The room was dark and imposing, its walls lined with towering bookshelves and heavy, dark wood furniture. A warm glow from the flickering fireplace played across the maroon velvet pillow where the Divine Egg rested, its faint luminescence adding a surreal contrast to the otherwise somber room.

Duke Zephyr sat in his high-backed chair, his stern gaze fixed on Leticia, who stood in front of him like a scolded child. Sebastian stood beside the Duke, his arms crossed, watching her with the same expectant silence. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and tension.

A sharp knock broke the silence.

“Come in,” the Duke said, his voice low but commanding.

Raphael stepped in, his clothes now dry and neatly changed, though the same air of nervousness hung around him. The Duke’s sharp eyes turned to him.

“Stand beside her,” he said, gesturing with his hand.

Raphael moved to stand next to Leticia. The two siblings now stood side by side, looking as if they were awaiting judgment. The Duke rose from his chair, walking slowly toward the Divine Egg. He rested his hand on the table beside it, the gesture deliberate and calculated.

“So,” he began, his voice even but laced with an edge, “who’s going to tell me what this is?"

Leticia nudged Raphael with her elbow, her subtle way of passing the responsibility. Raphael shot her a brief, betrayed look before swallowing nervously.

“It’s... it’s a Divine Egg, Father,” he said, his voice hesitant. "and..."

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

Raphael exhaled heavily. “And this was the sole reason why Prince Alistair is visiting our kingdom today.”

Both the Duke and Sebastian’s expressions darkened, shock flickering briefly across their faces. Sebastian stepped closer. “What? How do you know this?”

Raphael pointed subtly toward Leticia. “She told us.”

The Duke’s eyebrows rose sharply. “Us? You mean someone else knows about the egg?”

Raphael nodded. “Yes, Father. Its...Crown Prince Kael knows about it too.”

The Duke sighed, sinking back into his chair. His attention shifted to Leticia. “And how, exactly, did you come to know this was Prince Alistair’s purpose?”

Leticia straightened her posture and answered carefully. “I was reading about the Kingdom of Lorianthian, and… it just clicked. A guess.”

Raphael stepped forward, cutting in. "...and her guess was right, Father. And I’m glad I retrieved the egg before it fell into the wrong hands.”

Sebastian sighed, his frustration evident. “You could’ve told us too, Leticia. We could have helped you.”

Leticia opened her mouth to respond, but Raphael cut in with a dramatic flair. “Oh, come on, brother! She wasn’t going to tell me either. I only found out because I caught her sneaking out of her balcony—at midnight."

The Duke abruptly stood, his voice sharp. “What? Escaping from the balcony?”

Leticia shot Raphael a glare, her cheeks flushed with frustration as she closed her eyes in exasperation.

Sebastian groaned, his tone laced with concern. “Leticia, that could’ve been dangerous!”

Leticia pressed her lips together, and smiled awkwardly saying, "Well... it wasn't that dagerous father."

The Duke’s expression hardened as he turned sharply toward the door. “Jared!” he barked, his voice ringing out with authority.

The butler appeared almost instantly, bowing deeply. “Yes, Master?”

“Seal Leticia’s balcony immediately,” the Duke ordered. “And increase the guards around her room. I won’t have my daughter putting herself at such risk again.”

Leticia’s eyes widened in protest. "But father..."   but the Duke’s glare silenced her.

Raphael shifted uncomfortably beside her, avoiding her seething glare.

“Yes, Master,” Jared replied, bowing once more before exiting the room to carry out the orders.  

As the door closed, Raphael scratched the back of his neck, doing his best to avoid Leticia’s piercing glare. Her eyes burned with frustration, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared daggers at her brother.  

“Stop glaring at him, Leticia,” Sebastian interjected, his tone firm but not unkind. “It won’t change the fact that you tried to sneak out of the mansion alone.”  

Raphael grinned, seizing the opportunity. “Exactly.”  

Leticia shot him a look of pure exasperation, but before she could retort, Sebastian crossed his arms and continued. “Go back to your room. And you’re not allowed to step out of the mansion. You’re grounded for two days.”  

Leticia was surprised, and she stepped forward in protest. “But, brother—”  

The Duke cut her off sharply. “Sebastian is right. Go back to your room, Leticia." 

Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she nodded. “Yes, Father,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Without another word, she turned and exited the room, her steps heavy as she left the three men behind. As soon as Leticia left the room, the heavy wooden door closed behind her with a soft thud. She let out a frustrated sigh, her heart still racing from the scolding, and made her way to her room.

