The morning after, a shrill shriek could be heard from near the princesses’ bedroom. The palace staff rushed in and found Valena on the floor, sobbing.

“What’s the matter, Your Imperial Highness?” one of the maids asked. Valena was still loudly wailing and wouldn’t answer.

After a few moments of the maids consoling her, she stuttered out, “She’s gone. Jaya is gone.”

“Why would she run away?” one of the maids whispered to a butler.

Valena began screaming again. “She didn’t run away!” She clenched her eyes shut as her voice grew even louder and her breathing became harsh. “She would never run away, she had to have been kidnapped!” After her outburst, no one spoke, not even Valena. All that could be heard were her labored breaths until she bolted up and ran off. Shocked, the staff did nothing until she was well out of sight before they began to follow her. She seemed to disappear until one of the cooks spotted her running to the back of the garden.

“The back….?” he muttered to himself, confused. Then he realized; there was a path in her garden that led straight to the main palace where the Emperor resides. He frantically told any staff he came across before racing to grab her. Everyone in all of Agnizera knew that the 15th Imperial Princess was ill-favored Going to meet the Emperor unannounced and unwanted could lead to her death.

A crew of assorted gardeners, cooks, maids, and stable hands dashed after the princess, but unfortunately, they were too late. She had reached the palace and was running down its halls. She made it before the Emperor’s study and banged the door open while the staff that followed prayed silently for her safety and watched out of view.

“Your Majesty-!” Valena started, but the Emperor quickly interrupted her.

“What is the meaning of this?” he roared as he rose from his desk. His menacing gaze took in Valena’s disheveled state. Valena stood breathing hard, adrenaline rushing through her veins and didn’t seem to see his stormy expression.

“Your Majesty, this morning I woke up and found that my maid, Jaya, has gone missing. I’m requesting a search party to look for her,” Valena said. Despite the circumstances, she managed to speak clearly and proudly. The Emperor, aggravated yet intrigued by her behavior, waved her on to continue.

“I know she didn’t just run away. Last night, she tucked me in bed and made her way to her room when I heard glass shatter and thumping. I thought she had dropped the pitcher she was carrying and just went to sleep.”

“You realize that’s not enough evidence to suggest she’s been kidnapped right?” the Emperor turned back to the documents in his hand. “She’s no one special anyways. Go back to your palace, I’m busy.”

Valena’s blood began to boil with anger and disappointment. She had no guards to send after Jaya or any money to hire anyone on her own. The Emperor, seeing that she hadn’t left yet, put his papers down to stare her down. “I said leave.”

“But Your M-” Valena started.

“Leave!” the Emperor boomed. He slammed his fist on his desk, knocking an inkstand and several books off with the force. His guards moved to take hold of Valena and drag her away but she dropped to her knees and held her head to the ground.

“Father!” she cried. The room went silent. The guards in the room and the staff watching were holding their breath. The Emperor stared at her, stunned. Seeing the atmosphere change, Valena took it even further. “Father, I know you don’t love my mother and I know you don’t love me, but I’m begging you, please allow me some of your young knights. Jaya means everything to me, please Father!” Valena was looking at him now, tears streaming down her face.

The staff continued to watch in shock and awe as Valena held her father’s gaze, tearstained but defiant. Something shifted deep within the Emperor as he looked down at Valena. In that moment, Valena reminded him of her mother. He gave a long sigh. “Fine, just- fine. Stop crying.” The Emperor sat back down and slouched in his chair, defeated. “I won’t spare my knights but I can hire a group of mercenaries to look for your maid, hopefully this pleases you?”

Valena, shocked, smiled and hurriedly jumped off the floor. “Yes, yes! Thank you so much Fath- '' She was about to run to the Emperor before she regained her composure and gave a curtsy. Head bowed low, she corrected herself, “Thank you, Your Majesty,” then excused herself.