In the opulent halls of the palace, Adrasteia's piercing gaze bore into the trembling trio before her, her expression a mixture of concern and barely contained frustration.
"What do you mean she disappeared?" Her voice was sharp, her tone betraying the tension that coiled within her.
Deeva, the maid, stammered out her explanation, her words punctuated by fear. "L-Lise... We don't know where she is. W-We were at the magical show while Matilda went to buy the dress from a shop, and we planned to meet her there. But when we searched for her, she was nowhere to be found. Even after the show ended, she was still missing."
Adrasteia's heart sank as she listened to the maid's account. The image of Alicia, vulnerable and alone in an unknown situation, gnawed at her. She had only known the girl for a short time, but the thought of harm coming to her was unbearable.
