The princess, her fury escalating with each strike of her whip, lashed out at Patrick relentlessly, driven by a desperate need to assert her authority.

"HOW DARE YOU? I'M THE BLACK SWAN! DIDN'T YOU HEAR ABOUT ME?" she seethed, her voice echoing through the prison walls.

She continued her assault until Patrick's blood pooled at his feet, yet his stoic facade remained unbroken. His unwavering resilience only fueled her frustration, leaving her shaken and uncertain of her own power.

As she observed the blood staining her whip, a sense of dread washed over her. "What is wrong with me?" she wondered, her hands trembling with a mixture of rage and confusion. "How could that lowly peasant resist this much? No one should endure such punishment without flinching. Who is this man?

It was the first time she had ever pushed someone to such extremes in her attempts at discipline. Typically, a few stern words and the mere sight of her whip were sufficient to assert her authority. However, Patrick's steadfast defiance provoked her beyond measure, leaving her feeling unnerved and disoriented.

"What am I to do with him?" she wondered, her mind clouded with uncertainty.

As she contemplated her next move, Derrick requested a meeting with her. "At this hour? What could he possibly want?" she mused, puzzled by the unexpected summons.

Initially reluctant to meet with Derrick, the princess saw an opportunity to gather information about the mysterious man who dared to challenge her

"He was at the boutique with the inspector, and he referred to that girl as his sister. I must uncover his identity," she thought.

"Tell him I will see him," she instructed, her curiosity piqued.

Upon meeting Derrick, she greeted him courteously. "Good evening, inspector," she said, masking her inner turmoil with an air of composure.

Entering the room composedly, she took her seat.

"It's unusual to see you twice in one day. It must be urgent," she remarked.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Highness. I've come to discuss Patrick," Derrick began.

"So, his name is Patrick," she noted inwardly, "What about him?" she inquired.

"I understand he committed a grave offense, but I hope Your Highness won't be too harsh on him. He's a mere peasant, and this was his first foray into the world of high society and nobility," Derrick explained

The princess smirked, insinuating: "Are you defending him because he is your mistress's brother? Well, I must admit, her beauty warrants such loyalty. She must mean a great deal to you. May I inquire as to where you encountered her?"

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but you're mistaken. She is not my mistress," Derrick clarified. "As I mentioned earlier, she has aided me considerably, and I merely wished to reciprocate. Peasants of her ilk hold no particular significance to me.

At that moment, the princess recalled Patrick's fearless demeanor under her punishment and his unwavering defiance.

Derrick tensed: "Has she uncovered his true nature? No... That couldn't be. If it were known that a wizard lurked within the palace walls, the consequences would be dire..."

"Why do you believe that, Your Highness?" Derrick inquired cautiously.

"He showed no fear of me, nor did he yield to my punishment," the princess explained. "He offered no apologies or pleas for mercy. Is that behavior typical for someone of his station?"

Derrick relaxed slightly: "He and his sister are unfamiliar with royal protocols. They reside in the forest and seldom venture into town. I implore Your Highness to release him. I assure you, you will not encounter him again."

The princess rose from her seat and made her way to the door.

"I'm not finished with him yet," she declared before exiting, leaving no opportunity for further questioning from the inspector.

Derrick let out a sigh: "He's only making matters worse. A simple apology would have sufficed. I suspect he'll remain in prison for a few days. Well, he brought it upon himself.

The following morning, Patricia hurried to the town to inquire about her brother's situation. She had to fabricate a story for her parents to prevent them from worrying.

"I told them that Patrick was hired by an important client for a few days," she mused to herself. "They seemed skeptical, but I couldn't bring myself to tell them the truth. It would be too much for them to handle. I just hope Paige keeps quiet about it. I promised to buy her a cake."

Upon her arrival, she made her way straight to Derrick's office.

"Inspector! Is there any news about Patrick?" she asked urgently.

"Sit down," Derrick replied, his tone serious.

Patricia sensed that there was bad news coming.

"What happened to him?" she asked anxiously.

"Calm down. He's safe, but he's in prison," Derrick explained.

"In prison? But why? What did he do?" Patricia demanded.

"He insulted the princess. It's a serious offense," Derrick responded solemnly

Patricia's anger flared, causing her to rise from her seat.

"THAT'S NOT FAIR! HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! He was only defending me! I'll go talk to that princess. I'll ask her to hold me instead," she declared vehemently.

Derrick intervened immediately, halting her in her tracks.

"Where do you think you're going? You don't know anything about that princess. She'll put both of you in prison, and then what will happen to your parents and your siblings?" he reasoned.

Patricia recoiled, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Then what should I do?" she asked, deflated.

"For the time being, nothing. I'll continue to pursue the princess until she sets him free. That's our best course of action for now," Derrick reassured her

Patricia felt overwhelmed, unable to simply wait without taking action.

"What did you tell your parents?" Derrick inquired.

"I lied, of course. I told them that a rich customer hired him for a few days, but I won't be able to keep up with the lie if he stays much longer in the prison," Patricia admitted.

Derrick reached into his desk drawer and handed Patricia some money, "Tell them that he's working at the port and this is his earnings,"

Patricia declined Derrick's offer of money with determination.

"Keep your money. I will chop the wood and sell it. There's no way I'll let my family starve," she asserted firmly.

Derrick observed Patricia's resolute demeanor, momentarily taken aback by her strength.

"You are indeed not normal," he remarked, his gaze lingering on her.

"What do you mean?" Patricia inquired.

Derrick rose from his seat, adjusting his hat.

"Nothing. Follow me. I want to show you something," he said cryptically.

Leading her to a grand mansion, Derrick extended his hand to assist Patricia as she stepped down from the carriage.

"Welcome to my house, my lady..."