Upon arriving home, Patricia wasted no time in sharing Derrick's offer with her parents. Initially, they were elated, particularly her father, who was thrilled at the prospect of employment.

"THE INSPECTOR IS WILLING TO HIRE ME! Are you sure? Does he know about my condition?" her father exclaimed eagerly.

"He knows everything. He wants to make use of your expertise," Patricia assured him.

"This is wonderful news! I can finally return to work and contribute to the family," her father rejoiced.

While her mother didn't harbor any objections to the idea, she couldn't help but feel concerned about her son's absence.

As the de facto leader of the family, Patrick often made crucial decisions. Patricia's mother was quick to inquire about his knowledge of the offer.

"What about Patrick? Does he know?" she asked.

Patricia, already prepared with a response, forced a smile to conceal her nervousness.

"He's working at the port. It might take a while for him to return... But I'm sure he'd see this offer as a great opportunity for us all. Patrick wouldn't turn it down," She replied confidently.

"That's right! This is my chance to work again!" her father chimed in enthusiastically.

The mother, though hesitant about moving to the inspector's house, relented upon seeing her husband's hopeful expression.

"Alright, tell him that we accept, but if Patrick comes back, we will do whatever he decides," she said, her tone conveying a mix of uncertainty and acquiescence.

Meanwhile, the inspector made his way to the prison to fulfill his promise to Patricia, " I will just inform him. There is nothing he can do anyway", he reasoned to himself.

The princess greeted Derrick with a stern demeanor upon his arrival.

"Greetings, Your Highness," he respectfully acknowledged.

"If you're here to persuade me to release that peasant, you'd best depart," she asserted firmly.

"No, you can keep him for as long as you wish," Derrick assured her.

"Then why have you come?" she inquired.

"If you don't mind, your highness, there is something I must convey to him concerning his family," Derrick explained.

"That's it?" she asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes," Derrick affirmed.

"In that case, I don't object. Let's proceed," she consented.

"Are you accompanying us as well?" Derrick inquired.

"Of course, I am. Should I not?" the princess responded, with a hint of curiosity.

"It would be my honor, Your Highness," Derrick replied respectfully

As they made their way to the prison, the inspector couldn't shake off his concern about Patrick's potential reaction to the news of his family's relocation to the mansion. "This is not good," he thought to himself. "I don't know how he'll react when he learns about his family moving to my mansion. He could lose control and use magic in front of the princess. I must choose my words carefully."

As they entered the cell, Patrick remained seated on the ground, his gaze fixed ahead, ignoring their presence.

Derrick attempted to break the silence. "At least greet the princess," he urged.

But Patrick remained silent, his demeanor cold and indifferent.

The princess, less perturbed by his demeanor, remarked, "Don't worry, inspector, I will ensure he learns proper behavior in the presence of royalty."

Patrick's smirk betrayed his amusement. "Royalty, you say?"

The princess's composure quickly faltered. "YOU BRAT! I WILL MAKE YOU BEG FOR MERCY," she erupted angrily.

Derrick sighed inwardly. "It seems he won't be leaving anytime soon. Well, perhaps that's for the best."

"I came to inform you about your family," Derrick began cautiously.

Patrick's expression stiffened, and he rose to his feet immediately. "What's wrong?" he demanded, his tone edged with concern.

The inspector noted Patrick's sudden shift in demeanor and continued, "Finally, I caught your attention."

With a sense of urgency, Patrick reached through the bars, grabbing the inspector by his collar and demanding, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY FAMILY?"

The princess was taken aback by the intensity of Patrick's fury. She had assumed he was indifferent to everything, but his fierce protectiveness over his family revealed a depth of emotion she had not anticipated. In stark contrast, her own family dynamics were lacking. Her father's indifference and her half-siblings' neglect left her feeling isolated and unloved.

Derrick attempted to maintain composure as he delivered the news, "It's nothing serious, they're relocating to the town."

Patrick released him, a perplexed expression crossing his face, "Moving? Why?"

Derrick explained, "Your sister secured employment nearby and wishes to remain close by until your release."

Patrick's suspicion grew, "What kind of work?"

"A gardening position in a prominent estate," Derrick replied.

Patrick pressed, "Whose estate?"

Dismissing the question, Derrick reassured him, "That's inconsequential. What matters is they've found a suitable residence and will move today. Rest assured, I'll ensure their safety."

Patrick's tone turned stern, "That's precisely what concerns me. I'm aware of your intentions towards her, and I warn you, IF YOU HURT HER IN ANY WAY, I WILL KILL YOU. "

The princess found Patrick's words increasingly remarkable. Typically, impoverished families would marry off their attractive daughters to wealthy nobles for financial gain.

"This is peculiar," she thought. "Many ladies attempt to charm Derrick due to his elevated status, but to no avail. Even the king deemed him the most suitable candidate for my prospective husband. Patrick ought to be pleased that his sister has caught the eye of such a influential figure. He could improve their circumstances significantly, yet he appears discontent. Why? Aren't they impoverished and in need of financial assistance?"

Derrick adjusted his attire before addressing Patrick sternly, "You're in no position to make threats. Furthermore, I would never harm your sister, and you know precisely why. I only hope that you'll act more sensibly to avoid causing her any harm." With that, he bid the princess farewell and exited the prison.

Patrick seethed with anger but made an effort to rein in his emotions in the presence of the princess, who observed him silently. Surprisingly, her anger toward him seemed to dissipate. Patrick shot her a piercing glare. "If I apologize, will you release me?"

The princess was taken aback, experiencing a rare moment of uncertainty. She felt a flurry of emotions she couldn't quite grasp, her heart pounding in her chest as she stormed out of the prison.

The princess found herself in a state of confusion, a sensation entirely foreign to her. Uncertain of what to say or how to proceed, she hastily departed from the prison, her heart racing with unfamiliar emotions.

Outside, one of her guards approached her with a question, "Your Highness, how shall we punish him?"

The princess was startled and snapped, "DON'T TOUCH HIM!"

After a moment, she regained her composure and reluctantly replied, "For now..."

"As you command, Your Highness," the guard acknowledged, bowing respectfully.

After that, she hurried to her chamber and closed the door behind her, leaving her attendants puzzled.

" What's wrong with the princess?" one of them speculated. "It's unusual for her to hide in her room."

"Her face is red," another remarked. "Maybe she's sick...