A/N: (This chapter is a flashback, to avoid confusion)


Chapter 3


1 day after the escape

Frederic marches toward Rapunzel's bedroom door at the end of the corridor. His hands are held behind his back, and he walks at a level pace with his chin lifted regally.

He stops in front of the two guards stationed on either side of the princess' door, who immediately straighten their posture at the sight of him, their halberds in hand.

"Gentlemen…" Frederic nods respectfully at them. "You are dismissed," he orders, his deep voice echoing within the vast hallway.

They both respond in unison without question, "Yes, Your Majesty," before scurrying off down the corridor.

Frederic pulls out the ring of keys from behind his back that jingle as he unlocks Rapunzel's door.

When he swings it open, his eyes immediately go to Rapunzel's bed, figuring that she is still sleeping at this hour of the morning like she usually is.

However, when he looks in that direction, he immediately notices that her bed is empty. All her sees is a messy pile of blankets and pillows atop the large mattress.

He peers around the rest of the enormous room, "Rapunzel?"

It isn't until now he notices how much of a disarray her room is in, despite it always being kept clean for every hour of the day.

There are various objects – books, jewelry and cosmetics scattered atop the surfaces of her dresser and on the floor. Her wardrobe had been left open, with clothes falling off the hangers and pouring out of it.

Frederic's first thought is that it all has something to do with Flynn Rider's escape.

The guards hadn't found him in his cell this morning when they'd gone to collect him for his second (hopefully final) execution - which is exactly why Frederic had come here, hoping that Rapunzel knows something about it.

Now, he thinks the thief may have managed to get his hands on Rapunzel again and caused a scuffle in her room, despite there being guards stationed outside her door for the entire night.

As Frederic approaches the scattered pile of garments on the ground, he looks up toward Rapunzel's balcony, and the door that hadn't been quite closed all the way.

His eyes widen in realization, his stomach dropping in a panic. His blood runs cold and it seems as if the entire world has just shattered around him as he pieces together what had happened.

She's gone.

Frederic slowly falls to his knees on Rapunzel's bedroom floor, suddenly breaking into tears.

He picks up one of her dresses, holding it to his chest hopelessly as if it were his own daughter.

Now he realizes, he should have seen this coming. All the signs had been so clear, and all he can hear anymore is Rapunzel shouting at him, warning him of this happening from the start.

"He didn't kidnap me. I chose to go with him."

"He was kind to me… he liked me."

"Please, just listen to me for once!"

How could Frederic be so oblivious?

Suddenly, he regrets ever locking her in here, making her feel the need to rebel against him so many times, when all he'd been trying to do was protect her.

He didn't mean for this to happen.

Frederic had known his daughter had a soft spot for the thief. He didn't want to acknowledge it, didn't want to admit it to himself. She'd risked her life to save him from his own execution. That should have been warning enough.

But Frederic had been so blinded by his own fears, his own goals of keeping her sheltered from the outside world because he was so afraid of something like this happening. He feared losing his daughter - the one thing he loves in this world most.

Just when Frederic thought he had gotten her back, she has left him once again. Her and the thief that had also managed to slip from his fingers, just like that.

Only this time, he realizes that Rapunzel doesn't aim to come back, and so Frederic wails in despair.


"It seems my daughter is, once again, missing," Frederic announces as he sits atop his throne, his tone calm despite the words. "This wouldn't come as a shock to me if it weren't for the fact that Flynn Rider was also absent from his cell this morning, despite the prison being heavily guarded. I hardly believe both their disappearances on the same night is a coincidence, not to mention the night before his execution. Wouldn't you agree, Cassandra?"

Cassandra rocks on her toes as she stands alone at the bottom of the short staircase leading up to the king.

She chews her lip nervously as she listens to him speak, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Yes, Your Majesty," her voice echoes within the walls.

She's thankful there isn't an audience within the throne room to observe how awkward she is right now, and how flushed her face is probably. But the king himself is by far much more intimidating.

She can just feel Frederic's eyes staring directly into her soul and it takes all the courage in the world for her to look him in the eyes.

"Now, I am going to ask you again," he begins. "Do you know anything of their whereabouts, or this supposed planned escape?"

The memory of Rapunzel and Flynn appearing at her bedroom door late last night is fresh in the front of Cassandra's mind.

She'd hoped they hadn't got caught on the way out, because she knew all three of them would suffer the wrath of Rapunzel's father, and at least one of them would have definitely wound up dead. Though, she supposes she would have heard about it right away if that did happen.

Despite it all, Cassandra responds mindlessly, keeping her expression emotionless, "No, Your Majesty."

Frederic eyes the girl before him curiously.

He can tell the silence that follows is beyond uncomfortable for her. She's looking away from him as much as possible. Her shoulders are tense, and her hands are clasped behind her back, as opposed to her usual confident stance.

If anyone would know of his daughter's whereabouts, it's Cassandra. Frederic is fully aware the two girls have been inseparable since they were kids. Rapunzel had to have told her something.

"Is that your final answer?" Frederic asks for the last time.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty…" Cassandra begins, hoping she won't regret not keeping her mouth shut. "Rapunzel and I were forbidden to see each other. Whatever happened last night, I don't think they wanted to be found. Why would they tell me where they were going, knowing that I would be the number one suspect here?"

The look of surprise on the king's face is almost satisfying.

She isn't entirely lying. It's obvious the two had run away together, Frederic already knows that. Any idiot would be able to put two and two together.

But Cassandra has no idea where they are. They could still be in Corona for all she knows, or half way across the ocean by now.

Cass looks away again.

Maybe she shouldn't have said anything at all, but she convinces herself it is better than keeping quiet.

She would never have said that to someone with such power over her if he weren't basically her own second father. Frederic doesn't scare her as much as he did when she were a child.

Even with the most powerful man in the kingdom interrogating her right now, Cassandra would never give up Rapunzel. Because she knows that Rapunzel would never do the same to her. That's one thing the princess had taught her over the years.

And Cass wanted Rapunzel to get away. She's glad that she did.

After much contemplation, Frederic realizes that Cassandra is not going to change her mind.

He doesn't entirely believe her, but there is nothing more he can do. If she claims that she doesn't know, then Frederic will just have to accept that.

"Very well," he says, raising his chin and taking a breath. "You are dismissed."

A wave of relief washes over her.

Cassandra turns to leave without another word, walking down the long carpet that stretches along the glistening throne room.

She briefly stops when Frederic adds from behind her, "Don't think I won't be keeping a close eye on you, Cassandra."

She closes her eyes, exhaling softly. She doesn't look back when she forces herself to respond simply, "Yes… Your Majesty."

With that, Cassandra calmly exits the throne room and lets the door fall closed behind her.