The rain had ceased, but the ground was still covered in puddles. Making so that the we left muddy footprints throughout the place. The guards had gone through every room at the brothel, and they found seven working girls and two male customers. Neary too was found at the place. She and her brother are now locked in the prison wagon. 

Three more girls arrived while the search was happening. The men they brought with them were cowards who fled when they spotted the guards. They're not important. Finding Lorelei is what matters. Her bloody clothes and weapons was  found lying on the floor in a back room. But she had managed to escape once again.

On the street, Princess Malika is standing between two guards. A guard's cape is draped around her shoulders. I do not know who offered theirs to her, just about half of the guards brought theirs. She needs to be questioned for her reason for being here. But I'm torn between what to say. On one hand, she is my Princess, her authority is higher than mine, so I shall respect her. But, on the other hand, I am certain King Alfonso would not approve of her being here.

"Your Royal Highness. Captain Basin of the royal guards-" I halt to bow as required. "Would you mind explaining to me what in God's name you are doing here?" I had presented myself appropriately, but my tone was harsh. The Princess is gazing down and avoiding my eyes. Her body shakes, and the skirt she's wearing appears wet and soiled from the rain.

"I could not let him go alone-" She stops and looks around for a moment. "Valor remembered the girl saying she was going to be here tonight. He wanted to find her, and I could not convince him otherwise." She blurts out. Honestly, I'm not shocked he's the reason she's here.

What is it with these royal children that makes them want to sneak out and put themselves at risk? Is it boredom, a false sense of security, or are they simply unaware of how dangerous this city can be? Do they believe they can say their title and no harm will come to them?

"With all due respect Your Highness. Your decision to follow him was recklessly dumb. You put both your brother and yourself at risk. The responsible thing you should have done was going to your father. As Zora did-" I turn to one of the guards, "Make sure she stays here and keep her safe."

"Yes, Captain." They both reply. I leave them to ask the guards who are searching the streets if they have found any signs of Lorelei or the Prince.

"Captain, every room, every street and multiple houses have been searched, but neither the Prince nor Lorelei is to be found." A guard informed me. Them both being gone leads me to believe they are together somewhere. We have the twins, they may have valuable information, but I doubt they'll want to share it.

Perhaps the proprietor of this establishment knows something. The working girls are grouped together, encircled by a few guards. "Who is the owner of this establishment?" The one who answers makes me stop in my tracks, her golden blond hair, although the night is dark, it still shines. It is so much like what my hair once looked like. "The owner is not here, he just comes for money once a week. If he even comes himself. But I am the one who takes care of the people in this place."

"Very well then, you might be able to answer some questions for me."

"What kind of questions?"

"We could start with your name?"

"My name can be whatever you want it to be?" Her voice is flirtatious. An old ploy, that has never worked on me. But I do not like to repeat my questions. "Very well, Goldie-" her smiling face changes to a furious look over the name I called her. "We apprehended two individuals who were accompanying a third person. Where is she?"

"Hell if I know."

"Do you know what they were doing here?"

"Listen here sire, I rented a room out to a man who wanted a spot to meet someone. I and no one else here know what this covert meeting was for. " 

Another person was here? This man must be the reason they came here, but why? "Where is the man they were meeting?" 

 "If he is not inside, I do not know where he is."

This woman is frustrating and wasting our time. I ordered two guards for her to be brought in for further questions. Maybe that can make her attitude change. 

"What! You can not arrest me, I have done nothing illegal" she argues.

 "You are not being arrested, but brought in for questioning," I respond. The Two guards are going to make sure she comes with them. Meanwhile, I think it's about time I bring the Princess home to her father.

Despite the late hour. When we returned to the castle, I was informed that King Alfonso was waiting in the throne room. The royal throne room has barely changed over the years, the white marble still shines, and the King and Queen's thrones still stand at the end of the room. The dark red canopy has been replaced with one in a lighter red with a different embroidery.

On the King's throne, he is seated. King Alfonso exudes nobility and poise in the way he sits. But when he realises who I've brought with me, he rises up and ask, "What is she doing here? Captain, what is the meaning of this?" Despite being at the opposite end of the room, I could see the rage in his eyes.

He listened silently as I related everything that had happened throughout the evening's incident. I am honest in my explanation, yet even though I know their disappearance is not my error, I must accept responsibility for the failure. But King Alfonso does not appear to be interested in what I say. Instead, he turns to his daughter. 

"Why did you not do the sensible thing and come to me? As Zora did." 

Malika's posture drooped, and her voice was quiet. "I am sorry."

That apology just seemed to make The King angrier. "You are sorry? Malika, you are too old for apologies, you should not be getting into situations that demand apologies. I expect better of you. Are you aware of what this incident could cost? You could lose your status, your reputation and your marriage." King Alfonso stops for a moment and takes a deep breath. "It is too late for this. Go to bed. We will discuss this further tomorrow."

"Yes, Father." Malika hesitates to leave. "Is there something you would like to say, your highness?" I inquire. She nervously looks around.

 "What is it?" Her father hissed. 

"There was a woman at the place. Who protected me from a man, who had mistaken me for one of the ladies who worked there."

At this, a jolt went through my body, she hadn't informed me about being in danger. Was she hurt? She did not appear to be hurt. But taking another look at her. I noticed the way her dress has become dirty is strange, the hem has picked up mud, but the rest of her dress is dirty in a way as if it had been submerged in water. On her face, she has a cut. I had not seen the cut, as in the dark it had been hidden by her dark skin. The cut is not from an accident, someone put it there, as it is two lines forming an X. 

I am not the only one to notice her strange wound. "Did he give you that cut on your face?" King Alfonso asks. 

"No, he did not touch me. " She lifts her hand to her cheek.

"Then who did? You do not get a perfect X carved onto your cheek by accident." King Alfonso's voice is harsh but has a slight hint of concern. "I.. It dosent matter, it was just a man, I did not see his face." 

"With all going on we can let this one slide,-" The King mourns. "This woman, who serves at the brothel, is she still there?" King Alfonso asks.

"No, the guards took her with them before I had a chance to thank her," Malika explains. 

"Captain, who is this woman you arrested?" Only one woman was brought in, the one who runs the place. 

"We did not arrest anyone but the twins. However, we did bring in a woman for questioning, she has golden blond hair." Malika quickly confirmed she was the one who helped her. 

"That woman is the madam who runs the place, she has been brought in for further questioning."

"I see, that is a predicament. Basin do you think she works with my son's kidnapper?"

"No, I think she just rented a room to someone for some quick money, I doubt she knows for what." Or cared, I add in my mind.

"In that case, when you are done questioning her, bring her here, I would like to reward her for protecting my daughter."

"As you wish, your majesty."

After Malika had left, King Alfonso asked me. "Does she have the same golden hair you used to have?" I'm not shocked that the King would ask. After all, he has a liking for that blond hair. I will never forget the first time King Alfonso complimented my hair. He was still a Prince at the time. I never forgot that comment, it was the first time in my life I was happy about my hair colour. 

"Very much the same." At my reply, the King smiles. But when I yawn, the King's smile fades. "Get some sleep, Captain. You are dismissed."