Calhoun stood at his tower, staring far into the distance. His eyes twitched now and then.

He had torn the maid who saw Diana leave into shreds and he did not feel any better. No. Instead, he felt worse.

What if the girl knew the direction in which Diana had gone?

How could he know now?

He exhaled sharply. He heard footsteps approaching. From the sound they made on the marble floor, he could tell it was George.

"My king!" George bowed. "I have searched everywhere in the kingdom and the lady is nowhere to be found."

Calhoun inhaled sharply at George's last five words. Nowhere to be found? How could she be nowhere to be found? Did she have another relative in another kingdom?

"Call. Me. Thomas." He said emphatically, separating each word with a labored breath. George did not need to be told twice. He quickly left the king's presence. He felt sorry for Diana if she was ever found.

Calhoun sighed softly. He turned away from the view of the sky which he had watched turn darker and darker. He returned to his chamber.

"Fetch Nichole." He said to a guard by the side. The man bowed and went to get the head maid. The poor girl was shaking in fear.

"S..s..sir." She stuttered and bowed her face down. Calhoun did not spare her a glance. He did not want to get angry.

"Assign me another maid." He ordered. Nichole bowed and hurried out of his chamber. She had always wanted to be favored by him to serve him, but now that the opportunity came, she didn't want it anymore.

A few minutes after she left, another maid walked in. She had just returned from a visit to her family house and did not know what had happened earlier in the castle.

"My king, Nichole said you asked for me." She said softly with a deep bow. Her voice was soft and cautious, very similar to Diana's. Calhoun turned so fast and when he saw that it wasn't Diana, he got angry again.

"Who are you?" He demanded.

"Me? I. I am Pat." She said softly. "Nichole said you needed a personal maid."

"Make my bath water. Perfect degree." He ordered. The lady stood there without moving an inch.

"Why are you still standing there? Did you not hear me? Are you deaf or dumb?"

"My king, you said the perfect degree and I don't know what that is. How do you want it, hot or cold? Warm? Lukewarm or warm?"

"Don't ask me any stupid questions!" Calhoun roared. His eyes glowed red. The girl shifted in her spot. She didn't know what she said to get the man angry. Also, why did it seem like everywhere was too quiet?

"Get out." Calhoun spat. Pat didn't wait to be told twice, she left his chamber. Calhoun sat there alone, reminiscing about his time with Diana.

"I want my bath ready, Diana. Make it perfect." He ordered. Diana didn't question him. She knew that she only had two questions a day and she didn't want to waste it. She went into the bathtub and mixed his water. When he touched it, he smirked.

"How do you know what I like? You're so observant darling, I like that." He said, caressing her chin. She had tried to remove her face but he gripped it even firmer. She winced slightly and it only made him chuckle.

"Be good, darling." He said. "Now, undress me."

Diana's face flushed red. "How.. how can you-"

"Ah ah ah." He asked. "Two questions to remember. Don't waste it on a rhetorical question because I won't answer and that's your loss."

Diana scowled behind him. She reached out to his buttons and undid them. She pulled the shirt off him roughly.

"What the hell, Diana? Do you wish to injure me and incur death?" He demanded. "Take it off, slowly. Your entire worth cannot buy that single shirt, so don't rumble it." Diana fumed. Nevertheless, she obeyed quietly. She took off his clothes and watched him soak in the bath.

"Don't just stand there, cone, and wash my body! Don't you know what being a slave means? Have you never been a slave before?"

Diana shook her head.

"No? No, you will wash my body, or no you have been a slave before? Or perhaps no, you don't know what it means to be a slave?"

Diana sighed softly. She walked to the tip of the bath and knelt. She grabbed the soap and sponge, soaked the sponge, and rubbed the soap all over it. Calhoun's sponge was as soft as a baby's foam, she got jealous. After lathering the soap all over his body, she began to scrub softly. Calhoun gave a content grunt now and then and it only made her turn more shades darker.

"Why are your cheeks red? Have you never bathed a man before?"

"Yes." She whispered.

"Yes, you have?" He asked. "Or yes you have not?"

"Do you always twist people's words to suit your needs?" She whispered, staring down at his firm body that glistened under the warm light.

"That is one question." He stated.

"I'm aware. And it's not a rhetorical question."

"Not? You won't dare force the king to answer your question, would you?"

"The king gave his word, he must keep it," Diana replied.

"And that is exactly what I will do, keep my word." He said. "Yes, Diana. I twist people's words to suit my needs. But isn't that just wonderful? And a rare talent too! C'mon, you have to scrub that part properly."

He sighed to himself. Her second question that night was one he never answered. How did she submit to him so easily? How did she know what suited his needs? He always mistreated her, and insulted her before everyone and she would swallow it and still offer him a nice smile.

He remembered one night, her question had been; could you even respect me even as a regular maid for just one day?

His answer was firm and unthoughtful, no.

