Reign sat on his throne, feeling restless. He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling in his gut. He stood up, exiting as the guards followed him behind, and after walking for a while, he caught up with Arthur.
"What are you doing here, Your Highness?" Arthur asked.
"I haven't been here in a while. Lady Elara also had concerns that this party was short notice, so I want to check in with her," he said, going quiet, feeling awkward with over-explaining.
The closer they got to Moonlight Pavilion, the more the feeling of dread increased, as the place, expected to be bustling with people, was eerily quiet. He increased his pace, and as he entered the pavilion, he found no maid in sight. Then he turned back to the gate to the maid standing guard, who was now kneeling.
"Your Majesty, they… they…" the maid stuttered.
"You don't know how to talk?" Reign bellowed, as everyone on site flinched. "Where is everyone?" he repeated again.
"Your Majesty, Lady Catherine and Lila spent the whole night in the royal boutique, and Helga and most of the maids have been permitted to go out today for family visitation, but I don't know where Lady Elara is," the maid said, holding her breath.
"Okay, get Lady Catherine for me," he told the maid. Maybe she is asleep, he told himself mentally, and went into the bedchambers, almost running. His heart sank as he found no one there. He was about to turn around and leave when he found a scroll on the dressing mirror table, and he recognised the handwriting immediately.
Dear Emperor or should I say Elan,
I have decided to leave on my own accord alive and not in a coffin. I didn't choose to be a consort; it was beyond my control. I already have someone I love. Don't look for me. If you look for me and bring me back to the palace without my permission, whatever arises from that situation will all be your fault.
So long, Ela.
Crash! Crash! Reign swept all the things that were on the dressing table, all the bottles shattering. He felt his vision darken with anger, his hand forming a fist, and his knuckles bled.
"So bold of you to dare me," he repeated.
"Is everything okay, Your Highness?" Arthur's worried voice sounded from outside.
Reign breathed in deeply, exiting with the scroll in his hand.
"What happened, Your Highness?" Arthur said, rushing to him as soon as he exited. "Where is Catherine?" he asked.
"She is yet to arrive, Your Highness. Let me send for the physician; your hand is bleeding."
"Go get me Catherine now!" the Emperor's voice thundered.
Arthur rushed to the guest room. He had wondered what had happened. He reached the guest house to find the panicked maid outside.
"I couldn't wake her up, Sir Arthur. I tried," the maid said, falling to her knees.
He rushed into the guest room to find Catherine dead asleep. I'm sorry, Lady Catherine. I will take responsibility for this once this is over, he thought as he bent to pick her up from the bed.
"Wake up, Cathy, please. The Emperor is furious. I have never seen him this emotional since your aunt passed," he said, pleading with the sleeping Cathy, trying to make her stand.
"What are you doing?" the drowsy Catherine said, leaving his arms. "Aaaah!" she shouted as she stumbled, falling to her bottom.
"I will tell the Emperor to have your head! Are you a hoodlum? How dare you barge into a lady's room and try to kidnap her?" Cathy shouted angrily, now wide awake.
"The Emperor will have your head first before mine, Lady Catherine. We can talk about barging into your room later. He is waiting for you outside. Come, first let's go," Arthur said, pleading with Cathy.
"Can I change? I am in my nightwear," Cathy said, drawing Arthur's attention to her dress.
"Okay, please hurry. I will tell him you're coming," he said, rushing out of the guest room, his ears tinged red.
"Your Majesty, she is on her way," Arthur said to Reign, who was pacing.
"What is taking her so long?" he said, his eyes red and the veins in his forehead popping out.
"She was asleep; I just woke her up. She will be here in a few minutes," Arthur said. "Please calm down," his voice was barely audible.
"Go call Captain Conner, the Empress, the butler, and the guards stationed at the door. Everyone should be at the throne in ten minutes. And also cancel the party. Now leave," the Emperor said as Arthur scrambled away.
"Good afternoon, the Sun of the....."
"What did I tell you yesterday, Catherine Pierre?" Reign asked, cutting off Cathy mid-sentence.
"To always be in Lady Elara's presence, teach her, and help her," Cathy replied.
"Okay then. Where is Lady Elara now?" he asked again.
"She is at the royal boutique," Cathy replied, very sure of herself.
"Okay then, go to the royal boutique and bring her to me. If you fail, I will have your head," Reign said, flicking his robe as he exited Moonlight Pavilion.
What was that? Cathy wondered as she made her way to the royal boutique.
Meanwhile, in the throne room, Reign moved up and down, pacing throughout the room.
"I can't believe this," he said, laughing at the absurdity of the situation. "Why do I care if she leaves? I hate her anyway," he told himself, not knowing who he was trying to convince.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness. You called for me?" A tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes appeared in front of the Emperor.
"Conner, mobilise forces and shut down all the exits of the city and put checkpoints everywhere. We are looking for two ladies in their early twenties; I will have their portraits drawn and will send them to you soon. And also search every motel in the city," the Emperor said immediately, without acknowledging the greeting. "And if you can't find them by the end of today, don't bother coming back to the palace. I don't need useless people by my side. Now go," he said as the confused Conner rushed out of the throne room.