"Your Highness, may I have a moment of your time?"

She recognized an ambassador's aide in the approaching man. He was holding a shirt with one arm, and sharp corners visible through the fabric hinting it was a folder with papers. The man darted his grey eyes from one side of the hallway to another, even though it was completely empty. Following his gaze, Cornelia noticed an area between columns with an extinguished lamp and headed there. Finally, when they were hidden in the shadow, the man's face relaxed a bit.

"What's the issue? Did Dame Brennan send you?"

"No, Your Highness, she didn't. And she," the man paused, carefully trying to find the right words. He shifted from one foot to the other. "She doesn't know about this conversation. I know it may be audacious to speak directly to you, but I'm afraid Dame Brennan isn't interested in Castro's success in negotiations."

Cornelia frowned. "It's a serious accusation, Lord..."

"It's Weber, Your Highness. And I'm not a lord; I'm just a commoner in the civil service."

"So, Mr. Weber, do you have any evidence for your claim?"

The man quickly unbuttoned his shirt and took out the folder. A few papers started to fall out, but he was quick enough to catch them. His hands shook as he handed the documents to the princess.

"I gathered all the evidence I could find. If my suspicions are correct, Dame Brennan received several bribes, which is why the negotiations have come to a standstill."

There were quite a few sheets in the folder. The important places were neatly marked, and the margins were full of notes. The man had done an impressive job, and it took some time to read and comprehend it. Cornelia hid the folder behind her cloak.

"Thank you for reaching out to me. I know that you took a risk, and I appreciate your bravery, Mr. Weber. But I need time to consider this."

"Yes, I understand."

The man smiled weakly. His gaze was fixed on the hall's doors, and when the right moment came, he left as quickly as possible.

Dame Brennan was one of the king's trusted knights, but the act of accepting a bribe was not something hard to believe. People can succumb to temptation due to dire circumstances or natural greed. What concerned Cornelia was the reason behind the Anatolians' behavior. At first, she thought they were trying to negotiate more favorable terms for themselves. Yet, the longer the discussion took place, the more she felt they were trying to drag out time as much as possible, so as not to share water at all before the Tower became involved. But then again, the situation in Theo Anatolia was not as dire as it was in the West. What could have made them want to refuse to share water, despite the agreement, and all the goods the delegation tried to offer?

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There was another alternative turn of events. It could be a setup to force the princess to make a wrong move. If she makes a harmful decision, it could lead to a scandal. The wrongly accused will demand compensation, and the whole mission will end in disgrace.

The members of the delegation gathered in Cornelia's room. Two trusted squires stood on guard while she described the situation to the knights. They asked several questions to get more details. When they paused to think about the news, it was her turn to ask them: "What are your thoughts?"

She could easily notice how everyone present was stealing glances at Sieg. Him being invited to the conversation, even though there was a possibility it was another trap… 'It's not like he can tell me the truth. But his reactions can give me a clue as to whether it's a father's scheme or an Anatolian conspiracy.'

"I think the evidence is too vague, Your Highness Cornelia," said Dietrich. The incident with the guns made him reluctant to act hastily.

"But isn't it to be expected?" retorted another knight from the escort, "Dame Brennan isn't dumb, surely she knows how to cover her tracks."

"What about the inspection we requested from the tower? We can wait for it."

"Yes, that was the plan." Another piece of bad news that she had to share caused Cornelia's neck and shoulders to tense. "But the messenger arrived just an hour ago - they will be here in a month."

"A month?!" Dietrich could hardly contain his indignation. "The crops will die before they even arrive here. Do they want us to starve?!"

'I'm pretty sure not everyone will. The royal storage is full by at least three quarters. The distribution, though…' She couldn't voice out loud her predictions, but everyone in the room surely had a clue.

The group's opinion was divided. Cornelia listened to everyone. She carefully read the documents several times. Mr. Weber's belief seemed true, but the princess didn't want to rush this time. She glanced at Sieg. The guy listened quietly to others' discussions.

"And what do you think?"

Everyone went silent. Finally, Sieg answered, "I think Anatolians have much more water than they claim."