The sun has only recently risen, but Emmod and Novel are already on their way to the Wolf Monument, where their trip to the castle will begin. They don't have high expectations for the trip itself, but they are eager to meet the person who can also understand the talking squirrel. Emmod is moving faster than usual because they need to meet Mister Red at the bridge that leads from the Whitepool District to the park.

  However, Mister Red is a few minutes te, something Emmod notes with frown and crossed arms, knowing they now risk being te themselves.

  "There you are," Mister Red finally greets them."What took you so long?" Emmod begins, "Come on now, or we'll have to endure another lecture from Ms. Marger."

  "Do you have the forehead chain?" Mister Red demands to know first."Yeah, yeah. Let's go," Emmod waves him off."Where is it?" Mister Red presses.Emmod nudges Novel, who then slightly lifts his T-shirt. Mister Red raises his eyebrows in surprise. He can't believe that Novel has fastened the forehead chain to his waistband."You do realize the princess is going to wear that, right? Can't you carry it somewhere else?""How am I supposed to sneak it into the castle unseen any other way?" Novel replies, unable to hide the nervousness in his voice."You could wear it yourself," Emmod ughs, "No one would notice.""Shut up, Emmod," Novel snaps, now even more irritated. "I'm gd when this is over.""I'm sure Lina will be equally pleased," Mister Red says."Let's hope so," Emmod replies.

  The Wolf Monument is located in the center of the park. On foot, the walk from the Whitepool District's bridge to the monument takes about half an hour. Another half an hour walk lies between the monument and the bridge to the Royal District, as well as the bridges to the other two city districts.

  Due to the early hour, the dew on the grass is still visible, and the gentle murmur of the river beside them accompanies their journey.

  Though the paths from all directions are starting to converge, they haven't seen anyone from their css yet, except for Rasah Backfort, the only other cssmate who also lives in the Whitepool-District.

  Recognizable by his rge head, ft hair, round eyes, and full lips, Rasah is walking just a few meters ahead of them. However, since they are with Mister Red, they prefer to stay unnoticed.

  Knowing Rasah is famous for his punctuality, they decide to slow down their pace. They want to be on time, but there's no need to be the first to arrive."You said two days ago that you're the princess's best and most loyal friend," Emmod starts, "Doesn't she have anyone else?"

  Before Mister Red can answer, they cross paths with a small, skinny boy and a tall, nky girl. These are Mitch and Prigill Dreasel, siblings from the Shinemore District.When Emmod sees Prigill, his face slowly turns red, and he looks away, trying to hide his embarrassment while Novel walks toward them."I'll meet you at the castle," Mister Red says, climbing the nearest tree."How are you going to sneak in unseen?" Emmod whispers to him, perplexed, but he immediately realizes how silly the question sounds, as he is talking to a squirrel.

  "Your girlfriend's coming," Mister Red teases, winking at him. "See you ter.""She's not my girlfriend," Emmod protests, but Mister Red has already disappeared into the tree's high branches."I didn't know you enjoyed talking to squirrels in your free time," Prigill teases him."Uh... well... I-I didn't either," Emmod stammers, embarrassed that he's, once again, making a fool of himself in front of Prigill."Tregory and I have a bet going," Mitch interrupts bluntly, "on which one of you will get kicked out of the group this time. Tregory thinks it'll be you, Emmod. I've put all my chips on you, Novel. You've been on a streak tely, don't let me down.""Careful, Mitch," Emmod warns, "Tregory's not here yet to protect you."Novel nudges Emmod's arm in response."But even Tregory can't protect him from his sister," Novel jokes, and the two burst out ughing, temporarily silencing Mitch's big mouth until they reach the Wolf Monument. About half the css is already there."Ahh, there you are," they hear Ms. Marger's sharp voice."Ready for the daily sermon?" Novel mutters."Can't wait," Emmod replies dryly."The Dreasels..." Ms. Marger begins, "...did the Brymbachs dey you? You're te.""One moment," Emmod retorts. "We're not the st ones. There are still a few missing!""Mr. Brymbach," Ms. Marger says sternly, "you will not enter the castle wearing that bandana.""No problem. I'll take it off once we're at the entrance," Emmod responds, determined."You will take it off now!" Ms. Marger thunders, her voice rising sharply.It's an ongoing battle over the red-and-bck bandana that Emmod received from Uncle Ko. Even for his cssmates, it's become a tradition that at least once in Ms. Marger's presence, this debate comes up. Mitch almost begs Emmod not to challenge her, but just to spite Mitch, Emmod would prefer to keep wearing the bandana. However, he can't afford to miss the opportunity presented today—the chance to meet the princess and, on top of that, someone who might have abilities simir to his little brother and himself."Aren't we still missing some people?" asks Lotta Trug from the Merchant District.

