Lost

Sunlia Meeting Room

“ Have we done the right thing? ” Queen Elizabeth questioned their decision regarding their daughter. Her husband who was seated right next to her uttered in response, “ Yes! I’m certain one day Vanessa will understand that I made this decision in her best interest. “

The following day

Sunlia Meeting Room

Early in the morning, Princess Vanessa’s attending maid went to her quarters to wake her up like every morning, but—-------------

Whereas, in the Sunlia Meeting Room, the king and queen were tending to some paperwork when they heard a knock on the door. As the king’s attendant came inside, he informed them of their daughter’s attendant outside the room.

“ Let her inside! “ The king ordered and within a few seconds, Princess Vanessa’s maid was standing right before the king and queen.

“ Josephine greets the king and queen. “ The maid slightly bowed before the king and queen, showcasing her respects to them both.

“ Rise! “

“ Thank you, Your Majesty! “

“ What did you want, Josephine? “

As the empress forwarded her question to Josephine, the latter knelt and having her head lowered at the same time, she uttered the following at their attention, “ It’s terrible, my queen! “

“ What happened? “ The empress asked the maid to which she retorted with the following, “ It’s about the princess! “

“ What about the princess? “ The empress stopped tending to her work for a moment to listen to what Josephine had to report concerning her daughter.

Hesitating to answer the empress’s interrogation, Josephine uttered at her attention after a moment of silence that lasted for about thirty seconds, “ The princess is missing! “

“ What do you mean, she’s missing? “

Putting his work aside as well, the emperor questioned the maid, “ Explain yourself! “

Josephine started narrating to the emperor and empress the event that took place early in the morning as she went to wake her up like she does every morning—-----

Early this morning

Princess Vanessa’s attending maid knocked on the door of the princess's room repeatedly but to no avail. There was no response coming out of the room. Thinking at that moment she might have been too asleep to hear her knocking, Josephine attempted to barge into the room and that’s when she noticed something striking:

“ The door’s open! “

“ Sorry for barging in unannounced, Your Highness! “

The first thing the maid noticed as she barged inside the princess’s quarters was her bed. The cover was covering the whole bed. Directing herself toward the bed, she slowly opened the curtains.

“ Your Highness, it’s already past six. You must wake up. “

Slowly pulling down the covers, Josephine didn’t find the princess in her bed. The only thing she found as she pulled out the covers were her pillows.

“ What? Her Highness isn’t here! Where could she have gone this early in the morning? “

In a state of panic, Josephine searched the palace from every corner, but unfortunately, she couldn’t find the princess anywhere. Not having another choice at her disposal but to report what was going on, she uttered silently, “ I must report this to Her Majesties. “

Actual time

Rewinding to the present, the emperor questioned Josephine, “ What makes you think she’s not in the castle? “

Retorting to the emperor, Josephine uttered the following, “ I searched everywhere in the castle, but I was unable to find her. Also,------------------------ “

“ Also what? “

Hesitating before responding, Josephine uttered at the emperor’s attention, “ She didn’t show up for any of her lessons this morning.

Hearing such news, the empress panicked and uttered in a state of worry and concern for her daughter, “ Oh no! Where’s my daughter? Where has she gone? “

Seeing the state she was in, the emperor uttered calmly, “ Calm down, dear! “

Taking his focus back to the maid who was still right in front of him, he asserted, “ Gather all the royal guards immediately! “

“ Right away, your majesty! “ Josephine executed the emperor’s orders and walked out of the study.

When only the two of them were left inside the study, the empress couldn’t help but wonder as she glanced at the emperor, “ Do you think she ran away? “

At the sound of those words coming out of the empress’s mouth, the emperor retorted, “ Nothing of the sort happened. She must have gone out to get some fresh air. We’ll find her! She mustn’t have gone far. “

Somewhere far away

As Princess Vanessa was galloping away from the kingdom, she subconsciously thought the following:

“ I finally got away from the kingdom. I’m finally free from all those royal customs and rules. Starting today, my new life as a knight will finally begin. New life, here I come. “

Sunlia Kingdom

Fifteen minutes later

Sunlia Meeting Room

After fifteen minutes of waiting, Josephine returned as she had executed the emperor’s orders. Knocking on the door, the emperor quickly granted access.

As she made her way inside, she was accompanied by all the royal guards. Facing the emperor, she uttered, “ As you requested, all the royal guards have gathered. “

“ Good! You’re dismissed! “

“ Yes, your majesty! “

Josephine made her way out of the imperial study, leaving the royal guards to tend to themselves.

Facing the royal guards before him, the emperor uttered calmly, “ I gathered you all here to discuss some important issues. As you all know, the princess disappeared and no one knows where she is. What were you all doing yesterday evening? “

Sir Antoine (Captain of the royal guards, unit 1)

“ Yesterday, I went out to have my sword repaired. As for my unit, they were out patrolling. “

Sir Bastian (Captain of the royal guards, unit 2)

“ As for me, I was feeling unwell, so I went to my room to get some rest. My unit was also out patrolling. “

After listening to the testimonies of Sir Antoine and Sir Bastian, the only one remaining who had yet to give his testimony was none other than Sir Ricardo. Turning his focus to him, the emperor questioned him. “ What about you, Sir Ricardo? Where were you yesterday? “

Sir Ricardo panicked as the emperor forwarded his question to his attention. Not knowing what to do, he subconsciously thought along the lines:

“ What should I do? How should I respond? “

As the emperor was still fixated on him, Sir Ricardo attempted to answer the question. “ Well, actually---------------------------------- “

Being in a pickle, a sudden knock on the door interrupted the emperor and empress.

