The moment Arlienne realized her children were gone, fear turned into something far more dangerous.
Rage.
Pure, white-hot, maternal fury.
She stormed back into the palace halls like a living flame—long snow-white hair flowing wildly behind her, dress sweeping marble floors, eyes blazing with an intensity that made even seasoned guards step aside instinctively.
Her voice echoed through the grand corridors—sharp, unbroken, carrying the weight of a mother's unbreakable will.
"WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?!"
Guards scrambled to keep up—boots clattering, hands on swords, confusion plain on faces.
Stunned nobles and foreign guests parted like waves as she pushed past—whispers trailing in her wake.
"The concubine—"
"Lady Arlienne?"
"What's happened?"
The banquet hall doors burst open under her push.
The entire room froze.
Music stopped abruptly—harpsichord notes dying mid-phrase.
Conversations died instantly.
Even Queen Lura stiffened on her throne—wine glass paused halfway to lips.
Arlienne stood at the center of the hall—chest rising sharply, silver eyes blazing with fury that silenced hundreds.
"They disappeared inside the palace grounds," she shouted—voice trembling with restrained rage yet carrying to every corner. "Inside YOUR walls!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd—sharp, collective.
King Aldren rose from his seat in shock—face draining of color.
"Arlienne—what are you saying?"
She turned on him like a blade—voice cracking with emotion.
"Our carriage driver was found unconscious," she said, each word deliberate. "He was drugged. Sleeping like the dead."
"And when I opened the carriage—Aster and Astra were gone."
The hall erupted in gasps—louder this time.
"Gone…?"
"Kidnapped?"
"Inside the palace?!"
"Impossible—"
Arlienne slammed her hand against a nearby marble pillar—echo ringing sharp.
"My children vanished from within your so-called secure palace compound."
Her voice cracked fully now—rage giving way to raw terror.
"Do you understand what that means, King Aldren?"
The king's face paled further—hands gripping throne arms.
"That… that shouldn't be possible…"
Queen Lura stood slowly—feigning calm composure, voice cold and measured.
"You're accusing the palace without proof," she said—smile tight, eyes calculating. "Perhaps they wandered off—children do that. Or perhaps this is an overreaction."
Arlienne snapped her head toward her—eyes burning.
"Do NOT speak," she hissed—voice low but lethal. "My children are not fools. They are not careless. And they would NEVER leave without telling me."
Her gaze swept the hall—nobles shifting uneasily.
"If anything has happened to them," Arlienne continued—voice rising again, "this palace will answer for it. The crown will answer for it."
The hall buzzed with panic—whispers exploding.
Foreign dignitaries exchanged urgent glances—translators murmuring hastily.
Nobles shifted uncomfortably—eyes darting between thrones and furious mother.
The king clenched fists—face torn between shock and dawning horror.
Then—
A deep, steady voice cut through the chaos.
"Your Majesty."
A man stepped forward from among the nobles—tall, broad-shouldered, presence commanding silence.
Duke Leon Kingscrown.
Beside him stood a young girl with sharp eyes and short silver-brown hair—his second daughter, Lea Kingscrown, only twelve years old but standing with fierce determination.
The Kingscrown family.
A house blessed with Physical Magic—rare gift multiplying physical abilities upto tenfold.
Strength.
Speed.
Endurance.
Living weapons—feared and respected across Vornis.
Leon bowed respectfully to Arlienne first—deep, sincere.
"Lady Arlienne… I swear on my name, this will not go unanswered."
Arlienne looked at him—stunned, tears threatening again.
Leon turned to the king—voice firm.
"Your Majesty, I request immediate permission to act."
King Aldren blinked—still processing. "Duke Kingscrown…?"
Leon's jaw tightened—eyes hard.
"I am a fan of the Snowflake twins," he said openly—unashamed, voice carrying. "I have spoken with them before. Heard their music live. My family owes them gratitude."
Murmurs rose—surprised.
Leon continued—unwavering.
"They once sang at my son's birthday. I commissioned them privately—and they were kind, talented, good children. No arrogance. Only joy."
