Jana and her crew were cloaked in the shadows of the night, close to a bustling port. The sights and sounds of the harbor brought back memories of her time aboard the Sea Serpent, the camaraderie of her old crew, and the sharp pang of loss that followed. The image of Rodrick and his son on the Valtorian boat, haunted her thoughts, bringing a mix of anger and pain. As these bittersweet memories of the past flooded her mind, she sharpened her focus on the task at hand, ignoring the dull ache in her head. They had been tracking the timekeepers, who were constantly on the move, trying to escape the kingdom. Despite their efforts, the timekeepers had once again outsmarted them; unbeknownst to them, Jana's relentless pursuit was the very reason they kept moving from place to place.

Hidden behind crates, Jana observed the empty dock. The ship they were watching was supposed to carry the timekeepers to safety, but it remained anchored, with no sign of their targets. Jana sighed, frustration etching her features.

"This isn't working," she muttered, her eyes scanning the dark waters. "We've been chasing shadows. We need a new approach."

Her lieutenant, a burly man named Garrick, nodded in agreement. "We've flushed them out, but they keep slipping through our fingers. What's the plan now?"

Jana paused, considering her options. "We need to make them come to us. We need bait, someone they would trust, it can't be me. I'm too exposed"

Garrick raised an eyebrow. "Who do you have in mind?"

Jana took a deep breath, considering the task she had been avoiding for the longest time. Elowen and Corin had established a good life here; she didn’t want to put them in danger, but it was time to bring them back into the fold. They would be the link and the incentive to lure the timekeepers to her.

Back at the castle, Jana returned from her lookout post, slipping quietly into her dormitory. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and she knew she had only an hour or so to rest before her duties would call her again. She had completely forgotten about today's significant event—a grand reception to welcome prospective brides for the prince.

The thought of facing a room full of disdainful noblewomen made her groan inwardly. She flopped onto her small bed, closing her eyes for what felt like mere seconds before the morning bells rang, signaling the start of the day's activities.

Jana hurriedly dressed in her maid's uniform, her mind still racing from the night's failed mission. As she made her way to the great hall, she steeled herself for the disinterested and often condescending behavior of the nobles she was about to serve.

The grand hall was abuzz with activity, the air thick with the scent of perfumes and the rustle of luxurious fabrics. Noblewomen, each more elegant and aloof than the last, paraded before the prince, vying for his attention. Jana moved among them, serving drinks and food, her eyes heavy with fatigue but relieved that at least her mind could lower its guard a little bit.

Jana's eyes caught the prince. He was tall and regal, with sharp blue eyes and blond hair that caught the light perfectly. His loyal knight stood right beside him, a striking figure with brownish hair and an unwavering gaze. Despite her serious demeanor, the sight of the prince momentarily distracted her, but she soon remembered her position.

Not knowing why, her attention turned to a woman in an elegant, deep blue gown adorned with intricate embroidery. She had hidden her glass under the table and, while trying to be discreet, sprinkled something into it. Then she proceeded to stand and head toward the prince. At first, Jana thought it might be a simple aphrodisiac trick to tie the prince to her and avoid competition. She wanted to stay out of it, but her righteous self couldn't. What if it was poison? He wasn’t supposed to die yet. One part of her mind argued to leave him be, thinking that the timeline would eventually be restored. However, her rightful side won the debate.

Jana moved swiftly toward the lady, spilling the drink all over herself. The lady, in a moment of anger, slapped the maid. "How dare you! You clumsy oaf!" she hissed.

Jana apologized repeatedly for her clumsiness and excused herself. Without realizing it, she had freed herself from the day's duties. The Head Maid Maria had relieved her, describing the situation as needing to avoid further embarrassment. Jana wisely used her time to rest and prepare for the night that awaited her.

As she approached the dorms, Jana heard someone rushing up behind her. "Maid Agnes," the voice called. She stopped and turned to see the prince's knight approaching her.

"Thank you for what you did earlier," he said, his tone serious. "I had already seen her actions and was planning to intervene."

