Chapter Nineteen
_ And so, it has all begun.
The brothers nodded in agreement, and Elite thought for a moment:
"Where is Firmin?! I haven't seen him since the announcement..."
Gorin looked at Viola and took a deep breath...
Chaaaaak!!!!
"Your Majesty!!!"
The three of them turned toward the door; it was the knight who followed Ian. The knight clung to the door, panting, and in broken words he could barely gather, he said:
"The young Duke and the Crown Prince have disappeared..."
At that moment, Elite's limbs froze. She looked at the guard and could barely utter two words..
"When?... When did... that happen?!"
Viola approached Elite and supported her indirectly while Gorin spoke calmly..
"Tell us everything, down to the smallest detail..."
The knight took a deep breath and said with frantic words and clear anxiety:
"I followed Their Highnesses as Your Majesty requested of me, as usual. When we entered the back garden, I don't know how I lost sight of them. I was only away from them for seconds, then I couldn't see them. I searched for them in every corner, but I couldn't find them. I swear I checked every spot in the back garden..."
Elite could not bring herself to answer him or decide whether to blame him or not. She said with as much calmness as she could feign:
"Search again, and tell the Altan knights present here to search with complete secrecy..."
"I obey Your Majesty's orders..."
The knight bowed and moved quickly, while Elite held Viola's hand and looked at her with worried and fearful eyes. Viola spoke to her with an optimistic and friendly smile...
"Everything will be alright.."
'I hope so...'
Elite muttered in her heart. She sighed and realized it was not the time to sit here; she had to look for her child herself...
Elite left the room, having regained some of her composure. She and the rest began to wander here and there, searching for the two children. She did not want to raise any suspicion, so she tried to be as natural as possible, walking calmly...
'It is not the time to show weakness. Arthur Roshan, I know you want to break me..'
More than an hour had passed since they started searching, until she felt her legs would fail her and she would collapse. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep up the act if the situation continued like this. Before moving toward the back gardens for the second time, she saw Yohan wandering alone out of boredom, heading toward the Empress's lounge. Elite felt even more anxious and called out to him in a tone slightly raised due to the music..
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince!!"
"Duchess?!!"
Yohan looked at her with a hint of confusion when he sensed her anxiety, tilting his head as if asking what was going to happen. Elite gathered her breath and spoke with as friendly a smile as possible..
"Where is Ian?! Weren't you two together?!"
Yohan realized the situation and said with some confusion..
"Did he not return to the Duchess's wing?!..."
"What?!"
"I left Ian a while ago. Umm, I think about twenty minutes ago.."
Elite placed her hand over her heart and felt as if the ground beneath her was about to collapse. Yohan also grew tense; they had intentionally ditched Ian's personal guard so they could talk freely, but he had left Ian first because Ian wanted to stay alone for a bit...
"Duchess, shall I guide you to the place where we were..."
"I hope so.."
Yohan moved steadily toward the back garden with Elite following him, but the place she and Yohan reached was not the usual spot any noble coming here might see...
It was a green space next to a deserted fountain; it was clear the place was isolated and unmaintained...
"I come here when the place gets crowded and noisy..."
"But where is Ian?!"
Elite nodded in understanding, but her worry did not vanish. She knew they had disappeared from the guard's sight because they entered this place, but there was no sign of Ian in any corner...
"Perhaps he returned to the hall after taking the long way.."
"...?!"
"If he walked this way, he would pass through the main palace until he returned to the hall. It's a slightly longer path than the back garden."
"Or.. maybe he returned..."
"Perhaps. Does the Duchess want us to go from there or return to the hall.."
Yohan had a smooth and gentle way of speaking that didn't match his age, but Elite was still worried and couldn't choose which was better...
"Let's go from there..."
"Alright.."
Yohan moved and Elite followed him. Although it was already 10:00 PM, the Golden Palace was fully lit. They moved steadily until they crossed the entrance near the back garden, which seemed to be connected to the government officials' offices, as it was an open area...
"Mother?!"
