"I don't know exactly what happened, no.  But no diviner or astrologist I've visited has been able to locate her, so she must be shielded somehow from such divination.  It stands to reason that if she was being held against her will, she would be trying to pierce the shielding as much as those looking for her would, and with so many people looking for her, the shield wouldn't be able to hold up to it.  So, she must not be trying to pierce the shield, which would mean she is hiding rather than being hidden."<br/><br/>He glances up briefly at Yume.<br/><br/>"Unless, of course, she is outside Creation.  Or dead.  I doubt she is dead though, or the successorship would be taken up.  It doesn't do the realm any good to have no leader, even if the only leaders would be weaker than the Empress."