The rain pelted down while thunder shook the air. Making use of that cover... a black figure snuck into the furthermost room of the building. Their moments were both agile and precise. They knew exactly what they came for... they stopped in front of a particular display case.
???: "As long as we have this..."
The sound of a key turning echoed through the silence. The figure looked around anxiously... before snatching up the object that lay inside. Even when lit up by lightning and it still sparkled radiantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(How could the tiara possibly have been stolen...!?)
Claude had come flying into the room and there I stood and stuck completely dumb. Prince Wilfred spoke next to me.
Wilfred: "What do you mean? The royal tiara has been stolen?"
Claude seemed to be choosing his words before he spoke again.
Claude: "Yes. I still don't have all of the details..."
Claude: "But according to the report of the guard on duty..."
Claude: "It's clear of that the tiara has indeed been stolen."
Wilfred: "How could they be so careless...? Didn't the alarm go off?"
Claude: "Apparently not. What would Your Highness have me to do?"
He looked to us as he spoke.
(What can be done...?)
Prince Wilfred responed before I had a chance to say anything.
Wilfred: "We shall head there. Make the necessary preparations."
Claude bowed his head before he's hurrying away.
As alone once more and we immediately looked at each other.
Regina: "I never thought about this would happen..."
Wilfred: "No... you'll come with me won't you, Regina?"
Regina: "Yes, of course."
I nodded my head as I felt I couldn't sit back and watch this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(No way...!)
I stared at the empty display case in shock. There was no trace of the tiara... which had adorned the case only a few hours earlier. Claude looked ruefully down at the case and frowned.
Claude: "It does appear to have been taken."
Regina: "You're right..."
(But who would do a thing like this...?)
I was feeling hopeless when Prince Wilfred placed his hand on mine. He said nothing as he gave my hand a squeeze. As seeing how calm is he was helped my own feelings to settle.
(Wilfred...)
I squeezed back and he seemed to snap out of something as he turned to me. We stared at each other for a moment before we heard the footsteps coming our way. We turned around to see the Ellen Art Gallery Curator had arrived.
Curator: "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Curator: "This is the first time our security system has ever failed."
It seemed of that he had been trying to recover the security system up until that point.
(But how did it fail in the first place?)
Claude started questioning him immediately.
Claude: "Could it have been cause by a lightning strike?"
The storm outside had already abated by the time as we arrived. But the storm in our hearts had not.
Curator: "I can't rule it out."
Curator: "There was certainly a lot of electricity in the air tonigt."
(Lightning caused of this?)
(But then... wouldn't it fail every time as there's a storm?)
Prince WIlfred had been silent up until that point but then queried.
Wilfred: "Nobody could have opened that case without the key, isn't that correct?"
Curator: "Yes, that's right."
Claude: "So, even if the security system failed..."
Claude: "Or if that was caused by a storm..."
Claude: "Nobody could have stolen it without the key."
The curator looked confused as Claude came up to him.
Curator: "I'm just as puzzled by this as anyone else."
Curator: "There are only a select few who have a key to this case."
Regina: "So that must mean..."
(The thief is one of the people working with the exhibition...!?)
Everyone seemed to be thinking about the same thing. The silence was stifling. Prince Wilfred broke the silence with a whisper.
Wilfred: "I don't want to point the finger at anyone..."
Wilfred: "But looking at the facts it does seem probably that it was a staff member who has done this."
The atmosphere was tense and the curator's face fell at these words.
Curator: "Yes, you're right..."
Wilfred: "Although I can perhaps think of one other possibility..."
The curator had hung his head slightly but he lifted his head again at these words.
Curator: "There have been several cases worldwide..."
(Cases worldwide...? Oh...)
I remembered what I had seen on the news about the day before.
Claude: "You mean that crime syndicate?"
Recently a group of thieves had been targeting large musems and art galleries. There was talk of it globally.
Curator: "How could that be...?"
The curator held his head in his hands and Prince Wilfred spoke plainly.
Wilfred: "Well if it's them as they apparently have the ability to get past any security system."
(They were saying about that on the news...)
Claude: "I see. I had heard that they tend to strike on nights as where the weather is bad."
Claude: "It was raining tonight... but that increases the likelihood of it being them."
Wilfred spoke to me.
Wilfred: "What do you think, Regina?"
(Hmm... what do I think? That crime group as does sound about suspicious...)
(But there's something about that doesn't seem right... hmm...)
Regina: "We don't have any proof and far too little information right now..."
Regina: "We need to do some more investigating."
Prince Wilfred looked at me as loving as I continued.
Regina: "When you think about the key, it's easy to point as the finger at someone involved in this project..."
