Just as the two children were freaking out and planning to save their butts, the bell of the house rang, and to their absolute horror, their father entered, looking extremely pissed off.
The captain of the Royal Guard looked as if he had battled with a demon from Hell. Miranda cooed sweetly:
"Welcome home father!"
And got a tired reply: "Hello, sunshine! How much trouble did you create for our neighborhood this time?"
The blondie bit her lower lip and muttered:" I just went to fetch Demetri!"
The sly girl's father further interrogated: "From where exactly did you go to fetch him and Demetri what were you doing out so late?"
Before either of the two children could answer their mother answered:
"Miranda went to fetch Demetri from his special training that you had some Generals arrange for him."
Hearing this the man exploded and yelled at his wife:" I hadn't arranged any training sessions for your son, so where the hell did these two go? And why can't you keep your children in control?"
The ashamed woman said nothing as she never argued with her husband. Both the children were interrogated but both of them refused to unravel the truth and made up excuses, basically, Miranda said that she had taken her brother with her to a gambling contest, to win money for the circus tickets.
Even at hearing this the children's father was outraged, he sent Demetri to his room without dinner but he kept Miranda. The next words that escaped the Captain's mouth dragged the ground from underneath Miranda's feet.
"You are to spend the rest of your childhood, in a grooming hostel for girls, no objections! Once you turn twenty, you will be returned to your homeland but until then you are to stay there."
Tears fell from her eyes but her mother replied: "That is the only way you will become a proper lady and be eligible for marriage."
Demetri's punishment was similar, he was to be inducted as a low-level soldier in the army, although he wasn't separated from his homeland, unlike Miranda who was leaving for a hostel across the Adriatic sea.
Their mother was attached to them but she comforted herself by saying: "All this will lead to educated and well-mannered youngsters."
Miranda said nothing and went to her room, she cried for a little while then started a letter to her leader Amelia requesting assistance.
"Dear warriors and Amelia, I am to be shipped off to a grooming hostel so help me escape!"
As soon as Miranda's owl delivered the letter to a very drunk Amelia at a bar. She chuckled and wrote back a reply that was beyond Miranda's greatest imagination:
"Aww, Mia listen and obey! I will send a colleague of mine as a teacher in the fancy hostel who will be your trainer. She will train you as a lady and as well as an assassin. Good luck my little hot-blooded tigress."
The letter also said that the army will be disbanded till Miranda returns as they lack a leader. After reading her duties she obediently went to her mother and said:
"I am fine with going to that hostel but when do I leave?"
Her mother was surprised but she replied: "Great! You will leave next week."
A week's time flew away like a soaring eagle. Both the children had packed their bags, Demetri was to live in the soldiers camp which is located inside the castle walls. That meant that he would be able to meet the Imperial Princess.
Miranda hadn't revealed her plans to her brother although she had told him to be careful while he was secretly meeting a certain beautiful girl.
The siblings bid farewell to each other and their parents. Miranda was shipped away on a huge ship while the Captain personally delivered his son to the most horrible commander of the trainee unit.
The news about the kidnap and return of the Imperial Princess had spread like wildfire in the kingdom and the guards couldn't tell whose forces attacked them due to the amnesia drugs. Hence the real culprits were safe.
The security around the Imperial Princess had tightened severely and Maribelle was now being examined by the best medics in the state for any drugs or poison in her blood, along with the physical injuries. The girl was physically fine but had amnesia and couldn't leak any information, no matter how hard her parents tried.
The Queen for once had canceled every party and commitment and spent time with her daughter. Maribelle's father had once visited her to see if his sole heir was alive, then he became involved with the Captain of the Royal Guard, investigating the kidnappers of her daughter but since all the witnesses, including the Princess, had lost their memory, no success in tracing the culprits was made.
Maribelle's mother questioned:
"Dear, are you feeling alright? And do you remember where you are?"
The Princess quietly replied: "Yes, mother I feel alright but I can't remember what happened before I became unconcious. I am right now present in my room."
The Queen released a sigh of relief then said:
"Yes, Maribelle darling, It seems you have a little amnesia but overall you are fine! Thankgoodness! Now listen, you will not leave your room till you recover completely. Ring the bell if you need me, all the other maids will be with you all the time."
The Princess nodded then politely asked:
"Can I have sometime alone? I need to think in silence, Mother."
The Queen replied:
"Ofcourse but Miss Anne and Laura will accompany you."
With that she kissed her daughter's forehead and left the room. All the doctors and assistants left along with her.
Finally Maribelle noticed a necklace around her neck, it triggered a memory.