Lea clenched fists beside him—voice fierce for her age.
"They're not bad people," she said stubbornly. "They don't deserve this. I'll help find them."
Leon placed steady hand on her shoulder—then faced Arlienne again.
"Lady Arlienne," he said firmly—eyes meeting hers. "I promise you this—"
His voice hardened.
"Whoever took your children has not left the kingdom yet."
The hall went dead silent—pin-drop.
Leon stepped forward—presence dominating.
"With Physical Magic, my knights can cover ground faster than any normal patrol."
"All gates will be sealed."
"Every road monitored."
"Every ship inspected."
"And the skies—"
He raised voice so all could hear.
"Before the kidnappers take even a single step outside Vornis, we will find the Snowflake twins."
Arlienne's knees nearly buckled—relief and terror mixing violently.
She stared at him—hope flickering for first time.
"You… you swear?" she whispered—voice breaking.
Leon dropped to one knee—armor clinking.
"On my honor as Duke of Vornis. On the name Kingscrown."
Lea followed—kneeling beside him, small but resolute.
"I'll help too," she said fiercely. "I won't forgive anyone who hurts them."
Tears finally spilled from Arlienne's eyes—streaming freely.
She covered mouth—trembling, overwhelmed.
King Aldren looked between them—realization dawning fully.
"A kidnapping… inside the palace…" he murmured—voice hollow.
His gaze slowly turned toward Queen Lura.
She met his eyes calmly.
Too calmly—smile fixed, hands steady.
Arlienne noticed.
And her heart sank deeper.
Because in that moment—
She understood.
This was no accident.
This was betrayal.
From within.
The palace erupted into action.
Orders shouted—sharp, urgent.
Knights rushed corridors—boots thundering.
Messengers mounted horses—galloping toward borders.
City gates began sealing one by one—massive iron bars lowering.
And yet—
Queen Lura raised hand—voice cutting through.
"There is no need to rush," she said calmly—too calmly.
Every head turned toward her—confusion rippling.
Duke Leon Kingscrown stared—disbelief flashing.
"It is night," the queen continued—forcing composure, smile tight. "No kidnapper would dare cross borders in darkness. We should proceed carefully tomorrow—with proper investigation."
Her words echoed—hollow, illogical.
Leon's jaw tightened—eyes narrowing.
"With respect, Your Majesty," he said evenly—voice carrying restrained anger. "Night is exactly when criminals flee. When trails are fresh. When witnesses remember."
The queen's eyes flickered—annoyance cracking facade.
Leon stepped forward—voice firm, unwavering.
"The sooner we move, the higher the chance of interception. Every minute matters—every second could be the difference between recovery and loss."
Arlienne stood rigid—hands trembling, voice whisper but audible.
"My children are out there right now," she said—pleading, desperate. "Please… don't delay."
Queen Lura opened mouth again—but—
King Valor raised hand—voice cutting sharp.
"That is enough."
The queen froze—eyes widening slightly.
Aldren turned to Leon—face grim.
"Duke Kingscrown… you have full authority. Do whatever is necessary. Spare no resource."
The queen clenched fists—nails biting skin.
Leon bowed deeply—relief flashing.
"I will not fail."
***
Within minutes, the Kingscrown estate erupted into disciplined action.
Unlike normal noble houses reliant on standard knights, the Kingscrowns possessed something rare and legendary—
Pegasuses.
Magnificent winged beasts—white feathers gleaming, eyes intelligent, trained for speed, endurance, and night flight under moonlight.
Knights mounted without hesitation—armor gleaming, weapons secured.
Leon stood at courtyard center—issuing commands with precision born of battlefield experience.
"Split into five divisions."
"North road—Captain Thorne."
"South—Lady Elara."
"East forest paths—Sergeant Vale."
"River crossings—Lieutenant Reed."
"Western trade routes—myself."
"Cover all possible escapes."
"Signal flares for sightings."
"Non-lethal if possible—but secure the twins at all costs."
Knights saluted sharply—voices unified.
"Yes, Duke!"
