Chapter 11

Prince Edward had become a liability, a loose end that threatened to unravel the Queens' carefully constructed web of deceit. His persistent attempts to warn Princess Ellie had pushed them to take drastic measures. Under the cover of darkness, the Queens, aided by their loyal servants, orchestrated a clandestine operation. They abducted Edward, spiriting him away to a secluded location unknown to Princess Ellie, the King, or anyone who might help him. The location was carefully chosen, a place hidden from view, ensuring that Edward remained out of sight and out of reach.

Princess Ellie, sensing something amiss, went to her brother's room, her heart pounding with a growing sense of foreboding. The room was empty, the bed undisturbed, a chilling emptiness replacing the usual signs of her brother's presence. She searched her father's chambers, hoping to find him playing with his father, but Prince Edward was nowhere to be found. She approached the Queen's children, her questions tinged with suspicion, but their innocent denials only served to heighten her anxiety. The playful innocence of their responses felt hollow, a stark contrast to the growing dread in her heart. Desperate, Princess Ellie began a frantic search, retracing Prince Edward's usual haunts, checking the places where he loved to play. But everywhere she looked, the only thing she found was a growing sense of panic and the terrifying realization that her brother had vanished. The playful games and childish antics of the Queen's children were now replaced by the terrifying reality of a kidnapping. The absence of her brother was a chilling confirmation of her suspicions. The Queens' plot was no longer a whisper; it was a terrifying reality.

Princess Ellie's frantic search for her brother yielded nothing. Despair gnawed at her as she realized the extent of the danger. With a heavy heart, she approached her father, King Solomon, recounting the disturbing truth – her brother had been abducted. The King, his love for his children unwavering, was immediately consumed by worry. He dispatched his royal guard, the kingdom's finest, to scour every corner of the land, but their efforts proved futile. The search yielded nothing; Prince Edward had vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, in the secluded hiding place, Prince Edward's ordeal continued. Days blurred into a lonely existence, the silence broken only by his own sobs. The Queens, concerned that their captive might succumb to hunger and thirst, decided on a calculated visit. One of the Queens, Queen Lucy made a brief appearance, offering Prince Edward food and water, a cruel gesture of mercy. The meager sustenance only served to highlight his isolation and despair. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Prince Edward wept, his pleas to return home echoing in the cold, empty space. He missed his sister, his father, the warmth and security of his home. But his cries were met with the Queen's cold threat, a chilling reminder of the danger he faced if he dared to disobey. The Queen's visit was not an act of compassion but a calculated move to ensure his silence, a terrifying display of power that silenced the boy's desperate pleas. The Queen's departure left Prince Edward alone with his fear and despair, trapped in a desolate confinement, far from the warmth of his family.

Three days stretched into an agonizing eternity. The absence of Prince Edward cast a long shadow over the kingdom. His whereabouts remained a mystery, fueling a growing sense of unease and fear. Princess Ellie's worry intensified, her initial fear morphing into a desperate plea for answers. King Solomon, his paternal love tested to its limits, shared her anguish, his regal composure strained by the uncertainty. The absence of the young prince extended beyond the immediate family, impacting the entire kingdom. Princess Ellie's friends, along with Prince Michael, shared her distress, their concern deepening with each passing hour. The uncertainty gnawed at them; they didn't know if Prince Edward was alive or dead, imprisoned or lost. The fear of the unknown was a heavy burden, leaving everyone feeling helpless and hopeless.

In a desperate attempt to find answers, King Solomon summoned an emergency meeting, his voice heavy with concern. He demanded the presence of all his wives, recognizing that the mystery surrounding Prince Edward's disappearance was intricately linked to the complex dynamics within the royal household. The meeting was not just a formal gathering; it was a desperate attempt to unravel the truth, a plea for answers in the face of mounting fear and uncertainty. The King's call for a meeting was a stark acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation, setting the stage for a confrontation that could potentially reveal the dark secrets lurking within the walls of the palace.

As King Solomon addressed the assembled wives, a noticeable absence cast a shadow over the proceedings. One of the Queens, Queen Lucy was missing, her absence raising immediate questions and suspicions. The King's inquiry about her whereabouts drew only blank stares; none of them knew her location. The Queen Lucy, meanwhile, had undertaken a clandestine journey to the secluded location where Prince Edward was being held. She felt a pang of guilt, a fleeting moment of compassion amidst her carefully constructed façade of cruelty. The boy's loneliness and despair tugged at her, a stark contrast to her usual cold indifference.

Upon her return to the palace, the King confronted her about her absence from the crucial meeting. Her explanation – a visit to a friend – was unconvincing, bordering on a lie. However, the King, blinded by his affection and trust, seemed to accept her flimsy excuse. He harbored no suspicion, his belief in her innocence overshadowing any doubts. The Queen's deception went undetected, her carefully constructed alibi shielding her from immediate suspicion. The King's overlooking of her suspicious absence served to highlight the extent of his trust—a trust that would soon be shattered as the truth began to unravel. The Queen's calculated actions and the King's blind faith set the stage for a future confrontation, where the truth would inevitably come to light, revealing the depth of the Queen's deception and the King's tragic oversight.