Regina: "But the criminal group as seems suspicious considering the security system was down."
Regina: "So..."
Claude nodded decisively as I spoke.
Claude: "That's true."
Claude: "Just as Miss Regina has said as we need more information."
Wilfred: "Right..."
Prince Wilfred nodded satisfactorily and he touched his hand to my cheek.
Wilfred: "It's just as you say, Regina."
He began to stroke my cheek gently with his hand.
(There I go blurting out of things all on my own...)
Just then, I realize all the eyes in the room were on me.
(But I can't do this with Claude and the curator in here...)
I stepped away from him quickly because my cheeks are red, but I caught him smiling briefly.
Wilfred: "We'll need to look deeply into this if we stand any chance of getting that tiara back."
My own featured relaxed as he smiled calmly in front of me.
Regina: "Yes."
Just then, I heard the sound of someone who clearing their throat. It was the curator who had been listening silently up until that point.
Curator: "We'll continue investigations here and report to you what we find."
Wilfred: "Yes, it's already late, we must be going. I leave this to you, Curator."
The curator bowed his head in acknowledgement.
Curator: "I will keep this quiet for now, Your Highness."
Wilfred: "Thank you. We don't want any rumors."
Wilfred: "Claude, if you can ask the police to carry out of the investigation in secrect?"
Claude: "Understood. Do you have any issues with me as conducting my own investigation."
Wilfred: "Of course not."
And we left the art gallery together as without finding a shred of evidence. Next day. Prince Wilfred and I were visting the art gallery once more. The police were to be interviewing all of the involved and we elected to be there. But the investigation turned up about nothing. Their questioning are over and people started to leave.
Regina: "I suppose it really can't have been on of them?"
Prince WIlfred answered quietly from beside me.
Wilfred: "I don't know yet."
He was looking at one person in particular as he spoke. I followed his gaze to see as he was staring at a rather nervous looking at Robert.
(Oh... he was in charge of maintenance for all of the jewelry...)
Wilfred: "Perhaps not in this case..."
The situation soon escalated.
Policeman: "What do you mean you lost the key to the gallery!?"
All eyes centered on Robert at the policeman's words.
(Wait... did he lot the key...!?)
Robert: "I only realized after hearing about what had happpened and I came straight here."
Robert's voice are faded in and out as he spoke and the policman frowned.
Policeman: "Oho? And just what are exactly about what were you doing last night?"
Robert: "Are you suspecting me?"
And with that question as he fell silent. His eyes darted here and there as if he was looking for something. The policeman grew suspicious as he watched these actions.
(Robert can't have...)
Just then, Wilfred walked up to Robert.
Wilfred: "Speak, Robert. You'll be suspected otherwise."
Robert looked startled and he raised his head as Prince Wilfred called a hand to his shoulder. He looked at Prince Wilfred for a moment. A sigh escaped from his lips as he nodded.
Robert: "Last night, I took my granddaughter, Anna want to see her mother is my daughter."
Wilfred: "You took her to see her mother?"
Robert: "Yes. My daughter collapsed from being overworked and she was in the hospital."
I was feeling puzzled as I watching Robert speaking with a pensive look on his face. I remembered how the little girl is Anna had looked about that day.
Regina: "So that's what it was... is that why Anna is staying with you?"
Robert nodded at my question.
Robert: "Yes. I'm looking after Anna until her mother is released from the hospital."
Just as he responded to me, but the police officer twisted Robert's arm up behind him.
Policeman: "I see. We'll try to checking those details first!"
Robert: "W-Wait. I'm sorry for losing the key..."
Robert: "But if I were the culprit what motive would I have?"
Robert tried to resist as he spoke and the policeman turned to him with a stern look on his face.
Policeman: "Perhaps, you need the money to pay for doctors fees..."
Policeman: "Either way, we'll know soon enough once we investigate!"
(That's cruel!)
Robert: "My family has taken good care of that tiara for generations."
Robert: "Why would I need to steal it...?"
Policeman: "That's enough. We'll take a detour to the hospital first."
(The hospital to where his daughter is?)
(I can understand to where the policeman is coming from...)
(But this is all too one sided...)
The policeman was pulling Robert along in front me and I spoke to him.
Regina: "Hold on a minute, it's about going to the hospital..."
Regina: "Would you permit us to accompany you?"
The policeman seemed surprised by my request.
Policeman: "By us, you mean the future Princess and..."
Wilfred: "And me."
The policeman became flustered as he let go of Robert.
Policeman: "I can't allow Your Highness to do that..."
Policeman: "It's our job to investigate about this man."
Regina: "But everything about you're asking is so one sided. I..."
