CHAPTER - 11

• Charlotte’s POV •

After weeks of investigation, Charlotte, a gifted young witch, finally uncovered a clue regarding the whereabouts of her sister, Angelica De Valentine. Angelica had mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind only faint and cryptic traces of her existence.

With unwavering determination, Charlotte poured all her power into finding her missing sister. Morning, noon, and night, she tirelessly conducted magical experiments and rituals, desperate to unravel the mystery behind Angelica’s disappearance.

One bright morning, her heart surged with excitement as she stumbled upon a crucial lead. With sparkling eyes, she sprinted towards her father’s study—Maximilian De Valentine—convinced he could aid her search.

“Father! Father!” Charlotte called breathlessly as she rushed towards the door.

Without waiting for permission, she flung the door open, her face alight with newfound hope.

“Father! I’ve found a clue about Onee-sama’s whereabouts!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

Maximilian turned swiftly, his stern and resolute expression giving way to a look of intrigue.

“Is that true, Charlotte? What have you discovered?” he asked, his voice laced with hope and curiosity.

With fervor, Charlotte began explaining everything she had uncovered—the cryptic clues, the magical spells, and the possible location where Angelica might be.

“I believe Onee-sama is in a distant continent, far from this land… I deduced this from the magical tracking device I created. The faint energy signature suggests she’s somewhere incredibly far away,” Charlotte explained confidently, holding up the magical tool she had crafted.

Listening intently, Maximilian’s serious demeanor softened into relief.

“So, Angelica is still alive. I’m grateful. Well done, Charlotte.” He gently ruffled her hair, his smile radiating both pride and hope.

“From here on, I’ll take charge. I will dispatch elite forces to search for Angelica,” Maximilian declared with firm authority.

Charlotte nodded eagerly, placing her full trust in her father. With his resources and the elite forces at his command, their chances of finding Angelica had significantly increased.

“Thank you, Father. With your help, I’m certain we can find Onee-sama. I’ll also continue refining my device to pinpoint her exact location,” she said, her voice filled with determination and gratitude.

“Yes, Charlotte, I’ll be counting on you as well.”

Now, both Charlotte and Maximilian stood united in their resolve. With the aid of Charlotte’s advanced magical tool and Maximilian’s elite troops, they were determined to uncover the truth behind Angelica’s disappearance and bring her home.

• Maximilian De Valentine’s POV •

Upon hearing Charlotte’s findings, Maximilian wasted no time assembling his elite forces to embark on a mission across continents in search of Angelica.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridors as armored soldiers swiftly made their way toward Maximilian’s study.

BANG!

“FATHER!” A voice, laced with anxiety and urgency, thundered through the room.

The door flew open, revealing Olivier De Valentine—the eldest son of the Duke Valentine family and the heir to their noble lineage.

Fresh from the battlefield, Olivier had not even removed his armor nor changed his clothes. He strode in hurriedly, his presence commanding attention.

“Father! Is it true? Has Angelica really gone missing!?” Olivier’s voice trembled with barely restrained emotion. “And is it also true what people are saying? That those treacherous bastards handed Angelica over to our enemies?!” His eyes blazed with fury.

Maximilian remained composed yet firm. “Olivier, calm yourself first,” he said, meeting his son’s fierce gaze with quiet authority.

“It’s true that Angelica is missing, and the Crown Prince has severed ties with her. But that was inevitable. You’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you? About how the prince mistreated Angelica.” Maximilian’s voice turned cold, laced with an undercurrent of steel.

“THAT BASTARD!!! I’LL KILL HIM!” Olivier roared, unsheathing his sword and preparing to storm out.

But before he could take another step, Maximilian seized his arm, halting him in his tracks.

“Control your emotions, Olivier. He is still the Crown Prince, even if his right to the throne has been revoked. He remains part of the royal family. Wait,” Maximilian’s voice was grave yet measured. “For now, we must focus on Charlotte’s discovery. She has found a lead on Angelica’s whereabouts, and I must act quickly to deploy our forces.”

Though still seething with rage, Olivier found solace in the news of a clue. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain composure.

“Very well, Father. I’ll restrain myself… Tell me more about Charlotte’s findings.” His voice was calmer, but the fire in his eyes remained.

Maximilian proceeded to relay the information Charlotte had uncovered. With the elite troops at their disposal and the critical lead provided by Charlotte, both father and son felt their chances of retrieving Angelica were steadily increasing.

“We must work together, Olivier. With the help of our forces and Charlotte’s clues, we must find Angelica as soon as possible. Every moment is precious,” Maximilian declared with unwavering resolve.

• Crown Prince’s POV •

While Maximilian and Olivier mobilized their forces, chaos simmered within the royal palace.

A prince, stripped of his birthright and now under house arrest, drowned in his own rage and despair.

His chambers were in shambles—dark and suffocating, devoid of light. The remnants of magical bursts and slashed fabric lay strewn across the room, bearing witness to his unchecked fury.

“Damn it! Why is this happening!? What have I done to deserve this!?” He muttered bitterly, his eyes wild with madness. “Yes, yes… this is all Angelica’s fault! That wretched woman! I’ll kill her!! Ahahahahaha!!!!!”

Beyond the chamber walls, the sound of commotion grew louder.

“DAMN YOU, FILTHY COMMONERS! CAN’T YOU SHUT UP?!” The prince’s voice boomed with uncontrollable rage.

“HEY! YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT THE PRINCE!” a guard barked from outside the door.

But then, a chilling voice, smooth yet deadly, cut through the noise.

“Ehehehe… Would you kindly step aside?”

The moment the guards locked eyes with the woman, they fell under her spell—hypnotized by her ethereal beauty and overwhelming presence. Without hesitation, they unlocked the prince’s door.

As the door swung open, Prince Edward came into view—a pitiful sight. His once regal appearance was now reduced to disheveled hair, torn clothing, and a face contorted with desperation.

“My dear Prince Edward~” The woman’s voice dripped with sweetness.

“Mary!” Edward gasped, his voice a mix of relief and longing.

Mary Windsor—the enigmatic woman who had twisted Edward’s fate—stood before him, her expression unreadable yet exuding an undeniable air of power.

“Prince Edward, we must leave this place immediately,” she stated with quiet urgency.

“What’s going on, Mary?” Edward’s confusion deepened.

“I overheard something… You are to be executed—by guillotine,” Mary whispered gravely.

“What!? Execution!? This is madness! Did my father approve this!?” Edward cried out, panic seizing his chest.

Mary sighed, her face painted with feigned sorrow. “Unfortunately, it seems the king has fallen under the mind control of Angelica’s magic.”

“What!? Impossible… ANGELICA!!!!!” Edward’s enraged scream echoed through the chamber, laced with betrayal and anguish.

As Edward trembled with fury, Mary pulled him into a gentle embrace.

“Shhh… Don’t worry. I’m here to save you,” she murmured softly, her grip tightening.

Yet, in the darkness behind her, a sinister shadow loomed—its eerie, twisted grin silently watching as the pieces of fate continued to shift.