"My King," George muttered. "You have been seated in the same position for hours. Your back must be aching."

Calhoun did not respond. He was still reminiscing about his time with Diana. How well she took care of him and all.

"My king," George called a bit louder. Calhoun turned to glare at him. "She's gone. She left.."

"Don't you dare complete that statement," Calhoun warned. "Your job is to find her. Find her. Find her. Find her. Find her!!"

"How many times do I have to say it before you do?!"

"But my king, we have searched the entire kingdom!" George reasoned. Why was Calhoun so hell-bent on finding her anyway? Did he not say she was only a slave?

"Where is Thomas anyway?" Calhoun inquired.

"We couldn't find him at home. His neighbors said they also haven't seen him for three to four days now." George said with a light shrug.

"You cannot be serious. Did you search for him everywhere in the kingdom? Or were you waiting for my call too?"

"My king, I wanted to know what you would suggest first."

"Get out, George. Don't return until you have found Diana or Thomas!"

"Y..yes sir." George strutted out of the room. Calhoun exhaled again. "Fetch me, Nichole." He said again.

The same guard who had previously gone went to fetch the head maid again.

"Sir?" Nichole bowed as soon as she got in. "You sent for"

"Fetch me Pat." He ordered.

"P..pat? Wh- ooh. Do you mean Tricia? I will get her now."

The head maid once again hurried out from his chamber, and not long after, Pat entered.

"My King-"

"Make it lukewarm." That was all he said and then he began undressing shamelessly.

Diana sat down on the train. She knew that she would probably be on the radar if she ran or walked or took a cab. She used the train instead. Sitting there with a few of her clothes which she had stolen from her home on her way, she stared back at the place she had left.

Honestly, she missed the castle already. She missed Calhoun's face and his voice. The feel of his skin under her hand whenever she bathed him.

"Relax, Diana. You cannot be moved now. You have come too far to give up." She murmured. "For the sake of your baby."

Her hands subconsciously went to her stomach and she rubbed it softly.

"Too bad your daddy is an idiot who doesn't give a fickle about anyone else." She whispered, staring down at her stomach.

The train had its first stop, miles away from the kingdom. If anyone came to find her, it would take them hours to get to her location and she would have taken off before then.

She smiled as she alighted the train. The air smelled different and it made her feel nauseated instantly. She covered her mouth and turned to the corner where she bent over and began to throw up.

She felt someone tap her back and she caught the hand immediately. The lady raised the other hand.

"Sorry, I only wanted to ease you up a bit." The lady apologized. Diana slowly let go of the hand.

"Sorry, I... it's just I don't know anybody here." Diana said. She stood up after emptying her bowel. The lady handed her a flask of water. Diana took it and rinsed her mouth.

"Take a sip too." The lady urged. Diana didn't want to hold the flask any longer because it was silver and it was making her feel weak already. She shook her head.

"C'mon, it will help. Alright, let me pour the water in your mouth?"

Diana sighed as if she just gave in because the woman insisted. The lady did not know that she accepted because she offered to hold the flask.

Diana opened her mouth and the lady poured a small amount into her mouth, and she swallowed it. She felt a little better.

"Have you eaten anything yet? It's nearly noon." The lady said. "I'm Maggie."

"Hello Maggie, I'm Diana. I haven't eaten anything but then again, I haven't seen anything that catches my fancy."

"What are you craving?" Maggie asked. "You know, I might think you're pregnant but that will be based on what you say you're craving."

Diana chuckled. "I think I want to eat meat. But I don't want it thoroughly cooked. I want it slightly raw."

Maggie smirked. "Pregnant, yes. That is a very weird craving but I understand. I'm a mother myself."

"Yay." Diana cheered sarcastically. "Where can I find that?"

"I think you will have to special order it. Let's head to a food house that's close by." Maggie pulled Diana to a mock eatery. She sat down and went to place the order for their food.

"Hi, we want a slice of meat that is half done. Let the raw mean still taste out please." Maggie said. "I will just have salad, thanks."

She returned to find Diana still and quiet.

"What's the matter?" She asked. "Are you okay? Heartbroken? You know, traveling alone as a newly pregnant lady tells a lot about your relationship with your husband."

"I was never married," Diana whispered. "It just happened."

"That's even worse. How could it have just happened? Was he drunk?" Maggie demanded.

"Drunk? Perhaps. I don't recall exactly." Diana replied, shying away from the question.

Maggie understood. "That's alright. Hey, eat the meat and tell me how it tastes alright?"

Diana nodded. Maggie talked a whole lot and she was already tired of her.

"What town are you headed to? I'm going to Sunshine town." Maggie said. Diana felt a little relief. Maggie's stop was only a day away. Her journey was still two days ahead.

"I.... I'm headed to the last stop of the train." Diana said. She didn't know the place but she wanted to go there because it was the farthest she could go on such a cheap ride.

