Chapter 3

As the soldiers started scouring the mansion, I felt a wave of panic wash over me. The door to my room rattled as they approached, and I realized I had no time to lose.

Meanwhile, Isma, my young brother, stood there in the corridor, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion, fear, and disbelief. He could not comprehend what was happening, but the distress in the air weighed heavily on his young shoulders.

"Isma, go back to your room," Sophia urged gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. She exchanged a meaningful look with my father before turning to Isma.

In a hushed tone, Sophia subtly hinted, "Remember where your father keeps the emergency funds, Isma. It's hidden in the study, behind the old family portrait."

Isma nodded, a tear forming in his eye as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had always admired and looked up to our father, and now he was witnessing him being taken away in handcuffs.

The soldiers continued their search, their footsteps echoing through the mansion, inching closer to my room. Desperation coursed through me as I gazed out of the window, considering the perilous drop to the ground below.

Suddenly, a knock echoed on my bedroom door, followed by the sound of the latch turning. My heart pounded as I realized the soldiers were searching for me. I needed to act swiftly.

Then, my father, his voice strained but resolute, spoke to Captain Larson once more. "Fred, I assure you, Karima is not here. She was sent away to the Lion Crown for her safety."

My breath caught in my throat as I heard his words. My father was willing to make a sacrifice, to protect me even at the cost of his own freedom. The Lion Crown was our homeland, the place where the Ambassador's power was most potent.

Captain Larson regarded my father with suspicion but eventually relented. "Very well, Karl. If she's not here, she's not our concern. But remember, the High Council's orders must be obeyed. That means your wife and son have to come with us too."

With a final glance toward the bedroom door, I saw my father, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and love, being led away in restraints. My family, torn apart by forces beyond our understanding, was now in the hands of the enigmatic High Council.

As the soldiers left, the mansion fell into an eerie silence, and I knew I had to remain hidden. My mind raced with questions, uncertainties, and a growing determination to uncover the truth. My father had sent me a message, a hint of a hidden path that would lead me to answers and a way to reunite my family.

Huddled in the shadows of my room, I remained hidden for what felt like an eternity, lost in the haze of shock and fear. Days blurred together as I scarcely ate or drank, unable to shake the haunting images of my family's arrest from my mind.

But survival instincts can be powerful motivators. After an indeterminate number of days, a gnawing hunger and unbearable thirst forced me to confront the harsh reality of my situation. It was time to venture out of my hiding place and seek sustenance.

With trembling limbs and a heart heavy with sorrow, I cautiously crept out of my room, my bare feet making no sound on the cold, marble floors. I moved stealthily through the once-familiar corridors, my eyes taking in the devastation that had befallen our mansion.

Every room bore the marks of chaos, furniture overturned, belongings scattered, and remnants of the life we had known now lay in ruins. It was as if a tempest had swept through, leaving destruction in its wake. The silence was eerie, a stark contrast to the laughter and conversations that once filled these halls.

As I continued my solitary journey, I approached the kitchen, praying to find even a morsel of food or a drop of water to quench my parched throat. But the pantry was ransacked, its shelves stripped bare, and the faucets ran dry. The realization that I was truly on my own settled in, a bitter taste of isolation.

I moved to the window overlooking the mansion's grounds, where once lush gardens and vibrant flowers had flourished. Now, they too had fallen victim to the turmoil that had gripped our lives. And in the distance, I spotted soldiers, their figures mere specks, a few hundred meters away.

Fear surged through me as I ducked behind the heavy curtains, my heart pounding in my chest. I watched them warily, my thoughts racing. Were they still searching for me? What had become of my family? The questions swirled, but I had no answers.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm. The attic had been a temporary refuge, but it offered no solutions. I needed to think strategically. My father's message about the Lion Crown and the emergency funds gave me a sliver of hope. There had to be a way to use that information to my advantage.

Carefully, I retraced my steps through the mansion, heading towards the study. The corridors were filled with ghosts of happier times, but I couldn't afford to dwell on the past. I reached the study, its door slightly ajar. The portrait of our family hung prominently on the wall, a reminder of what was at stake.

I approached the painting, my fingers trembling as I felt along the edges. A hidden latch clicked, revealing a small compartment behind the portrait. Inside, I found a modest stash of money, documents, and a map. The map was marked with a route to the Lion Crown, a secret path my father had once mentioned in passing.

Clutching the items, I took a moment to steady myself. My family needed me to be strong, to use every resource available to find them and bring them back. The journey ahead was fraught with danger, but I had no choice.

As I prepared to leave the mansion, I heard a faint noise—footsteps approaching. Panic surged through me again, but this time I was determined to act. I slipped out of the study, moving as quickly and silently as I could. The emergency funds and map secured, I made my way to a side door that led to the grounds.

The air outside was cool and filled with the scents of the night. The once-beautiful gardens were now a maze of overgrown plants and toppled statues. I moved through the shadows, staying low and avoiding any patrols.

Every step took me further from the life I had known, but closer to the answers I sought. The path to the Lion Crown was long, but my father's instructions and the emergency supplies gave me hope. I would find my family, uncover the truth behind the High Council's actions, and restore the peace that had been shattered.

With the mansion behind me and the open road ahead, I set off into the night, driven by a fierce determination to reunite with my loved ones and reclaim our lives.