"If you feel guilty, then help me find her." Bodil says folding her arms in front of her chest and tapping her right foot impatiently.
After the queen leaves, Bjarte shares his worry with her. She immediately takes advantage of it, suggesting that they help with the search. He does not mind, but his sister tends to be impulsive and she usually gets herself in trouble. He just has to make sure neither one of them does.
"I will, as long as you promise that you would discuss your plans with me before doing anything." Bodil flashes him a big smile.
"Of course, little brother."
"So where do we start?" Bjarte asks as they leave the dining hall.
"I will go speak to Siv's maid and ask her a few questions. You can try to find some information from Lord Benson."
"Can I come with you?" Bodil eyes her brother for a moment.
"You know that one of the conditions is that you don't meet her. Don't try to fool me Bjarte." She ruffles his hair.
"Please don't do that, I am not a child."
"You're right, my apologies." Her eyes harden. "Let us not waste any more time. Meet me in my room in half an hour."
"Alright."
The siblings part ways and Bodil walks with purpose in the direction of Siv's room. The maid should be there.
"Please, calm down my lady." The voice attracts her attention. When she turns the corner, she finds Lady Vagle with one of her maids.
'I feel so bad for all of her servants, she is such a handful.'
When their eyes meet, the girl's face pales. Bodil dismisses her with a nod and a smile, she has better things to do than to tolerate the insolent child. She feels Gunvor's wide eyes follow her until she takes another turn.
'If she weren't the daughter of a distant cousin of mother's, I would have taught her a lesson or two a long time ago.'
Bodil knocks on Siv's door and it flies open immediately. Veda is as pale as a sheet and the red rims of her eyes make her look quite scary.
"Your… Your Highness." She stutters while bowing. Tove joins her immediately in greeting the princess.
"Please, you don't have to be nervous. I am only here to ask you some questions." Bodil enters the room and sits on one of the chairs by the window. She is joined shortly by the two women who stand in front of her, not sure what to expect.
"Have you ever seen the servant that escorted Lady Siv before." Bodil asks.
"No, Your Highness. I have never seen her before tonight." Veda answers.
"Was there anything suspicious about her?"
"I haven't noticed anything, Your Highness." Veda shakes her head.
"If I may, Your Highness." Tove utters and Bodil nods at her, giving her permission to speak. "Now that I think about it, the servant was wearing a ring, and one of the things I have learned over the past days is that palace servants are not allowed to wear jewelry."
"Great observation." Bodil smiles. She makes a mental note to praise Tove to Bjarte later.
'At least we know not to look for her amongst the palace servants.'
"Was there anything strange that happened today? Before the servant escorted Lady Siv that is."
"Nothing special, Your Highness." Veda starts. "Lady Siv did her training as usual and I brought them some snacks after that."
"Them?"
"Ah yes, Lady Siv and her trainer."
'But Erling just returned this afternoon.'
"Who is her trainer?"
"He's a tall man with long hair, I believe I heard Lady Siv call him Sir Gary."
"I see." Bodil presses her lips together. "What about after training?"
"Well…" Veda hesitates.
"What is it?"
"Lady Siv was gone all day." Veda regrets telling her right away.
"Oh my." The words slip through Bodil's lips. She knows that Siv loves her brother very much and that she would never do anything to betray him. But she also knows that there is only one Gary who could roam around the palace, and he is a trickster.
"Thank you for your help, I will be leaving now." Bodil pushes to her feet and heads for the door. "If you remember anything else or if you learn any new information, please come find me."
"Yes, Your Highness." The two women say in unison as they bow to her.
Bodil takes fast steps toward her room hoping that her brother got more information from Lord Benson.
'If Gary is behind this, then things will get complicated very quickly.'
As she walks past the garden, she notices Lady Vagle rushing through followed by her maid from earlier. She looks more agitated and nervous. Bodil changes her trajectory instantly, and follows the suspicious pair.
"My lady, you should just confess" Bodil hears the maid tell the young lady. "You are the daughter of the queen's relative. No harm will come to you."
"No harm will come to me?" Gunvor tries to contain her voice but fails. "How about losing my Rouva title, maybe even being disqualified and sent home."
"My lady, I told you it was a bad idea." Gunvor slaps the maid so hard, she falls to the ground.
"Then you should have tried harder to stop me." The girl chews on her thumbnail as she paces back and forth. Her eyes are fixated on the guards walking in the distance.
Bodil is becoming more suspicious by the second. She has heard from Siv about their first encounter, and the little brat does not even try to hide how much she dislikes her.
'But would she try to hurt Siv out of spite?'
***
"Shit, I can't breathe."
Siv is sitting in the corner of the tiny space she is confined to. Whether she closes her eyes or not does not make a difference, it is all dark. She tries to calm her breathing, but in vain. Her breaths come short and unsatisfying, it feels like air cannot reach her lungs.
'How long have I been here?'
Siv tries to move but her body feels too heavy, it feels numb. She tries to scream but no sound comes out. Suddenly, she hears movement outside of the door.
'Yes, I'm here. Please help.'
The door opens flooding the room with bright light that makes Siv squint her eyes.
"Oh my goodness." She hears a male voice say. "Did you spend the whole night in this closet, Miss Gene?"