The carriage moved slowly along the silent streets.
Roland gazed out the window at the receding silhouette of the Royal Palace, his brow furrowing unconsciously.
Everything at the banquet had seemed perfectly logical on the surface, yet he still detected a few unusual signs...
'It was all too coincidental.'
The timing of Sean's appearance, Lucius's extraordinarily intense reaction, and even Duke Anno's perfectly-timed entrance to take control of the situation...
...it all flowed together like a meticulously rehearsed play.
Although Lucius looked old and feeble, his eyes clouded, Roland didn't believe that a man like King Morne would entrust the affairs of the Kingdom to a true incompetent while he was away on a military campaign.
'Therefore, looking back on it calmly, the Prince's near-hysterical rage now seemed abrupt and intentional.'
'As for Anno...'
Remembering the enigmatic Duke, Roland's fingers unconsciously tapped the hilt of his sword.
