The next morning, the queen, noticing Stephanie's absence at breakfast, went to her daughter's room, along with Preminger.

"Stephanie? Stephanie? Where are you?" The queen turned to Preminger. "Where is she? She wasn't at breakfast.

Preminger motioned over to her desk. "Is that something on her desk, your majesty?" The queen walked over to the desk and picked up a small piece of folded paper, reading it.

"A letter to me?" She kept reading on. She gasped. "It says she's run away!" Preminger gasped, exaggerating his shock. "So that she won't have to marry King Nathan!" She turned, terrified, worried, and almost crying.

"Well, this is dreadful!" Preminger said.

"We have to find her! She could be hurt!" The queen cried.

"Well, I'll send out search parties at once, your majesty. I'm sure she couldn't have gone far." Preminger consoled her.

Still in shock, the queen sat down on the desk stool. "Oh Preminger. What would I do without you?" 

Later...

Preminger had gathered the essential people in the throne room. The queen and himself, obviously, as well as a very confused Matthew, who had been waiting for Stephanie to show up for lessons for an hour.

He brought the Ambassador, who insisted on bringing along the page, both of them staying as guests in the castle for the time being. The heartbroken and terrified queen broke the news to all of them at once. Obviously, all of them were shocked, but the Ambassador was the first to speak.

"This is an outrage! An insult!" He shouted. Nathan stepped back, trying to steer clear of Josh's warpath.

"I'm sure we'll find her." The queen said, trying to calm him down.

"I insist we cancel the wedding if the princess does not return by the end of the day!" Nathan shot him a look, a mix of shock, anger, and confusion. Josh realized his mistake instantly, but quickly convinced himself that he was in the right, and that Nathan was wrong this time, though he would never tell him that. He did know, however, that when he and Nathan got a moment alone, he was going to get a real beat down.

Their thoughts were cut off by Matthew, standing to the side. "It just doesn't add up. Why would she run away?" He thought. He knew that Stephanie wasn't in love with the king, but he knew just how dedicated she was to her duty. She wouldn't abandon her job for the world. To just flip perspectives like this... something was wrong.

Then a dark little thought crossed his mind. What if she returned his feelings? If she did, that could be a reason to run away. But he quickly banished the thought from his mind, his thoughts interrupted by Preminger, handing him the note.

"Why don't you see for yourself?" As soon as Matthew touched the paper, he was overwhelmed by the sent of lilac. He brought it closer to his nose. It was the paper. The paper was scented with lilac.

"Lilac? Where did you find this?" He asked.

"On the princess's desk."

That's when the alarm was raised. Even though he didn't have a case, Matthew knew he was the real reason why Stephanie was missing. "Perhaps I can help you look for her." He said.

Preminger, with a smug smile snatched the paper out of his hand. "Why don't you stick to your books, schoolboy? Wouldn't that be fun?" Then he walked out of the room, laughing to himself.

"Lilac? She never scented her stationary with lilac. It was always rose..." Wrapped in his own mind, Matthew was struck with an idea to save the wedding from being canceled. All he needed was a particular peasant.