Chapter 222

New Embers (12)

“Where is the Marquis?” Uriel, who felt like something was wrong, asked firmly.

“Oh, Father?” She spoke nervously. “What do you mean?”

Uriel’s expression hardened.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I received an invitation with his seal on it.”

Upon hearing that, Layla’s eyes widened. Her expression looked rather awkward.

“The lunch invitation was made by me. If the invitation in my father’s name is gone…… It seems to have been changed by mistake with the invitation to a meal hosted by my father a few days ago.”

“The lunch invitation was mine. If the invitation in my father’s name went——— It must have been mistakenly replaced with the dinner invitation my father hosted a few days ago.” She whispered. Her original plan would have been completely different, but her mouth couldn’t function properly in front of Uriel’s scowl.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you eat with me before you go? My father won’t come in until evening.”

Uriel’s eyebrows furrowed even more.

“Sorry! I’m sorry! It must be the maid’s fault.” Layla panicked and began making excuses. “I just wanted to invite you to dinner, my lord. You helped me last time.” Uriel wasn’t listening. He rose from his seat and brushed past her. But just before passing by, he stopped and stared into Layla’s pitiful gaze.

“Young Lady.” His ocean-blue eyes were filled with cold anger.

“Wh-What?”

“I warn you. Don’t call me again with such lies. If you do this next time, I won’t put up with it then.”

As Layla’s face paled, she clamped her lips shut. Uriel didn’t wait for her. He immediately passed the hallway and left the mansion.

‘Shit.’

It was simply a prank by a young lady but he hated the fact that he couldn’t accompany Apollonia because of this. He took a deep breath and collected himself. Nothing’s going to happen. He was away from Apollonia for five years and she was accustomed to doing things without him. In addition, Marquis Trion’s mansion was quite far from the Imperial Palace. He got back to the palace before evening, riding his horse nonstop.

“Where is Her Highness?”

Upon entering the villa, he asked Adrian. The first person he met.

“Uriel?” She was walking up and down the hall with an anxious look on her face and when she found him, her eyes widened in shock. Upon closer inspection, her face had darkened. Uriel’s stomach dropped. Upon hearing Adrian’s words, his heart sank. If Adrian had no idea that he didn’t go with the princess then Apollonia was still————-

“I didn’t go with her because something else had happened all of a sudden. She must have had another escort.”

THUD!

Adrian sat down as if her legs had weakened, her lips trembling. Uriel couldn’t breathe at the sight.

“Her Highness hasn’t returned. I can’t find her guards, either.” Adrian said tearfully. “She said she’ll be back by 2 o’clock so there must be a reason why she’s not here yet.” Uriel’s breathing became unbearably rough as he imagined tens of thousands of things that could have happened to her in his mind. Each and every one of them was painful.

“How many hours had passed since she left?”

Adrian’s countenance reflected his. She chewed her bottom lip and replied, “I was informed that she had arrived at Albrate Garden at noon. I got no news from her after that.”

That was six hours ago. Uriel felt like breaking his own neck after sending Apollonia away all alone. Looking back, he was already suspicious of the stranger’s approach through Tanya. He had trusted him easily when it appeared like he knew a lot about Apollonia. On the contrary, it felt like he had been watching her for a long time. His heart was anxious and confused but he arrived at a conclusion.

“She’s missing! No, it’s kidnapping!”

He didn’t want to believe it himself but he still mentioned it. Blood trickled down Adrian’s lip as if she had bitten it too hard.

***

*TADAK*

The sound of burning firewood woke Apollonia up. When she opened her eyes, she could see a faint wooden ceiling. This looked like a small cottage. The air was heavy as if it was about to rain. She tried to blink again, but her senses hadn’t yet fully returned. She quickly recalled the situation before she fainted. A man in a robe. A strong anesthetic scent. Guards lying on the ground. “I was kidnapped.” Apollonia finally grasped the situation. “Like a fool.”