Chapter 78: The Duchess’s Disappearance
The palace corridors echoed with hushed conversations among the knights, their faces etched with concern. They gathered in a tight group, their armor clinking softly, as they discussed the inexplicable disappearance of the Duchess, Bernice Balliol Agnes.
"Duchess still hasn’t returned! What should we do? It’s been more than twenty-four hours since she disappeared, but we haven’t found her! I think it’s time to inform the duke regarding this matter," the senior knight said, his voice laced with anxiety. The flickering torchlight in the corridor cast eerie shadows on their faces, intensifying the tension in the air.
Suddenly, a hand fell heavily on the senior knight’s shoulder, startling the group. They turned to see Duke Alexavier Agnes himself, his presence commanding attention and leaving the knights visibly panicked.
"D-Duke, what are you doing here?" the senior knight stammered, his composure shattered by the unexpected encounter.
"I came to see if everything is going well or not. But I don’t think everything is going well. Tell me what the matter is, and I will solve it. Also, tell me where the duchess is; I want to meet her," Alex demanded, his voice firm and unyielding as he pierced them with a gaze that brooked no delay.
"D-Duke, the thing is..." the senior knight began, struggling to find the right words under the intense scrutiny of his lord.
"Didn’t I say I would solve all the matters? Just name it," Alex urged, his impatience growing palpable.
"Lord, actually, there are a lot of things going on here," the knight finally admitted, his voice trembling.
"What do you mean? Didn’t I say I don’t like twisted conversations? Come straight to the point, as I instructed," Alex pressed, his eyes never leaving the knight.
"Lord, while we were on our way to the palace, we took a rest at a place. That night, the duchess went missing. We searched for her everywhere but couldn’t find her. In the morning, we heard her voice from the middle of the forest. Her dress was half-ripped, she had blood all over her body, and scratches. When we found her, she claimed she had seen a monster chasing her the entire night, from inside the restroom to outside," the senior knight explained, his words laden with disbelief.