Kaidën paced through the castle's empty halls, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
Days had passed since Calantha's disappearance, and the silence was suffocating.
No word, no ransom demand, no hint of her whereabouts.
His mind raced with worst-case scenarios.
Where was she?
Was she safe?
His thoughts consumed him, fueling his growing desperation.
Suddenly, a servant appeared at the end of the hall.
"Your Majesty!"
Kaidën spun around, hope flickering.
"Yes?"
"A letter has arrived, Your Majesty."
Kaidën's heart skipped a beat.
"From Calantha?" he asked, his voice laced with longing.
The servant hesitated.
"I don't know, Your Majesty. The seal is King Charles'."
Kaidën's face hardened.
Kaidën broke the seal, unfolding the parchment.
"All could have been avoided if you didn't deny me," he read, "but don't worry, Calantha is with me. She's hard-headed, but I promise not to kill her... yet."
King Charles' taunting words seared into his mind.
Rage and despair warred within him.
He crumpled the letter, fists clenched.
"No!" he roared, slamming his fists on the wall.
Kaidën's face twisted in anguish, his eyes fixed on the crumpled letter.
He felt his grip on reality slipping.
"Calantha," he whispered, his voice cracking.
Lord Thomas approached cautiously.
"Your Majesty, we must act wisely. We can't rush into—"
Kaidën's glare silenced him.
"Don't tell me to be wise, Thomas. Tell me how to get her back."
Lord Thomas hesitated.
"We'll gather information, Your Majesty. We'll find a way."
Kaidën's eyes burned.
"Find it quickly."
............
Calantha sat rigid, wrists bound to the cold stone wall.
Elianora entered, carrying a tray of food.
"Time to eat, princess," Elianora said, her voice dripping with malice.
Calantha turned away.
"I won't eat anything from you."
Elianora shrugged.
"I could care less if you starved. But King Charles wants you kept alive... for now."
Calantha's gaze flashed defiance.
"Kaidën will find me," she spat. "And you will pay for your treachery."
Elianora's smile faltered.
"Kaidën is foolish to think he can rescue you," she sneered. "King Charles will crush him."
Calantha's resolve strengthened.
"You underestimate Kaidën," she said. "He will come for me, and when he does..."
Elianora's eyes narrowed.
"Enjoy your fantasies, princess. They'll be your only comfort soon."
With that, Elianora stormed out, leaving Calantha to her thoughts.
............
Kaidën paced the castle's strategy room, mind racing.
"There must be a place we're not looking into," he said, frustration etched on his face.
Lord Thomas shook his head.
"I've reviewed every report, Your Majesty. We've scoured every location, every ally, every enemy. I know of no other leads."
Kaidën stopped pacing, eyes locked on Lord Thomas.
"Think, Thomas. What have we missed?"
Lord Thomas hesitated.
"Perhaps...we've been too focused on King Charles' strongholds. What if she's being held in a lesser-known location?"
Kaidën's gaze intensified.
"Get me maps of every village, every town, every estate within a hundred miles. We'll search every inch."
Lord Thomas nodded.
"And what about spies, Your Majesty? We could infiltrate King Charles' inner circle."
Kaidën's jaw clenched.
"Do it. I want eyes and ears everywhere."
As Lord Thomas hurried to obey, Kaidën's thoughts turned to Calantha.
Hold on, my love. I'm coming.
YOU ARE READING
The Reluctant Bride
Narrativa Storica"When duty demands sacrifice, can love conquer all? In a world of royal politics and ancient alliances, Princess Calantha Valtania is forced into a marriage with Prince Kaidën Valorian of Eldrida. But Calantha's heart rebels against the arrangemen. ...
