Burning Passion

CHAPTER 250: CHARITY BALL (SEARCHING)

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Searching the rooms around, but no sign of Nina. Jessica was in great uneasiness. She tried to remain calm, following Greg around. But different scenarios began playing in her head and gave chills down to her body.

Meanwhile, Albert and Steven went in the opposite direction, looking at both Sarah and Nina. They check all the rooms that open for the guest but no shadow of Nina, nor sign of Sarah. 

"Albert!" Greg runs toward Albert when they meet in a corridor from different directions. "You haven't found them yet?" Nervously, Greg asked the prince. 

Albert is shaking his head, his face filled with worry not only because of Nina's disappearance but also his sister. 

Later, Steven joins them, who didn't find either Nina or Sarah. He asked Albert, "They can't leave the palace, right?" 

"Impossible. They know how important this event is," Albert replied. Frustration senses in his voice. That is understandable when his sister is also missing. His gaze could not hide his resentment that someone dared to do a crime right in front of his eyes. 

"Maybe we should notify the royal guards and help us find them in secret," Greg suggested. It also disturbs him that in a few minutes since he left to get a drink, Nina suddenly disappeared to the place he left her. What confused him, how it happens, and who dares to do it? 

Albert heaves a furious sigh before he speaks. "You guys wait here. I will inform my father of the situation before we search the entire palace." 

They agreed with Albert's plan. But Steven is impatient. He was pacing back and forth in the middle of the corridor. Jessica was secretly observing him. She could tell that he truly loves her Miss… however, Nina only thinks of him as a friend. Somehow, Jessica began admiring Steven's dedication to showing his love for her Miss. 

Restless that Nina hasn't found yet, Steven wants to search further. This palace is too huge. They only occupied half of it, and the rest was close.

"I'm going to continue looking for Nina in the close rooms. The culprit surely couldn't leave because of the security outside. Nina or Sarah remain inside and hidden elsewhere in the palace." 

"I will join you, Steven!" said Greg. He turned his head to Jessica to leave a message for Albert. 

"Okay. I will tell him!" Jessica helplessly watches their back disappear in the door, leading to the other side of the palace. 

After ten minutes, Albert finally returns along with two royal bodyguards of his family. 

"Where are they?" he asked Jessica, observing that Steven and Greg are gone. 

Teary-eyed, Jessica replied, "Prince Albert, they couldn't just stay here, so they continued looking for Miss Nina and Princess Sarah." 

"Okay. You better stay here. We don't know how many of them are. We have to be cautious." 

Nodding, Jessica concurred, "I understood, Prince Albert." 

Jessica prayed that Nina and Sarah were alright. If they were still here, then it won't take long to find them. 

Meanwhile, the news already reached the Queen's ears. Even how rage she was, but she must stay calm and proceed with the Ball. She ordered the dinner to serve, and they invited all the guests to head to the Dining Hall. 

The Queen summoned Victor, Albert's father. He sat next to her while she confided to him. Victor nodded, he left without a word to the Queen. 

He walked toward their table and took his wife outside to have a private talk. 

"Victor, what's going on? Where's our children?" 

"Calm down. The Queen asked us to check if no one guest disappeared." 

"Why?" Creasing her forehead, Rebecca tried to recall all the guests' faces. She knew most of them. "Oh, my god! Sarah's friends are missing among the guests!" she stuttered.

"The dress!" she burst out after realizing the picture.

Victor nodded, and said, "Our daughter is also missing." 

"What?!" 

"Shush! Don't overreact. No one should notice that something is going on." 

"Where's Albert? He was just here before dinner was announced!?" 

"He came and informed me about what happened. He and his friends are now looking for them. What I am asking you is, aside from them, is someone in the guests also missing?" 

Rebecca stared at her husband, Victor, the King of Jeneva. Slowly, her eyes widened. Her beautiful face displayed a horrific reaction. 

"What is it?" Victor creases his brows. He believes his wife has figured out something now. 

"I saw James! And he's not at the banquet!" 

"What? When?" Victor clenches his fists. Why didn't he notice that guy?

"That was earlier." 

"If that is true. How is he able to take the two girls with him?" Victor peered at his wife. The more questions he threw at her, the more she was troubled. 

"He brought two of his friends," Rebecca replied in a weak voice. Horrible feelings overwhelm her chest, thinking her daughter was taken away, and worse, James is out of his mind!

"Fuck! I need to help to look for them!" King Victor settled himself. He has to act casually to solve this problem that seems to involve his family. "Go back inside and tell the Queen that I'm taking care of this matter," his request to his queen.

"But Victor… I can't remain calm!" 

"You need to!" Victor said in a firm tone. He tried to sound comforting despite his anger. "But I won't forgive your nephew if he did something to our daughter!" 

"I understand. Please, save her now. I will go back and talk to the Queen." 

Nodding, Victor reached his wife's back and patted lightly. "Okay. Just calm down. James couldn't leave the palace without being suspicious. I will notify all the royal guards to watch all the exit of this palace and even the windows." 

"Okay. Take care." 

Victor left, Rebecca heaved a long sigh. She released it and fixed her gown, pursing a warm smile on her face when she entered the dining hall. 

Meanwhile, Steven and Greg finally found Nina. They were walking in the corridor toward the south part of the palace when they heard two faint voices arguing. When Steven peeps in between the partly open door, his eyes widened seeing Nina lying on the floor and the two guys arguing with something.

He understood what they were discussing. Instantly, Steven's blood boiling from anger. He kicked the door and rushed inside, throwing his punches one after the other. One attempt to return a punch toward him, he kicked him hard, shoving him in the corner. 

The first guy he punched instantly lost consciousness. Greg, who attempted to help Steven, left frozen in the door, not able to take another step. 

Everything happens so fast. Steven quickly knocks out the two guys. 

"Nina!" Steven squatted on the floor. "Greg, can you find the switch in this room?" 

Remaining silent on the door, Greg finally came back to his senses. "Okay!" 

Greg finds the switch light. Finally, the room filled the light. Steven carefully examined Nina's body. Her face and arm, Steven, gently scanned her smooth skin. He felt relieved when no bruises were found. 

"How was Nina?" asked Greg.

Before he responded, Steven sighed with relief. "I think she just lost consciousness." 

"I'm glad." But Greg then remembered that they forgot one thing. "Sarah!" 

Greg runs outside and searches the other rooms, but Sarah is nowhere to be found.