Everyone in the palace heard that Zara left the palace, and they all jumped to the conclusion that she left because Carl married Nadia and she couldn't bear it. Almost everyone blamed Nadia and king Neil for the loss of their queen.
"It's all the Nedal king and princess's fault, if they didn't false marriage and alignment on king Carl, things would've been fine. We would still have our queen, and king Carl would still have his love."
Meanwhile, Carl and his soldier search every nook and cranny of Everton but didn't find Zara, so they had to return to the palace.
...
On the other hand, Nadia and Draco reprimand Ariel for her incompetence.
"Why didn't you inform us that Zara left the palace?" Nadia barked at Ariel.
"Your Grace, I didn't know, not even king Carl knew, which means she secretly left the palace," Ariel retorted.
"Just keep quiet, you low-life servant, don't try to justify yourself with such excuse. you were given strict orders to watch Zara's every move, but you failed and she slipped right out of your hands," Draco scolded.
Ariel bent her head in fear and guilt. "Queen Nadia, Sir Draco, I apologize for my failure."
Nadia scoffed, then she said, "Draco, you should leave for Azrael at once, I think that's where Zara went."
Draco nodded and exited the room. He immediately organized twenty strong and capable men, and together, they left for Azrael.

ZARA'S POV
On our way to Azrael, I started to feel guilty. Guilty that I left without telling anyone, especially Carl. "How would he react when he finds out?
"Zara, you're awfully quiet, is something wrong?" Lia asked, giving me a curious look.
"I'm fine Lia. it's just that I'm worried about what Carl would think, I hope he doesn't worry about me?"
"Zara! Carl is your husband, and if he loves you, he'll be worried. Not just him, everyone else."
"Lia, did you tell Myla about our journey? maybe she'd inform Carl."
"I didn't Zara. By the time I entered our chamber, she was absent. These days, she's been acting strange. It's like there's something wrong with her."
What could be wrong with Myla? I pondered. Lately, I have been so worried about myself, that I didn't see that one of my friends was going through something. Once I go back to Everton, I'll set everything right.
We still had a long way to go before we get to Azrael, and I decided that we should rest a while, before proceeding with our journey.
TWO DAY LATER
I arrived in Azrael, my mind in a state of panic for what might have happened to my father, but when I saw him, he was not sick at all, in fact, he was looking healthy as always.
Both my father and mother were in the throne room, addressing some issues with the council. And when they saw me, they all gave me a surprised and confused look, like they didn't expect that I'll be Azrael.
"Zara?" Mother called, giving me a questioning look. She stood up from where she sat beside father, taking slow steps toward me.
"Mother!" I muttered, running into her embrace.
"Zara! It's really you. you didn't tell us you were coming I'm sure you wanted to surprise us," Mother said happily.
I wanted to tell her that I came because I received a letter, that father was ill, but I decided to leave it for later.
"Mother, I'm so happy to see you. How have you been?"
"I've been good Zara, but you know it's not the same without you and your aunt Anna," she replied.
I tilt my gaze to my father. Although I was happy that he was not ill like the letter said he was, I also found it strange.
"Father," I dubbed, running to him. By now he was up from his throne and walking toward mother and I. I threw myself on his body, wrapping my arm around his neck, and I heard him chuckle.
"Although you are married Zara, you didn't change. You are still as enthusiastic as before," Father said, hugging me back.
I chuckled, before climbing down from his body. "Father, I'm happy to see that you're in a good health."
"We are also happy to see you in good health Zara. Although we couldn't be there for you when you needed us, when you were poisoned, however, we're grateful to the Lord for keeping you alive, healthy, and safe..."
The council members were also happy to see me, as they welcomed me with smiles.
...
Later that day, Father held a banquet to welcome me home, and I was happy to see my people again. However, I wasn't focused on the banquet, as my mind was somewhere else, in Everton. I wondered what was going on there.
"Zara," Lia called, snapping me out of my thought. I tilt my gaze to meet hers, as she gave me a questioning look.
"What!" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Zara, your father is not sick, that means whoever sent you that letter, obviously lied to you," Lia muttered.
"Lia, I thought about it too. I think it's best I ask my father and mother," I replied, and Lia nodded in agreement.
I made my way to where father sat with mother, crouching down beside them.
"Father, mother, I need to ask you something?"
"What is it, Zara?" Father asked with a curious look.
"Father! while I was in Everton, I received a letter saying that you were ill and on the brink of dying. Did any of you send that letter?"
