“Move!” Richard York shouted as he pushed aside a nurse and stomped down the narrow hallway of the small hospital. Three large men followed behind him, all carrying some sort of weapon in their hands with plenty more on their person. Handguns, clubs, knives. All manner of things to bring a naive girl to heel. Sure, he’d done his research about this so-called “soldier maiden” but what could the doll do against grown men? Against real killers? Had she even accomplished the things the newspapers and reports said? Or was this all some stunt by the military to demoralize their enemies? Really, it was ridiculous.  

But whatever the true story, it was effective because Richard had difficulty finding men at first. One by one they all turned down his offer when they heard who it was he wanted to get rid of. Damned soldiers. Damned fools. In the end, he found the right men for the job, though. Especially once he upped his recruitment fee drastically. Desperate men always had a price.

The group moved toward Isabella’s room but Richard stopped them outside the closed door. “Listen here,” he started, snapping his fingers once to bring their attention to him. “My daughter is to remain unharmed; you hear me? Any idiot so much as lays a hand on her and not only will you not get paid, I’ll make sure your money problems are permanently solved. Get the doll then get the fuck out.”

All he received in acknowledgement was a chorus of grunts and then he turned and put his hand on the door so he could throw it open a moment later. “Isa…bella?” What started out as fiery rebuke died on his lips as he stepped into the room and realized it was empty. The bed was even made and no personal belongings were spread throughout.

On a second sweep of the room, he found an envelope sitting atop a white pillow on the bed and he rushed to pick it up. It had his name written on the front and Richard quickly flipped it over and opened the back. Or tried to. In his haste and frustration, he ended up ripping the whole thing just to pull the letter out. What kind of stunt was this?

Father,

I have no doubt you’re shocked right now. I bet you’re wondering where I am, aren’t you? Well, let me alleviate your fears and tell you that I am quite safe. Not healthy yet but I am getting there. No thanks to you, of course.

I should’ve been excited that my father came back into my life because I might’ve found the family I craved after mom died. But I knew right from the start who you were…what you were. You never cared about me, only wanted to use me as some kind of bargaining chip to enhance your wealth and cement your legacy.

But don’t worry, father. I have found a family despite your best efforts. One that loves me for who I am, flaws and all. I’m going to be with them now and I don’t expect that I will ever return. In case you get any ideas, I suggest you leave me to them. However, if you feel you cannot, soon other letters will arrive to help you find the strength you lack.

So, I have some advice for you. A trade in exchange for sending me to that school, the only good thing you ever did for me. Read the letters carefully and heed their warning.

Amy

By the time he was finished, rage filled him and Richard didn’t think twice about ripping the letter in two before letting it fall to the floor. Who did this ungrateful bitch think she was? Warning him ? Oh, she was a bold one alright. Must’ve gotten that from her mother. Amy could play her silly games all she wanted but he’d find her and drag her back home. He might even cancel the payments to the orphanage so the lesson really stuck.

As soon as he was done reading, he moved toward the door, shoving aside the hired thugs as he went. However, they followed a moment later, apparently willing to put up with whatever was going on as long as they got paid. It was a short walk down to the nurses’ desk where he interrupted a conversation between the one on reception duty and a doctor, judging by his appearance. 

“Where is Isabella York?”

“Who?” The nurse replied with an uninterested tone after slowly turning her head to acknowledge his presence.

“The young woman that was in room 112.” Honestly, how hard was it to keep track of these patients? And that tone…perhaps he’d be making an additional call later this afternoon.

The nurse only narrowed her eyes momentarily but then dropped them down to her records. “Isabella York was discharged yesterday at her request.”

So, she really left, huh? This wasn’t a gimmick where she moved to another room? “Where did she go?”

“We don’t make it a habit to ask,” the nurse snapped back.

“Did she go to another hospital?”

“The account was paid in full and subsequently closed. No medical transport was arranged to another facility.”

“Someone already paid?”

“That’s right,” the nurse confirmed.

“I don’t understand,” Richard mumbled a second later.

“That makes two of us.”

Richard ignored the quip but stowed it away in his memory. Instead, he turned to think on this latest news. Who would do that for his daughter? It couldn’t have been that doll; this facility was far too expensive. It must have been someone else, another wealthy family. The Lancaster’s? The company Violet worked for? It didn’t make any sense, none of this made any damn sense.

“So, you want us to stick around or…?” One of the thugs piped up from behind him and Richard immediately spun and narrowed his eyes.

