Dave watched them silently for a while, as they were arguing like little kids.
After a while, Dave got fed up with their argument and decided to turn on the TV.
While Mr. Good Looks was busy arguing with Rose, somehow his cold aura evaporated and turned into an authoritative but childish aura instead.
Once the change in his aura was evident, everyone who had tense shoulders dropped them subconsciously.
When Dave turned on the TV, he went to the local news channels.
"The ball that was thrown in courtesy of Princess Rosaline has been canceled. The king claimed she was asleep but, is that a valid reason to cancel an entire ball? We're going on break guys, we'll be back in five with the headlines. This is news at nine!" the TV presenter said.
Rose and Mr. Good Look diverted their attention once they heard the word 'ball'.
Once the advert was up, Rose was still staring at the TV. She was in a complete daze.
Dave also turned around to look at Rose once the advert was up.
Mr. Good Looks just looked lost and confused. He figured something was missing.
"D-Dave, w-what's the time?"
"9 o'clock"
***
South Empire Palace at 8: 15 pm...
All the guests were in the ballroom. Some were already eating appetizers, drinking, and making merry as they waited for the birthday girl to appear.
They were all dressed in white and the view looked as if all the angels from heaven had come down to have a party on earth.
Paparazzi were also there to take live news coverage of the spectacular event. News reporters and cameramen were interviewing a lot of people.
A lot of television personalities were present. Owners of world-class businesses, important speakers, and Kings and Queens of near and distant countries were also present.
The king's throne was mounted on a podium and he sat with a smile on his face as he looked at everyone below him who was also happy with his wife was also sitting beside him.
'Just a matter of time before I gather you all here once again for Rose's wedding. She's surely going to pick one of these young men here tonight to pick as her own and guess the good part? I'll pick any fish here' he said to himself.
A minute later, a guard walked up to the king and brought his attention to the fact that it was 8: 18 pm and that they should probably get Princess Rose out. The King agreed and ordered Oliver to get her from her bedroom.
When the King saw Oliver walking towards him without Rose, his grin slowly turned into a frown because he knew trouble was coming.
Oliver finally got to the King then, he whispered into the King's ear saying "My lord, there's a problem. Princess Rose is not in her room."
The king's frown deepened, even more, this time, adding creased brows to it.
He signaled for Oliver to turn his ear towards him when he said "Take all the guards that are not in this room, go search the entire palace. Leave no room untouched while you, you will go check the security cameras for where it last picked her up and check the tracking app to pinpoint the location of her phone"
Oliver bowed and said, "Yes, my lord" then, he left silently.
About 10 minutes later, Oliver came back to the King, and this time, he brought worst news.
"My Lord, the security cameras are down and I checked the app. The app claims she's in her room but the guards I sent there said that they couldn't find her so, I went to go search her room personally. She wasn't there but, I found her phone. It was under her bed. There are two options My Lord, either she ran away or, she got kidnapped.
"Oh God, what am I going to do with this girl?"
"My Lord, if I may advise you-"
"You may"
"You should probably excuse all the guests and tell them that the ball is canceled for some reason that you will come up with. Then, we'll be able to interrogate all the maids and guards about where they last saw her so we'll be extra sure of what happened to her."
"Yes, I must do that. That is the only logical thing to do. Just give me some minutes to think of what I am going to say"
"As you wish my lord"
Oliver walked down the podium and quietly stood next to the exit only the King was allowed to take.
When the King was done brainstorming on what he would say, he stood up and said "I have an announcement to make" everywhere immediately turned quiet as all eyes were fixed on him. "The ball has been canceled," he said as invisible question marks started to form on all of the guest's heads. Different questions started to arise in their minds.
"The ball has been canceled because Princess Rosaline is asleep"
'Asleep?!' those were the thoughts that ran through everyone's minds at once.
Oliver facepalmed himself in his mind. He was disappointed by the King's flimsy excuse.
"Now, I'd like you all to excuse me because I have important matters to get to"
He walked down the podium with the queen accompanying him as both of them walked towards his exit.
When he was about to leave, he whispered to Oliver saying "When they all leave, assemble everyone here and call me. I'll be in my chamber"