Vitana sat across the long dining table, the decorations gone and removed. Her fingers, laced in gloves, tapped against the cloth that fell over the edges and onto her lap. She was staring down a man dress in dark clothing, a large coat draped over his shoulders, rimmed with gold and designed with a golden palm tree crest on the breast. The man's light blond hair streaked into strands of brown as it peaked below his wide-rimmed hat. His face was slightly, but small hairs spread from sideburn around his lips below his chin and back to the other sideburn. He was enjoying himself a plate of food, slowly eating and chewing, settling the food in his mouth and drawing out the taste before swallowing, quickly take a slow sip of his wine and swirling the feeling around his tongue.

"Thank you for the meal, your Majesty." He raised his glass to her before setting it down beside his plate. He went back to leisurely eating. The queen hadn't touched her plat, unable to eat in front of him, ashamed that she had gone to him of all people for help.

"Lord Seran, I asked you here for a reason. So do the kingdom a favor; swallow and put the damn fork down." Her words should have come out like venom, but a lack of sleep covered her tongue. The way she spoke was slow and drawn out, breathy and tired. Lord Seran looked towards the queen; dark circles were forming under her eyes, wrinkles developing across the skin.

"My apologies," he said with food in his mouth. Seran swallowed quickly and took a swig of the wine. "Where did you see the princess last, your Majesty?" The queen's face was flat. Her deep blue eyes had practically gone black, and her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Eight moons ago after the Midday Feast." She spoke languidly, her eyes fluttering as she glared towards the man. Her patience was being tested. Leticia suggested she come with her, make sure he understands how dire the situation was, but Vitana refused, afraid of what the former Queen Regent would say.

"And that was it?" He asked, questioning Vitana.

"That was the last I saw her until the ship left Aecor." Her hands clasped together as she adjusted herself in the chair.

"And you said it was heading East?" His questions became repetitive.

"Did you read what I sent you?" Vitana's patience had worn out. She was tired of his questions and his waiting, she wanted him to do something.

"I'm just trying to get a clear image of the situation, Ma'am." Seran's posture fell apart as he leaned back against the dining chair, his elbows resting on the arms.

"I wrote to you saying that she left on an Aecorian Naut after the Midday Feast. I searched for her here, and then I saw the ship leave the ports. My daughter is on that boat. The heir is on that boat. The future of Aecor is on that boat, so if you would like to sit here and continue asking questions," she rose from her chair, her hands pressed against the table. "I can find someone else." Her threat slipped out. The venom had returned, the viper had returned.

Lord Seran sat in his chair, nodding, a small smile crossing his face.

"Anybody else on this," his hand waved in the air. "Boat?" He had caught her off guard. She had forgotten about the prince.

She stammered before, "the prince of Gillaria." She tried to seem collected, but it fell apart as she slowly remembered the king in her dungeon.

"The Forest Prince is on the boat?" His small smiled turned into a worrying smirk. "Does King Anyel know?" There was an enthusiasm to his words that caught the queen off guard.

"Well, you've indeed found yourself in a predicament. What would King Fre-" A fist slammed against the table.

"Can you find her?" She roared at him. Her eyes were welling with tears. Vitana's breathing caught in her chest with each exhale. Lord Seran's smirk grew into a wicked smile. He stepped from his chair, grabbing his glass of wine and gulping it down as possible then raced his way towards the queen. She watched as he stomped his way over, his footsteps thudding against the floor, echoing in the brightly lit room. He stopped in front of her, the monarch's face flushing. His faint blue eyes glared into hers.

"I can do more than find her." He began then his eyes glanced down her and then raised back up.

"I can bring her home," he licked his pink lips, his tongue stained from the wine. "One way or another." A lump grew in Vitana's throat, forcing her to swallow. What had she done?