Determined to take control of their fates, Arjen and Arien escape Derolina Castle at the age of sixteen after their cruel mother dies. They adopt new names and find a home in the city of Aramore, while the Emperor of Yuriana searches for his missing...
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Long before the detective was escorted into throne room, Lloyd had braced himself for yet another disappointing report. The detective shuffled forward toward the dais, eyes downcast out of respect for the men who sat before him. He knelt, paused, and said, "I greet His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince." The words echoed around the chamber, only to be met with silence. Lloyd cast an uneasy glance at his father. Adren tapped a finger on the arm of his seat, an unsettling glow in his emerald eyes. The air around him thickened, and Lloyd could almost see his mana oozing out in green tendrils, radiating hostility.
The silence stretched, and Lloyd suppressed a sigh. These meetings had become progressively worse. They only made him feel helpless, and if it was that bad for him, then he couldn't imagine how his father felt.
After what seemed like ages, Adren finally decided to speak. He began slowly, his voice soft and smooth, but ice-cold. "Your report this time had better bring some good news, Detective Birbeck." Tap-tap-tap went his finger.
Taking this as permission to speak, Detective Birbeck said, "I am happy to say that is the case, Your Majesty."
"Have you found them?"
"We have not."
"That is not good news."
The detective continued, undeterred. "We have found a servant who attended them—"
"We already have enough of those." The ones who were spared execution were being kept in a dungeon for information purposes. However, at this point, the imperial family had squeezed all the information they could out of them.
"This one taught them to read," said Birbeck.
The tapping finger stopped. "Who?"
"Her name is Jamila. She knew Their Highnesses when they were small. She taught them to read so they could read books."
"Where is she?"
"In a village five days north of the capital."
"What did she say?"
"She said they never mentioned running away, but they often asked for books about the empire and magic. She also cared for them during their manifestation, saying their manifestation was incomplete and they did not grow much. Lady Rurahel threw her out of Derolina Castle several years ago for being too kind to Their Highnesses—"
A loud thump jolted the room. Adren had slammed his fist down on the arm of his throne. "Did I not clearly spell out the purpose of your mission?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And you know as well as anyone how much I hate repeating myself."
"Yes, Your Majesty. My mission is to locate Their Highnesses."
