Elise was still staring at the screen in shock when suddenly- knock knock.
The sound pulled her back to reality.
Slowly, she stood up from the chair and walked toward the door before opening it.
Outside, a maid stood holding a tray filled with fresh fruits and juice.
“This is for you, ma’am,” she said politely with a small smile.
Elise shook her head lightly.
“I just had breakfast. I don’t want to eat now.”
But the maid stepped inside carefully and placed the tray on the table.
“Your body is weak right now, ma’am,” she said softly.
“We got orders to give you this. You have to eat properly for your body to recover.”
After saying that, the maid bowed her head slightly and quietly left the room again.
Elise looked at the tray silently, still confused by everything happening around her.
Elise sat down in front of the computer again and quickly tried tracking her location once more.
But suddenly- the screen glitched.
The location window closed by itself.
“What?” she whispered.
She immediately tried opening it again, but this time it wouldn’t work at all.
After trying several times, she leaned back in frustration and sighed sadly.
Then she opened YouTube and started searching for videos related to situations like hers, hoping to understand what was happening around her.
Kidnapping cases.
Hidden locations.
Private islands.
Secret mansions.
One video after another played on the screen.
Elise watched everything carefully, completely focused.
But strangely- she wasn’t understanding a single word properly.
Her mind was too disturbed to process anything anymore.
Frustrated and desperate for answers, Elise opened an AI chat window.
Her fingers moved quickly across the keyboard as she typed everything about her situation-the palace, the mysterious man, the missing location, the strange rules.
Then she pressed enter and waited.
For a few seconds, the screen stayed still.
And then the reply appeared.
“Sorry. I am not allowed to talk about it.”
Elise froze.
Her eyes narrowed at the screen.
“What the hell…?” she whispered softly.
She tried again.
But the same reply appeared once more.
After that, Elise quickly closed the window and switched off the computer.
The room suddenly became silent again.
She slowly stood up from the chair, her mind filled with confusion and frustration.
“Even the AI is obeying someone…” she muttered under her breath.
Her fingers curled slightly as she looked toward the dark screen.
“Who the hell is he…?”
Meanwhile- inside another part of the palace, the atmosphere looked completely different.
The room was enormous and luxurious, designed more like a royal presidential office than a normal workspace.
Dark polished wood covered the walls, while giant paintings and shelves filled with books gave the place a powerful presence.
Sunlight entered softly through the tall glass windows, falling across the expensive marble floor and the massive desk placed in the center of the room.
And sitting behind that desk- was him.
The mysterious man.
He sat calmly on the large chair, checking several important papers spread across the desk.
Beside him rested official files, government documents, and a tablet displaying national reports.
Because he wasn’t just an ordinary man.
He was the President of the country.
Tall.
Handsome.
Sharp features.
Dressed perfectly in formal black clothes with his sleeves folded slightly near his wrists.
His serious expression made him look cold and untouchable, while his focused eyes moved carefully across every document.
The entire room felt silent except for the soft turning of paper pages.
A few moments later, the door of the presidential office opened again.
The same man who had saved Elise entered the room after knocking and taking permission quietly.
The President slowly lifted his gaze toward him before gesturing toward the chair in front of the desk.
“Sit.”
Enzo sat down calmly while the President returned to checking the papers in his hands.
“What happened?” the President asked without looking up.
“Nothing. I just wanted to see you.”
A small chuckle escaped the President’s lips.
“So you really missed me, Mr. Enzo?”
His tone sounded unusually friendly because Enzo wasn’t just someone close to him- he was his best friend.
“A lot,” Enzo replied with a faint smile.
But this time, the President suddenly felt something strange.
His expression changed slightly as he finally looked directly at Enzo, narrowing his brows like he was trying to read something hidden behind his calm face.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Enzo smiled softly.
“Mr. President… no one can hide anything from you. You already know everything.”
The President went silent.
A strange sadness slowly appeared in his eyes.
“No,” he replied quietly.
“I don’t know everything.”
He leaned back slightly in his chair, his voice turning heavier.
“I still want many answers… but destiny is still playing with me.”
Enzo looked at him with an admiring gaze.
“Just wait a little longer,” he said softly.
“Maybe you’ll finally get all your answers.”
The President stayed silent for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Ezno said, “Okay sir, may I leave now?”
“Why? Are you tired of me?” Both of them laughed.
“Never! The whole country can’t get tired of you.”
“Enough with your flirting skills. Go and try it on some women. It might help you get into a relationship. Why are you trying it on me? Don’t you know I am straight and I am waiting for someone?”
“Yeah, I know. I am not that lucky to have you because someone already owns you.”
After Enzo left the room, the president again felt lonely.
He closed the files, stood up, and walked toward the large window.
He stood in front of it and sighed again.
The silence wrapped around him like an old habit he could never escape.
His eyes drifted over the city lights outside-bright, alive, careless-while everything inside him felt paused.
He loosened his tie, just slightly, like it could fix the weight pressing against his chest.
“…Always happens like this,” he murmured, voice low.
His reflection stared back at him from the glass-tired, distant, alone.
The room behind him stayed untouched, as if nothing had ever happened.
As if no one had just left.
He was watching his kingdom through the large glass window, his gaze steady but distant.
Then his secretary came into the room, holding a file.
The president slowly turned away from the window and settled back into his chair.
The secretary placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of him.
The aroma filled the space, strong and sharp, grounding him for a moment.
The president glanced at it briefly, then at the papers on his desk, his expression unreadable as he took a sip.
The secretary placed the file neatly on his desk.
“You have to attend a meeting at lunchtime. Some ministers are coming over. Do you remember, right sir?”
The president nodded once.
“How is it going in Paris?”
“Our men are trying to find him but-”
“Continue,” he cut him off, leaning back.
“I know you can’t do anything.”
He looked at him, clearly done with the situation.
“What about the cases?”
“We are trying to solve them.”
“Are you going somewhere or something? How can you be so naïve?” his voice sharpened.
“How much time do you want? Just speed up the things. I want results within two days,” he said angrily.
“Sir, Ryan murder case,” he said, his voice tight, pointing his finger at the file.
The president’s expression changed slightly, his jaw tensing for a moment.
“…Hmm. You may go now,” he said flatly.
The secretary hesitated for a second, as if waiting for more instructions, then gave a small nod.
“Yes, sir.”
He turned and left the room quietly, the door clicking shut behind him.
The president remained seated, eyes fixed on the file now resting on his desk.
His fingers slowly traced the edge of it, but he didn’t open it immediately.
The silence returned again-heavier this time, like it was waiting for him to react.
______________________________________
Every answer has a price.
Some people spend their lives paying for it.
— Shayarasehar11