Erythro: The Prophecy Unveiled

At the Carthage Palace, the dawn's light began to filter through the grand windows, casting a soft glow across the worn stone floors. Theresa stood at the massive window, her silhouette stark against the lightening sky. Her face, usually alight with curiosity, was etched with worry lines that seemed to have deepened overnight. She clutched the thin fabric of her sleep dress tightly, the tattered remnants a testament to a restless night. Her bare feet tapped a frantic rhythm against the cold stone, a physical manifestation of the disquiet churning in her gut. Across the room, Sarah watched Theresa for a moment, her heart sinking as she saw the hunched posture and the tremor in her friend's hand. Theresa and Sarah had been inseparable since they become servants in the castle. Now, an unspoken fear hung heavy in the air, a suffocating weight that threatened to steal their breath.

"Madeline still not here?" Sarah asked gently, her voice barely a whisper that seemed to echo in the vast emptiness of the chamber. Theresa flinched at the sound, startled from her vigil. She turned slowly, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy from a night spent battling anxieties that refused to be quelled. "Not yet" she replied, "It's already dawn." The weight of the unspoken truth settled heavily between them.

The annual Helios Festival, a celebration of light and renewal, had concluded at midnight, its joyous revelry a distant memory replaced by the oppressive silence of the pre-dawn. Theresa kept glancing towards the grand castle entrance, a heavy oak door adorned with intricate carvings depicting mythical creatures. The sight offered no solace; the entrance remained stubbornly devoid of any sign of her missing daughter.

"The festival crowds would have thinned by now," Sarah offered, trying to inject a sliver of optimism into the suffocating atmosphere. "Maybe Madeline just got caught up in the post-festival chaos. Don't worry too much," she added, reaching out to gently squeeze Theresa's shoulder, the gesture more for her own reassurance than Theresa's.

Theresa turned to face Sarah fully, her eyes glistening with unshed tears that threatened to spill over at any moment. "Helios?" she choked out, the single word a betrayal of the turmoil within. "She wasn't permitted to go there. She was supposed to be at the market with Betty, restocking the castle supplies." A sob escaped her lips, and tears finally streamed down her cheeks, carving wet tracks through the grime that clung to her face. "But I saw Betty earlier, at the crack of dawn, setting off for her deliveries. And she doesn't know where Madeline is either." Her voice broke completely, dissolving into a series of choked gasps.

Sarah's heart lurched. Madeline was not the type to vanish without a trace. The very notion sent a jolt of terror through Sarah. "What?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief and a rising tide of panic. "Madeline isn't the type to run off. What could have happened to her?" The two friends stood in a heavy silence, the enormity of the situation crashing down on them like a tidal wave. The festive atmosphere of the previous night, filled with laughter and music, felt like a cruel mirage.

She wiped away her tears with a trembling hand, a flicker of steely determination replacing the raw fear in her eyes."We need to find her, Sarah," she said, her voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor that ran through her body. "Something must have happened. She would never just disappear like this." Sarah nodded; her expression resolute. "We'll find her, Theresa," she vowed, her voice firm with conviction. "But how? We can't go out in this castle".

Suddenly, the castle gate creaked open, revealing two opulent carriages adorned with intricate designs and royal insignias. "It must be her," Sarah exclaimed with excitement, her eyes wide with anticipation. The atmosphere was charged with curiosity and a hint of anxiety as Theresa and Sarah hurriedly made their way outside, their hearts pounding in unison. The gravel path crunched under their feet, and the cool night air brushed against their faces, carrying the faint scent of blooming jasmine from the castle gardens. As they drew nearer to the carriages, the grandeur and significance of the moment began to settle in.

However, just a few steps away from the carriages, Theresa's pace inexplicably slowed, her initial eagerness giving way to hesitation. Her eyes darted to the carriages, then back to the castle, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. Noticing this sudden change in demeanor, Sarah instinctively slowed her own steps, her brow furrowing in concern. "What happened?" she asked, her voice a soft whisper in the stillness of the night. The question hung in the air between them, laden with unspoken worries and the weight of the unknown.

