The servants and guards had gathered in the palace courtyard; breath was held, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. "Lucas" stood in the center, his expression like a painting frozen over by a raging storm.
**"Lord Lucas, an urgent report,"** his guard approached with unsteady steps. **"Have you managed to locate the carriage yet?"** Lucas asked in a low, dangerous voice that preceded an explosion.
**"Unfortunately, my Lord, we have searched every corner of the city. There is no trace of the royal carriage."**
The veins on Lucas's forehead bulged as he roared: **"Damn it! What a bunch of useless fools!"**
Before the situation could escalate further, the guard stammered, **"We apologize, my Lord... but the guards in the city center, at the market towards three o'clock, reported seeing the Princess. They said the locals attacked her when her accent revealed she was a foreigner. The guards managed to calm the mob with great difficulty, but..."**
The guard could not finish his sentence; Lucas's features transformed into a mask of pure dread and explosive rage. **"WHAT DID YOU SAY ?!"** Lucas shouted, his patience with Irene pushed beyond all limits. He lunged toward the palace stables as if intending to mount his horse and search for her himself, before the Head Servant intercepted him with quick steps: **"My Lord! Wait, there is a carriage approaching the main gate... it looks like the Princess's carriage!"**
The carriage came to a slow halt. The door opened, and Irene stepped out with "Sally's" assistance. She looked exhausted, and the pallor of her face betrayed all she had endured.
Lucas did not wait; he rushed toward her like lightning, his voice shaking the entire palace: **"WHERE IN HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?! Didn't I tell you never to go out alone?!"** His shouting was heard by everyone in the palace. Yet, Irene did not lift her eyes to face him; she simply bowed her head calmly and said in a trembling voice: **"I am sorry."**
Lucas froze in his place at her cold reaction, as if she didn't care about his concern. She didn't even try to explain her position, as if she were completely ignoring him. He gripped his hand so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but his eyes settled on her miserable state. Suddenly, his shouting shifted into a bitter, harsh rebuke: **"Do you think I am a joke to you? You disobeyed my orders, trampled on my words, went there, and exposed yourself to danger, and now you think an apology will change anything? You are always like this—selfish, thinking only of yourself! Your behavior is not worthy of a princess; it's not even worthy of a servant!"**
Sally, who was supporting Irene, noticed the expectant gazes of the servants. His words ignited a spark of anger within her, and with a look of suppressed fury, she said: **"My Lord, I apologize for intervening, but the Princess's condition is dire, as you can see. Her fever has risen again, and she is suffering from severe dizziness. I ask your permission to take her inside before she collapses here."**
Lucas went silent for a few seconds; his eyes were still burning with rage, but he stepped back. Sally bowed slightly and walked with Irene toward the interior, leaving Lucas seething in his spot.
He turned slowly to look around until his gaze landed on the carriage driver. The driver's heart rate spiked at the sight of the terrifying Lucas, to the point where it could almost be heard.
The Head Servant approached, whispering: **"My Lord, this is the driver, Jack, who took the Princess out today."**
Lucas stepped toward the driver and said in a lower, yet far more terrifying voice: **"You... tell me, where in hell was the Princess to end up in this state?"**
Jack grew nervous, recalling what Irene had ordered him to say. He bowed deeply and apologized profusely: **"My Lord, the Princess had an accident in the market, so she requested that I take her to a place away from the people, and I followed her orders..."**
Lucas cut him off with a scathing tone: **"What were you thinking! It was your duty to return her immediately to the palace instead of exposing her to greater danger by taking her to an isolated place with no guards!"**
Jack bowed lower, his voice trembling: **"I apologize, my Lord. I apologize for being unprofessional and inexperienced. I promise this will not happen again."**
The Head Servant approached again, inquiring: **"Do you want me to fire him, my Lord?"**
Lucas wiped his face with his hands, closing his eyes against a severe headache, then said with cold lethality: **"Do as you wish."** Then he turned and strode toward the palace, leaving behind a heavy silence broken only by Jack's rapid breathing.
Irene entered her room with heavy steps. Once Sally closed the door behind them, a heavy silence permeated the room. This time, Irene did not sit; she stood for a moment before leaning against the wall from pure exhaustion, closing her weary eyes.
Sally approached her slowly and steadied her, clear concern in her voice: "My Lady, are you sure you don't need a physician?"
Irene answered with fatigue: "No, Sally, I am fine. I just need to rest a little."
Sally led Irene to the bed and began removing her shoes slowly, then said: "Thank God it passed safely! But what do you intend to do now?"
Irene opened her eyes very slowly, and the eyes that had been clouded by exhaustion began to regain some of their sharp glint. She said in a faint voice: "Only a few days remain until we return to the capital. Once we arrive there... I will decide my next move."
Sally sighed and thought for a moment before asking hesitantly: "But my Lady, can we really trust that driver? I have a bad feeling about him."
Irene shook her head with a calm, confident dismissal: "He has no choice but to obey me, Sally. It is the only way he can preserve his life, and he knows that well."
Sally went silent for moments, watching Irene's pale face, then continued tenderly: "Enough talk for now. You must rest; today was difficult enough for you."
Irene turned to her, and with a grateful tone said: "Thank you, Sally... for standing by my side today. Your courage in front of Lucas in the courtyard was amazing; I don't know how I would have endured all this pressure if you weren't with me."
Sally's eyes shone with sincere empathy, and she answered shyly: "I only do my duty, my Lady. I told you to rely on me."
Irene smiled a faint smile.
At that moment, Sally fell silent. As she helped Irene lie down, she wondered to herself: *What did that old man say to her in the market?* She remembered the expression on Irene's face at that moment—expressions she had never seen before. She wanted to satisfy her curiosity, but she quickly cast the thought aside, realizing it was better not to involve herself in this matter since Irene had not spoken of it herself.
Sally stepped back with a reassuring smile: "I will go and get you something to eat; you cannot go without food."
Irene hummed in agreement.
Sally cast one final look at Irene before stepping out of the room and closing the door gently. She knew the palace atmosphere would be charged and that this incident would be the talk of the town for the coming days, so she decided to ignore everything she would hear.
To be continued.....