The threads of evening began swallowing the last colors of day, and the sky was clothed in dark orange shades mixed with the blue of the coming night.
Torches were lit on the walls of Baldor Palace and its main gate, their flames trembling with the cold sea breeze, while a heavy silence hung over the place.
Before the main gate, Arthur stood beside his mother Elena Kim, his small hands clasped together as he stared at the road leading to the forest, waiting for any familiar face to appear.
And Elena wasn’t alone.
The king’s other wives also stood there, worry etched on all their faces.
Rosalia Han, mother of Rosie and Aria, stood at the front, her eyes not leaving the road for hours.
And despite her attempt to maintain her calm, her tightly clenched fists revealed the extent of the worry gripping her heart.
Near her stood Queen Victoria Kang, with her usual dignity, though her features seemed more serious than ever before, watching the horizon in silence without uttering a word.
As for the servants and guards who remained at the palace, they lined up on both sides of the gate, waiting anxiously for the return of the search teams.
A heavy silence hung over the place…
until the sound of horse hooves began to be heard from a distance.
All heads rose at the same moment.
The shadows of the guards began emerging one after another from among the trees, and the horses returned walking with slow steps, exhaustion showing on everyone.
But…
the first to appear wasn’t Adrian.
It was Rosie.
She was walking on her own feet, carrying the little squirrel between her arms carefully, while her strands of silver hair hung before her pale face.
That usual sparkle was no longer in her eyes, replaced instead by a painful emptiness.
The moment Rosalia Han’s eyes fell on her…
she understood.
She didn’t ask.
And didn’t wait for anyone to tell her.
She dashed at her utmost speed toward her daughter, and the moment she reached her, embraced her tightly.
“Rosie…!”
Her voice trembled, then she burst into tears as she held her daughter to her chest.
As for Rosie…
she remained still.
And didn’t say a single word.
She only closed her eyes, still embracing the little squirrel between her arms.
And on the other side…
Arthur stood beside his mother Elena.
His eyes weren’t on Rosie…
but were searching among the faces of those returning.
He saw the guards.
Their exhausted faces…
their tired horses…
and the silence enveloping them.
Then…
he spotted his brother.
Adrian was walking at the back of the group, his steps slower than usual.
His head lowered slightly, and his face carried features Arthur had never seen before.
King Leon pressed his hand against his head, running his fingers through his hair in a desperate attempt to control his turmoil.
His face didn’t carry the dignity of a king in that moment…
but the worry of a father who feared he might have lost his daughter.
He suddenly raised his head, and shouted in a voice that thundered throughout the palace grounds:
“Bring the palace painter immediately!”
The servants were flustered, then bowed quickly.
“Your orders, Your Majesty!”
Leon continued without hesitation:
“I want posters bearing Princess Aria’s image distributed throughout the entire kingdom.”
He paused to catch his breath, then added firmly:
“And announce a large reward…
for anyone who provides accurate information leading to her being found.”
Silence fell.
Then he continued in a tone that admitted no argument:
“At the break of dawn…
His gaze intensified, and he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“And I will be at the front of those teams.”
He looked at everyone with eyes filled with resolve.
“I will not stop…”
His features hardened further.
“I must find my daughter…
whatever it costs me.”
Silence fell over the courtyard.
No one dared to comment.
The servants and guards quickly bowed, then rushed in every direction to carry out the king’s orders, while voices rose within the palace, and preparations began hastily.
And amid that chaos…
Adrian was walking alone.
He passed through the crowds in silence, without turning to anyone.
He didn’t hear the calls…
and didn’t notice the glances around him.
His eyes were fixed ahead, reflecting a determination no one had ever seen in him before.
He clenched his fist slowly, and whispered to himself in a voice barely audible:
“I will find my sister…
Aria.”
His steps paused for a moment.
Then he raised his head, his gaze growing sharper.
“Whatever it costs me.”
And while everyone was busy preparing for the next day of searching…
Adrian had already made his decision.
Even if he had to enter places no one had dared approach…
he would not return this time…
without Aria.