The sound of abrupt but persistent banging on the heavy, wooden door jolted me out of my thoughts on how to communicate with the dreaded villain.

“Just a moment!” I shouted, trying to compose myself before answering. With a sigh, I climbed out of the oversized plush bed before attempting to make myself somewhat presentable. The room was eerily quiet without Nora’s presence; she must have left and taken her belongings with her earlier.

When my hand touched the doorknob, Prince Mito forcefully pulled it open.

“Your assistance is necessary! You must—” He stopped mid-sentence, his resting frown deepening into a scowl of disdain. “You cannot possibly have just awakened? And yet the disarray of your hair would suggest otherwise.”

“For someone about to ask for my help, you’re awfully rude,” I grumbled, rubbing my eyes.

He threw his head back with an exhaustive exhale. “Well, in any case, you must present yourself to my father immediately.”

My eyes widened. “Has he taken a turn for the worse?”

“No, he’s perpetually been this obstinate,” he declared with a derisive snort. “He won’t allow me to leave the castle grounds.”

I knew it would irritate him, but I couldn’t help it. “On what grounds?”

The searing glare from His Highness could have shattered tempered steel. “You fancy yourself a comedian, yet your words seem to echo silently.”

Of course, you wouldn’t laugh at that, but it amused me enough for the moment.

I shrugged, folding my arms. “The question stands still, unanswered, and so do I.”

A low grumble escaped under his breath before he turned. “He worries about nothing real, just another assassination attempt. He believes I’m the target.”

I relaxed my stance. “Oh. Right. I didn’t explain what happened yesterday. You’re supposed to meet the other actors in town right about now, right?”

He nodded, his face twitching as he grappled with the notion of adopting a veneer of courtesy. “I find myself humbly requesting your rendition of the events. It appears he’s utterly disregarding mine.”

“Alright,” I agreed. “Let’s be off then.”

He pursed his lips. “Might you, at the very least, make an attempt to tame your locks before we proceed?”

So pushy.

After fixing my hair as requested, I followed His Highness through the castle, taking a new route consisting of connected hallways, all of which were coated in the same detailed wooden paneling I had come to find myself staring at habitually.

“Wasn’t it a lot of work carving all of that?”

“Of course it was,” he replied with a shrug. “Whyever do you ask?”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure myself. Was I trying to make small talk or was I genuinely curious?

“I don’t know… something about it bothers me though,” I admitted. “It’s just everywhere, I guess.”

“It functions as insulation,” he explained, punctuating his words with a nonchalant flick of his hand. “The combination of leather backing and straw padding behind it acts as a barrier, preventing the cold of the stone from penetrating.”

Straw, leather, wood… I guess that makes sense.

“I see,” I murmured as we pushed open a large wooden door. Beyond lay several imposing stone pillars charged with holding the ceiling over an open cobblestone walkway, with a large inner courtyard visible to our right. The space teemed with life, filled with colorful flowers and lush shrubs celebrated by small birds that zipped enthusiastically throughout. A light breeze tugged at bushes, rustling their leaves and coaxing them to reach for the bright sun. Wrought iron tables and chairs were scattered here and there, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere to those allowed inside.

Prince Mito seemed pleased with my silent admiration as he led me through the garden. “My father has already retired to his conservatory, just on the other side of this little garden.”

Then I caught a snippet of conversation from beyond the large hedge. “Lady Nora…” The voice was unmistakably Relias’s. I stopped walking, startled by the tone of concern saturated in those two tiny words.

“Do you want them to join us?” Prince Mito whispered, having also stopped.

I shook my head, gesturing for him to lead the way along the wandering path. Despite my initial thought to mind my own business, curiosity soon overtook me. Just as the hedgerow abruptly concluded, I glanced around the bend. There they were, nestled in an intimate setting at a table meant for two, sharing a pot of tea accompanied by an artfully arranged spread of small loaves of bread and cheeses. They were positioned unusually close, with Nora’s expression strangely serious. She exhaled a deep sigh, extending her right hand towards him. Relias tenderly clasped it with both of his, pausing momentarily before locking eyes with her, murmuring words too soft for me to decipher.

I gasped and drew back behind the hedge, only to bump into Prince Mito.

“Ohh…” he hummed quietly, giving me a look of abject yet unnecessary pity.

I shot him an intense glare, my finger pressing against my lips, demanding silence. He bobbed his head in response and changed direction sharply, stepping over a few small shrubs so we wouldn’t be caught eavesdropping.

“I’m sure that wasn’t what we thought it was,” I declared hotly once we were out of earshot. “Things like that always get misconstrued!”

