Lady Raine entered the room and rushed to the bed. She looked at the familiar face on the bed and broke into tears.

“Mother!” she cried. The rest kept silent. From her words, all except Lady Steinhouse knew who she was.

“Uncle, who is this?” she asked the king.

“This is Lady Raine, my wife-to-be,” the king answered and she blanched. Only then did she really look at the crying woman.

“What is going on, why is her mother the one you brought last night?” she asked Lord Morge and the rest. Her curiosity made Walter sigh. This was not the time for this. If the next queen now had her mother back; given that they had taken her from the hands of the Northern Laners, doesn't that mean a war is coming?

“You brought her?” Lady Raine asked the men before her.

The two lords nodded, but Walter remained silent. He had no intention of entering this conversation. As far as he was concerned, this job was instructed by Her Ladyship for the two lords; he only tagged along.

“Thank you,” Lady Raine said.

“We only followed instructions, we don't deserve the thanks,” Lord Morge answered.

“The way I see it, it's best that she is here and not in the palace. Keeping her away from prying eyes is for the best. Can I continue keeping her here?” she asked Lady Steinhouse, but Lady Steinhouse looked to Walter. Walter sighed at this. What was it with this woman? Did she intend on dragging him into this? He sighed and nodded to her.

“It does not harm you in any way,” he said and Lady Steinhouse nodded.

“Of course, she can continue to stay. That maid came with her, she will continue to take care of her,” Lady Steinhouse said.

“You?” Lady Raine looked to the maid, Lisa, who came with Walter and the two lords.

“I... I was told by the lady to help her escape; I will stay by the lady's side,” Lisa stuttered under the scrutiny of Lady Raine's gaze.

“I will have my people stand guard,” Lady Raine said with a nod. The king left the room with Walter and the lords, leaving the two ladies and the maid to talk. When they reached the study, the king took a seat at the desk while Walter and the rest sat before him.

“I know you all work for Lady Wickshire and are in her trust so, I do not expect you to bow your head and will not demand it. But I want to know, do you know why Lady Teel is unconscious there? My wife-to-be does not wish to talk about it,” The king asked and the two lords sighed.

“The king of Northern Lan had her,” Lord of Merve answered.

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“Then how did you retrieve her?” the king asked.

“King Khor had already arrived the capital some days back and he is not the only one. A lot of powers have arrived and are hidden in the capital,” Lord Morge said and the king frowned. He is king, yet was the last to know of this? Were his agents children compared to others?

“The lady already knows this?” the king asked.

“Of course. I'm willing to bet there are very few things she does not know,” Lord of Merve said.

“Do you know why she helped out this time?” the king asked and the two men frowned. The silence caused Walter to sigh. Would they easily talk about the lady's matters?

“I know it's a stretch to ask but, the lady never said anything?” the king laughed softly before asking.

“You know you could just go see her. The only person that can tell you what the lady is thinking is the lady herself,” Walter said to break the silence. Only then did the king really look at him. He had noticed Walter’s presence since he entered but had no intention of asking who he was. The boy was still young and he only thought he was a follower of one of the Lords. Even though he did not get up when he entered the study, he was still a boy in the eyes of the king

“People don't just go see the lady,” the king frowned.

“We will transfer your worries to the lady, if that is the case,” Lord of Merve said. He knew that people are usually weary on matters of the lady; apparently, so was the king.

“Well, since this is as good as done, we don't need to keep watch anymore,” Walter said then got up. He did not wish to stay any longer. Not only was the king here, it would not do him well for Lady Steinhouse to drag him into something else. He nodded to the king and the two lords.

“If something comes up...” he started to say,

“Of course, we know where to find you,” Lord Morge said.

“Are you not telling Lady Steinhouse you are leaving?” Lord of Merve's eyes held a teasing smile, causing Walter to frown. Did everyone just want to drag him into fire? The king, who just happens to be the lady in question's uncle, is sitting in the room. He sighed and walked away. He managed to leave the Steinhouse residence without meeting Lady Steinhouse, got a horse from one of the guards and rode off.

Walter's absence caused the study to descend back into silence. It only lasted a second before the king asked the big question.

“Who is he?”

“The lady chose him... that's all I know. Apart from that, I’m not sure I know much about him,” Lord Morge answered.

“He has met her, then?” The king asked.

“Yes,” Lord Morge answered.

“He only receives instructions from her, so forgive his attitude,” Lord of Merve said. Lord Morge almost snorted. As if; he had a feeling the lady was planning a big role for Walter. A kind of role the king will be unable to contend with. He thought it good that Walter did not hold the king in his eyes, or else how will he walk behind the lady in the future?

“Well, those the lady keeps beside her, are never normal,” The king said, sending the two lords into deep thought. That's true. They may have never looked down on Walter’s worth because he was picked by the lady; but looking at how things are going with the lady's plans, there must be something about Walter that made her incorporate him into her plans. They had worked with Walter only a few times, but they still felt they did not understand him. Have they been overlooking it? Thinking about it, no matter how good the lady's matchmaking skills were, she could not force Lady Steinhouse to become smitten with Walter. She may have sped up the process, but Lady Steinhouse fell in love to the point of acting without reason, completely on her own.