Rebirth (A Remington Leith AU)

BONUS CHAPTER #2

Remington's POV

I was once a bachelor prince that many ladies pursued mainly because they admired my looks or wanted my status and riches. They all seemed like lovely girls, but the majority of them were either too shallow for me or they didn't value themselves enough and I didn't want to take advantage of them. They were out of luck to be with me anyway since they were under twenty, which was the age for noble women to be married and I had to wait until I turned twenty-three to be considered a potential husband. To be honest, even when I was finally of age, I didn't consider myself to be emotionally prepared for any relationship. I figured that once I was arranged to be married to someone eventually, I'd learn to be fair and respectful and at least do what was right for both of us. The last thing I expected when I married Luella, however, was to fall hard for her and devote my existence to make her happy and comfortable when I had never even met her before in my entire life.

The first six months of our marriage were so special to me even as it had only begun, but that's only because I was finding myself to fall more in love with her as her beauty, kindness, and selfless nature managed to steal my heart and I wanted nothing more than to treat her like the lovely angel she really was. After learning Lillian was her sister, I understood her better and why she seemed so different from the Lillian I encounter only once. When Lulu got sick that day, I felt guilty for having to leave her for a day to attend business, but I made it my mission to have someone she's close to look after her and help her feel better. That's why before I left for the meeting, I went to see King Magnus and revealed how I knew everything about his daughters and swore to keep his secret in exchange for bringing Lulu's mother home with me. He didn't hesitate and thanked me for being so understanding and accepting. I let him know I'm only trying my best to put my wife first before everything else and giving her what she deserves. If only I remembered our relationship wouldn't be free from danger.

***

"Your Majesty...", one of the guards walked up to me during the ball and mentioned to me in secret, "The princess does not appear to be on the castle grounds and the maids have told me that she isn't in her room either." Lulu couldn't be found anywhere? Did she leave the castle grounds and forgot to tell me where she was going? I felt panic arise in my system, but I needed to stay composed for now while I still had guests in my castle. I I instructed guard privately, "Wait until I instruct the guests to leave and then have your men search the grounds and inside the castle. She wouldn't have gone anywhere without telling me. Be haste and careful." He nodded in acknowledgement and then I went to announce to the party guests that the celebration was over and had to lie that the princess wished to turn in early and therefore couldn't stay to bid them goodbye yet she sends her thanks and best wishes. It took some time for all the guests to leave safely and calmly, and once they were gone, the guards and knights went to work to find my wife and all I could do was wait until they found her or something that explains where she's gone.

I waited an hour before I had the guards  gathered and then asked, "Well, have you found her? Or have an idea where she can be?" The leader of the guards, Lucas, hung his head told me with regret, "I'm very sorry, Your Majesty, but we were unable to find her on the castle grounds." I looked at him and realized he had something else to say, "Lift your head up and look at me, Lucas. I know there's something you're not telling me." Hesitantly, he looked up at me and revealed to me with a hint of shame in his tone, "Well, we have reason to believe that your wife...was kidnapped." When he said that, my heart felt like it dropped to the floor and gravity increased as everything felt heavier. "What...?", was all I could muster out as one of the guards handed something to Lucas and then he stated, "You see, one of my men found this note near the steps of the castle and it seems to be a ransom with a threat." I took the paper from him and read the words that seemed to fuel a fire inside of me:

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Prince Remington,

If you care enough about your precious princess as much as you do about your kingdom, you'll do as we say and willingly give us power and money equal to your status. If these terms are not met within the next forty-eight hours, consider yourself a widower and a coward.

(Instructions for a safe exchange will be provided soon. Any threats you make will lead to a regretful decision)

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After reading the words over and over again, thinking about how Lulu's life is in severe danger, I ordered for my guards to leave me immediately. Once they were gone, I collapsed to the floor and broke down in shame and fear. My fear wasn't for me, but for the woman I've come to love and hold dear to me the most in this cruel world. My tears fell to the floors and I hated myself for being so hasty as to return to the party and not wait for her to join me. What was I going to tell her mother? That I failed to protect her daughter from even the most imminent danger I should have been more aware of as a royal figure? Whoever took my wife and threatened to end her life...they will wish the thought never came to their mind.