“ Enter! “

The one making her way inside the Sunlia Meeting Room was Lady Daniella, Sir Ricardo’s younger sister.

Bowing before the emperor and empress, she paid her respects, “ Daniella greets Her Highnesses! “

“ Rise! “

“ Thank you, Your Majesty! “

Queen Elizabeth: What brings you here so early in the morning, Daniella? Did you need something?

Lady Daniella: I’m here for my brother.

Queen Elizabeth: For your brother? I don’t understand.

Lady Daniella (Ricardo's younger sister) My brother is too ashamed of himself. He won’t dare tell you the truth, but I will.

King Louis: What truth are you referring to?

Lady Daniella: This whole issue is entirely my fault. If not for me, the princess wouldn’t have disappeared.

Sir Ricardo

(Why have you come here, sister, and why are you taking the blame for me?)

King Louis: It’s your fault this happened?

Lady Daniella: Yes, Your Majesty! Yesterday evening, I asked Ricardo to go shopping with me for some new clothes. He didn’t want to come with me as he was to guard the royal palace, so I threatened him with my health. I told him if he were not to accompany me, I wouldn’t eat or drink. In the end, he had no choice but to comply with my request. Don’t blame my brother! If you have to blame someone, then blame me. I’m the one in the wrong. My brother has nothing to do with this.

Looking doubtful, the emperor asked Sir Ricardo, “ Is she telling the truth? “

Sir Ricardo didn’t know what to think as he gazed at his younger sister without uttering a single word. Taking the current situation as some sort of an opportunity that was offered to him, Sir Ricardo nodded and uttered, “ Yes! “

“ Why didn’t you tell me? “ The emperor asked for an explanation from his knight.

Sir Ricardo (Captain of the royal guards, unit 3)

“ I was ashamed to show up in front of you. Our troops headed out patrolling around the kingdom and I was to stay to guard the palace, but I left my post. The princess disappearing is entirely my fault. “

“ We don’t blame you for what happened! It wasn’t your fault. “ The empress barged in the middle of the conversation between Sir Ricardo and the emperor.

Facing his knights, the emperor ordered, “ Captain Antoine and Bastian, gather your units and go search for the princess. She must still be nearby. “

Sir Antoine & Sir Bastian retorted in sync, “ Yes, Your Majesty! “

“ You’re dismissed! “

The emperor dismissed the knights from the room. Taking the opportunity, Lady Daniella turned to her brother and uttered, “ Let’s go, brother! “

Sir Ricardo who was about to follow his sister to the exit was suddenly interpellated by the emperor. “ Wait up, Sir Ricardo! “

Looking back, she said to her brother’s attention, “ I’ll wait for you at home. Goodbye, Your Majesties! “

Lady Daniella paid her respects one last time to the emperor and empress before walking out of the room.

“ Sir Ricardo? “

Sir Ricardo flinched at the sound of the emperor calling him. “ Yes, Your Majesty! “

“ Come here and sit with me! “ The emperor uttered at his knight’s attention, confusing him.

???

Sir Ricardo stood there without budging, wondering what to do, but the moment the emperor uttered sternly, “ It’s an order! “ Sir Ricardo was left with no alternative but to comply.

Sir Ricardo stepped forward and sat by the emperor’s side. Just then, the emperor forwarded a glass of white wine toward him and said, “ Have a drink with me! “

“ Your majesty, I------------------------------------------------- “

“ I know what you’re about to say. The one asking you to drink with him isn’t the king, but a father in grief. Won’t you drink with me? “

The moment the emperor uttered those words, Sir Ricardo retorted, “ I’ll drink with you, Your Majesty! “

“ Good! Here’s a glass of wine for you. “

King Louis forwarded a glass of white wine to Sir Ricardo which he pleasantly took. Sharing a drink with the latter, at some point, the emperor uttered quite hypothetically, “ Do you think I did the right thing? “

Sir Ricardo was startled by the question but still asked the emperor, “ On what subject, Your Majesty? “

Retorting, King Louis uttered, “ I decided on my daughter’s marriage without consulting her. Do you think I did the right thing? “

Hesitating, Sir Ricardo forwarded, “ Why are you asking me, Your Majesty? “

“ You know my daughter better than anyone. You’re the only one she spends most of her time with. You’re her childhood friend and the one she trusts the most and is the closest to. If there’s anyone who can answer my question, it’s you, Ricardo. “

—

Listening to the emperor as he spoke, Sir Ricardo forwarded, “ Do you want an honest answer, Your Majesty? “

“ Yes, please! “ The emperor nodded without an ounce of hesitation.

