The moment the applause died, Aster and Astra bowed quickly and stepped off the stage.
They didn't linger.
They didn't greet nobles.
They didn't return to the dining tables.
They walked straight out of the palace hall.
Aster whispered sharply, "We're leaving."
Astra nodded. "Yes. This place feels bad."
Snowflake Mansion… Arlienne's birthday…
That was where they belonged.
They reached the royal courtyard and approached the carriage waiting for them.
Aster helped Astra in first.
"Sit. I'll tell Mama we're ready."
But before Arlienne could join them—
A royal attendant rushed up, bowing urgently.
"Lady Arlienne… His Majesty requests a private conversation."
Arlienne froze.
Aster turned sharply. "Now? After everything—"
"Aster," Arlienne whispered, "stay with Astra. I will be back in a moment."
Aster didn't like it.
Not one bit.
But Arlienne gave him a soft smile—the same calm smile she used whenever she tried to reassure him as a child.
"It's just a short talk."
Reluctantly, he nodded.
"Be quick, Mama. We'll be waiting inside the carriage."
Arlienne squeezed his hand once…
And then walked away toward the king.
***
Inside a quiet side chamber of the palace, the king dismissed the guards and approached Arlienne with a conflicted expression.
"Arlienne," he began softly, "you look well."
She said nothing.
He sighed.
"…The twins have grown so much."
Still no response.
He finally spoke the real reason:
"I want you—and the twins—to return to the palace."
Arlienne blinked, then narrowed her eyes.
The king continued desperately:
"You should be here. With me. With the royal family. Your children are princes and princesses—they belong in the palace. I can offer them protection. Luxury. Education. Influence. Everything—"
Arlienne cut him off, voice icy:
"Now? After eleven years?"
The king swallowed hard.
"Things weren't simple—"
"They were very simple," Arlienne said coldly.
"You chose your queen. You chose distance. You chose silence."
He winced.
She stepped back slightly.
"And now that your guests demanded to see the twins, now that their fame benefits you… now you ask us to return?"
The king closed his eyes.
"That is not the reason…"
Arlienne laughed softly—without joy.
"We have money. Comfort. A home of our own. My son built a mansion for us with his own hands. We do not need the palace."
Her voice grew sharper.
"And I will not drag my children into this poisonous court after all you failed to protect them from."
The king reached out, almost pleading.
"Arlienne… please. I miss you."
She stepped away before he could touch her.
"Do not make this more painful than it already is."
Silence fell.
Finally, Arlienne bowed shallowly.
"If that is all, Your Majesty… I will take my leave."
She turned and walked out, heart pounding, breath tight—but determined.
Her children were waiting.
All she wanted was to return home.
***
She hurried through the corridors toward the courtyard, her dress sweeping behind her, hoping the twins hadn't grown worried.
When she reached the carriage, her heart softened.
*My children… they must be tired.*
She grasped the door handle.
"Aster, Astra, I'm sorry I took so long—"
She pulled open the door.
The lantern light illuminated the empty seats.
Her smile vanished instantly.
Her chest froze.
"…Aster?"
Her voice trembled.
"Astra?"
The carriage was empty.
Pristine.
Untouched.
A cold breeze swept her hair as she stared into the shadows of the interior.
Her heart began to pound violently.
She gripped the door frame with shaking hands.
"No… no, no… they should be here—"
She spun around, eyes wide and frantic.
"ASTER! ASTRA!"
Her voice echoed painfully through the courtyard.
Guards turned in confusion.
Servants paused mid-step.
Even distant nobles glanced her way.
Arlienne's eyes darted everywhere, desperate, terrified.
They weren't on the steps.
They weren't near the pillars.
They weren't behind the carriage.
They were nowhere.
Her vision blurred with panic.
Not again.
Not again.
She had lost everything once—she could not lose her children.
She screamed their names louder this time, voice cracking:
"A—ASTER!!! ASTRA!!!"
A single guard stepped hesitantly toward her.
"L-Lady Arlienne… the twins… weren't they with you?"
Her blood ran cold.
Her knees weakened.
She realized the truth.
The reason the courtyard felt wrong.
Why the air was too still.
Why her children's mana signatures had vanished.
Someone had taken them.
Inside the palace.
During the distraction.
Arlienne's breath shattered into pieces.
"No…"
Her voice broke.
"No… PLEASE—!"
She clutched the carriage door with white knuckles, the world spinning around her.
Her children were gone.
Aster.
Astra.
Taken from right under her nose.
And the palace…
The palace was far too quiet.
***********************************
Just minutes after their performance ended, Aster and Astra politely bowed their way out of the hall.
They were tired, overwhelmed, and eager to return home to finish their mother's birthday.
But while they made their way toward the courtyard, something else was happening behind the queen's throne—
a conversation that would change everything.
***
A foreign noble approached the queen quietly.
He was tall, well-dressed, and carried the presence of someone who was not easily ignored.
His eyes gleamed with calculation.
He bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty… may I have a word?"
Queen Lura forced a strained smile.
She was still furious that Arlienne had been applauded more than she had.
"What is it?"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"I have observed you for some time tonight… and I can see it clearly."
