A few days later.
"Any developments in finding Drak?" Zerath asked.
Valtor, captain of Casca's army troop, said, "My lord, my knights traced the rough route Drak took from his hometown till Casca. Some townsfolk from Mordokk see several travelers staying in their town for a night or two. Drak had stayed in one of the inns but wasn't seen the next day, so the innkeeper assumed that he left at early dawn."
"Where was he last seen?"
"One young demon faintly recognized him in a local tavern based on the description, but he's not so reliable. We interrogated the tavern's owner, but he doesn't remember him either. Plenty of travelers stop by Mordokk because it's towards Casca's way, so it's difficult to recall any particular traveler."
"Perhaps he never left Mordokk?"
"We did a search of the town, but…" he released a defeated sigh.
"Don't give up. We at least learned that he was fine until his journey to Mordokk. Something happened in town or after he left…"
Zerath tapped his finger upon the desk, thoughtful. "Send two knights in Mordokk. Plain clothes. I want them to investigate discreetly as travelers, not knights."
"Yes, my lord," he nodded.
Lucian stepped in his office at the same time as Valtor exited.
"My lord. I investigated young lord Astaroth. Though there is no direct evidence of his meeting or discussion with Sir Malphas, his coachman gave some indirect information."
"Indirect?"
"It was when young lord Astaroth was on his way to the palace just before his confrontation with the princess. He was in a good mood and he sort of overshared with his coachman saying -
'Today is going to be fun. I'll get to play around with a lowly creature I always wanted to get my hands on.'"
"Lowly creature," Zerath's eyes squinted. "He'd only refer to a human that way."
"I concluded so too."
"What about the time Sir Malphas was killed?"
Lucian said, "Young lord was in the palace, my lord, as attested by some maids. However, it's challenging to find if he hired an assassin to do the job."
Zerath paused to think.
"Find if he did so no matter how difficult it is."
"It could take some time, my lord."
"So be it."
"But time is what we don't have. His Majesty-"
"Zerath," Nefarion entered, hands behind his back and expression as dark as the stormy clouds.
Lucian bowed, while Zerath rose to greet him. "Father."
"What's the progress on the evidence against Crown Prince Elvin? So many days have passed by already, yet why are we not demanding an answer from King Rosrell Emberlain? Answer me!"
"Lucian is investigating, Father. However, we've not yet found any tangible evidence against Elvin Emberlain."
A glint of impatience marred his orbs. "I know you're trying to maintain peace here, Zerath. Our years of diplomacy would lay to ruin, but you should remember that we did not start this. They showed hostility first! What kind of respect will the citizens have for us if we cannot even bring an Order's murderer to justice?"
"Father, I-"
"Malphas's wife is waiting for justice too. Veloria, too, is displeased by your responsibility towards this matter. Our hesitation to confront the Emberlain King will be taken as our sign of fear and weakness!"
Zerath quietly exhaled. "I understand everyone's anxiousness, Father, but I implore upon you to give me some more time."
"No. We've already stalled enough on this matter. If it had been King Rosrell in my place, he would've already marched here with his army, yet here we're walking on eggshells like cowards. Rudaheim is not fearful of anyone," his cold voice made it crystal clear that he wouldn't yield.
Zerath urged one last time. "Just some time, Father. Please."
"How much time?"
"Give me until the Festival of First Light."
His eyes widened. "The festival? That's almost six months away!" he roared. "You're asking for too much, Zerath Rudaheim!"
"I'm asking for one last chance, Father. We only have Nephis's confession of them working together to harm Princess Clairette but no evidence to point out that Elvin Emberlain killed Sir Malphas. It's simply our assumption based on Elvin's possible intent to take revenge. A murder accusation against another nation's Crown Prince is extremely dire."
Zerath walked towards him, the same fury and resilience gleaming in his eyes too.
"I understand the urgency and uneasiness, Father and trust me, we'll bring the real culprit to justice. I'm not afraid of King Rosrell nor am I walking on eggshells. I simply don't want anything to bite us back. We must be prepared in every possible way but never embarrassed. We'll ruin everything if we turn out to be wrong."