Sighing, Sir Ricardo spoke, “ As a king, you did the right thing, but as a father, you failed. “

“ Excuse me for saying so but you were never there for your daughter. You were always busy with imperial affairs and you neglected your daughter. Her change of character is due to her solitude. Excuse me, Your Majesty! I said too much. “

Sir Ricardo apologized to the emperor over and over for being out of line and for honestly answering the question asked of him by the latter.

Thinking he was going to be punished by the emperor for honestly answering without putting up any boundaries, Sir Ricardo was taken aback when the emperor suddenly said, “Thank you for telling me this. “

Sir Ricardo was grateful enough that his head hadn’t been chopped out from his head due to the discontent he showed while speaking to the emperor. Grabbing the opportunity to leave, he uttered, “ I’ll excuse myself with your permission. “

“ Yes, you may leave. “ The emperor gave his authorization for Sir Ricardo to depart.

“ Thank you, Your Majesty! “

Paying his respects to the emperor and empress, he walked out of the Sunlia Meeting Room.

Somewhere far away

“ I wonder how everyone is doing in the kingdom. I left so hastily that I didn’t have time to prepare. How’s Ricardo doing? It hasn’t been twenty-four hours yet and I miss him already. I’ll send him a courier to let him know I’m okay. “ Princess Vanessa thought of her childhood friend at that moment.

Sunlia Kingdom

Greenhouse Mansion

“ You’re back! “

Lady Daniella uttered, first thing the moment her brother walked inside the house. Facing her, Sir Ricardo uttered, “ Yes, I’m back! “

“ Aren’t you forgetting something? “

Knowing clearly what she was getting at, Sir Ricardo uttered gratefully to his younger sister, “ Thank you for saving me! By the way, how did you know where I was? “

Stating suddenly, Lady Daniella expressed herself, “ I asked the guards. What is this all about? “

“ The princess disappeared and no one knows where she is. “ Sir Ricardo answered the question very subtly.

Shocking him as he was done speaking, Lady Daniella uttered out of the blue, “ Someone knows where she is. “

“ Who? “

“ You! “

!!!

“ Excuse me? What nonsense is coming out of your mouth? “

“ It isn’t nonsense. It’s the truth, isn’t it? Haven’t you helped the princess escape? “

“ I don’t know what you’re talking about. “

Sir Ricardo kept playing dumb but the moment Lady Daniella suddenly asked him, “ You don’t, huh? Where’s your horse, big brother? “

???

“ Where’s your arc and arrows? “

???

“ Will you still deny the truth? “

Cornered from all directions by his sister’s perspicacity, Sir Ricardo gave in and decided to be honest with her by admitting the truth. “ No, I won’t! You got me there, sister. I gave up! You won. How did you find out? “

Replying to her brother’s question, Lady Daniella uttered, “ Yesterday, as I was out shopping, I saw you with Vanessa. “

Yesterday evening

“ Now, go! “ Sir Ricardo ordered the princess to leave the premises, but the latter was reluctant to leave as she was concerned about her childhood friend and most trusted friend.

“ What about you? What will happen to you if I leave? “

It was at that precise moment that Lady Daniella noticed her brother speaking to someone, but she couldn’t quite see her face.

Lady Daniella subconsciously thought at that precise moment:

“ Who’s my brother talking to? “

Reassuring the princess, Sir Ricardo uttered at her attention, “ Don’t worry about me and get going! The troops will soon get back from their patrol. Hurry up and go! Nothing will happen to me. “

Lady Daniella subconsciously thought once more:

“ Who is she? I can’t see clearly from here. “

Back to the princess and the knight, Princess Vanessa suddenly uttered to her childhood friend, “ Princess Vanessa: Promise me one thing! “

“ What, Vanessa? “

“ Promise me to take care of yourself. “

“ I promise! Now, go! “

Grinning at each other, Princess Vanessa galloped away as Sir Ricardo waved slightly at her to bid her a safe journey. At that moment, he subconsciously thought:

“ Goodbye, Vanessa! Take care of yourself! “

Lady Daniella who was still observing noticed something striking as Princess Vanessa galloped even further away:

“ She’s getting away! Isn’t that Ricardo’s horse, and on her back, isn’t that my brother’s arc and arrows? Ricardo never lets anyone near his horse. Could it be? No, it can’t be! “

Back to the present

“ The lady with you was Vanessa, wasn’t she? “

Questioned and cornered by his sister, Sir Ricardo admitted to the obvious, “Yes, you guessed right! It was her. “

“ Why did you do it? Haven’t you thought about the consequences? “ Lady Daniella couldn’t help but wonder as she forwarded that question to her brother.

Answering as honestly as possible, Sir Ricardo uttered in response to Lady Daniella’s question, “ I did, but the only thing that mattered to me at the moment was her happiness. I hope she’s doing okay wherever she is. “

Somewhere far away

Princess Vanessa who had been galloping for a while now realized that she had been galloping in circles.

“ Haven’t I passed down this road already? What do you think, Vanessa (the horse)? Let us take another road. “

Galloping even further, the princess realized she hadn’t made any progress and uttered as she gazed around in confusion, “ We passed down this road already, didn’t we? I think we’re lost, Vanessa! We’re lost! “