As night fell, Emoria faced its first state of emergency since the Varinthian war.
Sirens sounded through Lanark and Latora, following riots that erupted when civilians received the distressing news. Emorian men and women clamored for weapons to join the rapidly mobilizing army set to rescue their young prince, and these sirens were soon joined by ones from the other duchies and the capital, Destan.
The entire kingdom was restless, exacerbated by the revelation of its Crown Prince's disappearance.
The official narrative that stated that the same malevolent force responsible for the eerie mutations of animals near the concealed mana mines in Lanark had abducted Noctavian de Lanark only added fuel to the fire. No Emorian, young or old, slept through that fateful night, and the Archduchess was no exception.
Adelaide de Lanark occupied her throne, her son's seat achingly vacant beside her.