Just as Cassandra had expected, Linette called them to a meeting later that day to discuss the shocking news. However, the news was not what they had been anticipating, so they did not have to fake their surprise.

“We have received a response to our reports that involves all of you,” Linette told them, “First of all, a new steward has been appointed to Dyment. During the adjustment period, your entire faction will be working out of Teber.”

Maximus had yet to return to Dyment because of the situation, but they would need to bring Wayde and Alois over with the rest of their split of the faction. Whoever the new manager was would have a lot to clean up.

“When do we need to bring them here?” Cassandra asked.

“As soon as possible,” Linette replied, “This has to do with my other bit of important news. The king will be visiting Teber to hold negotiations with Beraud. He will be accompanied by his retainers as well as the seventh princess. I am sure you understand that this means we need your whole faction working on preparation for their care.”

“Why is the king negotiating with Beraud?” Autumn asked, visibly confused, “Are they not on bad terms with Tethia?”

“I wouldn’t say bad, but Beraud is not an ally,” Linette explained, “In light of recent events, the king has decided to change that.”

“The potential invasion of both Kalorvia and Gaia?” Maximus guessed.

Linette hesitated. “There is certainly that,” she confirmed, “However, there is something else you must know. Lann, the first prince of Beraud has conquered and become the new regent of the Gaia Empire.”

There were several moments of silence as the others took in the shock. Cassandra had felt bad about keeping it from them, but Keane had advised her to wait. She had no choice but to agree with him. It would have been far too suspicious if Linette noticed they already knew. The Records of Tethia was not something they could carelessly reveal after facing the possibility of being surrounded by traitors and spies.

“How was it conquered?” Autumn finally asked, being the most shaken and connected to the news.

“Prince Lann must have gotten a hold of a master strategist,” she explained, “It happened in one night. Infiltration, sabotage, and complete capture of the imperial palace. Something like that would not have been possible without perfect timing and excellent information.”

“Does this mean someone from Beraud will also be staying here?” Cassandra asked, hoping her feeling was wrong. The continuous mentions of Beraud and its first prince seemed far too coincidental. Teber’s manor may have been the larger of the two, but it hardly seemed worthy to host two royals. Not only that, it seemed careless to entrust such an important task to students.

Unfortunately, Linette confirmed all of her concerns. “Yes. Prince Lann himself will arrive once the king sends word he has prepared.”

At least they wouldn’t have to worry about two surprise guests at once. That still left plenty to prepare. Not only would the king be arriving, but Princess Rosalind as well. Cassandra found it hard to believe that was a coincidence either. She would be able to look forward to the opportunity to personally meet the king of Tethia, but the whole situation was both sudden and suspicious.

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“We need to get moving,” Caleb announced. He was also a bit frazzled. Cassandra imagined he was recalling the fact that Rosalind was Reginald’s wife. “Has Teber ever received guests of this magnitude before?”

Tobias chimed in this time. “It has been a while, but Teber Manor was originally designed for this purpose.” He turned to Cassandra. “I am sure you recall the Northern and Southern wings that are usually sealed from any visitors.”

“I do,” Cassandra confirmed. She especially recalled how she had been considered one of those visitors. That was part of why she hadn’t taken those wings into account when planning to host royal guests as she had assumed they were dangerous. Both wings were not only restricted from her faction, but from the majority of the local servants as well. However, perhaps there was a different reason for this. “Are those wings special suites for royalty and their retainers?”

“That’s right. It is why we limit their access so fiercely. Since the archmage placed preservation magic on them we do not have to worry about dust or decay,” Tobias explained.

That would certainly help with keeping maintenance down despite the limited staff allowed to enter. The security worthy of a royal, especially a foreign royal guest, was worth at least this much trouble.

“Will I be able to enter these sealed wings to prepare for our guests?” Cassandra asked him.

“I will allow you to personally prepare for Princess Rosalind’s accommodations as you are her apprentice,” Tobias told her and turned to Maximus, “And I will allow you to prepare for the king.”

Maximus was a bit taken aback. “I will do my best,” he managed.

Things spiralled into motion after that. Everyone was constantly busy with something, and Cassandra had no time to revel in her newfound permission to enter the sealed Southern Wing. The most secure room was reserved for the king, leaving the suite overlooking the garden’s for Princess Roslaind.

Alois and Wayde arrived, already just as tired as everyone who was neck deep in preparations for their royal guests. Despite their best efforts, no evidence or even the slightest suspicion had been turned towards Headmaster Osmond. Was there still someone left in a position of power over this investigation that was stopping anything from progressing?

With no time to follow that train of thought, Cassandra found herself waiting to greet the procession bearing the king of Tethia as well as her personal mentor. It was hard to tell who she was more anxious to meet. Maximus was beside her, as was Tobias and Linette. The procession of carriages felt oddly similar to Maximus’s arrival to Teber, except that these were carriages, not carts. High quality carriages worthy of the royalty that rode them.

The first carriage pulled up right before them and the door slammed open destroying the ceremonial feel of the occasion. Was King Dalton in a bad mood? No, the man who stepped out wearing the king’s crown was not Dalton at all. If was a tall man with black hair that Cassandra vaguely recognized. He gave them a halfhearted nod as he plucked his pet duck from the carriage and brushed past her straight to Maximus.

Maximus was unable to hide his shock. “Prince Nero?” he asked.

“King Nero,” he corrected, “Due to various circumstances, Dalton has retired from the throne and the princes and all six pillars decided I was the man to appoint in his stead. This means, my pupil, that you are now that apprentice of the king.”

That was why he had seemed so familiar! Cassandra had only seen Nero from a distance while he had been a prince, but she could already tell that his sudden ascension to king had done little for his mental or physical health. The changes and alliance talks with Beraud made sense now as well. A change in king was bound to bring changes to the nation. Cassandra only hoped that everyone had made the right choice in Nero.