Chapter 77: The Emperor’s Malevolent Scheme
"Duchess is missing."
"Duchess is missing."
Panic swept through the palace as Bernice remained unaccounted for despite extensive searches. The night passed, but there was still no sign of her. The knight who had been with her murmured, "Where could she have gone? This isn’t like what happened last night."
In the dimly lit corridors of the palace, torches cast flickering shadows on the walls, creating an atmosphere of unease. The palace, once a symbol of opulence and grandeur, now felt foreboding, its secrets lurking in every corner.
"Yes, it’s different this time, but she claimed she saw a monster pursuing her, and we dismissed her. What if the monster she mentioned actually took her?" another knight pondered, his voice filled with concern.
"A monster? Are you out of your mind? A monster within the palace? I could understand if she were in the forest, but she was inside the heavily guarded palace. If a monster had entered, we would have noticed. Can it really be true?" the knight explained, his skepticism evident.
"Then what could have happened?"
"We don’t even know why she came here in the first place, so how can we know where she went? How did she vanish into thin air?" the knight retorted, frustration creeping into his tone.
"I think it’s time we inform the duke," the knight said, determined in his voice. But before they could act, Lucius, who had accompanied Bernice, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, interjecting himself into the conversation.
"I don’t believe it’s necessary to involve the duke in such a minor matter," he calmly suggested, wearing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Minor? Do you consider it minor when the duchess has been missing for hours? She is our leader. Watch your words!" the knight growled, his patience wearing thin.
"Hey, calm down. I’m not here to start a fight. I’m here with a suggestion," Lucius clarified, attempting to defuse the tension.