The chapel stood quietly within the palace grounds, a dim and solemn place where anyone within the palace was allowed to come and pray whenever they wished.

And though it was rarely ever crowded, it always carried a soft silence that seemed almost sacred, broken only by the occasional murmur of prayer drifting from distant corners or the faint sound of footsteps of those who came and left after seeking solace.

Verity had brought Thalia here because during one of her visits she had noticed an old woman who lingered around the chapel more than the others.

That alone had caught Verity’s attention, and now, with everything surrounding the strange footman and the missing records, she was certain that if anyone in the palace held forgotten knowledge or old truths, it would be her.

They were here now, under the pretense of prayer, though neither of them had any intention of actually praying. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The old woman stood not too far from them, carefully lighting candles one after another at the front of the chapel, her movements slow and deliberate as the faint glow of flame flickered across her wrinkled face.

Verity and Thalia knelt on the cold stone floor as if they were devout visitors, heads slightly bowed as though in prayer, but their attention was far from devotion as they were instead focused entirely on the woman in front of them.

After a brief moment of silence, Thalia slowly opened one eye and glanced at Verity, who did the same almost instantly, and without a word they exchanged a small confirming nod, silently agreeing on how to begin.

Thalia was the first to speak, her voice soft but carried so that it would travel just enough to reach the woman’s ears without sounding obvious, "Can you believe what actually happened in the palace? It was strange." Her tone carried a hint of curiosity and disbelief as if she were speaking casually.

Verity immediately picked up the rhythm, turning slightly as if responding naturally, "Strange? I don’t think I’ve heard anything. Did something happen?" she asked, feigning ignorance as they continued their quiet exchange, both of them subtly hoping to draw the woman’s attention without directly addressing her.

Thalia let out a low, almost disbelieving sound, shaking her head slightly, "How could you not hear? It has been all over the palace." Her voice rose just enough to sound like gossip shared between curious nobles, and that was finally enough to make the elderly woman pause in her actions.

Slowly, she turned her head slightly in their direction, her brows knitting together in mild irritation as she seemed to wonder why two young women were speaking so openly in a place meant for silence and reverence.

Verity leaned slightly closer to Thalia and whispered under her breath, frustration creeping in, "Just tell me the damn thing properly," though her tone was still low enough not to fully break the illusion of secrecy.

At that moment, the elderly woman’s suspicion deepened, and she straightened her posture slightly as she realized that this conversation was not random chatter after all.

Thalia, sensing that they had finally gained her attention, continued more boldly, "Alright then, I’ll say it. That night, something unbelievable happened. A lowly footman stood in front of the king and challenged him, claiming something completely outrageous." Her tone was deliberately exaggerated, as if she were speaking about palace gossip she herself found hard to believe.

Verity followed immediately, playing along, "And what exactly did he claim?" she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly as though trying to piece it together.

Thalia tilted her head, lowering her voice just a fraction, "He claimed... that the king is his father." She let the words hang in the air for a moment before adding, "Can you imagine? A footman saying something like that to the king?"

The moment those words left her mouth, the elderly woman froze in place. The candle she was holding flickered slightly as her grip tightened almost imperceptibly, and for the first time her calm, detached expression cracked just slightly.

Her eyes shifted toward the girls, as though trying to steady herself while the words settled heavily in her mind. Verity and Thalia noticed the change immediately and exchanged a quick glance, realizing they had struck something deep.

Before they could press further, the woman’s voice turned sharp, "You girls should stop speaking about things you do not understand," she said firmly, though there was a subtle tremor underneath her words that betrayed her unease.

They fell silent for a moment, watching as she continued lighting the candles, but now her movements were slightly more rushed than before.

Slowly, she began to walk closer toward them, her gaze guarded and wary, as though she regretted having even heard their conversation. Thalia, refusing to let the opportunity slip away, leaned forward slightly as the woman approached.

