The silence that had once draped the palace now fractured, replaced by an undercurrent of rising panic. Inside the royal chambers, King Phelipus’s steps were measured, but his eyes betrayed the tension coursing through him. The weight of Artemis’s disappearance settled on his shoulders like a stone.

“We have no time for hesitation,” the King’s voice rumbled, low and dangerous, slicing through the room. “If we do not find the princess before the news spreads, everything we’ve fought for is at risk. Dracathea will seize this moment without mercy. Do you understand?”

His council nodded, though their faces were clouded with doubt. The absence of the princess was not just a disappearance—it was a threat. The fragile balance between elves and humans had been teetering for years. A royal’s vanishing could set the world aflame.

Arterios, standing at the far end of the table, his eyes sharp as a blade, looked out over the group. His posture was stiff, his expression unreadable.

“We can trust no one,” he said, his voice colder than the stone walls around them. “The palace is full of spies, betrayers. Too many stand to gain from our downfall.”

The King’s gaze flicked to his son, his eyes softening for a moment in silent acknowledgment. Arterios’s instincts were sharp—perhaps too sharp, often leading to bitter silence between them—but they could not afford to ignore his suspicions now.

“We will tighten the search,” King Phelipus continued, his voice unwavering. “Evander, go to the southern gardens. Maria was seen near the laundry. She has ties to the princess, and that’s worth examining.”

Evander, ever loyal, nodded with resolve. “Understood, Your Majesty.”

The King turned his eyes to the horizon through the open window, his face grim. “Artemis may be hidden within these walls, or beyond them. But make no mistake—this was no accident. Someone wanted her gone.”

---

Outside the royal chambers, Lydia’s heart hammered in her chest. Her mind still couldn’t process the sight of Maria, walking with the royal guard, her pale face drawn tight with fear. The question lingered, heavy as a stone in her chest—what did Maria know?

"Do you think she knows something?" Thalia’s voice trembled beside her.

Lydia swallowed, her mind spinning. “I don’t know. But it’s more than just loyalty to the princess. There’s something off about this.”

The once serene palace grounds felt suffocating now, every corner thick with a quiet threat. The air was heavy, as though the walls themselves held their breath.

“What if... what if the humans already have her?” Thalia’s words hung in the air, sharp with fear.

Lydia didn’t want to entertain that possibility, but as the pieces of the puzzle slid into place, a dark feeling curled in her stomach. The tensions between elves and humans had been growing. Whispers had reached the halls of Elviel—rumors of betrayal, of shifting allegiances. Lydia had always brushed them off as idle gossip, but now... now it felt as if they were a prelude to something far darker.

But what could she do? A simple maid in the grand halls of Elviel, her role insignificant in the scheme of things. And yet, some primal part of her refused to ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut—that something within her could hold the key to this mystery.

---

In the royal chambers, the atmosphere was thick with tension. King Phelipus stood by the window, his eyes scanning the world beyond, though his thoughts seemed miles away. Arterios’s voice broke through the silence, impatient.

“Do you have a plan, Father?”

The King turned, his face like marble. “We will find her. By any means necessary.”

---

Lydia continued down the shadowed halls, her steps quick but measured. Every passing moment felt like a countdown. She had to know more, learn what Maria knew, what lay behind the princess’s disappearance. She wasn’t just driven by loyalty—there was something deeper urging her forward. A feeling that by understanding the truth of Artemis’s vanishing, she might uncover something that could shift the balance of everything in Elviel.

Passing the royal gardens once more, Lydia’s eyes caught on something—a small detail, easily overlooked by anyone else. One of the garden gates, ever so slightly ajar, the earth around it disturbed. A smear of fresh dirt, subtle but there, caught her attention.

A chill ran through her. This wasn’t just a random mark—it was a clue.

Without a second thought, Lydia moved toward the gate. The urgency in her chest grew with each step. There was something beyond that threshold, something that could unravel the mystery. She had to follow it. Whether it led to safety or danger, she couldn’t wait any longer.

Her steps quickened, unaware of the shadow watching from behind, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.