"It was nothing," Jana replied, meeting his gaze. "It was simply the right thing to do."

"I will make sure the prince knows of your actions," the knight insisted.

"It wasn't for recognition," Jana said quietly.

The knight smiled, a rare softening of his stern features. "Your humility is noted. We could use more like you in the palace."

Jana nodded, acknowledging his words. She stood still as the knight bid farewell, saying, "Rest well, Maid Agnes. Hope we meet again."

As she entered her room, a bird was hitting the window. It was a messenger pigeon. She took it in, sat down, and read the message. It contained the information she needed about the identity of the mysterious nobleman who had asked for Princess Moriana's hideouts. As soon as she read the name, she knew what this was really about. If he found the princess and betrothed her, it could endanger the position of the crown prince and Valtoria itself. This union could even bring back the Drakorian kingdom from the ashes.

Usually, she couldn't care less about political conspiracies, but this one was different—she was the main protagonist. Sleep eluded her despite her tiredness, the thought of what could happen if they found a portrait or someone who could recognize her as the princess kept creeping into her mind.

When she woke up again, it was already night, and she was probably late for her meeting with Elowen and Corin. Jana hurriedly got dressed and sprinted to the tavern where they were supposed to meet.

Her breath came in short gasps from the exertion as she tapped the secret code on the back door to enter the secret room of the tavern. Moments later, the concealed door creaked open. Elowen and Corin were there, talking and laughing with the staff in the place. When they saw her, they hugged her warmly.

"It took you long enough," Corin said, a hint of relief in his voice.

"I didn't want to contact you until I had everything sorted out," Jana replied, her tone serious.

Elowen's eyes flashed with irritation. "You always do this, Jana. You always wait until you're backed into a corner before you reach out."

Jana sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, Elowen. And I'm sorry. But you have to understand—I'm trying to keep everyone safe. The more people know about our plans, the greater the risk."

Elowen's expression softened slightly. "I just hate feeling like we're pawns in a game we don't fully understand."

Jana nodded. "I get it. Believe me, I do. But we're not pawns. We're the ones trying to change the game."

Corin placed a hand on Elowen's shoulder. "She's right, Elowen. It's not easy for any of us."

Elowen took a deep breath, her anger dissipating. "Alright, Jana. What's the plan?"

Jana took a deep breath. "Since my relentless search for the timekeepers has not been productive, I've decided to take another approach. We need to bring them to us. We need to think of something unmistakably recognizable by the timekeepers to draw their attention, but it has to be seen as something normal for the villagers." She looked at Elowen. "I can't think of anyone better to be in charge of this mission."

They huddled together, brainstorming ideas and strategies. The night wore on, with Jana's medieval workers providing their points of view while Jana and Elowen contributed theirs. The constant discussion tired them out; Jana's head was ringing despite having rested before coming. The night was short, and ideas grew scarce as the hours passed. Suddenly, someone interrupted the meeting, calling for Jana. She stood up and left the secret room, heading to the main area of the establishment. It was a young boy, one of the many messengers she employed to avoid suspicion.

 "Master, someone from the jewelry shop is looking for you," the boy said. Jana handed him a few coins and approached the bartender. "Announce to those inside that they can leave," she instructed.

 "All right, master," the bartender replied.

 As she made her way to the jewelry shop, Jana wonderd who could be calling her. She realized that the week was over, but she still didn't understand why she was required there. The information had already been created, and the foreseer at that shop was doing the job just fine. Her mind wandered, pondering what could have happened. Had they made a mistake? Was the client not satisfied? She wanted to avoid meeting the nobleman again in case any news about the princess had surfaced, as it would risk her identity as the foreseer.

 Upon arrival, the receptionist approached her. "Master, there is a man upstairs demanding to see you," he said.

 "Does he know who I am?" Jana asked.

 "No, he's just asking for the woman who attended him last time," the receptionist replied.

 Jana quickly put her veil on and went upstairs, relieving the foreseer who was on duty. "What is it that you need, Duke Edmund?" she asked.