Chapter 9: Where is the body pt1

The palace corridors were eerily silent, the air thick with the remnants of the fading sunset. The torches lining the stone walls flickered, casting ghostly shadows as Prince Simon and Princess Hazel hurried toward the old storage room. Their breaths came in short bursts, their footsteps quick and precise, their nerves fraying with every second.

When they reached the heavy wooden door, Hazel hesitated only for a moment before pushing it open. The scent of dust and aged fabric filled the air. The moth-eaten tapestry still hung limply against the far wall, its frayed edges swaying slightly from the draft that had crept in through the cracked window.

But the body was gone.

Hazel gasped, pressing a hand to her mouth as she stepped inside. Her emerald-green eyes scanned the room in frantic disbelief. "Simon…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's gone."

Simon's jaw clenched as he quickly surveyed the area. There were no signs of struggle—no fresh footprints in the dust, no streaks of blood leading away. It was as if the corpse had simply vanished. He turned to Hazel, his sharp eyes dark with suspicion.

"This isn't possible," he muttered. "No one knew about this except us."

Hazel swallowed hard. "What if—what if whoever killed him took him? What if they're trying to frame me?" Her voice wavered, and for the first time that night, fear truly set in.

"Could it be Layla and Lama or my evil step mother and Victoria?

"Or Ephraim" Simon mummers

Simon exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "We can't panic. If someone moved the body, they must have a reason. And if they wanted to expose you, they would have done it by now."

Hazel nodded, though her hands trembled. "Then what do we do?"

"We find out who else knows," Simon said firmly, taking her hand and pulling her out of the room. "We act normal. No one can know we're looking for the body. And we start by watching everyone."

"But everyone is already leaving? We should have gotten rid of it"

As they stepped into the open hall, the last of the daylight had faded, and the palace was bathed in the glow of lanterns. The evening air carried the distant murmurs of lingering guests preparing to depart.

Then, they saw her.

Layla.

She was gliding toward the main door, her crimson cloak billowing slightly as she walked. Her sister, Princess Lama, stood near the entrance, waiting with an air of quiet patience. But it was Layla's piercing gaze that sent a chill down Hazel's spine.

She stopped just before stepping outside, tilting her head as she regarded Simon and Hazel. A slow, knowing smile curled at the edges of her lips.

"My dear prince and princess," she mused, her voice honeyed with amusement, "you both look… unsettled. A shame, really, after such a magnificent evening."

Simon stiffened. "You're leaving?"

"Of course," Layla replied smoothly, adjusting the clasp of her cloak. "The party is over, and my father expects me back. I would have left sooner, but I had… unfinished matters to attend to." Her eyes gleamed in the dim torchlight.

Hazel felt her breath catch. Was Layla hinting at something? Is she the murderer and framing me?

Before they could respond, Layla chuckled, stepping past them. As she passed Hazel, she whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "Be careful where you leave things unattended. Someone might take them."

A shiver ran down Hazel's spine, but before she could react, Layla was gone, her sister following close behind.

Simon exhaled slowly, watching her disappear into the night. "She knows something," he muttered under his breath.

"Do you think she—" Hazel started, but before she could finish, a new voice cut through the corridor.

"There you are!"

Princess Victoria appeared in a rush.Her deep eyes were filled with concern—or something dangerously close to curiosity.

"Simon, Hazel," she said breathlessly, her gaze flickering between them. "Why do you both look so troubled? What's happened?"

Hazel forced a quick smile, but her heart pounded. "Nothing, just—just tired from the party last night"

Victoria frowned, stepping closer. "You're lying."

Simon sighed, already weary from the night's events. "Victoria, now isn't the time."

She ignored him, eyes narrowing as she studied their expressions. "Something is wrong. I've been watching you both all evening—you disappear, you whisper to each other, and now you look like someone has died." Her gaze locked onto Simon, something softer creeping into her features. "Simon, please. If you're in trouble, I want to help."

Hazel glanced between them, noting the way Victoria's voice softened when she spoke to Simon. It was no secret that Victoria had always harbored feelings for him since the party began. She even follows him on first prince and princess meeting . She was agreeing on every point he said.She disguised it well most of the time, but moments like these made it clear.

Simon took a step back. "There's nothing to tell, Victoria."

Victoria crossed her arms, clearly unsatisfied. "I don't believe you. And I will find out the truth."

Hazel clenched her fists, her patience running thin. "Victoria, you're imagining things. You're exhausted. Maybe you should get some rest."

Victoria's lips curled slightly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Maybe I should. Or maybe I should start asking around about why you both look like you've seen a ghost."

Hazel's stomach twisted. They needed to get away from her before she pressed further.

"Goodnight, Victoria," he said firmly, grabbing Hazel's arm and pulling her down the corridor.

Victoria watched them go, her smirk never fading.

Hazel let out a shaky breath once they were far enough away. "Simon, she's suspicious."

"I know," he muttered. "Which means we have less time than we thought."

Hazel looked over her shoulder, dread filling her chest. The body was missing. Layla had hinted at something dangerous. And now Victoria was watching their every move.

Someone was playing a game with them. And they were running out of ways