"Then do you know something, granny?" she asked lightly, her tone deceptively casual yet probing at the same time.

That question made the woman pause again, her hand tightening around the candle holder for a brief second before she quickly masked it. Verity’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the reaction closely, confirming what she had already suspected.

"You do know something," Thalia added softly, more certain now.

The woman’s expression shifted immediately as panic flickered across her face. "No... I don’t know anything," she said quickly, her voice rising slightly.

That alone drew a few glances from others in the chapel. She seemed to realize it too late, and her eyes darted around nervously before she took a small step back.

Verity raised both hands slightly in a calming gesture, her voice softening, "It’s alright, you can talk to us. We are not here to harm you." Her tone was gentle, steady, and reassuring as she tried to ease the woman’s sudden fear.

But the old woman was already retreating emotionally, shaking her head quickly, "You should leave if you are not here to pray," she said firmly, though her voice cracked.

Without waiting for a response, she turned away from them and moved toward a quieter corner of the chapel, leaving Verity and Thalia behind in tense silence.

Verity exhaled slowly and turned to Thalia, "That was your fault," she muttered as she pushed herself up from the floor.

Thalia immediately frowned, standing as well, "Excuse me? My fault?" she replied, offended.

"Yes," Verity said bluntly, brushing dust off her dress, "If you hadn’t been so dramatic with your little performance, she wouldn’t have gotten scared and run off."

Thalia scoffed quietly, and for a moment neither of them spoke as frustration hung between them.

Then Thalia broke the silence again, her tone more practical this time, "So what now?"

Verity looked toward the direction the woman had gone and let out a slow breath, "We cannot leave without something," she said firmly. After a brief pause she added, "I’ll go talk to her alone."

Thalia studied her for a moment before nodding slightly, stepping aside to allow her to go.

Verity moved quietly through the chapel, following the faint sound of movement until she found a smaller adjoining space tucked away behind one of the chapel walls. It was dimmer there, more enclosed, with a single candle burning weakly on a wooden table surrounded by old religious texts and worn parchments. The elderly woman sat in the corner, her posture tense, her hands clasped tightly as she muttered something under her breath.

Verity stepped inside carefully, making no sudden movement, but the moment the woman noticed her presence, she stiffened.

"Go away," the woman said immediately, her voice sharp again, "If you do not leave now, I will inform the king myself."

Verity did not react immediately. Instead, she softened her expression and slowly crouched down to meet her level, her tone calm and steady, "I am not here to harm you," she said gently, reaching out slowly to place her hand over the woman’s trembling one.

"I promise you, no harm will come to you. I only came because I believe you are the only person who might know something, and I know you do not turn away those who are truly in need."

The woman hesitated, her breathing uneven as she tried to steady herself. "What exactly do you want?" she asked cautiously, still suspicious but less defensive now.

Verity nodded slightly, keeping her voice soft, "That footman," she began carefully, "his name is Rowan. We checked the palace records... and his name is missing completely. What do you think that is?"

The woman’s brows furrowed deeply as she considered it, her earlier panic slowly giving way to thought. "That is strange," she admitted after a moment, her tone quieter now. "If he were truly a servant, his name would be recorded without exception."

Verity watched her carefully. "So what are you suggesting?" she pressed gently.

The woman exhaled slowly, her gaze shifting downward, "It could mean he wasn’t even a servant to begin with... or someone deliberately removed his record."

Silence followed that statement.

Verity’s expression tightened slightly as the implication settled in her mind.

"Thank you," she said softly after a moment, rising back to her feet. "I knew I could rely on you."

The woman immediately waved her off, "Go now. Quickly."

Verity gave a small nod and left the hidden corner, returning to where Thalia waited near the chapel entrance.

Thalia straightened immediately when she saw her. "So? Did you get anything?"

Verity met her gaze, her expression unreadable for a moment before she finally spoke, "More than we expected," she said quietly. "And you are not going to like what it suggests."