Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 90

"What?! You're telling me that Addis was kidnapped during the women's hunt in the Mireraweth Kingdom?!" Aiken's voice boomed through the tent, his anger palpable as he seized one of the spies by the collar of his jet-black shirt. His grip was tight, his knuckles white with fury. He had been managing his troops, trusting that his people would protect Addis, and now this—news of her disappearance.

The spy trembled, barely able to meet Aiken's eyes. "W-We weren't able to g-get them," the spy stammered, his voice shaky with fear. He knew the gravity of his failure, and standing before the emperor in such a state was perilous.

Aiken's glare intensified as he shoved the spy back. "How could you fail?!" His voice was low but dangerous, like the calm before a storm. The tension in the tent was suffocating.

"Your Majesty, they were no ordinary people!" another spy quickly interjected, hoping to explain before Aiken's wrath grew worse. "We woke up to find no one—no trace of them! Whoever took her... they were skilled."

"Skilled?" Aiken's tone dripped with contempt. "How can you all have been unconscious at that time?!" He slammed his fist onto the table, the wood shaking beneath the force of his rage. "Damn it! Go find her, now!"

The spies scrambled out of the tent, eager to escape the furious emperor. As they fled, Aiken paced the floor, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "How could they have lost her?" He muttered angrily, slamming his hands down again, his mind racing with the consequences of Addis's kidnapping. They were still on the battlefield, and now, amidst the chaos of war, Addis was missing.

Just then, a figure entered the tent, moving with deliberate ease despite the tense atmosphere. The figure's face and form were obscured, their movements calm and unbothered by the emperor's anger. "Oh, what is going on here?" The voice asked casually, ignoring the volatile energy in the room.

Aiken turned sharply, recognizing the voice immediately. "What brings you here, ZH?" He spat, his anger undiminished but tempered by curiosity. The figure, ZH, moved closer, stepping out of the shadows. Aiken's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the mysterious guest. "Or should I say, Prince Ambrose?"

Ambrose—a man thought to have been assassinated, but who had orchestrated his own disappearance—now stood before him. Aiken's jaw clenched. Ambrose had left the Mireraweth troops under a cloud of mystery, and his reappearance only added to the turmoil.

"I heard your beloved was kidnapped during the women's hunting event in the Mireraweth Kingdom," Ambrose said, his tone casual as he moved to the darker side of the tent. He removed his mask, though he kept his face hidden from Aiken's full view, as if the conversation was just a passing interest. "What was that all about?"

Aiken exhaled sharply, his mind weighed down by the endless complications. "She was kidnapped during the hunt," he began, his voice steady but strained. "It's an event where only women are allowed—men aren't permitted anywhere near it. She saved two young ladies during the hunt when a Grand Bear, awakened from hibernation, attacked. Addis was injured in the fight, but before anyone could react, an unknown figure appeared. They used sleeping powder to knock everyone unconscious."

Aiken rubbed his temples, the frustration mounting as he recounted the events. "We don't know where she is, and the war is becoming more pointless if I can't even locate her in the kingdom."

Ambrose, or ZH, listened thoughtfully, his expression unreadable behind the shadows. "Have you searched the nearby towns? Any homes close to the forest?" he asked, his voice measured. "She could've been taken in by someone—a wanderer, maybe—especially if she was injured by that Grand Bear. You know the stories... a Grand Bear's claws are said to carry poison."