“I want you to find her,” he said before looking at each of them in turn. “Check every hospital in the city. She probably won’t use Isabella York but ask anyway. If not? Try Amy Bartlett. Understood?”

The three men looked at each other but ultimately started to nod.

“Good, now get the fuck out of my face.” His hand came up a moment later and waved them on their way while he continued to think. He’d leave the muscle to their work and return to his room to make some calls. Of course, he couldn’t be too forthcoming on the details. Not with a marriage on the line.

Damn woman, always making things harder than they needed to be with her sickness and her ill-mannered behavior. I mean honestly, what was so hard about keeping your mouth shut and living an easy life while your husband did everything for you?

—

A few days later, Richard York was still no closer to finding out where his daughter went. Unfortunately, the men he hired to help rough up the doll hadn’t produced any meaningful results, either. Idiots. Then again, maybe Amy left the city to get away from him? It wasn’t like she was from here. Was that Violet girl? Did they go to wherever she called home? Well, he had contacts in the military, it shouldn’t be so difficult to find out everything there was to know about her.

“Sir.” A knock on the door frame preceded the single word and Richard looked up from his desk to see one of his servants standing just outside the office in the hotel suite he rented while in Leiden.

“Yes, what is it?”

“A letter has arrived for you.”

A letter? So, no news of Amy, then? “Fine, bring it here,” he said before extending his hand over the desk and snatching the envelope when it got close enough. In response, the other man only offered a slight bow of his head and then made his exit in a hurry.

When he was out of sight, Richard turned the letter over and was surprised with the name he found on the front.  Princess Charlotte Flugel. Why in the world was the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Drossel writing him? He had plenty of business in the country, some contracts in both the private and public sectors, but nothing directly with the court.

His brows furrowed as he picked up a letter opener off his desk and slid it under the lip to open the back. He retrieved the paper inside a moment later and his eyes flicked back and forth over the page hastily. By the time he was finished, they were wide and he wore a shocked expression on his face. Did he read that right? What was he missing? So, he quickly read it a second time.

Mr. Richard York,

We have never had the pleasure of corresponding before, so please forgive the abruptness with which this letter finds you. You are no doubt aware of who I am so I will spare you the prominence of myself or my husband. I must admit before recently, I was only vaguely aware of your name and dealings within the Kingdoms of Drossel and Flugel. However, you can be confident that I have received a most extensive education from a very dear friend of mine. So, believe me when I say that I know quite a lot about you, Mr. York.

Your work is quite impressive and your various business ventures run deep in both countries. How fortunate you were to secure such generous contracts during the war and then keep them following its conclusion. It’s a testament to your skill. More impressively, I’ve come to understand you raised quite an exceptional daughter. Amy, I believe. It’s not often that us daughters can find happiness like the one I have with Damian so I applaud you for supporting her wishes.

Of course, I hope I am not mistaken in that regard. It would be most embarrassing if I made an incorrect assumption, much like I would quickly come to be mistaken that your contracts remained unbroken and honored. Both with the government and various other businesses in our nation. Thankfully, for me and my potential future discomfort, I am certain that is not the case.

I look forward to hearing of your continued business success…and nothing else.

Princess Charlotte Flugel

Great, so not only had Amy run away, but he now had a Princess threatening his business dealings? No doubt she would be able to convince her husband to interfere as well. Damnit! How had this happened!? Amy didn’t even know this woman but Richard knew who did…

Violet Evergarden.

She had written those love letters for Princess Charlotte years ago, right? The ones that captivated both nations. Alberta had even recommended Violet to him! Damned handmaiden. Richard gritted his teeth and balled the letter before throwing it in the corner. Right before there was another knock at the door.

“What!?” he screamed at the man before his eyes dropped to his hands and widened even more.

“Sorry, Sir. More letters have arrived for you.”

Richard used one hand to rub his temple but brought the other up to wave the servant forward. “Just throw them on the desk and get out.”

After the man did so and subsequently retreated, Richard picked up the top two off the pile and read the names aloud. “Tiffany Evergarden…Claudia Hodgins…” And now Tiffany was getting involved too? He didn’t bother to read them and only tossed them onto the small stack on his desk before leaning back in his chair. How many people did the doll know? All this correspondence would certainly contain more vague threats to his financial well-being should he make the wrong choice.

So, he needed Amy to secure the future of his family and business but in doing so, he would destroy both. Word would no doubt get out, too. Would a marriage to Frederick still be possible with this many sharks circling the boat? In the end, all Richard could do was laugh and cover his face with his hands…