Theresa's eyes widened as she recognized the royal crest on the carriage. She turned back towards the castle and slipped through the kitchen's side door, peeking cautiously. "Look, it's the royal carriage," she whispered.

The first carriage stopped at the castle's grand entrance. The coachman dismounted and opened the door, allowing the prince to step out, flanked by his guards. The second carriage also halted, and Madeline emerged, stumbling slightly as she alighted. "Look, it's Madie!" Sarah exclaimed in relief. Theresa sighed deeply, her worry easing upon seeing her daughter. "Thank God, she's alright."

"Sarah, thank you for today. You should head back to your quarters before the head servant or the butler sees us wandering about at this hour," Theresa suggested. The two women then parted ways, returning to their respective quarters.

Madeline darted into the castle, trying to avoid the prying eyes of the servants and the royals. She hurried down to the servant quarters and knocked on the door. Her mother, Theresa, opened it, worry etched on her face. Madeline slipped inside, closing the door quickly behind her. "Are you alright? It's already dawn," Theresa said, crouching to meet Madeline's eyes.

"I'm alright, mother," Madeline reassured her, presenting a baked sweet she had clutched in her hand. "What's this?" Theresa asked, puzzled. "For you, I got it from the festival," Madeline replied.

"Festival? Helios? But you're not allowed to go there. Did you leave the market and sneak into the Helios festival alone? And why were you riding in the royal carriage? Did they catch you sneaking in?" Theresa bombarded her daughter with questions, her concern evident.

Madeline recounted her day at the market, carefully omitting any mention of the prince. She explained that a palace guard had found her, which was why she had been in the carriage. Theresa, however, noticed her daughter's reluctance to make eye contact and the suspicious bulge under her skirt.

"Madeline, you're hiding something, aren't you?" Theresa asked, her tone firm. Madeline's eyes widened, but she shook her head, remaining silent. Theresa extended her hand, motioning for Madeline to reveal what she was concealing. Seconds ticked by, but the girl remained still. "Madeline!" Theresa's voice rose slightly, making the young girl flinch. Finally, Madeline gave in, retrieving a music box from under her skirt and placing it in her mother's hand.

"Where did you get this?" Theresa asked, examining the costly music box. It was far beyond their means, and Madeline had not been given any money to spend. "It was given to me," Madeline murmured, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"By whom?" her mother pressed. After a moment of silence, Madeline confessed, "Prince Sebastian."

Theresa's eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and concern as she inquired, "Are you friends with him?" Madeline, with an innocent yet earnest expression, nodded and exclaimed, "But he's nice and kind, mother." Her voice was filled with the simple trust of youth, believing that kindness could bridge the vast divide between their worlds. Theresa's heart tightened at her daughter's words, aware of the harsh realities that Madeline was too young to fully comprehend. "I know, child. But he's still a royal. Didn't I tell you not to cross paths with them or be in their presence? It is for your own sake," she explained, her voice soft but firm with maternal caution. "Starting today, you will not talk to him. In fact, you will be in trouble if anyone knows about this. Understand?"

Madeline's face fell slightly, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay," she said, the weight of her mother's words pressing down on her small shoulders. Theresa's heart clenched as she looked at her only daughter, the child she had raised with so much love and care. She could see the loneliness in Madeline's eyes, the longing for companionship that a life in the palace rarely fulfilled for a servant's child. Theresa sighed deeply, pulling Madeline into a tight embrace, hoping to shield her from the world's harshness. "Oh, child, I know you must be lonely, being the only child here in the palace, but you have Sarah, Emily, and me, right?" she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Madeline leaned into her mother's embrace, finding comfort in the familiar warmth and security. The palace, with its grandeur and splendor, often felt like a gilded cage, especially for a young girl who yearned for simple friendships and the freedom to be herself. Theresa stroked Madeline's hair gently, whispering soothing words. "We may not have much, but we have each other," she said, her voice a soft lullaby in the quiet room. "Remember, you are never truly alone. We are your family, and we will always be here for you." Madeline nodded again, feeling a small measure of peace returning.