The sounds of the fireworks waked up the sleeping princess with a fright. She went pale and gripped her covers in both hands tightly. She thought it is a thunderstorm, she wished if her brother was with her, she had nothing to fear.

Then she noticed, 'how thunders will come without lightening?’ She slowly gets down her bed and put on her slippers. She also noticed that this clashing sound is different from the thunders.

She walked to her large window, grabbing her cloak. She opened it wide, a cold breeze send her shivers down to spine.

She put her head out and looked the sky, “Fireworks?” she asked herself, then suddenly came to realize of her new cousin’s arrival, “Finally!” she exclaimed in happiness.

“Isn’t Cas awakened yet? He always uses come over here to make me comfortable while it thunders. Oh shut it, Cerlesta! This isn’t any thunderstorm, only fireworks. Your brother isn’t a fool like you to think it’s thundering!" She scolds herself sarcastically.

“Anyway, I’m going to see if Cas is still in a deep sleep, ignoring all these noises or not.” She said to herself chuckling as she slowly opened the door, peering inside. She was slightly shocked when she didn’t found him on bed.

“Cas?” she called as she walked to his bed. She noticed the torn curtain of his bed.

She frowned, “Caspian!” she called again, loudly this time but no response came. She sensed something was wrong, 'He would never leave his bed in the dead of night, would he? No, only if the professor calls to go to the great tower, but never without me.' Cerlesta thought.

(The arrows, which the men of Glozelle shot, were not there. They took all away from his bed by Miraz’s orders because he don’t want to let Cerlesta find out anything about this.)

Her heart began to beat faster as it has never beaten before, she searched all over his room, his balcony, wardrobe…..yes wardrobe, and where she found the door to secret passage was opened.

“What on earth does this all means?” she cried in frustration, throwing her hands in the air.

“I have to find the professor!” she said to herself as she rushed out of his room.

She also searched all over the suit they both shared, which only helped her to worry more. She rushed out of their suit and ran through the hallway.

As she took her turn to right, she bumped into a soft wall. She looked up and blinked tearful eyes continually several times but quickly, “Fersia!” she realized.

“Your highness!” Fersia, her maid exclaimed in surprise, “What a surprise! I see the fireworks woke you up. I was heading to your room to call you as you requested whenever your cous…..” Fersia trailed off as she noticed there was not interests from the princess and…….her cheeks with TEARS?!

“Your highness, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” she asked with alerted concern.

“Th-That’s why I’m here, I couldn’t find Caspian!” said Cerlesta.

“What? But……. Did your highness search everywhere?” asked Fersia.

“Of course I did! I looked all over in our suit! He’s not there. Fersy, I’m afraid.” Cerlesta said.

“I’m sure his highness will be here somewhere in the castle. Don’t worry.” Said Fersia, comforting her.

“You don’t understand, do you? I can feel it, he’s in some kind of trouble! We must alert the King, my uncle, now!” said Cerlesta.

“Yes we must! I’ll give the alert right away, your highness!” Fersia bowed and rushed back to alert the King.

As for Cerlesta, a thought of her brother being in a great danger because of their uncle has a son now, never popped into her mind because she trusted their uncle and in her opinion he was a good person.

                            .....

Morning came so fast. Cerlesta sadly remembered it is her birthday. She couldn’t help herself, there was no trace of her brother in the castle. ‘What happened to him?’ Cerlesta couldn’t stop thinking.

She stayed in her room to let herself to cry as much as she wants and to avoid all the ‘Happy ‘Birthday’ wishes.

She got news that her uncle had send their guards to search for Caspian. She waited patiently for them to return with her brother.

Then she remembered her aunt and newborn cousin. She has been told that it’s a boy. She took a strong will to go and pay a visit anyway. She called her maids, who cleaned and dressed her up, yet she wasn’t willing to have breakfast.

After she got ready, Cerlesta made her way to her uncle’s and aunt’s suit. She knocked on the door and a maid opened and welcomed her inside.

“Happy Birthday your highness!” wished the maid.
“Thanks.” Said Cerlesta with a quick smile, yet graceful.