Before they went any deeper, Elite was startled by a voice coming from the side corridor. When she turned, she found Ian walking calmly, followed by Eric with his usual playful smile. Elite felt as if someone had poured water on the fire raging in her chest, so she approached her child with wide strides, embracing him...
"Where did you disappear to?!.."
"I lost my way..."
Ian scratched his cheek in embarrassment, looking at his worried mother with eyes that were somewhat sad... Elite breathed a sigh of relief, and her legs could barely carry her, so she sat on the ground with a deep sense of relief..
Ian hugged his mother while glaring at Eric. Eric frowned and felt wronged; wasn't he the one who had helped him just a moment ago...
"Didn't I tell you to walk in the opposite direction.."
Yohan looked at his friend reproachfully, so Ian said while still hugging his mother...
"I forgot.."
"Won't I get a thank you?!"
Elite realized Eric's presence and stood up after gathering her strength, carrying Ian...
"Thank you, Your Highness the Second Prince..."
Eric looked at Ian, who was staring at him fiercely, so Eric smiled cunningly and said:
"Why don't we drop the formalities, Duchess?!.."
"Huh?!.."
"Didn't we get His Majesty's approval? We are now officially engaged.."
Elite suppressed her feelings of astonishment, looking at him with eyes full of suspicion. Before she could respond with a word, Ian stood and hugged his mother a bit more tightly...
"Let's talk later."
"I will be waiting for your message, Elite."
Elite sighed helplessly and continued her way out, passing through the banquet hall. She sent word to Viola through the servants that she would precede them to the palace..
* * *
"Why did Ian act that way?"
"The young master felt that his mother might be stolen from him..."
"Should I back out of the matter?! Viola"
"It would be a mistake to back out now.."
Elite leaned her back against the chair with a sense of exhaustion and anxiety. She had desperately wanted to help Eric, but she hadn't expected things to reach this point..
'I fear that Ian might get hurt..'
"My Lady, perhaps the little master will find in the Second Prince the father who wasn't with him in your previous life.."
The calm and optimistic voice of Viola interrupted her thoughts; it was something she had never considered.
"But I don't know why I think about it. I think if I were alone with my child.."
"My Lady, it is just a viewpoint, nothing more. Perhaps the little master needs another supporter.."
"..."
"That doesn't mean My Lady is not enough... but the presence of a father is a good thing for children.."
Elite felt complicated emotions. Her memories of her father were not very happy, but when she thought about it, her father had been a real help, even if it was for his own interests and greed. If he had been a more normal father, perhaps she would miss his presence in her life now as much as she missed her mother...
"I don't know.."
"I feel that the young Duke and the Second Prince will get along wonderfully.."
Viola's encouraging smile was always a good support for Elite. Elite looked at Viola with a smile; she was now experiencing things for the first time, but there was always that fear and anticipation..
* * *
The room with white walls and ceilings decorated with gold was fully lit in the depth of the night. He was sitting on the sofa, holding his head in his hands with restless thoughts..
"Brother, you are not well."
He sighed with a heavy feeling and raised his head to meet his less powerful, wiser, and kinder-hearted copy. He smiled at his brother with tired eyes..
"I feel anxious... I fear I am not worthy of Winter.."
Gorin laughed in his affectionate way, sat on the sofa facing his brother, and said confidently:
"You might not be the smartest, but you are the most worthy of the task..."
"..."
"Besides, I, Viola, and Her Majesty are always here to support you..."
"Grateful for that.."
Firmin smiled gratefully at his brother and thanked him, but he froze in the next moment..
"Fir!! I was curious, where were you throughout the ceremony?"
"Huh.. me?!"
"Yes, the young Duke disappeared for more than two hours.."
"I heard about it, but I.. was getting some fresh air.."
Gorin raised his eyebrow skeptically for a moment, then his brows straightened and he smiled as usual:
"Perhaps because my brother was nervous.."
"Ah.. yes.."
"Brother, try to pull yourself together quickly.."
"..."
"For Her Majesty's sake, we must be ready, for the Emperor's eyes are now fully fixed on Altan.."
Firmin rubbed his temple with a complicated feeling, took a deep breath, and said with deep calmness..
"I will not let anyone hurt my lady... ever."
... To be continued ...