As faced with the police officer whose attitude towards Robert was so different to my own... I started to get angry. Prince WIlfred must have sensed this about me as he put his arm around my shoulders.
(Oh...)
He smiled at me before he turning his attention to the police officer.
Wilfred: "I'm the same of opinion as her."
Wilfred: "We'll at the very least be travelling with you."
Regina: "Wilfred..."
The policeman didn't look pleased at this announcement. We agreed that we were to accompany the police to the hospital in a few days. Unaware of the one person whose features had frozen nearby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night.
Regina: "Hey, what's this...?"
I was in my room at Chateau Philip as staring at the screen of the TV as I had just turned on. There the words scrolled across the screen. "Breaking new! Famed Spencer family heirloom tiara has been stolen!?" I couldn't believe my own eyes as I saw the words lined up on the screen. I was still in shock as I heard the reporter's voice.
Reporter: "Ellen Art Gallery boasts the best security system in the country."
Reporter: "To think of that a theft would happen there..."
Reporter: "And that the object taken was a tiara passed down generation through generation of the royal family."
The reporter continued to talk excitedly and her voice filled the room.
Reporter: "No substanial evidence has been found."
Repoter: "Whoever did this must have been clever."
Reporter: "It's thought to be either the work of the well known global crime syndicate or possibly even an inside job."
Reporter: "The investigation has been difficult."
(But Prince Wilfred asked them to to report it...)
(So, why...?)
I pick up my cell phone to call Prince Wilfred. But I stopped myself from dialing and I placed the phone on my lap.
(He said he had to go out on official business. So I shouldn't disturb him...)
(Maybe I should wait until tomorrow...)
I put my phone down and I turned off the TV. Just then, I turned my attention to outside the window.
(The rain had been falling so hard...)
(Now it's as if nothing happened at all.)
And with that as I thought when I naturally gravitated towards the balcony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(That feels so good...)
I looked up at the starry sky and enjoying the cool breeze on my face. I felt as if the confusion as I had felt in my heart earlier... was slowly getting clearer. However...
(What happens if they never find about the tiara...?)
I couldn't shake that thought as it occupied my mind. Up until recently about the tiara had been so close. But yet... now as nobody knew where it was.
(If it was some kind of criminal group as they've probably found a buyer for it by now...)
(If that's the case, but I'll never see it again.)
My mind was filled with negative thoughts.
(But if it wasn't a criminal group...)
(They might be able to get it back...)
As with that as thought of Robert's face came to mind.
(He said that about he lost the key...)
(But there's no way about Robert could have done it.)
(He has been working for the royal family for years.)
I was filled with mixed thoughts and feelings. I recalled how he had been with little Anna... and I shook my head.
(No, I don't want him to be the culprit...)
(But he did say he lost the key...)
(And if that has something to do with the tiara...)
Just then, I heard a faint sound coming from inside my room.
(Wait... was that someone who knocking? Who could it be at this hour...? Wilfred...?)
As I thought to myself as I quietly headed back to my room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Claude: "I see you were out on the balcony."
Claude smiled softly as I returned from being on the balcony. He was carrying the tea tray.
(Oh, he's prepared some tea for me.)
Regina: "Yes... but I wanted to feel the wind."
He sent me as worried glance.
Claude: "I thought you might be having a trouble sleeping?"
Claude: "I have brought an herb tea. Would you care to have some?"
Regina: "Yes, thank you."
I sat down on the sofa while Claude made the tea with practiced hands.
Claude: "Here you are. Drink it while it's warm."
The smell of herbs wafted through the air and I had a calm effect on my mind. I put the cup to lips and I took a sip.
Regina: "Wow, it's really good."
The corners of Claude's mouth twitched in satisfaction and he bowed.
Claude: I'm glad you like it."
Claude: "I used a blend that as I hoped would make you feel better."
Regina: "Thank you."
Regina: "Your herb tea is the best, Claude..."
I smiled up at him and his face are blushed slightly red.
Claude: "I-I... thank you for the compliment."
He lowered his eyes in embarrassment before he returning to his usual self.
Claude: "Oh, and I have an announcement."
Regina: "An announcement...?"
Claude: "The truth is..."
Claude: "The press got wind of the case as the police were investigating..."
I recalled what I had just seen on the news.
Claude: "The police instructed the media as not to release information without permission..."
Claude: "But they were allowed to report on the story to where the police have deemed it okay."
Regina: "Oh, so that's why I saw it on the TV as just now."
Claude: "Yes. If we get the case out in the open now and it might limit the perpetrator's movements."
Claude: "And we might receive new information."
Claude: "Prince Wilfred has also said this."
