He followed the protocol established for such situations. The king's seal on his identification document allowed Sieg to change horses at every post and reach the capital as quickly as only a royal courier could. All in order to report the incident.

He felt it as soon as he stepped into the Lazaretto. That familiar suffocating atmosphere happened every time one of them was gone. The room, which was filled with discussions or the routine noise of someone's hobby, whether it was music or sand spreading over the table, was quiet. When Sieg entered, the young men and women barely looked at him.

"Who?" he uttered a single word.

"Timo died on a mission," answered Hedy.

That's why it was so quiet. Sieg gritted his teeth. "Why was he on a mission in the first place? He was still so young."

Avoiding his gaze, Nico mumbled, "You were late, so they changed the assignment and gave it to him."

"So, is it my fault?"

Nico flinched, but still didn't look directly at Sieg.

"No... It's not. It's the one who sent him."

The room fell silent. Elke, sitting on the sofa, buried her face in her knees. It was quiet, yet Sieg could swear he heard a sob. He needed to report to Jack, but his resolve to follow protocol had cracked.

"I want to see him."

This time Owen answered, "I'm not sure it's possible. The king is currently here to see the body.”

The news stunned Sieg no less than the announcement of Timo's death. "Why? He has never shown any interest in the deceased.”

"How should we know what he is thinking?" Nico snapped out. "You are the one who's been all friendly with royalty lately."

Afraid of the boiling anger that could very well lead to Lazaretto destruction, Owen pleaded, "Please, Nico. Don't fight, don't provoke fights. We are all hurt and grieving right now."

"Hurt, right," the guy snorted. "None of this would have happened if he had returned earlier, if he had insisted on stopping the drawn-out negotiations. But he was too busy playing friends with the princess..."

He didn't finish. Elke raised her head and angrily shouted at him: "Stop lashing out at him! He couldn't do it; none of us can go against the royal family! Stop blaming him..." Her eyes started to fill with tears. Preventing the girl from crying, Sieg left the room with the final words, "I have to report to Jack."

"How could you be so reckless?"

The question was predictable and still sounded out of place. Being rebuked for breaking the rule in such a situation, with Timo's corpse still on the table in the next room - this kind of bizarre situation seemed too much even for that place.

But he had no right to reveal his true feelings. So, Sig curtly reported, "Her Highness' life was in danger. I had to act."

Jack let out a long sigh. "Yes, and that's why you didn't receive a real punishment. That, and your valuable water magic." Jack rubbed his temple with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. "I guess this also solves Ilse's issue... Pack your things; you will leave immediately."

Mentioning Ilse without specifying what had happened to the girl made Sieg tense. No one said anything about her, but could she have passed away too? If that's the case, his destination would be...

"Can I at least bid farewell?"

The man behind the desk lifted his gaze. There wasn't even a glimpse of compassion in his grey eyes. Sieg knew the answer before Jack even opened his mouth.

"Are you out of your mind?" the man wasn't expecting an answer to his question. Instead, Jack put the letter he was holding away and added, "You will fill a quarter of the reservoir before leaving."

"A quarter?" asked Sieg, stunned. He hadn't had a proper rest since leaving Theo Anatolia's capital. "But the negotiations are already..."

Jack cut him off midsentence. "That's the king's order," he said. "Dismissed."

As soon as the delegates returned, they were warmly welcomed by officials and ordinary people alike. Yet, the one Cornelia was searching for was nowhere to be seen. She finally got a chance to find out about his whereabouts after catching Jack outside the royal chambers.

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"Your Highness, you won't find what you seek. He made a mistake by revealing his powers and face. He was sent on another mission."

"Sent where? How long for? When will he return?"

"He is not in the capital. That's all I can say. Now, please excuse me," politely yet firmly, Jack was willing to avoid further interrogations. The princess followed him through the hall. Her persistence was a violation of etiquette and yet the man didn't bat an eye.

"Are you one of them too? You can use magic too, right? Actually, everyone in your group can."

Jack stopped and forced a smile. His glasses couldn't hide the bags under his eyes. "Your Highness, I have no authority to forbid you anything, but I can give you some advice. There are some truths in this world that you regret learning about the moment you find out about them. Digging too deeply might not put you in danger, but it will certainly hurt you."

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm not afraid of getting hurt."

"Of course you aren't. But you should be."

He took a chance when a group of royal guards passed through the hall to escape further questions. Since then, Jack has been avoiding her. It was not easy to track him before, but now it will require even more effort. Enjoying coffee and fresh air in the bright daylight, her thoughts still kept returning to this conversation.

The café outside was filled with visitors. Some preferred the terrace, while others chose to have a quiet conversation inside the shop. The vice-captain and Cornelia were sitting outside at a table hidden between black onyx pillars. Taking advantage of the noisy surroundings, they were able to discuss the latest events in private.

"So that's what happened," said Kroghan, taking a sip from his cup. "Just like I thought, some details were missing from the official report. Then, the one who tried to assassinate you..."

"Dame Brennan was scared of losing her position and facing trial for bribes. It's already been taken care of."

"Still, to think she would go so far," the man lowered his voice as a servant passed them with ordered drinks. "It's a relief that your Highness wasn't harmed."

"I wouldn't be alive if not for Sieg." Just by mentioning his name, Cornelia felt a heaviness in her chest.

"It must be a quite impressive and frightening sight," Kroghan's voice sounded concerned yet curious. The same adjectives she heard every time the incident was discussed. It was almost hilarious that even warriors like Kroghan used such epithets. 'I wonder why everyone acts so scared when, in truth, it was breathtakingly beautiful?'

Cornelia glanced at the window. The café on the second floor of the famous Ravenglass Termae was a good place to talk. Despite the mid-week, it was loud and crowded. Indoor and outdoor pools, filled with turquoise water, attracted people of all ages. Hot weather cooled down a bit, and the long period of uncertainty ended. The princess gazed at the precious water, which was now enough even to reopen the bathhouse.

One of her guards approached the table and handed a small note to her. Cornelia opened the paper and read the message quickly. She frowned and leaned back in her chair. "Lady Olive has given birth to a daughter."

"It's good news, isn't it?" asked the vice-captain. His reaction reminded the girl again of how many happy families there were.

"Yes, it should be. But both the king and the prince were expecting a boy. I'm just worried that my niece wasn't welcomed when she entered this world," Cornelia couldn't help but feel sorry for the child who was born not into a normal loving family but into Castro's royal one. She remembered her struggle to be heard by the men who surrounded her. The woman's voice always had less weight among those who held power.

"I have wanted to ask this for a long time. Why are you supporting me? Wouldn't it be more beneficial to stick with my brother? Although on paper our rights are equal, in reality, most people prefer to see a man in any position of power, let alone as a ruler."

"I suppose." The vice-captain drank the remaining coffee and returned the empty cup to the table. "I've watched you grow for a long time. And came to the understanding that a broken tree can't grow upright. Your Highness may still be young, but I believe you can overcome your weaknesses and become a splendid leader."

Kroghan's considerate words were warm, like a late summer breeze. Again, Cornelia's gaze was drawn to the thermal water. 'I have to become stronger to protect those who have entrusted their lives to me. And I need to find Sieg to apologize and thank him.'