"What?" everyone said, surprised by the unexpected revelation. Reactions varied dramatically. Phelipus slammed his hand on the table and stormed out of the room, as if he knew where to find her. Hera followed closely, trying to stop him from doing something rash. The two merchants were frozen in shock, unsure of how to respond, while Arterios grabbed Maria's hand and pulled her outside.

"Do you know where she might be?" Arterios asked, trying to mask his shock.

"I don’t know… She asked me to bring her food to her room and… flowers. She mentioned something about flowers."

"The garden, huh?" Arterios replied, his tone heavy with the realization that there was nothing they could do. "Maria, cover your ears with something. We're going out."

"Out? Where to?" Maria asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Leaving the palace was strictly forbidden for her; the law didn’t even really permit her presence within the palace grounds.

---

Maria’s Perspective:

After changing my shoes and wrapping a scarf around my head, I stepped outside. It was chilly, but the cold didn’t bother me too much; the maid's uniform had several layers to keep me warm. I crossed the golden palace doors—an act I had both longed for and dreaded.

"Ah, there you are… Why are you wearing a maid’s uniform?" Arterios asked.

"I’m not allowed outside, so I don’t own any other clothes," I explained, embarrassed to be standing in front of him in such a way.

"If she was in the garden, there’s no way she disappeared on her own. My sister was taken," Arterios said, his voice strained.

"Taken… by who?"

"Who knows?" Arterios said bitterly. "Maybe it was someone looking to blackmail us, or maybe more humans." It stung to hear him speak so harshly about them, especially since he had never judged me for my race. But I understood: he must really love his sister.

"Hey Maria, step inside."

"Oh, wait..." Arterios grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into a store selling adventurer's clothing and survival gear for expeditions into Zoel. He made me try on several outfits and ended up buying a few.

"Um, thank you for the clothes," I murmured, blushing. I instinctively drew my hands closer to my body, feeling vulnerable.

"Don’t worry about it; you’re going to need them," he said.

"Huh?"

We then headed to a small, hidden pub. Arterios got himself a drink and began talking to some people, while he ordered a drink for me and warned me to stay nearby, as it could be dangerous.

As I waited, a drunken male elf approached and offered to buy me a drink. I politely declined, but he became furious.

"You dare refuse me? How dare you?" he snarled, and he lunged at me. I tried to back away, but I was trapped against the wall. He gripped my throat, choking me, while the other patrons chose to ignore what was happening, as if it were an everyday occurrence.

"What are you doing?" a voice demanded. It was Arterios—an enraged Arterios. The elf let go of me, and a fight broke out. After a few punches, Arterios had subdued him, leaving him unconscious on the ground.

"I thought I told you to stay close. It’s dangerous," Arterios scolded.

"I know. I'm sorry," I said, feeling guilty for the scene I had caused.

He exhaled, trying to calm himself. "Don’t worry. As long as you’re safe, it’s fine. Let's go—I’ve learned what we needed."

Once outside, Arterios explained that humans had abducted Artemis and planned to take her to Estella to sell her at an auction.

"To reach Estella, we’ll have to pass through Dracathea first. The only way there is through Zoel, which is our best chance to catch up with them. I’ve already left a letter explaining our actions, so we have to move quickly. With me by your side, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting through the gates to Zoel."

He was right. The moment he showed the royal crest, no one dared to question who I was. We passed through a golden gate supported by trees, which led to a pathway that seemed to tunnel through a massive tree. It was incredible—so perfectly constructed. I was awestruck, especially by the beautifully engraved pictures of elven stories on the walls.

Finally, we reached another door that required the royal family’s crest to open. It seemed that no one could enter or leave without their permission. According to Arterios, the fact that the traffickers had come and gone undetected was deeply concerning.

---

Additional World Notes:

Dracathea: The human kingdom.

Estella: The City of Light, a human settlement blessed by the Deities.