The moment Arlienne realized her children were gone, fear turned into something far more dangerous.
Rage.
She stormed back into the palace halls like a white flame, her long snow-white hair flowing wildly behind her. Guards scrambled to keep up as she pushed past stunned nobles and foreign guests.
Her voice echoed through the palace.
"WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?!"
The banquet hall froze.
Music stopped.
Conversations died.
Even Queen Lura stiffened on her throne.
Arlienne stood at the center of the hall, chest rising sharply, eyes blazing with fury.
"They disappeared inside the palace grounds," she shouted.
"Inside YOUR walls!"
King Aldren rose from his seat in shock.
"Arlienne—what are you saying?"
She turned on him like a blade.
"Our carriage driver was found unconscious," she said, voice trembling with restrained rage.
"He was drugged. Sleeping like the dead."
"And when I opened the carriage—Aster and Astra were gone."
Gasps rippled through the hall.
"Gone…?"
"Kidnapped?"
"Inside the palace?!"
Arlienne slammed her hand against a marble pillar.
"My children vanished from within your so-called secure palace compound."
Her voice cracked.
"Do you understand what that means, King Aldren?"
The king's face drained of color.
"That… that shouldn't be possible…"
Queen Lura stood slowly, feigning calm.
"You're accusing the palace without proof," she said coldly. "Perhaps they wandered—"
Arlienne snapped her head toward her.
"Do NOT speak," she hissed.
"My children are not fools. They are not careless. And they would NEVER leave without telling me."
Her gaze burned.
"If anything has happened to them," Arlienne continued, "this palace will answer for it."
The hall buzzed with panic.
Foreign dignitaries whispered urgently.
Nobles shifted uneasily.
The king clenched his fists.
Then—
A deep, steady voice cut through the chaos.
"Your Majesty."
A man stepped forward from among the nobles.
Tall. Broad-shouldered.
His presence alone carried power.
**Duke Leon Kingscrown.**
Beside him stood a young girl with sharp eyes and short silver-brown hair—
his second daughter, **Lea Kingscrown**, only twelve years old.
The Kingscrown family.
A house blessed with **Physical Magic**—a rare gift that allowed its users to multiply their physical abilities **tenfold**.
Strength.
Speed.
Endurance.
Living weapons.
Leon bowed respectfully to Arlienne first.
"Lady Arlienne… I swear on my name, this will not go unanswered."
Arlienne looked at him, stunned.
Leon turned to the king.
"Your Majesty, I request immediate permission to act."
King Aldren blinked. "Duke Kingscrown…?"
Leon's jaw tightened.
"I am a fan of the Snowflake twins," he said openly, unashamed.
"I have spoken with them before. I have heard their music. My family owes them gratitude."
Murmurs rose.
Leon continued:
"They once sang at my son's birthday. I commissioned them and the both of them were very good kids"
Lea clenched her fists beside him.
"They're not bad people," she said fiercely. "They don't deserve this."
Leon placed a hand on her shoulder, then faced Arlienne again.
"Lady Arlienne," he said firmly, "I promise you this—"
His eyes hardened.
"Whoever took your children has not left the kingdom yet."
The hall went dead silent.
Leon stepped forward.
"With Physical Magic, my knights can cover ground faster than any normal patrol."
"All gates will be sealed."
"Every road monitored."
"Every ship inspected."
He raised his voice so all could hear.
"Before the kidnappers take even a single step outside **Vornis**, we will find the Snowflake twins."
Arlienne's knees nearly buckled.
She stared at him—hope and terror mixing violently in her chest.
"You… you swear?" she whispered.
Leon dropped to one knee.
"On my honor as Duke of Vornis. On the name **Kingscrown**."
Lea followed, kneeling beside him.
"I'll help too," she said stubbornly. "I won't forgive anyone who hurts them."
Tears finally spilled from Arlienne's eyes.
She covered her mouth, trembling.
King Aldren looked between them, realization dawning.
"A kidnapping… inside the palace…" he murmured.
His gaze slowly turned toward Queen Lura.
She met his eyes calmly.
Too calmly.
Arlienne noticed.
And her heart sank.
Because in that moment—
She understood.
This was no accident.
This was betrayal.
The palace erupted into action.
Orders were shouted.
Knights rushed out.
Seals were placed on city gates.
Messengers flew toward borders.
But far away—
In a dark carriage racing through hidden roads—
Two children slept, unaware of the storm their disappearance had unleashed.
And a mother's fury now shook the kingdom of Vornis to its core.