It had been days since Sofia had been confined to her chambers. She was stuck in an endless cycle of despair and rage, not knowing how the search for the Princess was progressing. Now, both her appearance and the state of the Queen`s chambers were in disarray.

After thinking things over, Sofia was certain her daughter must have traveled through time. Much like when she herself was about to die from the hanging and was sent to the past, the baby princess must have shifted through time when she was falling. Was this phenomenon triggered by danger? And how did the sand that was left behind connected to it? All Sofia had managed to confirm so far was that, as Rafael had claimed, she did in fact have an hourglass birthmark.

Sofia`s conviction that the princess was a time traveler only added to her despair. She could have been sent to any moment in time. Not only that, much like it had happened to Sofia who at first was at the capital square being hanged and then appeared at some woods, her daughter could appear anywhere. 

As Sofia was lost in her hopelessness, the doors to her chambers were once again unlocked as a somber Rafael entered the room. Once inside, the King studied the room, the furniture had yet again been destroyed, barring the bed there was nowhere else to sit. He looked at the Queen, her hair was unkempt, the nightgown she wore was tattered and she had scratch marks on her arms, neck and face. She had lost her mind in her despair over the disappearance of the Princess.

Initially, Rafael assumed the Queen had been responsible for the disappearance of their daughter, but he was no longer so sure about it. Even though she was the last to see the princess, it did not make sense for her to be behind it. And, seeing how she was now, he was even more convinced of her innocence. But, if the Queen was not involved, how did the Princess disappear? Rafael did not believe his wife`s answer that time travel or whatnot was involved, but he could not solve the mystery of the disappearance. The only witness was the Queen, who was not in sound mind. 

There was also another thing beside the missing Princess and the estate of the Queen that bothered Rafael. It was her claim of being an impostor and not actually Monica. Time travel was something unbelievable for Rafael but, an impersonator not so much. He approached the mumbling woman and held her face to the light. As much as he looked at it she was identical to the Monica he knew. Was her claims of being an impostor part of her delusions? How Rafael wished Duke Miguel was still alive so he could interrogate him about it.

Rafael`s hand was slapped away by Sofia, who just now had noticed his presence. “Have you found her?” she asked desperately.

Rafael sighed, “Not yet. We have no leads.”

“You must inspect all the women of the Kingdom, regardless of age, for a birthmark in the ankle!" Sofia madly recommended.

“This again.” He grabbed Sofia by the shoulders and shook her, “You have to snap out of it Monica!”  

“Terrible news, your Majesty!” shouted a servant rushing into the room. Sofia couldn't breathe in fear something horrible had happened to her daughter.

“The King Retired has collapsed!” announced the servant.

*

A solemn funeral was held for the former King. His health had declined even more once he learned of the disappearance of Princess Alice, leading to his death two years sooner than Sofia was expecting. Sofia was released from her confinement to attend the event. Her maids dressed her in a mourning gown and she wore a dark veil to hide the scratches on her face. She couldn’t help but be reminded of the last time she saw Queen Ana, who was dressed in an attire much the same as hers.

Sofia looked at Rafael beside her. He looked more stressed than mournful. Most people would despair at the disappearance of their daughter and death of their father, but for Sofia, the heartless Rafael was someone who would care more about how such misfortunes could negatively affect him. 

Sofia, who did not care for Gustavo II, saw his death as something distracting which was getting in the way of the search for her daughter. At least, now that her confinement was lifted, she was expecting to be able to have a more active part in the search. So, once the whole ordeal caused by the death of the former King was over, the first thing Sofia did was approach Rafael. He was at his chambers drinking and seemed exhausted.

“What brings you here?”  asked Rafael when Sofia entered the room. 

“I’m here to talk about our daughter. What else would it be?”

“Of course.” Rafael chuckled and glanced at the bed.

“Did you do as I said and expand your search criteria?” asked Sofia.

“This again?” Complained Rafael.

“Yes! Alice must be a time traveler! Like me!” Affirmed Sofia, “She could have gone decades to the past!”

“That is enough, Monica!” Rafael threw his glass across the room. “I tire of your delusions! You are the only witness we have of her disappearance, you need to compose yourself for us to find Alice!”

“I already explained it to you! She vanished as she traveled through time!” reiterated Sofia.

Rafael Sighed, “Begone Monica.” 

“Rafael!”

“Take the Queen to her chambers.” Rafael called out to the guards outside.

“I’m telling the truth!” screeched Sofia as she was dragged away.

“And call for Camila.” Ordered Rafael as Sofia was taken to her room.

