Alys sat beside , almost pressed against my side, as we faced Grandfather in his office. A ga of chess was already set between us, the polished pieces gleaming under the candlelight.
"This is Marquis Desmond Fairisles," I said gesturing towards Grandfather and Alys looked at him a bit uneasy as if wondering what she should do.
"Um... I-It’s an honor..." She spoke lowering her head and Grandfather observed her.
"You’re the Royal Princess, Your Highness. It’s all right if you don’t bow before ." He said and Alys straightened up still avoiding our eyes.
"And the lady whom you saw back then was Lady Elise, present King’s forr concubine." I said and Alys frowned a bit.
"For the kingdom and the King and Queen she’s dead but I’ve kept her alive." I explained crossing my legs and Alys looked at with slightly wide eyes.
"I suppose you have a lot of questions, Marquis," I said, moving my knight forward with deliberate ease.
Grandfather’s gaze flicked toward Alys. She shifted uncomfortably, her hands folded tightly in her lap, before glancing between him and . Then, as if deciding to fade into the background, she fixed her eyes on the chessboard.
"Is it all right to talk with the person in question right here?" Grandfather asked, his tone asured as he placed his move.
I humd, tapping my fingers lightly against the armrest. "Well, she’ll have to know sooner or later."
Alys turned to with wide eyes, uncertainty clouding her expression. The fear there was obvious. I smiled at her, a calm reassurance.
"Don’t worry, we’re not talking about doing anything bad to you." My words were ant to soothe, yet she still remained wary, her fingers clutching the fabric of her dress.
Grandfather advanced a pawn before speaking again. "There were assassins behind her. Do you think they were sent by the Golden Serpent?"
I made my move without hesitation. "I’m sure it was her."
His expression darkened. "Then she knows that Princess Alys is in your town. Don’t you think she’ll suspect you if she fails to kill her?"
I felt Alys tense beside , the slight quiver of her shoulders giving her away.
"The rumors of Oasis being the most secure town have spread far and wide, Your Excellency," I replied smoothly. "I’m certain the Golden Serpent is aware that no outside assassin could infiltrate my town without consequences."
The chess ga continued, each move reflecting the unspoken tension that wove through our conversation.
"Do you think she’ll stop?" Grandfather asked.
"Of course, she won’t."
"Then, what are you planning on doing?"
"Make sure that she doesn’t know where Princess Alys is."
Grandfather’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying as if trying to pry open my mind. His fingers hovered over his next move before he finally placed his Queen forward.
"Will you let her stay at Ryujin estate? Or will she be here?"
"Both of our places are safe, but there is another problem with her being with us." I said, positioning my knight strategically.
Both of them looked at before Grandfather moved his rook about to take out my pawn and I moved my knight ahead taking out Grandfather’s rook.
"The Queen or her allies can send soone to our places as a visit from nobles and we can’t hide her at that ti."
"Then where do you think is the best place where Princess Alys could be safe?" He asked.
Alys’s eyes stayed fixed on the side of my face and Grandfather took out my knight with his Queen making smirk.
"A place where not even the King can enter." I said as I picked up my bishop and took out Grandfather’s Queen making him sigh.
Grandfather leaned back slightly, watching with a mixture of intrigue and wariness.
"Is there a place like that?" He asked and I tapped my bishop twice.
"There is, Your Excellency." I said, "Indirect as it is, your son is our best bet here."
Grandfather cocked his brow and asked , "You think Silas can help?"
"I know he would be the best person here."
Grandfather sighed, rubbing his temple before nodding. "You an the Mage’s Tower."
I nodded, "Yes and no."
"What?"
"My lair is the best place to hide her."
"Your lair?" He frowned a bit and then his eyebrows relaxed, "You an the magic stone mine."
I nodded with a smile.
"Yes, the place which has access to only a few mbers of the Mage’s Tower except for and my family."
"But do you think he would help?"
"If I ask him nicely, with a please, then he would help." I moved my piece, executing a final move before lifting my gaze to Grandfather.
