4 — The Engagement Ceremony (2)

"Layla?" Yuden whispered beside Layla's ear, snapping her out of her shady thoughts.

She flinched, frightened as if Yuden could have heard her inner dark thoughts.

"Why do you seem so shocked? It's not the first time I'm doing this to you." Yuden raised an eyebrow, sneaking a peek at her facial expression.

She quickly regained control of her expressions as a royal would and stormed away.

Yuden kept his smile on his face like always, following her.

"Mad?"

"I am not."

"Really? Are you trying to lie to me?"

"Yuden!" She veered around to face him, scowling.

"So you are mad." He chuckled. "Come on. It's nothing new. We grew up listening to them talk about her."

"You don't care because she was supposed to be your fiancée and she would help you get what you want, right?"

"I feel insulted now. You should be happy she isn't here. You're getting everything that was supposed to be hers. Either it's me or the throne." Yuden whispered teasingly near Layla's ear.

Layla pushed his face away, agitated as she quickly walked to the seats prepared for the bride-to-be and groom-to-be. She took a seat and Yuden followed, sitting beside her.

In front of the guests and the cameras they smiled as if they were a happy couple.

Emera took a mic in her hands.

"Good evening everyone. It is a pleasure to see you all coming here and taking part in the engagement of my granddaughter, Princess Layla with Crown Prince Yuden. Let us start the ring exchange since everyone has arrived."

The audience clapped their hands.

"First, the groom will put the ring on the bride's finger." A priest standing at the side stated.

A servant brought a golden plate decorated with white rose petals. There were two red boxes placed on that plate. Yuden took out a ring from one of the red boxes where it was written the letter L, meaning it was meant for Layla. On the other box, there was the letter Y, meaning the ring inside was meant for Yuden.

It was a diamond ring with a big diamond stone in the middle decorated with other small diamonds all around it.

Everyone in the hall gasped, as they saw such a stunning diamond ring. They knew royalties cherished quality but this was the fairest engagement ring they had ever witnessed keeping in mind that every guest attending was among the richest families in the country.

Just as Yuden was about to put the ring on Layla's finger, someone barged into the hall.

Everyone looked at the man dressed in black, furiously.

"Your majesty, the Great Queen! I need to talk to you," the tall man rushed to her, panting.

Emera looked at him yet made a sign for him to follow her. Despite her anger, she needed to keep her serenity.

They went to a quiet room where there were no guests present, guarded by two security men.

"What brings you here, Phil? It is Princess Layla's engagement ceremony! You cannot ruin it like this!"

"Your majesty, please listen to me first. We found Aziel."

"I don't care who-"

Emera got cut off.

"We found Aziel, Great Queen," Phil repeated.

"A… Aziel?" Emera asked in disbelief. "Is this some sort of joke, Phil?! It really is not funny!" Emera lost her composure.

"No, I'm telling the truth."

"When did you even start searching for him? When did you find him? How did you find him? And overall… Where is my granddaughter?!"

"Aziel was brought to the police station. As for the princess… we are still looking for her."

"What princess?" Yuden asked as he walked towards Emera and Phil followed by Zayn and Sameera.

"My… my daughter?" The queen hesitantly asked as she shortly teared up.

"Get a hold of yourself, my queen. I'm sure he is wrong this time again just like the last few times. We can't get our hopes up." Zayn tried to reason with her as he held her shoulders.

"No, Your Majesty. Not this time. We already captured Aziel. We will find the princess in no time."

"What? Where is that bastard Aziel?!" Zayn's eyes reddened in anger as he approached Phil aggressively.

"Calm down, Your Majesty." Yuden posed his hand on Zayn's shoulder.

"He is in the police station," Phil declared.

"Let's go see him." Zayn turned his steps.

"Bring her back for real this time, Zayn," Emera stated firmly. "Don't disappoint me."

Zayn halted for a second. "Phil is the one who will disappoint you this once if we don't find her, Mother," Zayn stated as he walked outside of the corridor, followed by Phil and Yuden.

Zayn recovered his composure as he entered the hall where the engagement was taking place.

"We need to attend to some important matters right now. The engagement ceremony needs to end right now. We deeply apologize to each and everyone here for the inconvenience." Zayn said with the mic.

The guests bowed respectfully to the king, and soon left, leaving the Royal family in the hall.

***

"Officier."

The policeman in charge of the investigation was seated on his chair when someone called him out. He looked up. His face soon changed into a poker face. It was the royal family. He had to be careful to not make any mistakes.

"Hello, Your Majesty. It is a great honour to meet you!" The policeman hastily stood up. "How can I help you?"

"That guy I told you guys to capture," Phil walked through Zayn and Yuden, "We want to meet him."

The officer nodded as he walked them to the lockup in the commissariat.

"There he is. Please let me know if you need anything else," he said before regaining his seat.

"You bastard!" Zayn gripped the jail bars, aggressively.

"Open the door," Yuden said to a guard, making way for Zayn to go inside.

The guard took out the key and unlocked the door, letting the three tall men enter the prison.

Aziel was worn out from being beaten up. He was seated on a chair. It had been hours but it felt like eternity for him.

He missed his daughter, Tiana. Had she been here with him, she could have turned everything upside down to help him get out or escape.

But he didn't want her here. He couldn't keep her with him. After all, they were after her.

"You bastard!" Zayn slammed his fist against Aziel's cheek, making him cough out blood. "Where is my daughter?!"

"Who is your daughter?" Aziel scoffed. "Just because you are some powerful people and you got to arrest me with your power, it doesn't mean you can just claim anyone as your daughter."

"AZIEL!" Zayn's blood started boiling. "You're the one who took away my daughter and you dare talk back?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I have a daughter and that girl is my daughter. You don't have any proof that she is your daughter, do you?"

Zayn was about to punch Aziel once again but he was stopped by Yuden.

"Your Majesty, I will handle this. Please go home and rest. I will find your daughter and bring her home. You… seem to be losing control of your emotions."

Zayn nodded, leaving the prison.

Phil stayed behind in case Yuden required any assistance.

"Officer. Did you find any clues related to the girl he calls his daughter?"

"We have actually. Please take a look, Your Highness."

The officer quickly rushed to his desk, picking up a blue file. He opened it. Inside, there was a picture of Aziel along with his details. The officer turned a few pages and pointed to a square picture twice.

"It's her."

Yuden looked at the picture. His face puzzled for a second yet soon after his lips curved into a smile.

"I should have known. It was her, after all!" He exclaimed as if he had obtained something extremely valuable.

"You know her, Your Highness?"

"Not much, Phil. But I happened to have met her twice by coincidence. Or maybe, it was what you people call destiny." He chuckled.

"Anyhow, officer, tell all the policemen chasing her to stop looking for her."

"What are you saying, Your Highness?" Phil questioned, perplexed.

"That girl is stubborn as much as I have known her so far. She will do anything to come and save her father. We just need to lay a trap and make her way here easier."