Where his heart lies 1

"Rise and shi–" Victoria abruptly came to a pause and looked at Sabrina who sat upright staring blankly into space, horrifyingly. She ran to her side and gently held her chin, "Don't Tell me you didn't get any sleep last night, my princess."

"I couldn't sleep..." Sabrina whined, "Are my dark circles prominent? My eyes feel heavy...what if Adrian sees...what if..."

"Calm down my princess," Victoria patted Sabrina's head and smiled reassuringly. "Today is your wedding day and I won't let anything ruin it for you," Victoria assured causing Sabrina to force a smile when in fact she wasn't rid of a quarter of her nervousness.

"Come," Victoria said and grabbed Sabrina off the bed to the wooden chair in front of a big wide mirror. "Sit here while I go bring some ground turmeric for your dark circles."

When Victoria left, Sabrina focused on the image staring back at her in the mirror. Her honey-brown eyes were surrounded by heavy eye bags and dark circles, her hair was disheveled and she looked ragged. Pretty but ragged.

Being alone made her thoughts run wild. What if she doesn't spark her future husband's interest? The mere thought of being in an unloved marriage made her shiver.

Almost immediately, Victoria arrived with a bowl of turmeric paste. She applied it to Sabrina's face and after allowing it to sit, she used a cold compress to clean it.

"All good," Victoria smiled once she saw a good difference from earlier.

"My dear," Eloise hastily walked in briskly with a worried look on her face. "How come you aren't prepped to take your bath?" She asked seeing Sabrina in her nightgown and not in her bathing robe.

"I'll go set the water now milady?" Victoria bowed and left hurriedly.

"Pour some Rose scented oil," Eloise yelled after Victoria and with a sigh, she brought her hand to massage her forehead with a tired sigh.

"Did anything happen mama?" Sabrina asked sensing the oddity in the aura of her mother. She knew something grave had happened given her mother's worried demeanor.

"Nothing for you to worry about," Eloise smiled warmly at her daughter and said, "All I need you to do, is take a quick nice bath, get dressed, and be the most beautiful bride this world has ever seen. Would you do that for me?"

"Yes mama," Sabrina smiled. She didn't probe further since she knew her mum wouldn't spill.

Just in time, Victoria arrived and announced that the bath was ready. Eloise helped her daughter change into her bathing robe before saying, "I'll be right back," and leaving.

Sabrina slipped into the warm bathtub filled with scented oil and rose petals. She sighed in relief when the water met with her skin and buried herself in the confines of her thought.

She couldn't help but think about the worried look on her mother's face. What went wrong?

After a few minutes, Sabrina walked out of the tub. Victoria who had been waiting at the entrance with a towel went to her and began drying her body.

"The dressing maids are already waiting for you in the room," Victoria relayed.

Once Sabrina came out from the bathroom, she was quickly ushered to the seat in front of the mirror by the maids in waiting.

"If I may milady," One of the maids bowed holding a soft pouch in one hand and a pallet containing a white powder. After she was done with the powder, she applied powdered beetroot on each of Sabrina's cheekbone creating a light vibrant blush tone. The maid went on to add a little pink color to Sabrina's already pink supple lips making it plumper.

While the maid carried on finishing Sabrina's makeup, the crunching of footsteps could be heard from behind.

"You look gorgeous," Elena gushed once she came to view. From the mirror Sabrina saw Elena, she blushed at her compliment.

"You do not look bad yourself," Sabrina completed Elena who had already gotten ready.

Elena wore a long midnight blue silk gown that flowed neatly downwards. Her sleeves elegantly stooped mid-arm and a long black silk glove covered the remaining used skin on the hand. Together with her calm aura, Elena looked elegant.

"I would have to agree if you say so," Elena chuckled.

"Have you seen Mama anywhere?" Sabrina asked stiffly as her face was kept in place, so she wouldn't ruin her makeup

"Lady Eloise is welcoming the guest, she would be here soon," Elena promised, but Sabrina didn't miss the nervousness that flashed in Elena's eyes.

"What about..." Sabrina blushed and looked down unable to say his name out loud but Elena very much understood what she tried to say.

"He's getting ready as well," Elena said.

"Do you think he'll like me once he sees me?" Sabrina raised her head and looked at Elena with doubt. She had this unnerving feeling that Adrain didn't want anything to do with her, or he was unhappy about this marriage unlike her.

"That's for you to find out at the ceremony," Elena said. "I'll leave you to get ready and go check on Adrian."

As Elena left Sabrina's room, she sighed out loud, relieved that Sabrina did not know what was going on.

She quickly walked to the quarters allocated for her family and went in search of Edward. Just in time, she crossed paths with Edward in the hallway and asked, "Is he back?"

"Sadly, no," Edward answered quite frustrated. His eyes held unease while his fist was tightly closed.

"What about Aziel? Have you seen him around?"

"No." Said, Edward.

"I'll go look for Lily, she might have an idea where Aziel is," Elena said.

"I'll go to get updates from the secret search troop to see if they have any information. Let's keep this as confidential as we can," Edward said before they both parted ways.

In the morning, a maid was sent to go prepare a bath for Adrain when she came back with news of his absence.

The news had not only made the Buford family tense but also the Maximilian family. They very well knew how opposed Adrain was to the marriage and how catastrophic his departure is and what it will cost them.

As much as they wanted to find him, it was nearly impossible to find a man who does not want to be found.