Page 59 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“Lily Montgomery,” Julian replied, “Duke—”
“Lily?” Julia interrupted. “I passed her when I left the church!”
“Did she get kidnapped because she saw the kidnapping?” His mother frowned. “Have you asked?
Julian shook his head. “She was takentwo days ago.”
His mother frowned at that before looking up and to the left at her character sheet.
There was a knock on the door, and Knight Commander Lex Toring of the Grey Hawk Knights walked into the room. The ogre filled the door, equipped with silver plate armor engraved with a hawk. He was the leader of Calisto’s personal knight squadron.
“You summoned, Your Grace?” Sir Lex bowed perfectly, the serious and loyal knight. Julian remembered climbing onto the ogre as a young boy and riding on his shoulders. Back when his father was still alive.
“Find the financial deputy, Lily Montgomery,” she ordered. “She is a suspected spy who can change her shape. Send one of your knights to each of the servants’ wings to accompany the heads of house while they review everyone’s quality of work. Say it’s in preparation for the wedding, but if anyone isn’t competent in a field they were previously, approach with caution.”
“The Grey Hawk Knights, Your Grace?” Sir Lex asked, hesitant. His soldiers weresupposedto be guardingher. It was the Coral Mare Knights who should’ve been responsible for securing the palace.
“Yes, I want the best on the search,” his mother replied, which didn’t seem to satisfy the knight, but he bowed and did as he was told.
“Is that all?” Chloe demanded. “You find out that the person who kidnapped Julia could be walking around the palace as we speak, and you quietly check in on the staff? You should drag outeveryone in the palaceand inspect them!”
“Dear”—his sister poked Chloe’s cheek—“we can’t just—”
“Why not?!” The necromancer wasn’t deterred.
“The staff have rights,” Julian stated. “They are people, and they deserve security and protection, not harassment and suspicion. And our guests are ourguests.”
“Is it suspicion,” Their Royal Highness asked, cocking their head, “if weknowat least one of them is a spy?”
“Things are different here; youknowthat, Rowen. We will inspect the staff in our own way,” Duchess Calisto chided the fox.
“I’m just saying.” The fox shrugged but let it go, leaning back in their chair.
“If I may continue?” Julian asked. Chloe looked unhappy, but she didn’t interrupt. “We also found Duke Wyldon of Servalt, Sir Phineas of Drendil, Lady Cassandra Cress of North Sumbria, Trevor Malory of Drendil, and Prince Malakai.”
That got Rowen’s attention, a dark aura filling the room even as their face remained impassive. “Myson, Prince Malakai?”
Julian nodded. “Yes. The prince is currently en route to greet you, though he requested a stop by the kitchens first.”
“I see.” Rowen’s power settled slightly, and they turned to Grand Duchess Calisto with a too bright smile. “It’s a good thing everyone was rescued, then.”
The implied threat was understandable.
“We will have to ask for a report from each captive for the council.” His mother looked Rowen in the eye. There was a split second before the fox ruler agreed. It wasn’t going to be torture; it was just going to be questioning and paperwork. “As you say.”
Julian coughed. “Everyone found was verified before they were brought to the palace. Anyone who wished to go home has been told to wait for their respective countries’ embassies to process travel documents to leave the city.”
That would also give them time for the members of the council to question the freed captives.
Julian brought out a piece of paper and handed it to his mother. “Now, about tomorrow …”
CHAPTER 33
A Fabulous Fairy-Tale Look
Gerda
Someone slipped an envelope under the door to my room.
