Elise
The sunlight seeped in through a creek in the window. Stumbling across the window frame, a vase with a bundle of beautiful and lavish pink chrysanthemums and ornately carved bed-pillars, the sun rays reached the beautiful face of Elise Phillippe, gently asking her to rise. Irritated by them, she pulled her blanket over her face. But alas, it was June. Pulling her blanket over her face meant inviting suffocating heat and resultant drops of sweat along. After tossing and turning in bed for sometime, Elise finally rose.
"So.... sleeping beauty? You decided to grace us with your conscious presence?" Said Adrien Phillippe, bowing down courteously, mocking the fact that she slept in.
"Yes, my dear subject. I became extremely merciful to you all and decided to get conscious and grace you all." Elise said, even more courteously.
"I would like to inform madamoisel that breakfast is ready. If she would like to-"
"There I go!" Squealed Elise, giggling and ran away to the dining table.
"You know, Pierre's wife suddenly disappeared?" Said Adrien, sharing the gossip.
"What?" The shocked Elise stopped washing the breakfast dishes and turned back to face her husband, confusion and shock clearly evident on her face. The news really was unsettling.
"Yes. Last night, she was at her friend Charlotte's house and just....never came back."
"Wait, what was she doing at Charlotte's house?"
"I don't know. They're chuckaboos. Might be chilling?"
"THEY WERE CHILLING WITHOUT ME?!!!!"
"You're not getting the point-"
"THEY'RE CHUCKABOOS?! AND WHAT ABOUT ME??"
"Elise" Adrien calmly said.
"THOSE BACKSTABBERS..."
*Sighs* "Yep. I don't think she's listening anymore. Anyways sweetheart I am leaving for the palace."
"Have a good day at work sweetie!" Elise greeted him while he was leaving.
"Your Majesty, the biggest problem that Paris is going through right now is disappearing women."
Hearing the courtier say so, everyone was stupefied. Disappearing women......the phrase itself sounds controversial and alarming.
The king gave a grim and grave expression and asked, "What age?"
"Married, young women who haven't openly consummated to their marriage, that is, they haven't become mothers." The courtier's reply made the court even more silent. Everyone was evidently horrified. Adrien was the most horrified, because his own wife fit the criteria.
That day, he spent his work time in tension and fear. Just as the court was dismissed, he rushed back home. He was immersed in the thoughts of going home and finding his wife safe and sound. He was thinking how she would come to the doorstep as soon as he would ring the bell. He was contemplating how he would ask her to be safe and try to stay indoors or with someone.
Thinking such, the horsecart pulled up near his home. Like everyday, he rung the bell........no one opened the door. This happened thrice. Finally he opened the door with his own keys.
"Elise! I'm home." He called out.
Silence.
"Elise?"
Silence again.
"Oh shit!" He ran hither and thither, searching the entire house. He asked neighbours, friends, relatives, everyone who he thought would know about Elise's whereabouts, but to vain. What has happened, has happened now. It is irreversible.
Elise was gone.
