I wake up to the sounds of the morning birds and the continuing chaos outside from the fire. I look around for my handmaidens to assist me, but everyone seems busy. I enter my room and freshen up using the leftover water in the room and dress in a simple gown. I walk out to see why there is still commotion; even the guards in the corridor are few.
"What is going on?" I ask one of the guards.
"I hear the bride is missing," he says. My eyes widen; the bride today is my sister Flora.
"You mean Princess Flora?" I question for clarity.
"Yes," he confirms. Did this crazy girl seriously chicken out of her own wedding?
"When was she last seen?" I ask.
"Last night. She didn't return to her chambers," says the guard. My thoughts immediately go to the fire; the fire had spread to the hall we were in. What if she got hurt? My first instinct is to run to either my father or sisters for clarity on the situation.
"Thank you, sir," I say as I run down the hallways.
My heart pounds as I make my way through the palace, weaving through the lingering smoke and the scattered remnants of the previous night's chaos. I need to find Flora. I burst into my father's study, where I find him in deep conversation with his advisor.
"Father!" I exclaim, interrupting the discussion. "Where is Flora?"
He looks up, his face etched with worry. "We don't know."
"I need to find her," I say, my voice trembling with urgency. "We need to search the palace grounds thoroughly."
One of the advisors steps forward. "Princess Daniella, we've already started searching, but there's no trace of her."
"We have to keep looking," I insist. "She could be hurt. She could be trapped somewhere because of the fire."
"Calm down, Daniella," my father says gently, getting up and walking towards me. "We will find her. We've sent out search parties."
I nod, trying to steady my breathing. "I'll help with the search. I can't just stand here and do nothing." With that I storm out of my father chambers, not waiting to hear what he says next.
As I search the grounds, my thoughts return to the conversation I had with Malo last night. His intentions might be genuine, but the situation with Flora adds a new layer of complexity to everything. I need to stay focused. Finding Flora is the priority now.
I enter the hall where the fire was last night. It's filled with a few guards inspecting every corner and table. My gaze lands on Prince Maxim, who seems to be more distracted and irritated than I am. He looks in my direction and points his finger at me angrily.
"Where did you take your sister you witch?" he yells, drawing everyone's attention in the hall.
"What are you talking about?" I yell back, confused and frustrated.
He walks up to me, his face contorted with anger. "You had something to do with this," he says, almost in an angry whisper, ''you are the only person with a clear reason to kidnap my bride.''
Already angry, I retort, "I won't stand here and be yelled at. Maybe she realized you were a piece of shit using her to get to a throne that wasn't yours to begin with..."
His eyes blaze with fury, and before I can react, he raises his hand and smacks me across the face. The sting of the slap shocks me, but my anger flares even hotter. Without thinking, I lift my hands and push him with all my strength, sending him halfway across the hall.
The room falls into stunned silence as he stumbles and regains his balance. The guards and other onlookers are frozen, unsure of how to react. Prince Maxim's face is a mix of shock and fury as he picks himself up.
"You dare touch me?" he growls, starting to step forward,''you dar touch me, you pathetic woman.''
But before he can take another step, a commanding voice cuts through the tension. "Enough!" My father's authoritative tone reverberates through the hall. He strides in, his presence demanding respect and obedience. "This is not the time for petty disputes. Our priority is finding Flora."
Maxim glares at me one last time before turning to my father. "Your daughter has a lot to answer for," he says coldly,'' if I find out you have anything to do with this the alliance is off.''
"And she will, but now is not the time," my father replies firmly. "Daniella, come with me."
I follow my father out of the hall, my cheek still stinging from the slap, and my heart pounding with a mixture of anger and fear. We move to a quieter area of the palace where we can speak privately.
"Daniella, what happened in there?" he asks, his tone a mix of concern and frustration.
"Father, I swear I have no idea where Flora is," I say, my voice trembling slightly. "I was trying to find her when Maxim accused me. He's just angry and lashing out."
He sighs heavily, rubbing his temples. "This situation is spiraling out of control. We need to find Flora and quickly."
"I'll keep searching, Father," I say. "But we need to consider every possibility. What if someone took her? Or she ran away because of something she discovered?"
"We are considering all possibilities," he replies. "But we need to keep a level head. Maxim's accusations won't help us find her."
I nod, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I'll find her, Father. I won't stop until I do."
As I turn to leave, my father places a hand on my shoulder. "Be careful, Daniella. Don't find yourself in a pickle with any other Cai family members."
With his warning echoing in my mind, I head back into the fray, my resolve steeled. Flora, wherever you are, I will find you.