59 The Princess is Missing Part 1

Rains wandered back the direction she believed home to be, looking for the path. There was no sign of it. She listened as hard as she could but heard nothing that sounded like palace life or her cousins laughing and playing.

Back in the clearing, The Emperor arrived and cast a warm smile to his wives and his grandchildren. Yet, there was something wrong with that smile as he glanced at the Empress' table, where his granddaughter should have sat. He turned to Queen Kira with his brow furrowed. She was normally the one entrusted to keep the children in line in the gardens.

"Did no one send for Princess Raina?" The Emperor asked seeming honestly concerned. Mally walked over and bowed to the Emperor, intending to speak when Queen Fae stood up.

"She was here Your Majesty, she may have gone back to her rooms. Perhaps she was not patient enough to wait." Queen Fae offered with a disapproving frown. "Ill mannered child." she added the last out of annoyance. Queen Kira shot her a look when the Emperor's expression darkened.

"She is four years old. Younger than any of your Grandsons, and has no mother to speak of. You should be more tolerant of her, Second Queen Fae." The Emperor began to chastise the Queen. "Moreover she has always waited patiently, even more than your son did as a teenager." There was a hint of anger in his eyes at her foolishness. Queen Kira nodded walking closer to him and smiling. There was a certain point that The Beast Emperor must be tamed.

"She also probably felt a bit alone. The poor child was so close to her grandmother. Perhaps she was sad and didn't want to bring down your mood? She's a considerate little one." Kira offered soothing the Emperor's temper. However, this didn't have the effect she expected as his eyes looked wistfully at the Cold Place beyond the gates.

"I was too hasty with My Empress. I never should have sent her away like that." he said softly before shaking his head. "I will go check on Raina in a bit. She may need reassurance that she belongs here. For now.. shall we play?" he asked his grandsons with a friendly smile. The children cheered and got up from their lessons.

Mally helped clean up, but noticed something in the grass near The Empress' table. She picked up the ink stone as well as the brush with a frown. This was odd… why would they be in the grass? Did Raina throw them there?

Mally carried the two instruments carefully and approached the Emperor. "Emperor… I found these in the grass…" Mally said showing him the brush and ink. He looked a bit surprised that she was bringing them to him until he noticed the designs on the brush.

"In the grass you say?" he asked taking the brush from her, turning away from the game of seek he had been playing with the boys. Mally internally sighed with relief that he had the same reactions she had.

"Raina doesn't throw tantrums…" The Emperor replied inspecting the brush for damage. Queen Fae smiled, seeing a chance to interject before he went looking for the brat.

"As you said, Emperor, She is just a child. She very well could have thrown a tantrum." Fae offered with a sweet innocent smile. Unfortunately, the Emperor wasn't looking at her for that dazzling effect.

"Your right she is. Tell me how 2 experienced mothers, and grandmothers no less didn't notice a two year old having a tantrum? If you did, where is she now and why didn't you mention it before?" he asked, his mood toward Fae quickly becoming short tempered. Queen Kira stayed back this time and focused on rounding up the boys. There was no reason to draw his ire on herself. Queen Fae was bringing this anger on herself.

"M...my Lord she's always been the quiet type… perhaps…" Queen Kira began to stutter but Mally spoke up.