15 At the Capital II (2/2)

More used to the spectacle, Lady Ilse, Gisela, and their two older attendants just walked steadily across the vast floor, eyes barely flicking anywhere other than the grand central staircase carpeted in dark red.

Behind them, the minor dignitaries were also entering, and as early as a few steps in, they broke neatly into three groups. One each would return to the parlor rooms reserved for their use on either wings of the ground floor, and the third would descend the stairs after the royals, to rejoin their families who waited on the throne room on the second floor.

This third group, consisting mostly of youths, was surprised when the small group of women reached the landing and turned right instead of walking straight ahead.

None of them called out to ask what the matter was, however. That wasn't for them to inquire about. Of course, they can and will report the curious development to the respective heads of their families.

It was during these moments that many began recalling how a certain absentee royal was also supposed to have arrived. Princess Gisela's breathtaking beauty made them forget, but now they were each asking themselves… where was Princess Hilde?

When the noise made by the group of youths died down, indicating they had entered the throne room, Lady Ilse stopped in her tracks and stealthily scanned her surroundings. Satisfied that only palace servants were now present, she spoke to her daughter.

”I need to talk to the Queen,” she said in a lowered voice, wary that her words would echo. ”It's best that I do it alone. Would you rather wait for my return in our suites? Or perhaps you could go and sit with Prince Luca for a while?”

Gisela thought for a moment. ”If I could find him, I think I'll wait with Luca.”

During the briefest time that she had been preoccupied, her mother shot her two personal maids a sharp look. Unmistakably, it said, ”Do NOT let strange bugs get anywhere near my daughter.”

When Gisela gave her answer, her mother had met her eyes steadily. In a pleasant tone, she replied, ”If you could find him, then. I wager he misses you.”

Gisela beamed. ”I miss him, too. I'll see you later, Mother!”

Lady Ilse watched as Gisela and her two attendants retraced their steps to the staircase. Instead of descending, they kept going until they've reached the corridor that led to the left wing of the second floor, which served as the residential suites for members of the royal family.

After they were no longer in sight, Lady Ilse continued on her way, entering the right-wing corridor in turn. There were also residential suites in there reserved for guests, but most of its rooms were for administrative purposes. That was also where the Queen's personal study can be found.

Almost as soon as they entered the slightly dim corridor, Gisela saw a servant who might know of the young prince's whereabouts. Sure enough, she told Gisela that he could be found in his favorite sitting room. She knew quite well which one that was. She went deeper inside the wing's warren of corridors.

As she reached the door of the particular room, she heard indistinct sounds of clattering objects. Then, just as she was about to knock on the door, it flew wide open. A small figure came out at a run.

Noticing too late that there was a person in his way, the figure's head collided with Gisela's chest. The force nearly knocked them both over, but one of her maids braced her from behind just in time.

As swiftly as he ran into her, the curly-haired boy who could only be Prince Luca stepped away and looked up. Gisela saw that his chubby cheeks were pink and that his fine-lashed gray eyes were watering slightly due to some held-in emotion.

The moment he recognized Gisela, whatever he was holding in spilled out. However, instead of running towards the older girl again – this time to seek comfort – he completed his interrupted flight. Confused and slightly hurt, Gisela watched his small back disappearing deeper into the corridor, his reddish-blond locks bouncing wildly on top of his head.

A harried male attendant quickly made his blushing greeting to the princess, apologizing on Prince Luca's behalf and stating that she need not trouble herself, he'll be going after the prince to make sure he was all right. At her small nod of acknowledgment, the young male attendant went, still blushing.

This swift turn of events left Gisela standing there by the still-open door, lost on what to do next. She was making her mind up to follow Luca anyway when she heard a male voice come from inside the room.

”Ah—” the owner had said, as if only becoming aware of what had just happened.

Three pairs of female eyes turned to look inside the room, two of them full of panic. What they saw was a man, perhaps a year or two over twenty, standing by the light of one of the far windows. He was wearing a slightly crumpled white shirt whose sleeves had been rolled up. On the armchair beside him hung a gray jacket, and it didn't seem like it would be in a better condition than his shirt after he puts it on again. His brown hair, dark as his eyes, was straight and fell past his brows and ears.

If there was anything remarkable about him at first glance, it was the fact that he was incredibly… well, ”uncaring of personal appearance” would be the politest way of putting it.

Still, there was an inexplicably appealing air around him as he gazed absently in the general direction of the door, his forehead knotted, and vaguely commented, ”I think that was my fault.”