Back in the Duke’s office, silence lingered for a moment, the weight of unresolved questions hanging in the air. The Duke leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Raphael. 

“There’s more to this, isn’t there?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with authority.

Raphael hesitated, glancing at his father. The atmosphere shifted, a cold seriousness settling over the room. Finally, he nodded. “That’s right, Father. There’s something disturbing.”

Sebastian stepped forward, his brows furrowed in concern. “What is it, Raphael?”

Raphael moved closer to the Divine Egg, his expression darkening as he recounted his experience. “While I was underwater, swimming toward the Divine Egg, I wasn’t alone. There was someone else... someone who was after the egg too.”

The Duke’s jaw tightened, and Sebastian’s eyes widened slightly. “Someone else?” Sebastian echoed.

Raphael nodded, his voice steady but grim. “Their face was completely covered. I couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman. But their movements... their presence... it was clear their intentions were anything but good, Father.”

He hesitated before continuing, his expression more serious. “And I recall Leticia also telling us that this divine egg is incredibly important and precious to the Kingdom of Lorianthia. According to her, this egg only appears once in a hundred years."

Sebastain, understanding Rpahel's words, said, "...and we all know how Lorianthia protects what’s theirs. If anything—or anyone—harms it, they wouldn’t hesitate to announce war.”

The Duke’s expression darkened as he processed Sebastain’s words. “That means...” he said slowly, his voice weighted with realization, “someone might be trying to spark a war between our kingdom and Lorianthia?”

Raphael met his father’s eyes and nodded. “It’s the most logical conclusion we can draw, Father. If the egg were to fall into the wrong hands or disappear entirely, Lorianthia would hold us responsible. That kind of conflict could destabilize not just our two kingdoms, but the entire region.”

Sebastian crossed his arms, his face dark with thought. “If that’s true, then whoever this masked figure was, they weren’t just after the egg for its power or significance. They were looking to create chaos on a massive scale.”

The Duke sighed deeply, walking back to his chair and lowering himself into it. He steepled his fingers, his face etched with concern. “We have to inform the King about this,” he said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his decision.

Sebastian nodded in agreement, stepping closer to his father. “I agree, Father. The King needs to know. This is no ordinary situation.”

The Duke’s gaze flickered to the Divine Egg resting on the maroon pillow, its faint glow illuminating the room ominously. “The situation seems far more dangerous than I initially thought. We’ll need to tighten the security around this estate. Double the guards at every entry point, and ensure the egg is never left unguarded.”

Both Raphael and Sebastian nodded.

“And one more thing,” the Duke added, his voice firm. “Do not let Leticia involve herself in this matter any further. It’s too dangerous for her.”

Raphael shifted uneasily but agreed. “Yes, Father.”

Sebastian glanced at his younger brother before saying, “We’ll make sure of it.”

                                                                                                 ***

Leticia's Chamber,

Leticia lay sprawled upside down on her bed, her long hair cascading off the edge as she stared blankly at the ceiling. Her thoughts swirled like a tempest, though her outward expression seemed calm. Her maid, Elena, stood nearby, stealing glances at her mistress’s peculiar posture.

“What are you thinking about, my lady?” Elena asked.

Leticia mumbled under her breath, “Prince Alistair...”

Elena blinked in surprise. “Prince Alistair?”  

Leticia suddenly sat up, her eyes alight with determination. “He’s arriving today, isn’t he?”  

Elena hesitated, nodding cautiously. “Yes, my lady, but—”  

Leticia stood abruptly, her voice resolute. “I have to meet him." 

The maid rushed toward her, her face etched with shock. “What? My lady, you can’t! You’re grounded!"

Leticia paused mid-step. With a heavy sigh, she plopped back down onto the bed. “Oh, right... I forgot about that." 

Elena sighed in relief, placing a hand over her chest. “Thank goodness. For a moment, I thought you were going to sneak out again." 

Leticia didn’t respond immediately, her gaze growing distant as her thoughts drifted elsewhere. The Divine Egg problem may be solved. but there’s something more concerning... 

Leticia’s brow furrowed as the memory surfaced in her mind. 

The attack.

I clearly recall that Prince Alistair was almost assassinated on his first day in the palace. That incident... it was the reason he began to suspect us—the Kingdom of Caltheria—of trying to kill him.

Leticia clenched her fists, a flicker of determination igniting in her eyes. 

I need to reach him. I need to warn him... but how? 

The question hung heavily in the air as Leticia’s thoughts spiraled, her mind racing to find a solution.  

And yet, no answer came.