After what it felt like a long, edgy silence filled with uncertainty, Nefarion eventually caved in.
"This is the last grant I'm allowing you, Zerath. If you fail to provide anything substantial against Crown Prince Elvin until the festival, then I wouldn't care anymore. We'll take Nephis's confession in their court no matter the cost! So remember, Zerath. Only until the festival."
"Yes, Father."
The heavy atmosphere eased with Nefarion's exit, and Zerath glanced at his aide with a somber expression. "We've no time to spare anymore, Lucian. Use all our resources to find the killer."
Lucian bowed. "As you command, my lord."
He then looked up and asked, "Will you be postponing the trip to Nethermoor, my lord?"
Zerath shook his head. "No. Finding Eurus's mother is equally important. I've promised to search for her. I trust you'll leave no stone unturned with Sir Malphas's matter in my absence."
"Never, my lord."
"Talk to Sir Gressil and arrange the trip for tomorrow."
The door budged again and this time, a small silver head popped in. Eurus trotted in and stood before Zerath clutching onto his legs, his eyes hopeful and sparkling.
"Eurus."
"Mother!" he said ecstatically.
Zerath smiled and kneeled, ruffling his head. "Yes, your mother. I'll be heading to Nethermoor tomorrow to see if we can find anything about her."
"Mother!" Eurus raised his arms, the fervor of excitement growing with more and more intensity. "I come too!"
He blinked twice. "No. You'll stay here."
Eurus shook his head with a fierce denial. "Me too!"
"You've your mana control training lessons with Sir Draconis. You cannot skip that," his brows furrowed.
His little shoulders dropped for a moment, but he remained stubborn. "I find Mother too!"
Zerath sighed.
Lucian suggested. "I don't see a concern here, my lord. Perhaps he could be of help in recalling the past events. As for his lessons, he'll compensate for it twice upon his return."
Eurus nodded hard as that was an acceptable solution for him.
Zerath frowned. "Why do I feel like you're spoiling him?"
"He's a lost child searching to reunite with his mother, who reminds me of a certain Crown Prince I serve. I cannot help it."
His lips stretched into a thin line. "At times, you talk too much, Lucian."
His expression held no change. "Then my lord complains that I don't talk much. I'll leave to make the necessary preparations."
Zerath leaned back on his chair as he released another tired sigh. A dragging weight pressed upon his shoulders, but he knew just the way to rejuvenate his cheerfulness.
Opening the bottommost drawer, he took a book out from the far corner. Slipping out a small scroll from between the pages, he unfolded it to find Vivia's beautiful handwriting.
"Vivia!"
Eurus climbed on his thighs and made himself comfortable on his lap, his little face beaming with joy.
He smiled. "Yes. Vivia's letter. The only thing that lights up my dim mood."
'Crown Prince Zerath, I hope you're doing well. I know I've thanked you already, but once again, I'd like to express my sincerest gratitude for your hospitality. I truly enjoyed my stay in Rudaheim, and loved meeting your people. The glimmerpetal you gave me as a present blooms as beautifully as ever. Its glow feels soft and calm as if vanquishing my hidden worries. So, thank you for giving such a lovely gift. I'll treasure it. I understand your princely duties must keep you busy, but please do take care of your health. Hope we get to meet soon.'
It would have looked like a formal letter, short and only to the point.
"You know, at first I thought this was indeed her only message."
Eurus blinked, and he smiled.
"But if I can be sneaky to get my message across, then so can she," he chuckled. "Can you drape the curtains for me?"
Eurus obediently did so and returned to his reserved lap seat.
On the desk lay a flower pot which Zerath pulled to his side. With the curtains now drawn that flooded darkness into the office, the glimmerpetal slowly and breathtakingly bloomed to light. He turned the scroll over and moved it near the glimmerpetal's light. The back part, which looked blank until this moment, gradually got inked with a handwriting.
"There's a kind of ink that only shows itself in a glimmerpetal's light. It's otherwise naked to the eye. Glimmerpetal is quite a sneaky flower, which Vivia figured out pretty neat."