The queen narrowed her eyes. "See what?"
"That you dislike the Snowflake twins."
The queen's face stiffened.
"What nonsense—"
The noble held up a hand.
"No need to deny it. We both know the truth."
His eyes glinted dangerously.
"And we both know you resent Lady Arlienne."
The queen's breath hitched—not because he was wrong, but because he said it aloud.
He leaned in slightly.
"My employer… a very powerful man in my kingdom… wishes to make a deal."
The queen frowned. "A deal?"
"Yes. He desires the twins."
The queen's eyes widened.
"…What?"
"The Snowflakes," he said smoothly.
"The boy who invented those miraculous music stones… and the girl whose voice is said to heal hearts."
He smiled thinly.
"My employer wishes them to become his… **private performers**. Exclusive. Hidden. Rare treasures."
The queen's disgust flashed across her face.
"You expect me to hand over royal children?"
The noble shrugged lightly.
"I expect cooperation. Nothing more."
He studied the queen's expression carefully.
"You want them gone.
I want them gone.
Let us not pretend otherwise."
The queen opened her mouth—
Then closed it.
He continued:
"With the twins in our kingdom, far away from here…
Lady Arlienne loses her influence.
The king loses his distractions.
And you, Your Majesty…"
His smile sharpened.
"…you become the sole mother figure of the royal family once again."
The queen's heartbeat quickened.
For eleven years she had lived in the shadow of Arlienne Snowflake—
a woman who had never even stepped foot inside the palace.
Now this noble was offering her a chance to erase that shadow permanently.
And in her anger…
In her jealousy…
In her pettiness…
She made the worst decision of her life.
"…Fine," she whispered.
The noble's eyes glowed with triumph.
"Excellent."
"But how?" she demanded. "Everyone is watching—"
"Simple," he replied.
"We separate the mother first. That king of yours still clings to her. Use that."
The queen's lip curled.
"And then?"
"And then," the noble said softly,
"while the Snowflake twins wait in the carriage… my men will retrieve them."
The queen hesitated only for a moment.
"…Very well."
"Good."
The noble bowed.
"My men are already prepared."
***
**A few minutes later…**
King of Vornis (Aldren Wynfall) approached Arlienne as planned.
"Arlienne… I want to speak with you. Alone."
Arlienne did not wish to.
But she agreed.
Just as the queen expected.
And just as the foreign noble hoped.
***
**Meanwhile, outside—**
Aster and Astra sat inside the carriage and waited.
Astra kicked her legs gently.
"Aster… do you think Mama will be long?"
"She'll be quick," Aster murmured.
"She doesn't trust the king."
Astra leaned against his shoulder.
"I just want to go home…"
Aster ruffled her hair.
"Me too."
The courtyard was calm.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
The guards stood at a distance, unaware.
Servants passed by without noticing anything strange.
That is when a shadow appeared behind the carriage.
A man dressed in a dark foreign cloak.
One of the noble's operatives.
He approached silently.
Then—
He cracked open a small vial.
White smoke drifted upward.
The wind carried it into the carriage through the open side window.
Astra sniffed.
"Huh…? What's that smell…?"
Aster's head snapped up instantly.
"Close the window—!"
But it was already too late.
The sleeping gas spread thickly inside the carriage.
Aster tried to stand—
His vision blurred.
His legs weakened.
Astra reached for him.
"Aster… I… feel… sleepy…"
Aster grabbed her hand tightly, his voice breaking.
"Astra—stay awake…! Don't… don't close your eyes—"
But Astra slumped against him, unconscious.
Aster's heart pounded violently.
He tried to summon mana.
Tried to shout.
Tried to fight it.
But his breathing slowed—
His strength faded—
His last thought was of his mother.
*Mama…*
Then Aster collapsed beside Astra.
Unconscious.
Helpless.
The operative opened the door quietly.
He checked both twins for resistance.
None.
He nodded once.
Two more cloaked men appeared.
They lifted Aster and Astra gently, placing them into a covered transport carriage parked behind the palace.
The first man smirked.
"Our employer will be pleased."
With a whistle, the carriage rolled away silently into the night—
through a side gate
left unwatched
because no one suspected a kidnapping inside the palace itself.
***
**Back to Arlienne—**
After refusing the king's offer, Arlienne walked quickly toward the courtyard—
Heart eager to return to her children.
She smiled softly.
"Aster… Astra… you must be waiting…"
But when she opened the carriage door—
The world shattered.
Empty seats.
No children.
No laughter.
No warmth.
Just silence.
Arlienne's heart dropped into an abyss.
"…Aster?"
Her voice trembled.
"Astra??"
She checked again—
under the seats—
behind the curtains—
outside the door—
Nothing.
Her breathing turned sharp.
Her vision blurred.
"ASTER! ASTRA!!"
Her scream echoed through the entire courtyard.
Guards rushed over, confused and panicked.
Arlienne clutched the carriage frame, her entire body shaking.
"What… what happened…? WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?!"
Her voice tore into the night.
Her terror was absolute.
And the queen—
standing in the great hall
smiling for her guests
—pretended nothing was happening.
Because she knew exactly why
Aster and Astra Snowflake Wynfall
were gone.