11. King Lawrence
King Lawrence
“You can’t be serious. This is it? This is who you bring me? Too… stupid. Next.”
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid Princess Juliette is the best we could find. We’ve exhausted our options. She’s adored in Monaco. The papers—”
My hand lifted. Dominique, my advisor, stopped, his mouth partially open as he thought to keep pressing his case.
“I don’t want adored. I want… I’m sick of this.
I told you, I know who I want. Just not yet.
She’s searching for a husband, but we both know she won’t find one.
Not if I keep threatening those who think to make an offer.
She’s going to get rejected just like she rejected me.
She’ll feel what it is to be humiliated.
Then I’ll decide if she deserves to be forgiven. ”
Before Dominique could reply, I pushed away from the table. “Leave me.”
“Your Majesty.”
My head tilted, and my eyes narrowed. Dominique quickly nodded, picking up the pictures and pausing as an aide rushed in. She didn’t meet my stare as she thrust a paper in my advisor’s hand. Dominique straightened, his brow creasing, only to lift in surprise.
“What the hell is it?”
“I…” He turned for the door, reaching for his phone. “I’m afraid we might have a situation. I need to look more into this before…”
“Before what? We were interrupted. It must be important. Speak.”
He swallowed hard. “It’s a message from our contact within the Metropolitan Police Service, Sire. A call came in this morning. It would appear the Taylors’ cook reported the family missing.”
“Missing?” I stepped in, snatching the message from his hand. “What do you mean, missing?”
I scanned over the paper.
Report filed at 10:14 AM.
Household staff (cook) at the Taylor residence reported unusual absence and loss of communication from all occupants. After multiple failed attempts to locate the family through their connections, she contacted authorities.
Arrived at the home at 4:30 AM.
Started breakfast.
Expected Allen Taylor in the dining room by 6 AM. No show. Thinking he overslept, she braved going upstairs at 6:30 AM. She then realized the house was empty.
Multiple attempts were made to contact the family through businesses, hotels, hospitals, and known associates. No confirmed sightings at this time.
Reporting party referenced a possible domestic incident involving daughter, Penelope Taylor, the previous evening.
- Ongoing.