“Of course they do,” he agreed readily, his eyes still apologetic. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”

“Because there’s nothing to be said!” I reiterated with a stomp of my foot.

It’s good that they’re getting closer… and I’m not at all jealous. And what’s that saying… opposites attract?

“No,” I muttered as we made our way toward a three-sided glass greenhouse, annoyed that His Haughtiness had put such ridiculous ideas in my head. There was most likely a very reasonable explanation for what we had seen, and even if there wasn’t, it was none of my business. All I have to do is make sure I don't act all weird about it.

Upon entering the conservatory, we found King Saulus propped up in a regal, high-backed wooden chair with his legs covered in warm blankets. Reginald stood by his side, reading aloud from a pamphlet of papers held tightly in his grasp.

“Captain,” he greeted me enthusiastically as he waved off his chamberlain. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

My gaze lingered longingly on the food in front of him, noting that the silver tray of pastries appeared untouched. Prince Mito shifted uncomfortably beside me, clearing his throat in annoyance, and I sighed inwardly.

“I apologize, Your Highness, but I fear I must attend to righting a wrong I committed yesterday.”

It wasn’t that I still believed I was solely to blame for what happened. Nora had been right all along; there should have been measures in place to prevent such a tragedy from occurring. However, I knew King Saulus would respond with something like...

“The hero can do no wrong!”

My response to him slowly tumbled out of my mouth, careful and calculated—for me, anyway. “However, I cannot deny that I hold some responsibility for yesterday’s tragic fire. It was never my intention to set the flames alight… I was merely trying to escape the trapdoor. See...uh... I knew that I had to provide hope to the masses. I couldn’t leave them with the idea that I was gone forever.” I took a moment to let the lie sink in before continuing. “Overwhelmed by their cries of agony... I sought my way back to the stage to announce my heroic return... but...” I mentally stumbled, not sure what to say next.

Suddenly, the old king erupted in laughter, slamming his hand on the table. “Aha! The Goddess herself must have stopped you in your tracks! She knew it wasn’t yet time for your grand announcement, Captain!”

Well, okay, that works!

Prince Mito stood beside me with folded arms, a look of annoyance crossing his features. “It was a simple accident, just as I’ve said from the beginning.”

I opened my mouth, annoyed he wasn’t helping our case in the slightest. But before I could speak, his father slammed his hand on the table again.

“Do you doubt the hero’s words?” His Majesty shouted hoarsely. “Of course, it was no accident! The Goddess simply wanted this to happen exactly as it did!”

Technically, he was the one who spoke rationale for what happened, not me, but I didn’t think he’d appreciate my interjection.

Prince Mito let out a weary sigh and lowered his head. “You’re right, Father,” he murmured in a mollifying tone as he gave me a secret, side-long wink.

“Of course I’m right,” King Saulus declared with a majestic wave. “That’s why I am still the King!”

I bowed deeply. “I believe the Goddess wants me to assure the actors and stagehands involved that they were simply fulfilling their Purpose yesterday,” I explained quickly, suddenly elated that the ruse seemed to be in our favor. “And I believe that with Prince Mito accompanying me, her words will surely be well received.”

King Saulus let out a long, contemplative sigh but eventually nodded. “Yes, they were mere vessels to carry out her Will. Go now, and tell them I have forgiven them! I will personally explain this to them during our banquet tonight. And as for you, Prince Mito...” He paused, gazing sternly at his son again.

“Yes, Father?”

“Learn everything you can from Captain Lightbringer. She’s much better at illuminating the truth than you are!”

“Yes, Father,” he managed to say without rolling his eyes.

“Reginald!” the king shouted louder than necessary. “We’re having the banquet! Tonight!”

“But Your Majesty...” Reginald started to object. “There’s so much involved in—”

“Don’t tell me you can’t do this one little thing for me,” he cut him off with a pout. “You never know when my time will be up!”

Reginald let out a long-suffering sigh. “I would never, Your Majesty... Shall I extend invitations to the usual guests?”

“Yes, yes. But make sure the Marchioness is not included. I don’t like how she looked at me the other day,” King Saulus replied with a long, drawn-out sniffle, settling back into his chair.

After excusing ourselves, we headed back through the inner courtyard. Prince Mito avoided the hedges, so I didn’t have the chance to spy on Relias and Nora again.

After leaving the area, we returned to the castle’s main entrance. “For propriety’s sake, one of your female companions should accompany us into town,” he advised hesitantly as we walked down what seemed to be an endless hallway. “I could ask one of the servants to fetch Lady—”

“Vernie,” I interjected swiftly before he could suggest the alternative. “She’s... probably not too busy at the moment.”