Chapter 18: Declared

In a hallway in the castle Nylah and Hattie stood giggling to themselves.

"You should've seen the look on her face when she saw you kiss His Majesty," Nylah laughed.

"How much joy I would've taken in seeing her cry after. I wish I could've seen it for myself," Hattie smirked, twirling around.

"I bet she'll never try to challenge you ever again. His Majesty is rightfully yours," Nylah stated, feeling accomplished.

"She'll probably go into her room, sulking like before," Hattie giggled.

In the distance Josephine saw them, adrenaline pumping throughout her body. She stormed up to them, watching as they laughed among themselves.

"You idiots," Josephine shouted, catching their attention.

"Oh look it's the peasant, what do you want…"

Josephine slapped Nylah across the face, interrupting her mid-sentence.

"How dare you," Hattie screamed, "You're going to pay for this."

Josephine turned her fiery gaze towards Hattie and smacked her across the face, making her fall to the floor.

She held the side of her face, tears falling from her eyes.

"Wait until His Majesty hears about this one, you're done for Josephine," Hattie threatened.

Josephine grabbed Hattie by the collar, looking her directly in her eyes.

"Are you still so delusional that you think His Majesty loves you? He never loved you and never gave you the slightest inkling that he did! You think His Majesty is going to protect you after the stunt you pulled in front of Milady? Fat chance! He hates you. You keep pushing yourself on him just to be rejected. You never stop, you always keep going. I want you to know that you sicken not only him but the entire castle. Nobody here likes you or your maid. You guys think that you're gonna get away with this, like that stupid decree is going to save you guys, it's not. His Majesty is going to be furious with you if he isn't already," Josephine scolded, giving Hattie another slap.

Nylah grabbed Josephine by the arm, pulling her off Hattie. She helped Hattie off the ground.

"We'll just see, we're going to tell His Majesty of what you did right now. I hope you like being banished," Nylah threatened.

"Oh yes, let's go, let's go see His Majesty right now and you can tell him about your stupid plot to try to replace Milady," Josephine retorted.

Hattie stormed off to The King's Office, Josephine and Nylah following behind her.

Inside The King's Office stood Ansel, Cobsworth, Sir Darce, Sir Harrison, and the Kingdom Announcer.

"You want to do what," Sir Harrison exclaimed, veins popping out the sides of his temples.

"I want a decree put out. A million gold pieces to anyone who finds Lady Gabrielle," Ansel insisted.

"One million gold pieces? Do you know how much that is Your Majesty," Sir Harrison inquired, baffled by the request.

"Are you questioning my judgement," Ansel snapped, walking up to Harrison.

"N-no Your M-Majesty, I j-just th-think,"

"Maybe you should stop thinking. A million gold pieces isn't even 1/10 of Kingdom Florian's riches. It's not even close. Kingdom Florian will not be broken without this money but Lady Gabrielle needs me. She needs to be found at all costs. So I don't care how much money it takes, I don't care how many men I have to send out, I don't care how many decrees I have to put in, I don't care how many hours it takes us, we're going to search, find her, and bring her back home. Do not ever question me again! Do I make myself clear," Ansel lashed, interrupting Harrison.

Harrison hung his head, his shame not allowing him to look up, "Yes Your Majesty," He uttered in compliance.

"Start the search now, I want every part of Kingdom Florian searched, put in the decree. I want it read as soon as possible," Ansel ordered.

FUWHAM

The door to The King's Office, flew open, and Hattie, Josephine, and Nylah entered the room.

"Your Majesty," Hattie whinged, "Josephine hit me and Nylah! What are you going to do about it?"

Fury filled Ansel's body, as his eyes turned cold. He walked over to Hattie, gripping her arm tightly, he pulled her forward.

"I should give her an award," He growled.

"An award? Why do you have to be so mean to me," Hattie whined, poking out her lips.

He grabbed her other arm tightly, jolting her back and forth.

"Do you understand what you did," He barked, enraged, "Lady Gabrielle is missing and it's all your fault."

"Missing? What do you mean missing," Josephine worriedly queried.

"She left, she left because she thinks I don't love her, because of Hattie's deceitful plot to try to take her place," Ansel fumed.

"It's not my fault," Hattie protested, "So what if I kissed you. It shouldn't matter! She left on her own free will! You need to stop blaming me because the floozy can't control her emotions."

"Guards," Ansel shouted, and two royal guards entered the room.

"Throw Hattie and her maid confined in a bedchamber. I don't want them out until Lady Gabrielle is back home safe," Ansel commanded.

"That's not fair," Hattie cried, "How can you do that to me?"

"I warned you and you don't get it. I reject you constantly in the open and in private and still you try to challenge the one I love most. I may not have enough to have you banished or thrown in the dungeon but I do have enough cause to have you confined. Maybe this will get you to listen. Until Lady Gabrielle is home, you'll be confined to the smallest, least decorated bedchamber I have."

He looked at royal guards, gritting his teeth.

"Get them out of my sight now," He commanded, watching as the royal guards took Hattie and Nylah out of the room.

"Now Cobsworth and Jospehine since you two are the closest to Gabrielle I want you to go over everything in her room and take inventory. See if she took anything that could lead us in helping find her. The rest of you go do what I told you. I'm going to take some of the royal guards and research around the castle. Nobody rests until she's home. I want everyone searching for her."

They nodded, leaving the room to do as Ansel commanded.