1 The Disappearance!

"Emmaline! Arianna called out .

"Yes my princess; a young fair maiden standing close to the door answered.

Please come closer, Arianna instructed.

"Tell me what do you think about this thing people call love ?" She asked looking at the girl standing before her, who bowed her head respectfully all the while.

"Em...emm ..." Emmaline stammered, still not looking at the princess.

"Go on!" Arianna urged her . My princess I am not permitted to discuss such matters with you, you're royalty I am only a maid, Emmaline said almost inaudibly trying to avoid giving a response to the question Arianna scoffed.

"You bother so much with this royalty thing, okay now you have my permission , please tell me, she said with a pleading look on her face.

Emmaline raised her head and smiled it was all she needed to spur her into speaking .

" My princess she began, love is a beautiful thing, if the right people meets each other, it becomes more beautiful. The parties do not necessarily have to be perfect, love qualifies their imperfections so long as they believe in it's possibilities". Her eyes sparkled as she explained love to the princess .

"You never cease to amaze me with how you have knowledge of so many things " Arianna praised

"Love is not a thing to have knowledge about. It is something that is felt " Emmaline replied bowing slightly to acknowledge the praise from her.

There was an awkward silence in the room for a while after that response

"Brianna's wedding is tomorrow Arianna began again, do you think I am being unintentional about my life, with my decision not to get entangled with anyone ?" She asked looking directly at Emmaline's eyes.

"Ehmm...mm" Emmaline stammered again, "Not at all my princess, you've got dreams, you want to become a dancer, that's intentionality," she said looking away to avoid eye contacts with the princess.

"C'mmon Emmaline, it's okay to be real with me," Arianna said noticing Emmaline's nervousness.

"My princess you have not just met the right one, time and chance happens to them all," Emmaline finally confidently answered. Silence fell again upon the room. Arianna stood up and walked directly to her dressing mirror in a slow and steady manner.

"This love thing is not for you Arianna, she said pointing to herself in the mirror. It's for weak people who don't know what they want for themselves" She smiled and looked at Emmaline who had been standing with her head bowed,

"thank you for your time, that would be all for now .

"Thank you my princess it is always an honor" Emmaline said as she went back to her original standing position.

There was a knock on the door, Emmaline answered to the knock. She returned to the princess who still sat before her dressing mirror,

"The king and queen asks to see you my princess Emmaline said .

"Oh! What do they want now?" Arianna grumbled, planning to wear a dress for tomorrow's wedding Was alot stress already for her Emmaline remained silent. Thank you Emmaline, she said as she stood up and left for her parents call.

"Dad, mom you both asked to see me ? She asked as she entered the living room. Arianna please sit, her father instructed. She looked at her mother, she had no smile on her face. "What could have gone wrong ? Why is everyone looking so sad ? Arianna asked looking confused, tell me did I do something wrong ?" She asked again even more confused. Her father heaved a deep sigh and became silent again. Her head began to run topsy-turvy.

"Brianna is no where to be found, her mother said as she broke the silence. What !!! What do you mean Brianna is no where to be found, have you called her cell phone ? She asked as she brought out her cell phone to call her. It's not connecting, she said looking disappointed. For how long as she been missing ? She asked her father directly looking into his eyes .

But there was no immediate reply from her father as he looked her in the eyes and could only shake his head in self pity.

At this point Arinna needed no one to tell her that things were more serious than she thought from the look on the face of her father.

"But where could Brianna have gone to?" Ariana asked loudly speaking more to herself than anyone else