The World Cannot Know

Chapter 30

Prince Sebastian 

I woke up to the soft light of dawn, only to find that Matthew wasn't beside me. My heart sank with a flicker of concern as I reached out for him, but the bed was empty and cold. A surge of anxiety washed over me. Last night had been intense, and the thought of him being alone with the weight of our troubles was unsettling.

I threw off the covers and quickly dressed, then headed out of the room. The castle was eerily quiet, and the calmness of the morning was in stark contrast to the chaos we'd faced the night before. My mind raced with worry. Where could he have gone?

I moved through the halls of the castle with urgency, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The quiet of the morning only heightened my concern. I checked the nearby rooms and the common areas where Matthew might have wandered, but there was no sign of him. Each empty space felt like a blow to my already frayed nerves.

My mind raced back to the events of the previous night—the argument with Katharina. I couldn't shake the feeling that something wrong has happened. Did Katharina say something? I can see her after her display of her wrath yesternight. If anything had happened to him, I don't know what I would do.

I stumbled into the dining hall, the warm aroma of breakfast in sharp contrast to the icy worry that gripped me. The grand table was set with an assortment of morning delicacies, but my focus was on Alice and Elizabeth, who were seated at one end of the table, their conversation interrupted by my abrupt entrance.

Alice looked up, her expression shifting from surprise to concern as she saw the panic in my eyes. Elizabeth, seemed to catch the mood instantly and joined Alice in giving me her full attention.

"Sebastian, what's wrong?" Alice asked, her voice laced with genuine worry.

"I can't find Matthew," I said, my voice tight. "He's not in the room, and I've searched the castle. Have either of you seen him?"

Alice exchanged a worried glance with Elizabeth before shaking her head. "No, we haven't seen him. We were just having breakfast. Are you sure he's not in his room?"

"I've checked everywhere," I said, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "I'm afraid something might have happened, especially after last night. Katharina's anger... I don't know if she might have said or done something. I just need to find him."

"Maybe he's gone to speak with Katharina" Alice said.

I nodded, the thought striking me with a mix of dread and hope. "He could have gone to see her. He did say he was planning to talk to her about everything, and after what happened last night."

Alice glanced at Elizabeth, her worry mirroring my own. "It's a possibility. Katharina went to her mother's chambers, its on the east wing of the castle, not far from here. We should check there first."

Elizabeth joined in with a determined look. "Let's go. We need to make sure he's alright and that nothing has escalated."

"Your highness" General Hector said, stopping the three of them. "The king has requested your presence in the hall."

 I looked at General Hector, momentarily torn between the urgency of finding Matthew and the king's summons. "Can it wait, General?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

General Hector's face remained impassive, but his eyes carried a hint of concern. "The king's request is urgent, Your Highness. He seemed quite distressed and insisted that you come immediately."

A pang of frustration shot through me. Every moment felt crucial, but I knew I had to honor the king's request. "Very well," I said, trying to mask my anxiety. "Lead the way."