"I need to leave." Esmond stood up and looked down at Issac. The Prime minister squinted.

"Why? Issac felt confused. He was sure part of Esmond’s mission was to watch him and make sure he didn’t do anything to try and usurp Alfred’s power, but now he suddenly needed to leave.

Despite Issac’s worries, Esmond had no objective related to Issac. He threatened him once, but that was all. Issac was a member of the Inner circle. He didn’t deserve his place if he couldn’t be trusted with regency. "The discontent with the People’s Courts has started. Only a few small reports have come my way, but I want this dealt with before it gets out of hand."

Issac nodded and looked down at the document on his desk. "Where?" Not looking back up, he began his work.

"Nakhla," Esmond said coldly.

"Makes sense. It’s where it all started." Issac took a deep breath. "Keep in touch. If you need anything from this end, send word."

"Thank you, Prime Minister." Esmond gave a small nod and left, leaving Issac alone. Watching the old man leave, Issac smiled. Even when he was your ally, Esmond was still unnerving. ’Horace is worst.’ Thinking about the Underwell heir, it made him smile bitterly.

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"Your Highness, the Gotic envoys have returned." A servant bowed towards Lesezek as he spoke to his council. Frowning, he didn’t know what to think but called the servant over.

"How did they seem?" Whispering into his ear, the servant lowered his head.

"Angry. Very angry." Lesezek’s frown grew as he pushed himself from the table.

"Frogive me, Gentleman. Some uninvited guests have interrupted. We will reconvene in half an hour." The council all stood up and bowed as Lesezek walked off with Aleksander behind him. "Why would the Gotic’s return?" His voice was full of annoyance as he asked Alek.

"The Princess was exactly thrilled with the marriage, Your Highness. Maybe they had enough of her." Aleksander threw out the suggestion, making Lesezek smile cruelly and shake his head.

"No. She knows what will happen if she sabotages this. No, it’s something else." Two servants opened the door for the men, and inside, they saw the Gotic envoys. Lesezek changed his mood in a flash and smiled at them. "Whilst I did miss you, fine gentleman, to return so soon is strange." Looking around, he frowned. "And I don’t see my sister."

"Are you joking?" One of the envoys tried to contain his anger and stood up. Everyone could see the veins on his head about to pop as he held back his finger from slamming in Lesezek’s chest.

"I have no idea what you mean." Lesezek squinted and took a step forward. "But you better keep that hand lowered." The envoy’s hand moved, but he stopped it, curling his hand into a fist.

"The princess is gone. Are you seriously telling us a woman managed to escape and avoid our search parties? Do you have an explanation?" Lesezek and Aleksander’s face darkened as Lesezek struggled to contain his fury.

"My sister disappeared?" he forced the words out through gritted teeth. The envoy coldly nodded. "What about her maids?"

"A few have disappeared, and we caught the others. However, we cannot take any action against them. They are nobility."

"Send them to the Palace. We will deal with that." The envoy felt bad for the maids seeing Lesezek’s cold eyes, but as time passed, it became apparent he had nothing to do with it. At first, they thought he was angry they had lost her, but they knew they were wrong.

"What of the Princess?" The envoy asked again, and Lesezek clicked his tongue.

"She has no allies within the Commonwealth other than my father. But he understands the importance of this alliance. You can expect her to find him and be swintly returned to you. If this happens again, do not hesitate to tell me, and I will deal with it."

"Aleksander," Lesezek turned to the man, "Get the dowry they provided. We can..."

"No. There is no need, Your Highness. The thought it all that matters." The envoy quickly cut in, and Lesezek dropped the topic quickly."

"Please stay for a couple of days. I’m sure my father will send word by then." The enovoys nodded, and Lesezek got a servant to lead them to their rooms. Alone with Aleksander, his eyes went cold. "Find that bitch. I don’t care if she is hurt."

"Maybe she has gone to your father."

"She definitely has." Lesezek didn’t doubt it, but his mind spun, knowing something was amiss. "But how did a Princess escape an armed group of men when she has never learnt anything like this?"

"You think she had help?" Aleksander said in surprise, but it made sense as he thought about it.

"There are two men I can think of who have the skills and manpower to avoid such a group of men without shedding any blood. Our dear Konrad and the Old Snake."

"If the Empire has their hands on the Princess..."

"God forbid. So, talk to Konrad. If he had anything to do with it, I give you permission to judge him as you see fit. But if it was the Old Snake. Then we are in danger."

"Maybe," Aleksander spoke but paused, "Maybe we are thinking too much. What if it was a stray merchant that helped her? If the Princess is able to put on a helpless display, then she could trick someone."

"We will wait for my father to send word. If nothing arrives within a week, assume the worst. News of this, however, cannot be leaked. Anyone asks the Gotic envoys have returned because the Princess fell ill. Have the maids they brought put in the dungeon."

Aleksander bowed and quickly left the room. "Ada." Saying his sister’s name, Lesezek slammed his fist into the table. "You better not come back."

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Lesezek walked down into the palace dungeon. His eyes were cold as he carefully fixed his appearance. At the end of the hall, he saw Konrad smiling sweetly as he held a sharp knife over a woman tied to a chair.

"Well," Lesezek said as he stood over the maid. She had cuts all over her body and slightly;y shook each time the wind blew onto her skin. Her tears had dried up long ago, and now only a faint wheezing sound came from her.

"The Princess ran like you assumed. All her servants were involved and covered for her." Looking at his spymaster’s face, Lesezek couldn’t help but be disgusted at how he smiled even now. He knew it was fake, but seeing that angelic face covered in blood was a disturbing sight.

"Konrad," Lesezek said warily. "You didn’t help with her escape, did you?"

Konrad choked a little as he tried not to laugh. "You’re not serious, are you, Your Highness?" Konrad looked at his face and couldn’t see a single emotion. Sighing, he grabbed a cloth and cleaned the knife in his hand. "No. I have been busy preparing the capture of the Ammary Crown Prince. Even if I wanted to, I don’t have time to help her."

Lesezek looked at him and sighed, nodding. "Okay. I just had to ask. Aleksander is already looking into you as we speak. I’m sorry in advance if you are innocent, but we are in a time when I can take no risks."

"I may not be loyal to you, Crown Prince, but your father is my greatest friend. Just know, I would never betray him. I can assure you I would never do anything that threatens what he holds dear." Konrad said seriously as he looked down at the maid.

"What do I do with her and the rest?"

Lesezek looked at the maid. "Do you think you will get anymore from them?"

"Not her. The others, maybe."

"Do as you see fit." Konrad bowed and put on his fake smile again. Untying the maid from the chair, he went into a nearby room and grabbed another. Lesezek heard the woman’s screams in the background but ignored them as he closed the door behind him.