Chapter 11: The Missing Princess
“Where is she?”
Alexander's voice shook the mansion.
The servants immediately panicked.
Nobody answered.
Nobody knew.
Until one servant stepped forward.
“Mr. Valemont…”
Alexander turned.
“What?”
The servant held a small piece of paper.
“It was found in Lily's room.”
Alexander grabbed it.
Three words were written.
"Bring the hairpin."
His blood turned cold.
Someone had taken Lily.
And they weren't after money.
They wanted the royal symbol.
The proof.
The thing that could destroy everything.
Alexander searched the mansion.
Every room.
Every hallway.
Every hidden entrance.
Then he remembered something.
The old underground archive.
A place only direct Valemont members knew about.
The place where family secrets were stored.
He rushed there.
The heavy door was slightly open.
Inside...
A candle was burning.
And someone was waiting.
“Looking for the child?”
Alexander stopped.
Richard Valemont stood in the darkness.
Holding Lily's velvet pouch.
Alexander's expression changed.
“Where is she?”
Richard smiled.
“She is safe.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“No.”
Richard looked calm.
“I protected the family.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“You are insane.”
Richard laughed.
“Do you know what happens when the world discovers Lily?”
Silence.
“They will take everything.”
Alexander stared.
“You mean they will expose everything.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“You are just like Isabella.”
The sentence made Alexander freeze.
Richard continued.
“She always thought truth mattered more than power.”
He shook his head.
“That weakness destroyed her.”
Alexander's fists tightened.
“Where is Lily?”
Richard slowly lifted the velvet pouch.
“The hairpin.”
“Give it to me.”
Richard smiled.
“You don't understand.”
He opened the pouch.
Inside were the old hairpins.
Except one was missing.
The royal one.
“The child already gave me what I needed.”
Alexander froze.
“What?”
Richard looked toward the hidden door behind him.
“She told me where her mother hid the original documents.”
Alexander's heart dropped.
Because he realized something.
Lily wasn't just taken.
She was being used.
Then a small voice echoed.
“Uncle Alex?”
Alexander turned.
Behind the glass wall...
Lily was standing there.
Alive.
Scared.
But brave.
Alexander immediately moved toward her.
“Lily!”
Richard blocked him.
“One step closer…”
May you like
He whispered.
“And you lose everything.”
