15 Driving me mad

I was just about to finish my letter to the Echo Kingdom when Mrs. Cephilia, who Amy calls Granny for some reason, entered my office with worry all over her face.

She ran to me without even taking a breath and said, "Your highness, she's gone! She's not in her room!"

Her fearful eyes sent me standing up, "What happened?" I asked.

Mrs. Cephilia's hands are shaking in nervousness as her eyes go left and right while remembering the events before she found out Amy's gone.

"Right when she got back from your meeting, she's been acting strange. She wanted to be alone and she kept quiet. Then, earlier, she was back to normal. We gave her dinner, prepared her for her sleep, then when she's on the bed, we left."

Mrs. Cephilia looked at me with a frown, "That's what we always do. After a few minutes, I'll go back to check on her, but earlier she's gone. What if someone took her? Your highness, what if she'll end up like Miss Katrina?"

I froze. The mention of that girl's name sent my bones stuck. The image of a girl with broken bones and her body swimming in her own pool of blood suddenly flashed.

"No," my voice cracked, then I cleared my throat and regain my stand, "That won't happen. Miss Katrina was a child, Amy's a grown-up."

"But still, she doesn't know how to use her powers," Mrs. Cephilia cried.

"She doesn't know, but she can. I'm sure that's how she got away. Does Regin know?" I asked as I walk back and forth in the office while Mrs. Cephilia sat down on a chair with her sweat dripping from her forehead.

"Yes, he was about to check on the Miss as well when I went out of her room. He went to talk to the guards outside."

I nodded my head as I think of possibilities that may have happened, then Regin entered the room.

His face was pale and sharp, he stood by the doorway for a few seconds, as if he's hesitant to tell us what he found out.

But he took a deep breath then he looked at me.

"Canidaenians* told me that they sniffed her scent outside, a few minutes before Madam found that she's not in her room. They tried to trace where she went, but her scent ended in the middle of the village."

Mrs. Cephilia sighed after hearing Regin's report.

"Did she go out on her own? If she was kidnapped, there'll be some sort of struggle left in her room."

"No, Your Highness. Her room's neat and she had worn her thick dresses." Regin answered then she went inside and closed the door.

I began tapping my feet rapidly on the floor. Why would she go to the village? And where could she be?

"Your Highness, Miss' scent will not disappear unless she had a close encounter with another person, and knowing Miss, she doesn't like socializing." Mrs. Cephilia suddenly said with her eyes looking at Regin for affirmation.

"Yes, that's true," Regin replied, "And her speed is beyond our expectations, Your Highness. If she was able to run away from the guards, she could be having her level at B."

I nodded. Powers are measured in level and the highest is A, which only I, the King, and my mother's knight have. Only the three of us have that level, and if Amy's on B, it'll be hard to run after her or even notice that she was there.

"Your Highness, we have to find her." Mrs. Cephilia begged, "She's not yet fit to live outside."

Regin looked at me with a serious expression, then he reported that he already sent some guards to look for her.

But if she's that fast, a few guards can't catch her. And the possibility that someone took her is still high.

"Send half of the guards tonight to look for her," I ordered Regin, "Call the tracers, and wizards, they might help in looking for her as well."

Mrs. Cephilia stared at me with wide eyes. Such actions are only done when the situation is critical, and Amy's disappearance is already critical for me.

If she won't return, it'll be the end of this bride candidate game.

I already made my choice, and no matter what happens in the trial, I'll make sure that Amy will win.

But if she's already gone, what's the point?

I'll just end up with some random bride.

"Mrs. Cephilia, please take a rest. We'll bring her back as soon as we can," I said to the old woman before me.

I'm sure she's as scared as she was when the child she was looking after disappeared in the middle of the night.

Miss Katrina's death was traumatizing enough for her to be so strict to everyone she has to care for.

She went out after a while, leaving me and Regin together.

The moment the door closes, Regin immediately fell on the floor on his knees.

"Your Highness, please, punish me for this mistake! I shouldn't have left Miss' side."

His face was an inch away from the floor with both his hands on the floor.

