The Case of the Stolen Gift (part 2)

*Five hours to the main event*

"Darling, we should get going now. We are going to be late and that King will nag me for being late again, and then he will tell his Queen to tell you to nag me for being late, and it won't end well."

The Duke of Mills was pacing around the main hall of his Mansion. He wasn't someone who liked to get late to a party, to the work maybe, but to a party never, it was against his principles, and even more, the celebration of the Queen was the biggest party ever.

Then from the upstairs an elegant figure appeared. He knew that he had lost part of his mind the moment he met his wife, and every day it was more than evident. He behaved like a silly fool whenever he saw her.

"Dar… darling?"

His beautiful wife in a gorgeous white dress walked to him and with a soft smile on her face, she approached him. Then she took his hand and gave him a pinch.

"Auch!" He ruminated on his mind but couldn't find why his beautiful woman was abusing him. "Wi… wife, you… you look spectacular, more beautiful than the moon and sun together, more outstanding than any shiny star, and even more fascinating than any dream. I woke up every morning thanking the one who gave me the opportunity to woo you and marry you and…"

She covered his mouth and smiled. Then she led his hands to her stomach.

"That… you…" his bright eyes couldn't help but shine with happiness. He took her in his arms and lift her while hugging her soft body. "We will have a little baby, a daughter! We will have a daughter, yes… we must have a daughter as beautiful as you, my sunshine. I am growing tired of seeing that brat who stole with my looks."

The Duke said that, but he didn't notice that the brat, aka his son, was now on the back looking at his parents with happiness as he had always wanted another sibling. Henry was about to congratulate them, but his father had to say those words.

"Father," Henry said with that cute voice of him.

The moment the Duke heard the sound of the insane brat mouth, he almost fainted. Everyone knew that after his beautiful wife, he was most scared of his son. Those eyes that can see through any soul and can scheme like a cunning fox were so much for an innocent middle-aged man like the Duke.

"S… son, when did you get here?"

"Not so long," Henry smiled.

"Did… did you hear?" the Duke was now starting to sweat cold. "You… you didn't, right? I… I have good… news"

"I heard, father, congratulations, I will have a new brother or sister."

The Duke was about to faint, "Darling, we shall go to the party," he carried his wife like a princess and walked fast towards the entrance. No one would dare to say that he was escaping his son.

It was easy to know why, the gaze of little Henry resembled so much the Duchess that it was scary, even his temperament and his weird enthusiasm to punish his father were almost identical to his mother.

When he heard the carriage depart, Little Henry didn't mind that his parents had forgotten and left him there. He will plot a load of work to punish his father later.

Right now, he had an important task given by his dear fiancée.

He moved to the side hall where two shadow knights were waiting.

"Let's go," his voice didn't resemble a boy of six years old almost seven, instead, he seemed to be a young general ready to command.

*******

*Four hours to the main event.*

"This is the list the Princess gave me," Tia was marking the checklist for the main event.

First. Don't let Moira approach the main cake. Let her do another. It will be sent to the Duke of Eylos and his son later.

Second. Vincent will come today, make Callum and Moira guide him through the door. He will greet the Queen with me later.

Third. Give the schedule I drew to the Wizard, don't let him come to the party only after all the presents were presented.

Forth. Call the chorus for my accompaniment later. Don't let them eat any pastry before they accomplish their job.

Fifth. Bring some cookies to Gandalf, he seems hungry.

Sixth. Had you seen my darling? If you see him, then… then let him know that he is my sweetheart and I miss him.

Seventh. My brother is coming back from the Academy, don't let the King know about this or he will steal my gift. I know that old man didn't prepare anything.

****

[Steal the light on the Queen's birthday banquet.]

"Hah… I gave my dear Tia all of my tasks for today, only to steal this horrible light, why did Mellie need this light?"

The most outstanding princess was now on the top of the party hall with the help of some stairs and Vin, Wizard Druon's assistant.

"Princess, you should come down, or you will fall," Vin's voice was as monotone as ever, not even caring for the concerned group of people spreading sheets to save the little princess in case she falls.

"I am okay, I will go down now."

The trembling stair was making everyone nervous. Anne was stepping little by little down with a strange pearl of light that she took from the ceiling. It was a magical pearl that can illuminate the entire hall, and... it was a strange and very expensive gift from a noble house of the north of Lith. Maybe from the Dukedom of Eylos.

"This won't do," Anne narrowed her eyes to the pearl, "Catch it, Vin!"

She threw the pearl to the indifferent Vin and smirked.

"All of you over there, hold the sheet tight!"

The whole crowd shouted.

"Stop it, Princess, you are so young to die!"

"Princess, please, don't jump, who will take care of Moira?"

"Princess, Gandalf needs you."

"Noooo!"

'…' then she extended her arms like a flying bird and closed her beautiful eyes. She jumped and the people around widened their eyes in surprise when they saw her fluffy self falling.

The little girl fell down to the white sheets and bounced and bounced  until a pair of soft arms stopped her.

When she looked up she couldn't contain a wide smile.

"Darling!"