Lea Kingscrown tugged her father's cloak—eyes burning determination.
"Father—let me come."
Leon knelt—gripping shoulders gently but firmly.
"Lea… this is dangerous. Real danger."
Her eyes burned fiercer—voice stubborn.
"They're my friends," she said—small fists clenched. "Aster taught me a harmony once. Astra shared her ribbons. I won't forgive myself if I stay behind while they're scared."
Leon hesitated—pride and worry warring.
Finally—nodded.
"…Stay behind the front line. Do not engage alone. Promise me."
Lea nodded solemnly. "I promise."
He lifted her onto a smaller pegasus—trained gentle.
"Stay close to Captain Thorne."
She saluted—small but serious.
***
High above the capital—pegasus wings cut through night sky.
Moonlight reflected off white feathers as patrols spread outward like a vast, living net.
Wind howled past riders—cold but invigorating.
Below them—
Roads emptied rapidly.
Carriages stopped—inspected thoroughly.
Ships preparing departure—boarded, holds searched.
Forests echoed with thunder of hooves—ground teams converging.
The hunt had begun—relentless, coordinated.
Leon rode at the front—eyes sharp, senses fully focused, Physical Magic enhancing sight in darkness.
They haven't crossed yet, he thought—certainty born of experience.
They can't have.
Every border gate now guarded—heavy bars down.
Every checkpoint alerted—torches flaring signals.
And yet—
Leon felt something wrong.
Too quiet.
Too clean.
No signs of struggle.
No broken tracks.
No abandoned vehicles.
No panicked witnesses.
That worried him more than chaos would have.
Professionals, he realized—grim.
This was planned.
***
Far from the capital—a covered transport carriage moved along a narrow, shadowed forest road—wheels muffled by enchanted cloth, horses guided carefully to avoid noise.
Inside—
Two small figures lay unconscious on cushioned benches.
Aster's brow twitched slightly—fingers curling faintly as gas effects waned.
Astra shifted—murmuring softly in sleep, "Mama…"
The man sitting across—cloaked, foreign insignia hidden—smiled thinly.
"Hurry," he whispered to the driver through a small hatch. "We can't be caught now. The pickup point is close."
The driver nodded—urging horses faster but carefully.
Carriage veered off main road—onto a forgotten trade path, overgrown but passable.
***
Back in the sky—
One pegasus rider suddenly pulled hard on reins—beast banking sharply.
"Duke! I see something!"
Leon turned—signaling halt.
"What is it?"
"Fresh tracks below—leading off the eastern road! Wheel marks—recent, deliberate detour!"
Leon's eyes sharpened—hope flaring.
"Mark the location!"
He raised sword—signal flare bursting red into night sky.
"All units—converge east!"
Pegasus wings beat violently—riders changing course in perfect formation.
Night air trembled with power.
Below them—
Kidnappers' carriage jolted as road narrowed—driver cursing under breath.
"We're being hunted."
The noble inside smiled coldly—unfazed.
"It's okay," he said—voice calm. "Let them chase shadows. they can't possibly find us easily, because this carriage has presence concealment magic on it"
He glanced at the sleeping twins—satisfaction gleaming.
"Our employer will be pleased."
Carriage sped deeper into forest—toward hidden rendezvous.
But above—
Pegasus shadows crossed the moon.
The net was closing—faster than any ground pursuit.
And the hunters carried the fury of a kingdom awakened.
***
Queen Lura stood alone at a palace window—staring into darkness, nails digging into stone sill.
Her reflection pale—crown suddenly heavy.
Find them later, she thought desperately—heart pounding for first time in years.
Just not tonight… not now…
But distant horns echoed through city.
Search horns—clear, urgent.
Her breath hitched.
"They're moving too fast…" she whispered—fear creeping into eyes.
For the first time—
True fear.
Because if the twins were found—
Everything would collapse.
Her deal exposed.
Her jealousy revealed.
Her throne—shaken.
And far above the forest—
Pegasus shadows crossed the moon.
The hunt closed in.
And a mother's fury now shook the kingdom of Vornis to its core.