Father and Mother, turned to each other, then back at me. "What are you talking about, Zara? No one sent you such a letter."
Lia and I glanced at each other, then Lia said, "Your majesty, are you sure no one did? because Zara did receive a letter from Azrael, and that's the main reason we're here, without anyone knowing, not even king Carl."
"What!" Father and mother both yelled. "What do you mean, you came here without anyone knowing? Zara tell us, is Lia saying the truth?" Mother rasped.
Oh no! Lia just had to open her big mouth. I sighed, knowing I could no longer lie to them. "Yes, it's truth. No one knows that I'm in Azrael or even about the letter sent by that anonymous person," I told them.
"Zara, this is not good. You'll have to go back to Everton. You know Carl recently got married to the Nedal princess, people might think you left because of that, and start spreading rumors," Mother muttered.
...
True to king Alan and queen Lyarra's word, rumors that Zara left the palace have circulated not just in the palace, but all-around Everton. The worst part is that, people were saying she left because Carl married Nadia, and that she might never come back.
They even gathered outside the palace, to protest, that Carl should throw the gold digger, Nadia, and her father, King Neil from the palace, out of Everton, since they were responsible for it.
...
On the other hand, King Neil and Nadia hid in their chamber, scared that even the people inside the palace might come after them.
"If I had known things would go wrong, I would never have asked Draco to send her that letter, worst of it all is that Zara might not show up anytime soon because Draco might abduct her on her way back to Everton. In fact, she might never come back. What do I do father?" Nadia inquired sweating profusely.
"I don't know Nadia. You should have thought about the repercussion before you acted, now we're about to be thrown out of Everton, and all our hard work would be in vain, because of your stupidity," King Neil, fired in anger.
"Why are you scolding me? It was you who said I should get rid of Zara," Nadia retorted.
King Neil scoffed, then he said. "Nadia, I told you to make Carl fall in love with you, so he will get rid of Zara himself, I never asked you to do it."
"Your majesty, Queen Nadia, this is not the time to argue, rather you should think of a way to get out of this situation, I think we should tell king Carl that Zara went to Azrael," Ariel who was also in the chamber suggested.
King Neil, rolled his eyes. "Don't you think that would raise more questions? People will start to ask how we know she went to Azrael. And by now, I'm sure Carl already knows this."
...
Meanwhile, Carl was restless and in a state of unrest. The fact that people were spreading rumors that Zara left him didn't help matters at all. Because he also started to believe it. Although he didn't want to, the thought was embedded in his mind.
Also, the past three days have been hell for everyone in the palace, because Carl was always gloomy and every little thing provoked him.
"Your majesty, you have to calm down, I'm sure queen Zara will return soon," Jerald consoled.
Carl scoffed. "she will return! you have been saying that since the day she left, and now it's the third day," he yelled, making Jerald, and the rest of the council trembled in fear.
"Your Majesty, please calm down, I've sent a message to Azrael, like you asked, I'm sure we'd get a reply soon.
Carl nodded, praying that Azrael would reply to the letter and that Zara would be there. "If she's there, I'll surely go all the way to Azrael to bring her back."
THE NEXT DAY
Zara left for Everton as early as possible, after saying her goodbyes. Although her parent had insisted that she took more men for her protection, Zara refused it saying that she loved to travel with small peers, as it would attract less attention.
Meanwhile, the letter from Everton arrived immediately after.
King Alan read through the scroll in his hand. "Lyarra, it's a message from Everton, asking if Zara is in Azrael, do you think we should reply since Zara is already on her way to Everton?"
Queen Lyarra sighed. "I don't think there's need for that. As you said Zara is already on her way back to Everton."
King Alan nodded and decided to listen to his wife's advice...
NEAR AZRAEL'S BORDER
Draco and his men laid an ambush, waiting for Zara. He had already planned that once she passed through the border, they would abduct her. He even sent one of his men to confirm if Zara was really in Azrael, and the man returned after to tell him that she is.
Earlier...when Draco arrived in Everton, it was the same day Zara did, but he arrived late at night. And instead of going into Azrael, he decided that it was best to camp near the borders, where he knew Zara would surely pass through when she was leaving Azrael. He didn't care whether it would take a month, or even a year, he just didn't want to miss the only chance he might have to abduct Zara.
Soon, Zara and her companions reached the border, making Draco smirk in excitement. "Finally, Queen Zara, you are mine..."