As I waited outside of the estate, ready to take Alice to her baptism, a concerned maid ran out of the door instead. She came up to me before bowing her head and delivering some information.

“What do you mean she is gone!!!” I yelled, lashing out at the maid in amidst my anger.

Alice was missing, she had abandoned me on the most important day, she had made a fool of me. “What are those guards even doing?” I murmured. After my initial outburst I had recreated my air of composure, making it look as though I were completely calm, however, within, I felt angry. I was very angry.

How dare that common wench show such disrespect, I shall have her found and punished. She may genetically be a royal, no doubt, but she was still a commoner before I found her, she will always be a commoner.

I swiftly turned around and stepped into the carriage. I would go to the baptism, I would inform them that she had ‘taken ill’ while I sent soldiers to search for a young girl with blue eyes. Nobody had ever seen Alice before apart from the staff so I could send the soldiers without them knowing exactly who they were looking for.

That commoner will be found soon, she is troublesome, she is smart. The old one may have been better, but she too began to doubt me. This one still hasn't gone so far, but perhaps I should've kept the other one around. After threatening to report my actions, I had thought that she couldn't get any worse. But now, she may have been better, this one dared to make a fool of me, she shall pay in due time. Soon I shall have more power, perhaps waging a war to track her down wouldn't be so bad after all...

The carriage halted suddenly, the coachman telling me, “we have arrived, my lord.”

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I simply nodded in response, stepping out of the carriage and approaching an acquaintance of mine, the marquess.

“Greetings, the God Ermes seems to be in good spirits today, for we have been lucky enough to cross paths.”

The marquess returned my greeting before we began to speak.

“Where is your daughter? I had heard that her baptism would be today.”

“She is feeling ill, and as a result was unable to attend on this fine day.” I explained.

“Such a shame, I hope her recovery is fast and swift.” The marquess said.

“Yes”, I agreed.

We concluded our conversation before I turned my attention to the crowds of nobles, some with their children.

“It is a pleasure to see you all well on this auspicious day, today shall be an important event in the lives of many of your children, the day that they shall become true members of society. My daughter was unable to be here today, however she wished your children the best of luck in their aptitude ratings. I too, wish you all the best of luck, this event shall now commence!” I announced.

Such a hassle, if only that plebeian hadn’t messed up my plans.

I stepped down from the stage, the commander of my knights walking up to me, “Ah, I take it that you have found the girl?” I asked. “Apologies my lord, she has not been found, it is likely that the girl has already left the duchy.”

My business smile twitched. If she had left, then we would be unable to find her, sending troops into another duchy was as good as a declaration of war. I stepped back onto the stage, prepared to save face. I began to make another announcement.

“Nobles, please proceed with today's events in my absence. It seems that my daughter’s condition has worsened, she is unlikely to survive. I must leave you all on this day, but I am certain that the events shall run smoothly under the superb supervision of my knight's captain. Goodbye”.

With that simple speech I left, needing to find Albert so that I could get him out of the house.

Once I had arrived at the estate, I practically ran over to Albert’s office. Explaining his sisters ‘condition’. I told him that she was contagious, that he couldn’t visit, then he mentioned, “Oh yes, she did say that she wasn’t feeling well last night. Perhaps it worsened.”

I sighed a breath of relief, he had bought it. Now I simply needed to clean up this colossal mess my adoptive daughter had caused.