ZARA'S POV
Lia and I made our way to the throne room, to meet Carl. I couldn't waste any more time in Everton, knowing that my father was close to dying.
When I got to the throne room, I saw lord Francis and Carl pacing around with worried expressions on their faces. 'What could be going on?" I thought, taking quick strides towards Carl.
"Carl," I called, and he twirled, bringing his gaze to meet mine.
"Zara," he dubbed, closing the little gap between us. Although I was a little angry with him, I still can't leave Everton, without letting him know, and I couldn't just ignore the worried look on his face.
"Greetings queen Zara," lord Francis muttered, bowing his head slightly in respect.
I glanced at him, and nodded my head, before taking my gaze back to Carl, who gave me a small smile, while I rolled my eyes.
"What's wrong, why do you look so worried?" I asked.
Carl's face lit up instantly and his worried expression was replaced with a smile.
"I thought you were angry and didn't care about me?" he retorted, and I scoffed. "Yes, I'm angry with you, but it doesn't mean I stopped caring about you," I answered.
He pulled me into a warm embrace, circling his arms around my waist. "Thank you, Zara. I promise to make everything right," he whispered.
I pulled away from the hug, and nodded, then I said, "Tell me why you look worried." I wanted to know if it had anything to do with my father's illness.
Carl sighed. "It's lady Gwen, she's missing."
My eyes widen in disbelief, how can Gwen be missing? It doesn't make any sense.
"What do you mean Carl? when did she go missing?"
"I don't know Zara, Lord Francis reported her missing, and apparently no one saw her leaving the palace, or even coming back," Carl replied.
I sighed, glancing at Lia who stood quietly beside us, making eye signals with her, to meet me upstairs, but Lia just stood like a statue looking at me.
Now that Carl has something else on his plate, it's not right for me to bother him with the news of my father's illness and add to his worries.
"Carl, I know you're worried, but you need to trust in the fates, I'm sure they will protect Gwen and bring her back to the palace in good shape," I consoled.
Carl nodded, placing a light kiss on my lips, while Someone cleared their throat. we both turned to see lord Francis, staring at the both of us in amusement.
"Queen Zara, I'm grateful for your prayers," lord Francis said, and I flashed him a small smile.
Although Gwen and I have bad blood, it doesn't mean I want something bad to happen to her.
"Carl, Lord Francis, I'll take my leave now, I hope you find Gwen," I told them, and with that, I turn around to leave, pulling Lia along.
"Zara, why didn't you tell the king about your father's illness?" Lia whispered as we walked away.
"Lia, Carl has something else to worry about, and that is Gwen. I don't want him to have something else to worry about," I explained, and Lia nodded then she said, "So what are we going to do now?"
"Lia, the only option now, is to leave Everton without Carl or anyone's knowledge," I replied.
"But Zara, I don't think that's a good idea, what if something happens to you on the way? you know the journey to Azrael is dangerous."
"Don't worry Lia, I won't be going alone. I'll take you, Jamie, and Theon(Zara's men) along and we'll all go in disguise."
"Still, Zara, I'm scared."
"If you're scared, you can stay in Everton, I'll go with Jamie and Theon."
"No Zara, you know, I won't let you go on your own, I'll surely go with you."
"Good Lia! we leave immediately, go change and inform Jamie and Theon about this. Remember the secret passage in prince Aiden's room, I will use it, you have to wait for me at the entrance," I told her, before turning around to leave.
"Be careful Zara," she yelled after me, and I smiled.
...
Minutes later, I was done preparing, I didn't carry anything apart from a pulse of gold, that would be enough for my journey to Azrael, to avoid suspicion.
When I came out of the chamber, I glanced around to see if Carl was anywhere in sight, luckily he wasn't, only the guards were, and they gave me weird looks. They must be wondering why I was dressed, like a boy.
I gave them a forced smile. "You don't have to look at me like that, the king already knows, that I'll be going outside the palace," I lied.
"But your grace, allow us to come with you, for your protection," one of the guards said.
"No don't. I mean, you don't have to do that, the king already arranged a few guards for me" I blurted out, walking away before they could say anything else.
I could hear them mumbling something amongst themselves, but I didn't care.
I walked toward Aiden's chamber, making sure to avoid the guards or whoever would recognize me.
Once I got there, I could hear the tiny voices of Aiden, Eric, and Ryn, I wonder what they could be talking about...
I knocked on the door and didn't bother waiting for their answer, I just walked into the room. The trio snapped their curious gaze to me immediately.
"Who are you, and what do you want with us? Also, why do you look like my aunt Zara?" Eric yelled, ambling towards me with a spoon.
"Eric, you're so dumb, don't you see that's aunt Zara," Aiden chipped in and Eric stopped abruptly, blinking repeatedly before smiling at me.
"Aunt Zara, why are you dressed like that, I almost didn't recognize you," Eric squealed. I crouched to his size, ruffling his hair, then I said, "I'm going outside the palace for some work, and I don't want Carl to know, so you three, will have to keep a secret for me, okay."
Eric and Ryn nodded, but Aiden didn't look convinced, as he kept giving me a suspicious look. "Aunt Zara, why don't you want my brother to know?" Aiden asked, raising his brow in question.
I sighed. I guess it's not that easy to fool this child, after all, he's Carl's brother.
"The king and I had a fight that's why," I retorted, although it wasn't completely true.
"Is it because of princess Nadia?" Ryn questioned, her eyes wide in anticipation.
I decided to just go along with it, or else, they would keep questioning me, and I'm not ready for any questions.
"Yes Ryn, it's because of Princess Nadia, but I will tell you the rest when I come back, for now, I'm in a hurry," I muttered, before ambling toward the direction where the secret passage was.
....
When I arrived outside the palace, luckily Lia, Theon, and Jamie were waiting for me all in their disguise, and with horses.
"Jamie, Theon, I apologize for the short notice, it's just that something urgent came and I couldn't inform you earlier, I'm sure Lia filled you in on the rest" I muttered.
Jamie and Theon gave me a light smile, before Jamie said, "Queen Zara, you don't have to explain to us, we are always there whenever you call, regardless of where and when."
I nodded, flashing each of them a smile of gratitude. "Come, we need to leave now, before someone spots us," I said to them, and Theon handed me a black horse.
"Sorry your grace, we couldn't get any horses from the royal stable to avoid suspicion."
"I don't mind Theon, I'll use this horse. Now let's ride to Azrael.