldn't give up hope.
Her heart was racing as she made her way across the rooftops. The night air was cool against her skin, and she could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She moved quickly, but quietly, trying to avoid drawing attention to herself.