I stared at him for a while. It's true that it's his duty to make sure that Amy's safe. He's one of the best knights we have, and my father surely gave him the order to guard Amy.

"It's not your fault, we shouldn't have imposed a meeting during the evening. Stand up, do what I told you, and bring Amelia back."

I clenched my fist as Regin exits my office.

If something happened to Amy, I wouldn't forgive myself.

But this is no one else's fault, but that old man's! If he didn't kidnap Amy, she wouldn't have run away.

I called Fisher, and luckily, he already knew where my father is hiding.

"He's at the Queen's old home," Fisher reported.

Why is it that my father always spends his time in that wrecked home at the Sunset Peak? That house looks like a little poke can make it go down.

"Tell him that his victim's missing," I told Fisher while watching the Tracer and a Wizard enter the castle.

"Yes, Your Highness," Fisher replied with a bow before disappearing again in the darkness.

I walked back and forth while waiting for the Tracer and the Wizard to arrive.

Summoning those two is a sign of a serious problem. Tracers are rare people, with only one person born with such power every seventy years. They are mixed breed people who can trace a person's life, memories, and destinations. They are used to erase memories, change how someone views their lives, and read what happened during their travels.

They are useful when we interrogate prisoners, judge a crime, and save people.

Wizards are used to enhancing someone's power or change it, and for this time, I'll ask him to precisely help the Tracer to find Amy.

"Your Highness," both of them greeted when they entered the office.

"It's the middle of the night, Your Highness. What is the problem that has to be dealt with during such time?" Asked the old wizard with his staff.

I don't really like this old man, his way of talking is always uncomfortable for me. Even if he has a high position in the castle, it doesn't mean that he doesn't serve me or anyone else.

"It is your job to report when you're tasked to, no matter what day or time it is, Wizard," I said then I turned to them.

"Please forgive this old man, Your Highness," The Tracer bowed down with a pale face, "What may seem to be the problem?"

Thee Wizard flinched then bowed down as well while sweating in nervousness. He might just remembered what I can do to him once he irritates me.

I gave the tracer the perfume Amy used earlier, it doesn't easily get washed away, and even if she had a bath, there will still be a trace to her.

"Find my bride, Amelia Snow. She ran off earlier and disappeared in the middle of the village."

The Tracer took it then he closed his eyes.

"We will begin, Your Highness," the wizard spoke while waving his staff in a circular manner in front of the Tracer.

He spoked unusual words then a light appeared around the perfume.

I watch them carefully, waiting for any words they will tell, but the Tracer's frown made me feel an itch deep inside that will only be relieved if I shout or punch something.

I bit my lip while suppressing my anger.

"The last thing I saw was a dark alley near the clothing shop, Your highness. After that, she might have been taken by someone." The Tracer reported with shaking voice.

He knew that it was not what I needed nor wanted to hear.

I went to my desked and rested both my hands on top of it while staring at the papers I had to do tomorrow.

Regin hasn't come back as well from searching, which means they haven't found any trace.

If she still won't come back by the time of our meeting, I will personally look for her.

I don't know why she would run away.

Have I done something wrong?

She was indeed different when she left our meeting, but I don't see why she would run.

If she wanted to go back, then she should've accepted my offer of returning her back to her world.

I hit the desk loudly due to my irritation.

"Go," I told the Tracer and the Wizard, "I'll call you when I need you again."

I heard the door closes behind me, and I'm left again with my worries.

What's wrong with her? She doesn't know what's out there but she's brave enough to go? She's not her father, she can't protect herself.

She's just a small lady with limited knowledge about the people around her.

How can she survive? Even if we are trying our best to make the kingdom safe, it's still dangerous to wander alone at night.

Once she gets back here, I'll ask her clearly on what she wants.

Does she want to be a bride candidate?

Does she want to go back?

Does she want to live as a villager?

What?! Does she want?

I am trying so hard for her to like me. I don't like joking and I know I sounded outrageously bad earlier for making-up seasons, but still, here she is, disappearing.

Amy, you're driving me mad.