“What happened did you already find Alesana?” Duke Briele asked and Sir Calixto shake his head. It's been weeks since the last time they saw Lady Alesana, there is no trace left and no one saw the Lady leave that night.
The duchess still didn't know what happened to Alesana and they keep it a secret. There are no clues and even Sir Leix can't find the Lady because she didn't wear the necklace. But none of them stop even though it was impossible.
Only the Imperial knights, The Imperial family, The Dukes from the house of Falco, house of Hart, Sir Calixto Morri, Sir Ignis Kanna and the Sorcerer from the Oreal tower they are the persons knows that Lady Alesana is missing.
They're searching everywhere day and night, the slums, deep parts of forest... the borders. They still haven't seen the Lady.
“Where did the Lady go?”
“Lara you didn't notice something that night?”
“There is none Duke. After I tell her what happened to Miss Campbell, her punishment she just nod and go to sleep. When I leave her room she's already asleep I even checked her once again and she's still sleeping.”
“Then why? Why is she missing?!” the Duke collapsed and now they're a mess.
They still keep on finding the Lady when someone spread the news. That Lady Alesana is missing and assumed to be dead and that's because of the Crown Prince. It spread fast that the Imperial family cannot prevent it from spreading.
'Lady Alesana Rosent Briele is still missing.'
'The daughter of Duke Briele suspected that she committed a suicide.'
'Lady Alesana is assumed to be dead the body is still missing.'
'Lady Alesana committed suicide because the Crown Prince still sided on the other Lady. The Crown Prince still choose the Count's daughter over her fiancee.'
These are just some headlines on the newspapers. Unending rumors, countless speculations and this might turned the Empire Upside down.
“Did the Duchess heard any of them?” Sir Calixto asked and the Duke shake her head. They already tell their maids that they should not tell it. They also ordered the Butler to search for any info about on how was Alesana Missing on the newspaper, if there is none then the Duchess can read it.
“Don't give up, Duke Briele we will find Lady Alesana.”
“Thank you, Duke Clover, Sir Calixto.” the sorcerer from Oreal tower are also doing their best to find Lady Alesana and after how many weeks they found some information.
“We found her ripped clothes in the deepest part of the Red forest, from now on let's start finding there.”
"The Red Forest was located at west side and it was far from the Imperial Palace. How did she ended up there?"
“And there are wild animals.”
“Did Lady Alesana fell in the cliff?” Duke Clover asked and everyone started to think of it. When the Duchess enter the Duke's office.
“Dear did I disturb your meeting?” everyone became silent, but their hearts are beating fast. They have the same question in their minds.
‘Did the Duchess hear everything?’
“N-no, what is it?  Is there something wrong?”
“I just dream of Alesana. She's crying while saying sorry, she said that I should take care of this baby and love it with all my heart. I just wanted to see her, can we go to the palace? I'm scared that she was really crying.”
“Alesana? Dear you know our honey is still m-mad, I will talk to A-alesana if she can visit you no?”
“Every night she keeps on visiting in my dreams, I miss her.”
“I'm sure she misses you too dear.”
“I will bake her favorite sweets, please do bring that to her okay?” the Duke nod hugging her crying wife, the Duchess knew that Alesana is missing but because he didn't want her husband to worry she kept silent about it and just praying for Alesana's safety.
The Crown Prince joined the search party near the cliff but they still didn't find the Lady. And days passed the Duchess have given birth to a healthy baby boy. The house of Briele cannot held a banquet because Alesana is still missing, and thry won't held not until they find her.
“When I saw the baby I suddenly remembered Alesana.” they were all silently listening to the Duke. “Should I keep on finding her?”
“Please don't lose hope, I feel it that Alesana is Alive.” Duke Clover said and everyone nod.
“The Duke is right, I believe that the Lady is Alive.” Sir Calixto said.
“The Lady showed her kindness not just to me but to everyone, that's why I will still keep on searching for her.” Sir Ignis said.
“Right!”
It looks like everyone wad far to optimistic but deep inside they were scared that she might be...  dead.
+++
LOCATION: Orion Empire. The Colon street. 12 midnight.
“Let's now start the auction!” The nobles who attend are wearing a masks, They held the auction where they sell slaves for months. The Vipers a group of unknown people who kidnapped and sell people, the authorities can't arrest them because they keep moving from they're hideout to another.
Selling Slaves was already forbidden along time ago to and when the Emperor found out that the Wanted Vipers are doing auction on his Empire he was furiously angry.
"Be prepared."
“This man, the bidding starts at 50 golds.”
“60.”
“80.”
“This man for 80 golds? 80 golds? Sold for 80 golds!” Now the Emperor ordered the Imperial knights to surround the area. Silently moving, everyone now is on their positions and they are just waiting for the Emperor's signal.
“This woman, she has no name but as you can see she's a healthy Lady. You can make her your maid, your mistress, she can also wield sword so she can also pass as your guard. The bid starts at 1000 golds.”
The bid get higher and higher until it reaches to 100 million golds. And then the Emperor did raise his hand, the Imperial Knights started to capture those men's who sell slaves. People started to run, the slaves who wanted to get free also tried to escape but except for that Lady who didn't moved an inch.
He stared at the woman who is still sitting on the floor, then he offered his hand to but she just started at it. Those deep brown eyes that carefully watching him.
“I'm Altemere.”
“Thank you for saving them.” Then she held the Emperor's hand and stares at His Majesty's eyes. She didn't flinch while staring at the Emperor's Jade eyes.
“Do you wish to live?” the Lady shake her head and then the Emperor clap his hand.
'Hmm...'
“Your name?”
“I don't remember.”
“Then from now on your name will be Shanara Aytan."
"What a grand name, it doesn't suit to me." The woman said it with the language of Erden Empire and the Emperor smiled.
"Trust me it suits you." Now she look shock as she stare at the Emperor. The Emperor was amaze by the fast change of her expression.
"I know the other languages as well, I'm the Emperor after all. It will be a shame if the Emperor od Orion can't converse with the other empire with their own language."
"..."
"Say do you want to work at the palace to be the Emperor's Personal Maid.”
"Then I gladly accept your invitation. I will be in your care from now on Your Majesty, I will serve you wholeheartedly. My savior and my Emperor." She bowed. Now that she was the Emperor she need to serve, she won't dare to look at His Majesty's eyes nor touch even his cape.
But... The electricity that they feel when they did touch. They want to feel it once again.
Σ>―(〃°ω°〃)♡→
—IAmRoseee