(New information...?)
(I hope we get some information as that's isn't about a criminal group or Robert...)
Claude: "Aside from that I do hope they find the tiara soon."
Regina: "So do I..."
Claude: "I'm sure, it won't be long before that tiara sits on your head."
Claude: "Please, don't let this get you down."
Regina: "Thank you."
I was greatful to Claude for coming to make me feel better and I took another sip of tea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Mm... mnn...)
It was still a dark out when I opened my eyes.
(Just when did I had finally gotten to sleep...)
I thought to myself as I sat up. Then I noticed that the balcony door was still open.
(Oh... I had about as meant to shut it earlier...)
I got out of my bed and I made my way over to the balcony, when... I noticed that the lights were on in Prince Wilfred's office.
(Oh... he must be back from his work...)
I found myself drawn to the shadow, that as I saw throught the window and I stepped out onto the balcony.
(But I wonder if he's still busy and now he's back home...)
I leaned over on the railing as I staring aimlessly towards the office window. I jumped as someone who grabbed me as suddenly from behind.
Regina: "Oh Jesus!?"
I turn around to see Prince Wilfred as his eyes dancing with amusement.
Wilfred: "What are you staring at?"
Regina: "Wilfred... you're not in your office...?"
Prompted by my words, he looked over towards to his office window.
Wilfred: "Oh, that's Claude. I handed him for my paperwork and then I came straight here."
I took a good look and I saw he was still in his tux.
Regina: "Welcome home. Don't you need to go and change?"
Wilfred: "Well, since you were still awake..."
Wilfred: "I need to change before I sleep though..."
He looked at me shyly and I giggled and smiled at him.
Regina: "You can be impatient sometimes too, can't you Wilfred..."
Wilfred: "Yes, I can..."
Wilfred: "I don't know what am I doing about sometimes when it comes to you..."
Regina: "Wilfred..."
(It makes me happy to know as he thinks of me in that way...)
But he was lacking his usual enthusiasm.
Wilfred: "Regina..."
He called my name and he held my face in his hands.
Wilfred: "Please listen calmly and closely."
I suddenly grew tense at his serious tone.
(But why's he being serious all of a sudden?)
His voice was low as he spoke to me.
Wilfred: "If they don't find the tiara..."
Wilfred: "There's a chance that the entire exhibition might be cancelled."
Regina: "Oh no..."
He continued to speak over my exclamations.
Wilfred: "Of course I have no intention of letting about that happen."
As faced with his convicition and I found myself torn within my own feelings.
Regina: "But we have no idea about who the culprit was yet..."
Regina: "And there's a high probability that we never will..."
He spoke sadly as he responded to my words.
Wilfred: "The truth is, the police have been acting on their own already."
Regina: "What? Seriously...?"
I was confused by this information and Prince Wilfred looked straight at me.
Wilfred: "After we left that day the police took Robert in for questioning..."
Wilfred: "Apparently they were not gentle about it."
Regina: "No... that police officer said that we would go with him..."
Regina: "But why did they act by themselves...?"
Prince Wilfred nodded as I spoke.
Wilfred: "Yes, I agree with you. But the police still suspect him."
Wilfred: "And they are clutching at straws to gather evidence."
He smiled as he said that.
Wilfred: "They didn't find any evidence against him..."
Wilfred: "And he was soon released that day."
Regina: "I see..."
I stared at him for a while before asking.
Regina: "What do you think, Wilfred?"
Regina: "Do you suspect Robert did it...?"
A strange look crossed Prince Wilfred's face.
Wilfred: "I'm not prepared to say."
Wilfred: "But I do want to talk to Robert directly. Will you come with me tomorrow?"
(If we talk to Robert maybe we will find something...)
Regina: "Yes."
He sighed in relief before he pulling me into his warm embrace.
Wilfred: "We'll find it."
His whispered words echoed through me.
Wilfred: "And it will rest upon your head. That's what it is for."
Regina: "Wilfred..."
Our words dissipated into the darkness and our lips gravitated naturally to each other. It was as if we were trying to take away about the uncertainty in both of our hearts. We held each other as tightly. I thought my heart might collapse under the weight of me as worrying what tomorrow might bring. But bathed in the moon's light as I thought that perhaps it was trying to cheer me on. It was as if it was telling me about that everything will be fine.
(I hope that Robert isn't the culprit...)
(And that the tiara is found safe.)
I pray inwardly as I leaned into Prince Wilfred's chest. The night drew on in sweetness and in sadness. Unaware of the shock that was yet to come.
~End of (Sequel) Chapter 7: Royal Legend Day 2~
To Be Continued...