(Late Night — Royal Palace)
The royal palace was in chaos. Footsteps echoed through the marble halls, the sound of panic spreading like wildfire. Servants rushed in every direction, voices trembling, eyes darting.
"Mother! Where are you?!" Leo's voice cracked through the night as he ran from corridor to corridor, his small figure swallowed by the vast halls.
Nolen and Nyra followed, shouting, "Aunty Eva! Aunty Eva!" Their faces were flushed, tears brimming at the edges of their eyes.
Aranel moved quickly from room to room, skirts swaying as she pushed open doors. "She's not here," she said breathlessly, her heart pounding. "Where did she go?"
Luca's steps thundered down the staircase as he met her halfway. His tone was sharp, filled with worry. "Did you find her?"
Aranel's voice faltered. "No…"
"You mean to tell me sister-in-law's been missing since morning—and you only just noticed now?"
Aranel's eyes welled up. "I'm sorry, Luca. I was busy watching the children. I thought she was resting in her chamber…"
Luca sighed heavily, dragging a hand down his face. "Fine. Just keep searching. We need to find her before Eyan comes back."
His voice dropped low. "If he finds out Sister is missing, he'll turn this entire palace upside down."
Aranel nodded quickly. "Understood."
---
(Two hours later — night deepened)
The heavy doors of the palace opened with a thud. The clinking of armor filled the entrance hall as Eyan strode in with his knights, returning from inspection. His expression softened slightly when he saw the staff gathered—but the strange silence in the air quickly tightened his jaw.
He stepped into the great hall, his gaze sweeping across the uneasy faces. The servants froze, some lowering their heads, others whispering prayers under their breath.
Luca rushed forward, trying to mask his nerves. "Eyan—you're back already? When did you return?"
"Just now." His voice was calm.
Then came the sound of small footsteps. Leo, Nolen, and Nyra appeared with Lady Aranel. They bowed as Aranel stammered, "Welcome back, Your Majesty."
Eyan nodded slightly. His eyes softened as he looked at the children. "What's this? My little troublemakers aren't making noise today?"
None of them answered. Their silence was strange—unnatural for the children who usually ran to him with laughter.
Eyan crouched slightly. "What's wrong? Did someone scold you?"
Three small heads shook no.
"Then why do you all look so sad?"
Before anyone could answer, Nyra's lips trembled—and then she began to cry.
Eyan blinked, startled. "Shh, what's wrong, sweetheart?"
She ran to him, clutching his leg.
Eyan immediately picked her up. "Nyra? Tell me what's wrong."
But she only sobbed harder.
He looked at Aranel and Luca. "Did either of you say something to her? Why is she crying?"
Luca shook his head quickly. "Eyan, it's not that—"
"Then what is it?" Eyan demanded.
Nyra's trembling voice broke through her sobs. "Uncle… Nyra misses Aunty Eva."
Eyan smiled faintly. "Oh you miss your Aunty Ev—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His expression changed, the warmth draining from his face. "Nyra," he said slowly, "your aunty… she's not here?"
Nyra sniffled, nodding. "She le—"
Before she could finish, Aranel quickly took the child from him. "Your Majesty, please, let me handle her."
Eyan straightened. "Where is Eva?"
Silence fell like a blade. No one spoke.
His gaze fell to Leo. "Leo. Where is your mother?"
The boy froze, glancing nervously at Luca.
Eyan's voice hardened. "Leo. I asked you something."
Leo hesitated again. His small hands clenched.
"Eyan…" Luca finally stepped in, his voice cautious. "Sister-in-law isn't in the palace."
Eyan's eyes snapped to him. "What do you mean by that?"
"We've been searching since evening, but she's nowhere to be found. We thought she was missing at first, but…" Luca swallowed hard. "It seems she left the palace willingly."
Eyan's voice cracked. "Left?"
Luca nodded. "Leo just found this note in his room."
He handed Eyan a folded note. Eyan snatched it and read aloud, his tone breaking as the words sank in:
—"Leo, Mother is going somewhere for some days. Don't look for me. Stay with Aunty Aranel until then. And don't tell Father, okay? I love you."—
Eyan's hand trembled slightly,the paper crumpling in his fist. "Why… why did she tell him not to tell me? She didn't even write where she was going…"
He looked up sharply. "Lady Aranel—do you know where she might have gone?"
Aranel shook her head, tears welling. "No, Your Majesty. I don't."
Eyan turned to her again. "When did you last see her?"
"At breakfast table this morning, After that i didn't see her."
He stared at the note in his hand, his throat tightening. "Why did she leave so suddenly? What made her go like this?"
Luca's answer came quietly, but it cut through the air like a blade. "It's you."
Eyan turned sharply, his expression darkening. "Me?"
"Yes," Luca said firmly. "She left because of you."
Luca's voice rose slightly, the edge of frustration creeping in. "You've been acting strangely lately—distant, cold. You don't talk to her, you don't even look at her anymore."
Eyan's brows drew together. "That's not true."
"It is."—Luca took a step closer. "Take today as an example. When sister-in-law came down dressed this morning, you didn't even glance at her. Forget looking—you avoided her touch entirely like she's some stranger. You thought I didn't notice?" He shook his head. "I did."
Eyan's gaze dropped, his voice low. "I… I had a reason for that."
"Ok fine then tell me why didn't you look at her?" Luca pressed.
"I did look at her."
Luca blinked. "You did?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me," Luca challenged, "what color was her dress this morning?"
Eyan's eyes softened, his voice barely above a whisper. "Red. She was wearing a red dress… and earrings with two green gemstones—one small, one large. A necklace with five stones. A bracelet with—nine—no, ten tiny gems." His voice faltered, his next words barely holding together. "And she looked… absolutely beautiful."
For a heartbeat, neither Luca nor Aranel spoke. Both of them just stared.
"You noticed all that?" Luca asked incredulously.
"Yes," Eyan replied without hesitation.
"But you were looking at the documents the entire time."
Eyan's lips curved faintly, a sad, guilty smile. "No, I wasn't. I was looking at her reflection—in the wine glass beside me."
Aranel covered her mouth in surprise.
Eyan turned to her suddenly. "Lady Aranel, she was wearing a corset today, wasn't she?"
Aranel blinked, then smiled faintly. "Yes… she was."
"That's why she looked uncomfortable," Eyan murmured. "She didn't even touch her food."
Aranel and Luca both broke into a short, soft laugh.
Eyan frowned. "Why are you two laughing?"
Luca shook his head, trying to stifle his grin. "Eyan, it looks like your wife left because she's angry."
"Angry?" Eyan repeated, startled.
"Yes," Luca said, chuckling. "Because you weren't looking at her. You might've been staring at her reflection, but she didn't know that. From her eyes, you never once looked up from your papers."
Eyan's eyes widened slightly, realization dawning across his face. "So she thought I ignored her…" He exhaled, half in disbelief, half in pain. "That's why she left?"
"That's part of it," Luca replied. "But there's more to it than that. You'll have to hear the rest from her yourself."
Eyan nodded slowly, then turned toward the doors.
Luca called after him, "Eyan, where are you going?"
Eyan didn't stop. "To Eva."
Luca frowned. "Do you even know where she went?"
Eyan's eyes flickered with certainty. "I think I do. There's only one place she would go."
A faint smile tugged at Luca's lips. "Then go. Bring her back."
Eyan nodded once, already halfway out the door. "Take care of Leo for me."
"Don't worry about him," Luca replied.
Eyan mounted his horse, his cloak billowing in the cold night wind.
And as he galloped out of the palace gates, his voice echoed softly—
"I'm coming, Eva."
---