Checkmate.
"Wouldn’t you ask the Princess if she agrees with the arrangent not?" Grandfather said as he put his king down himself in silent defeat.
I turned to Alys, who had been quiet throughout.
"Princess Alys."
She stiffened at the formal address, sitting up straight.
II chuckled lightly. "No need to be so tense."
Her grip on her dress didn’t loosen.
"The Mage’s Tower is beyond the reach of noble authorities," I explained. "Even the Queen wouldn’t be able to touch you there. If you’re willing, I will arrange for you to be placed in my magic stone cave. The only people there are a few researchers, and the entire place is shielded by enchantnts. It’s the safest place for you in this world."
Her lower lip quivered and I sighed placing my hand over her shoulder, "I’m simply asking you to be a part of the Tower. From there I’ll arrange for you to be placed in my magic stone cave where there are only a couple of Mages, researching. It’s a place enchanted with the magic that wouldn’t let anyone except for those who are in contract with to enter. A lot of people tried to find it in past but neither of them could find it because the enchantnt is extrely strong."
"That’s the safest place for you in this world." I said and she looked down at her lap where her fingers clutched at the fabric of her dress.
I placed my hand on hers before looking at Grandfather for a mont before I pulled her head over my shoulder wrapping my arm around her shoulders. She was stiff for a mont but slowly she relaxed and I patted her back.
The thing that this girl needed the most right now was a supportive rock which would ensure her stability and safety. I had only picked her up last night so, it was obvious that she wouldn’t still be at ease. Talking about her being sent away so quickly wasn’t right for her but we didn’t have ti. If she stayed around Oasis any longer than it would attract even more attention from the people who shouldn’t be looking here.
I could easily settle this by sending her to Silas as even my place would receive noble guests now that I was a Marquis myself and I would also have attention from Esrtia family who had lost a great deal of their authority and land to . If they got to know that I had Alys with then it would be a disaster for my people.
I couldn’t risk their lives in exchange for one.
After a while, I pulled back and she sat in her place quietly.
"I guess, Princess Alys should stay with for the ti being. I’ll introduce her to Archmage and see what he decides before going ahead with anything."
Grandfather observed her before he looked at , "I’ll talk to him."
"No," I said and he frowned a bit, "Esrtia family would try to drag to the royal court now that I’m a Marquis, Your Excellency. I would like for you to keep them in check there. That is enough."
Grandfather sighed deeply before he nodded, "I understand."
He then looked back at Alys, "You need not be scared anymore, Princess. If there’s anyone in this world who could protect you then it’s him."
His hand gestured toward , and Alys lifted her gaze, searching my face as if trying to grasp the weight of his words.
And in that mont, I saw the shift—the realization that, for the first ti in a long ti, she might finally be safe.
We returned back to the parlor room where Kai was giggling at sothing that Lady Elise said. There were crumbs of cookies all over his mouth and cheek and Lady Elise brushed them away gently.
I had expected this treatnt for Alys as well, but I guess a human cannot grow past the boundaries of their greed.
Lady Elise stood up as she saw us entering and she smiled at .
"We should be leaving now," I announced.
"I almost forgot, Master." Lady Elise said and I tilted my head slightly.
"What is it?"
"Congratulations on becoming a Marquis." She curtsied and I looked at her with an indifferent gaze before replacing my expression with a false smile.
"Thank you, Lady Elise."
Lady Elise then looked at Alys who was almost hiding behind before she took a step ahead and gave her a smile.
"I apologise for seeming rude when you ca, Your Highness." She said.
Alys didn’t say anything as she stood behind clutching a piece of my coat. Kai walked over and took my side looking up at Alys.
Lady Elise looked at her before she looked up at .
"It’s fine," I said and took Alys’s hand gesturing Lyall to get Kai.
Kai held Alys’s other hand before Lyall picked him up and I gave Lady Elise one last look before we teleported back to Ryujin mansion.
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