"Fraco? Jeez. What will you be doing there?" Maggie asked. "That place is horrible!"

Calhoun was refreshed by the following morning. He had concluded by night, and that was that he was in love with Diana. He couldn't stay without her. What annoyed him the most was that he began to feel all sorts of feelings after she had left!

"I think she might have intentionally run away."

"Perhaps she got fed up with the constant embarrassment?"

"You can't say for sure. Listen, she isn't the only one who gets embarrassed by the king."

"My king." The beta called. "Listen, my king, we gave to figure out a way to stop the people from being alerted."

Calhoun did not say anything.

"My king?" He called again. "My king, are you listening to us?"

"My king, I think the lady is not that important." His beta said. Calhoun was not paying attention to every other thing being said but that one sank in.

He turned aggressively towards the man. His cruel expression turned even more deadly when he scowled. The other man shivered a little. Did he speak out of line? Did he offend the other man?

"Come again," Calhoun said.

"S..sir?"

"I said, come again."

"Oh, my king." The man chuckled softly. "I.. I didn't mean it that way. I was only trying to get your attention."

"Better," Calhoun growled. "Listen, I give you all an assignment today. Everyone must search in his town for Diana. Everyone! There shall be no rest in this kingdom until Diana is found! Otherwise, I want to see Thomas!"

George came and stood beside him. "Sire, the guards have just returned, they say they have Thomas with them."

Calhoun narrowed his eyes at the news he had just heard. "Meeting dismissed."

The other men got up and left but not without bowing to him.

"George," Calhoun called. The other man bowed behind him. "Bring me, Thomas."

George left to fetch the older man who was visibly shaken by the news he had heard. He never believed Diana would play him dirty.

"My king!" Thomas greeted meekly with a very low bow.

"Thomas, where is Diana?" Calhoun went straight to the point. "She left the castle yesterday by dusk and I haven't set eyes on her ever since. Rumors say that she was spotted at the house not up to an hour after she left here."

"My king, I apologize but I haven't ever set my eyes on Diana since she moved here. Maybe once or twice in the market but aside from that, no. Also, I have only just returned home from a trip to the neighboring town."

Calhoun narrowed his eyes again. "Do you dare lie to me?!" He demanded.

Thomas put his face to the floor. "Never my king. I speak only the truth!"

"Get up," Calhoun ordered. Thomas got up shakily but kept his face on the floor. "Leave us."

The guards left the room where they were. Calhoun turned to George. "You too."

George bowed and left as well. He silently prayed for Thomas.

"Sit down, Thomas." The man said. His voice sounded so compelling, Thomas found himself glued to the seat. Calhoun's angry face was terrifying but his silence was far worse. Nobody knew what to expect.

"Tell me everything about her." He said slowly. "If you miss any detail, I will have you slaughtered."

Thomas gulped. "My king I.. I wouldn't know much about her because I am her stepfather. I only remarried her mother when she was about fifteen years of age. Her mother died when she was eighteen. Diana had been quiet ever since. She never played out at all."

"Sometimes I wondered if she ever felt bored or lonely, but she never allowed me to be there for her, so I didn't bother myself at all."

"But Diana is hardworking so long as she can be appreciated. Honestly, my king, I wouldn't lie that I didn't see this coming. I just didn't say anything because I never really expected her to run away from you know it would not take long to find her, and she would be in huge trouble if she was found."

Calhoun stroked his chin. "Tell me more. Why did you think she would escape?"

"Diana had always wanted freedom," Thomas said. "She always wanted someone who would allow her to do the things she loved to do."

"Are you not her stepfather?" Calhoun inquired. "Why then did you never make her happy? You should be jailed."

Thomas began to sweat. How did the tables turn? Yes, he never treated her well but it was never enough to send her far away!

"M..my king.." Thomas stuttered. "Jailed? I'm sorry my king, I-"

"Shut up," Calhoun ordered. "George!" He called firmly. In no time the other man was behind him with a low bow.

"Take this man to the dungeon. Keep him there until I say otherwise."

"No, my king! No no, please! I have a clue about where she might be, please free me!" Thomas begged. "She.. she has a distant relative living in Sunshine town."

Calhoun hummed in thought. Sunshine town was still about twenty-four hours away. If they left, they could probably still catch up but it will be at the place itself.

"Sunshine eh?" Calhoun asked. "George, send a few innocent messengers to go and search for her there."

"My king-" George tried to refute but one glare from Calhoun and he was up and doing. "Never mind my king. I shall assign the men."

Calhoun watched George leave with Thomas behind him. He sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Diana, look what you have put me through. What the hell would you benefit if you do this to me? Please come back out, I cannot do without you here. Nobody understands me." He whispered. His eyes were closed so he missed the sinister stare that passed through the eyes of one of his guards.

The man glared with all evil intent at his king, and he was unapologetic.