Jake and I arrived back at the castle. I am getting exhausted by each passing minute.

“Welcome back, Your Highness.” My butler, Winston, and maids greeted me. The staff all wore the same-colored uniforms; the maids wore black-and-white dresses, while my butler wore a black suit with a white shirt underneath. 

“Hello, Winston. Can you prepare me a bath?” I asked.

“Yes, your highness! Lilian, go ahead and prepare his highness’s a bath.”

“Yes!” Lilian lowered her head respectfully and took her leave.

I walked past the servants and up the stairs; Jake followed after me. Luckily, no one from my family was around, including my uncle. We arrived at my office across from my bedroom and walked in; Jake followed and closed the door afterward.

“Your Highness, please tell me what exactly happened.”

“I was exploring the village last night looking for any clues of the rumored mage and couldn’t find any clues. I stopped by a bar to try and talk to someone about it, but out of nowhere I was cornered by someone at the bar before I got in. Unfortunately, I left my dagger and sword here when I left last night, thinking that my disguise was perfect and that no one would realize who I am since only you and I know about my plan.”

Jake looked at me in disbelief when I mentioned the part about me forgetting my weapons. It is hard to believe; I excel in self-defense and knight training; however, I was stupid enough not to bring anything with me last night.

“So I ran from them in the direction that leads to the forest and got shot by an arrow on my left thigh here, hence why I limp now. Then I was cornered again by the group, so I fought some men off and ran away. But the archer that was with them shot his arrow at me again and landed on the back of my upper left shoulder.”

“Do you remember what these men looked like?” Jake asked.

“Their boss had a scar that ran from his left eyebrow down his left cheek, and he was bald and more muscular. The archer had dark red hair; I couldn’t take a good look at his face, though.” 

“A scared-faced man and a man with dark red hair? Do you think your uncle sent them?” Jake inquired. 

“I believe so. Only he would be after the throne. I would be next in line for the throne after my father, so if anything, my uncle would be the one most likely to be after me. Or, control me by marriage.” My uncle, Harold, was always after the throne ever since I can remember. He was the one who opposed the idea of mages living among us in this kingdom, and somehow his plan to banish them from our kingdom took effect thirteen years ago.

“Then, Your Highness, you said the lady from earlier saved you. How so?”

“I swam across the river and, presumably, got farther from the village and deeper into the forest and came across a small cabin. I thought it was abandoned at first, but Elara opened the door and I fell unconscious. I woke up this morning in her cabin, and her grandmother also took care of me.”

“Deep in the forest? Where monsters live?” Jake also had the same suspicions as me.

“I asked her why they lived in the forest, but she said that they lived closer to the border of the village, but not close to the forbidden area where they would be a threat to monsters. I thought it was suspicious at first, but I didn’t press further into the question. I was too tired for it.” 

“Your highness, we need to learn about these two women. Do you know Ms. Elara’s family name? She didn’t look like a noble, though.” Jake has a point. It would’ve been better to know more information about these two women. I would’ve been able to return the favor of their care somehow, but I do not even know their family name.

“Jake, I would like to show them my appreciation for their hospitality to me overnight. Do you think I should go back there with a gift of some sort?”

“No, Your Highness. What if more assassins come after you again? You were lucky that you were able to survive last night.” 

A thought just came into my mind that made me freeze. What if those assassins go after the women? 

“Jake?”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Do you think the women will be in danger because of me?” How can I miss that thought?

“More likely, yes. However, I can go there on my own and check on them if I have to.”

“Please do; I put my trust in you that you will be able to achieve that.”

"Right on it!" With that, Jake immediately left for his new mission- checking on Elara and her grandmother.