She found her aunt in the balcony with baby in her arms. She turned and saw Cerlesta approaching,

“Cerlesta dear! I was asking about you and Caspian to your uncle some minutes ago, Happy Birthday!” Prunaprismia greeted cheerfully.

“Thanks, but it’s not a happy birthday.” sighed Cerlesta.

“What’s wrong dear?” asked Prunaprismia.

“You……don’t know?” asked Cerlesta in disbelief, Prunaprismia shook her head seriously confused.

“Caspian is missing!” said Cerlesta, her voice hardening, ”I woke up due to the sound of fireworks. I understood you delivered the baby and rushed to Caspian’s room to let him know but…….” Cerlesta trailed off and began sobbing.

Prunaprismia gasped in shock, “What? How? But…..no one told me! Oh no, that’s terrible! Don’t worry Cery, I’m sure…..wait! Just some moments ago I saw General and his some men arriving and that’s when your uncle left here. That must be the search party!” exclaimed Prunaprismia.

“Really? Did you see Cas with them?” She asked in utter excitement and hope.

Prunaprismia frowned, “I’m afraid, not. I’m not sure though.” Said Prunaprismia, sorry for disappointing Cerlesta.

Cerlesta looked down to the floor, hoping to hide her tears from her aunt. This was her final hope, possibly for now. And it has failed her. Prunaprismia was fighting her thoughts to find comforting words for her niece to help her to not loose hope.

Finally came up with, “May be we both should go and check on your uncle.” She suggested.

“Are you sure you’re ready to walk long distances?” Cerlesta asked, wiping her tear away.

“Oh you’re right, maybe we could send one of my maids.” Prunaprismia suggested. Cerlesta smiled and nodded.

Prunaprismia called her maid and sent for her husband.

“I wonder why anyone didn’t, including your uncle told me about this.” Said Prunaprismia.

“May be uncle didn’t wanted to worry you.” She said as they walked to her baby cousin’s new room.

“May I?” asked Cerlesta holding her arm towards the baby.

“Why, sure!” exclaimed Prunaprismia and passed the baby to Cerlesta, positioning her one hand on baby’s head back and the other one on his back,

“Here, now that’s perfect!” smiled Prunaprismia. Cerlesta seemed a bit relieved once she holds the baby and liked him immediately. However, she didn’t knew that this baby boy is the only reason her beloved brother has went missing.

“Aww he’s adorable! We’re going to be friends in no time.” She said.

“I doubt not, that you’ll become friends.” giggled Prunaprismia as she happily watched them.

“What’s his name?” asked Cerlesta. “Miraz.” Said Prunaprismia.

“Now, I didn’t even thought uncle would come up with his namesake. Prince Miraz II.” Said Cerlesta.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Come in.” called out Prunaprismia.

The maid whom they sent to look for Miraz entered, "Your majesty, your highness, his majesty King Miraz is at the grand council meeting.” She informed them.

“Maybe he has got any news about Caspian.” Prunaprismia said to herself and nodded to the maid who bowed and left them. Cerlesta inhaled deeply with pain in her heart.

“You two planned on a birthday leisure trip to the Beaver’s Dam, didn’t you?” asked Prunaprismia sympathetically.

“Yes,” replied Cerlesta sadly, “We both were so excited and planned so many things for our picnic. He even said he has a surprise for me and this will be my best birthday of all, but now…. It turned out to be a worst one. I still don’t understand, what happened to him! What made him to disappear like this?” she cried.

Prunaprismia sighed. The baby slowly began to fall to sleep, “I think he’s sleepy.” Cerlesta whispered to her aunt.

After the baby was asleep, they both got out to the sitting room. Prunaprismia find out that Cerlesta didn’t have her breakfast and asked her to join her until she gave up and agreed. Because she too didn’t had breakfast, she wasn’t feeling well at the regular breakfast time to eat.

Almost an hour passed…………

Hey guys, thanks for trying my story! I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am! Many wonderful things are about to come only, Stay Tuned!!

Sorry this is a short chapter and sorry it took time for me to upload.

And Stay Safe!! I hope you all are doing well.
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