Chapter 177. Not Doubting

The guards flinched at Ava’s tone. Several of them bowed their heads, uneasy and confused.

“Lady Ava,” the captain stammered, “we… we don’t know. The Princess was here last night. No one entered or left without permission. The patrols saw nothing unusual.”

Ava’s glare sharpened, “Are you telling me the Princess vanished while you were on watch? That none of you noticed anything, not even a whisper of movement? Do you even understand the level of incompetence that implies?!”

The guards stiffened. One of them opened his mouth as if to defend himself but faltered under her glare.

Wilma, standing frozen in the doorway, felt her heart twist painfully. This shouldn’t be possible. The cottage had been sealed. Guarded day and night.

“Ava…” Wilma whispered weakly. “How… how could this happen?”

Ava turned to her with a perfectly measured mix of concern and outrage.

“Your Grace, this is unacceptable,” she said firmly. “You should demand a