*

Two months passed while Sofia was once again confined to her chambers. This time, not because Rafael thought she was involved in Alice`s disappearance, but because he couldn’t deal with her ramblings and fantasies. Initially she would have episodes of rage in which she once more trashed her bedroom, but with the passage of time and lack of news, her energy faded leaving her with only somber despair. In her endless wait, Sofia stared at the windows wondering if she were to attempt to trigger another time travel, would she, perhaps, end at the same time and place as her daughter? As there was no guarantee, Sofia did not dare to try.

The doors were unlocked. This time, instead of a maid bringing Sofia`s meal, Rafael was the one who entered the room. Sofia blankly looked at Rafael. He seemed restless, somewhat apologetic even.

“What of our daughter?” asked Sofia.

“We failed to find her.” answered Rafael, matter-of-factly.

“That`s it? What is the plan, then? You have to find her.” Sofia leaned back in her chair, “are you ready to listen to me?”

Rafael sighed, “Monica, listen. I care about Alice just as much as you do, but there comes a time when we have to accept reality.”

“It`s just been two months and you are already giving up!” Sofia glared at Rafael.

“I did what I could!” Rafael took a seat across from Sofia, “That aside, I came here to talk about something else.”

“What could be more important than our daughter!” snapped Sofia.

“...I need to tell you something.” declared Rafael with a grave demeanor. 

“What is it, then?” Sofia sighed.

“...well, as you know, it`s been months, I believe since Duke Oliveira`s funeral, that you haven`t accepted my embrace. So, I, as a man with needs, had to find comfort somewhere else.” As her husband rambled on with excuses, Sofia just stared at him. Rafael adjusted his collar and continued, “...as it happens, my mistress is with child.”

“So?…” Sofia lacked the energy or care to be angry or feel anything about her husband`s infidelity. Alice was missing.

“For their legitimacy, I want to pose the child as yours.” explained Rafael.

“Ha!” Sofia now understood how Rafael could so easily forsake their daughter. Her wretched husband had found himself a replacement. “Why would I agree to go along with this plot of yours?”

“Well, if you want the search for Alice to continue, you will do as I say.” threatened Rafael. It was so outlandish and cruel, Sofia couldn’t help but laugh. Once he had accused her of being behind the disappearance of their daughter to hold her hostage against him, but now he was the one using it against her.

“Very well, my dear Rafael! I will do as you say. Just lift my confinement.” said Sofia.

“I can't do that just yet. We don't want people to learn you are not actually pregnant, now do we? Once the baby is born, then you will be free to rejoin society. In the meantime let's just say you are convalescing.” Decided Rafael. 

Sofia stared at her husband. “Well, with that settled, I will be on my way. The life of a king is quite busy, you know.” said Rafael, who then stood from his seat and left the Queen`s chambers.

“Ha, just my luck.” Sofia complained to the empty room. “I wonder if your marriage was better than mine, Queen Ana.”

*

Months passed and Rafael`s child was finally born. The King was now visiting the Queen at her chambers.

“Thank you for your patience, Monica.” said Rafael.

“Not like I had much choice.” complained Sofia sipping her tea. “But are you sure your plan will work? I doubt this child of yours bears much resemblance to me.”

Rafael scoffed, “No need to worry. If you knew Camila you would know that won't be a problem.” His comment brought a raise of Sofia`s brow, but her curiosity was short lived for she hardly cared.

“So, I expect now, finally, I will be able to leave this accursed room.” Sofia glared at Rafael.

“Oh, yes, yes. Don't want people to say I’m keeping you locked up.” Rafael waved off drinking from his tea.

Sofia stood up, “I will be on my way then.”

“Wait. Are you not even going to ask the new Prince`s name? People will find it odd if you don't know it.”

“...ugh.” Sofia stopped and looked back at Rafael, holding his empty cup and looking up at her. “Very well. So, get out with it. I have places to be. What is our dear son`s name?”

“Gabriel.” was Rafael`s answer.

“Very well. Now, if you excuse me.” finished Sofia. 

It was only at her carriage when she stopped to think about the baby Prince`s name. It was Gabriel. But it should just be a coincidence, right? Rafael must just favor that name. He couldn’t be the same Prince Sofia knew. That one`s mother was Queen Ana. But, now that she was thinking about it the dates of birth matched. Both the secret bastard of this time and the Gabriel who once she was married to were born on the same day. Ha, so this affair of Rafael`s happened in both times? What a joke, after all Sofia had been through, she failed to prevent Gabriel`s birth.

*

As sofia wailed in her bitterness, her carriage arrived at her destination. Oliveira Manor. The familiar sigh snapped Sofia away from her lamentations. She was finally here. After being locked in the queen`s chambers for months, now she would finally be able to start her search for her time traveling daughter. After pondering over it in her confinement, Sofia concluded that to find Alice she would need to learn more about time travel. Given both mother and daughter were accursed by this phenomenon, Sofia believed it should be hereditary. If so, perhaps she would be able to find clues in the Oliviera family records.