✴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴋɪɴɢ ️✴️

Cornelius gazed out the window, his mind was still on Luna, he remembered what is his daughter had said yesterday. "Is a dead girl is more important than your living daughter." Luna's words echoed in his mind.

No, she is not dead. Aileen is alive, she's only lost, he sighed at his thoughts. Is she?.

"Something troubling you, brother?" a voice startled him.

It was Eloisa, she putted down the tray she's carrying-contain with a teapot and two teacups-on the desk near the window.

"Tea will help." she smiled and poured the warm water inside the cups and stirred it with a teaspoon, and she gave the king's cup to Cornelius and took hers.

"By the way, the pixie leader sent his gratefulness to you this morning. The bandits surrender and some of them escaped before they had plan to attack the pixie village because they saw your knights all around protecting the village." she said.

"That's good news," Cornelius said and sipping his tea, and he continues to stare outside the window.

Eloisa looked at his eyes, and noticed something was bothering him.

"Where's Luna? I need to see her." he said and putted down his unfinished tea.

"YOU CAN'T!" she exclaimed, stopping him from walking away.

The king raise his eyebrow and curiously looked at her.

Eloisa cleared her throat before she spoke, "I mean, you can't see her yet, I bet Luna is still in the middle of her lectures. It would be rude if you'll disturb her from learning."

Cornelius nodded, "Your right. But, I didn't say I'll disturb her, I only want to see her."

She laughed sheepishly and stop when Cornelius walks away. Eloisa follow him on his back and they walked towards the chamber where Luna and his adviser do their classes.

Eloisa wanted to stop him, he can't know Luna is gone.
She made a promise to her niece they'll keep it a secret. She tried to think of a distraction but nothing came in her mind.

They climbed the marble stairs and proceeded to the left turn of the hallway. The doors of the chamber was now visible in their sight, they were getting close it.

Before Cornelius could open it, the door burst open revealing Mr. Harris looking stressful with lecture books and papers in his arms.

"So, Mr. Harris. How is Luna doing right now?" Cornelius asked.

Eloisa gulped, she can feel her secret with Luna will be over.

"Well, let me tell you all about Luna, your highness." Mr. Harris grin, for a second, it immediately vanished and replace by his furious look.

"I've been waiting here for almost one hour! And the princess didn't show up!" he barked.

"WHAT? Impossible!" Cornelius turned to her sister, confused. "I thought you said Luna is inside this room, seating on her chair, and learning new lectures."

Eloisa's throat became dry. She was speechless.

"Don't tell me she's gone, Eloisa. Tell me where she is." he pleaded.

"I don't know, last I saw her she was in her room holding books, that's why I thought she's going for her lessons." she managed to speak, as her voice was trembling.

The king's face turned furious, "I have lost my wife and my older daughter. I can't lose Luna too."

He immediately dashed to check her daughter in her room. He threw the doors open in Luna's room and search for her inside. But none. No sign of her.

He left the room and found Nisha dusting the desk and cabinets in the other room.

"Nisha!" he called.

The kitchen maid respond and walk closer to the king and bowed her head. "What may I serve you, your highness."

"I need help, Nisha. Luna's gone." Nisha was shocked at his words. "Ring the alarm, let everyone know in the castle to search for my daughter, search high and low, leave no place unturn. And whenever there's still no sign of her, we'll look for her outside."

"Right away Sire." Nisha dropped the duster she's holding in the floor and quickly ran for the emergency bell in the castle.

She pulled up and down the rope many times, as the bell rang loudly inside the castle. "THE PRINCESS IS MISSING! SEARCH EVERYWHERE!" she shouted while she continues to ring the bell.

Nisha's announcement echoed. Many of her fellow maids and guards heard her. They immediately passed it to one another, until everyone was aware of the news.

Everyone left their duties and focused to search for their princess. Cornelius and the others looked at the halls, lavatories, kitchen, storeroom, cellars and Luna's boudoir. Even Eloisa pretended to join them.

But she knew it's impossible for Luna to be found in the castle.

* * *

Hour has passed, there's still no sign of her. Cornelius thought Luna did runaway. He started to blame himself. He shouldn't have been hard on her. Maybe her daughter was still mad at him.

"IT'S PRINCESS LUNA! SHE'S APPROACHING THE CASTLE'S DRAWBRIDGE!" shouted one of the guards in the castle turrets.

"Finally, the princess returned!" one of the maids said gleefully.

"Princess Luna! Atlas. She's been found." said another.

Cornelius face brightens as soon he heard them. It was definitely good news.

"Where? Where is my daughter?" he asked them.

"They're approaching the drawbridge, sire." one of them answered.

He didn't waste any more time. Cornelius ran down downstairs.

Eloisa saw her and catches up, "Hey, what's news about Luna?"

"They're crossing the drawbridge, probably they reached the gatehouse by now." he answered and ran faster, he got excited now Luna is found. Cornelius can't risk of losing another daughter.

"Wait, they? Your saying there's more of them?" she asked. Eloisa could feel her knees were getting weary, a royal like her, was not used to run so fast.

Both of them arrived at the main entrance of the castle, while the duchess was still catching for her breath. "So - where's Luna," she said breathlessly.

"I think, over there," he pointed at the wooden cart, pulled by a brown horse.

* * *

Bren pulled hard the reins of his horse as they stop near the king and the duchess.

"Am I home?" Luna yawned.

Cornelius and Eloisa was shocked to see her. Her purple dress bloodied, and soaking in her sweat. Her arms and legs are full of gashes.

"Luna, what happened to you?" Cornelius asked and gently hugged her, a tear escaped from his eyes.

Eloisa regret to let her go outside the castle, she felt it was her fault. But not completely hers, besides it's her decision, the duchess thought.

"It's a long story, father. But Bren saved me from danger." Luna smiled at the boy.

Bren smiled back at the princess.

Luna then turned back to her father, and said. "Please take me now to my room, I'm tired and I want to rest."

Cornelius nod. He carried her out of the wooden cart. "We are grateful for your help. Is there anything we can grant you?" he ask Bren.

"No need, your majesty. I'm always happy to help for those who needs."
Bren replied, and bowed his head at the king.

Bren tapped the head of his horse as it started to walk away from the castle.

Cornelius carried Luna towards her room and order many maids to help her clean up and to cure her wounds.

✴ ️✴ ️✴️

The sun had set and the night took over and there is still a lot do to. Cornelius was on his way to the library.

When suddenly, he felt a little dizzy. His head was aching.

He reached for the wall to balance himself. Instead of going to the library, he decided to go in his room to rest.

With his hands on the wall, he managed to walk. But his eyes can't see clearly, his visions were getting blurry.

Crash!!

By accident, Cornelius hit the desk and an antique vase on top of it, and fell hard on the floor causing it to break into pieces.

Eloisa, and Nisha with three other maids came to check out what the loud crash they heard.

They were shocked to see their king reclining on the wall, weakening.

Eloisa and Nisha dashed to help him. They both took one of his arm and putted it around their neck to assist him to walk.

While the other maids took their brooms and dustpans to clean up the broken vase.