  "Quite the opposite, we must hurry," Ms. Marger replies after ensuring that Emmod has not only removed the bandana but also tucked it away in his pocket. "The rest of your cssmates are waiting for us at the bridge to the Royal District."Ms. Marger leads the way, and the others adjust to her leisurely pace. The walk to the bridge is marked more by sluggish conversations than lively ones.

  When they reach the bridge, they meet the remaining cssmates—Mary Winston, Kingston Faller, Tregory Nicks, Ben Kolle, Aleria Menke, and Filora Zeppeli.Without much fuss, they proceed directly to the castle, which literally means an uphill journey.

  The castle is located at the highest geographical point of the city, at the far end of the Royal District. Beyond the castle lies the mountain range stretching southward, where mining operations are primarily conducted. The streets in the Royal District, unlike those in other parts of the city, are paved—except for the marketpce in the Merchant District.

  In contrast, the roads and paths in the other districts are unpaved and often turn muddy when it rains. To reach the castle, one winds through narrow alleys lined with rge, modern houses. Only the main road of the Royal District, Rosebluff Street, is wide enough for several horses to pass through side by side.

  As they arrive at the tall double gate, Mrs. Marger checks in at the small gatehouse with the porter for today's tour, and they are granted entry.Novel is lucky that they aren't being checked, due to the ziness of the soldiers.

  Two soldiers accompany them up the steep, zigzagging path toward the castle. On the walls surrounding the grounds, soldiers are stationed to ensure that no unwanted guests get in.After a few minutes, they reach the rge iron gate of the castle, held up by a thick steel band above it. Standing before it is a man with his arms behind his back, curly bck hair, and a pointed nose."Hello, everyone," he says. "My name is Pascai Frieder, and I'll be your guide, companion, and point of contact today as we explore the history of Rilgohin. We'll be taking a tour of both the interior and exterior of the castle. Along the way, I'll share details and key dates about important events that took pce at various locations. After the tour, you'll have some time to freely explore certain areas as permitted by the service staff. Fortunately, we have the opportunity today, despite the recent events a few weeks ago," Pascai expins excitedly. "Do any of you have questions before we start?"

  No one from the css has really taken in his name or greeting, as they were all too busy catching their breath. That includes Mrs. Marger, who had fallen several meters behind the group. Without the support of the soldiers during the st stretch, she wouldn't have made it."How do people manage to come up here every day?" asks Tregory Nicks, who, despite being athletic, was one of those limping. Pascai ughs at first."Once a day, before heading back down at the end," he begins. "Because of the effort, we try to minimize the number of ascents. When the soldiers change shifts in the morning and evening, they usually stay up here until the next shift."The css gathers for a moment.They are less impressed by what lies before them and more by the view behind them. From here, they can see the entire city and much beyond.The four city districts are clearly visible. The park in the heart of the city stands out, as does the rge sacred Green Tree in the Whitepool District. Some point to houses they believe are their own. The sun even lights up the dark Shinemore District with its many shadows.Emmod and Novel realize how small they are in this vast world, and they get a sense of how insignificant their problems are compared to the challenges the world may yet throw at them.This magnificent view gives the css new energy.As a result, Mrs. Marger and Pascai lead the way, followed by the students.After passing through the underpass, they enter the castle courtyard. Here, the cobblestones give way to a path of gravel and sand.This path splits into three directions in the middle of the courtyard.The first path leads straight ahead to the castle gardens. The second path leads to the western part of the castle and ends at a rge entrance door that leads directly to the throne room. The third path runs along the eastern castle wall, lined with evenly spaced bushes. In between, benches are pced slightly forward.On the other side of the eastern castle wall is a training ground where soldiers practice using swords, shields, bows, and other weapons.The castle rises over three floors and also has an underground treasury. On the east wall of the courtyard, windows are distributed across the upper floors. In contrast, there are no windows on the north and south sides of the castle, and on the west side, windows are only found on the ground floor.Beautiful blooming tulips, crocuses, and daffodils capture the attention of the girls, while the boys first notice the ancient, crooked tree that looks out of pce. This tree stands next to the underpass the css had just come through, on the northeast side of the castle."The parts of the castle, both inside and outside, that could be restored were renovated from the ground up shortly after Rilgohin was taken over. However, many things had to be completely abandoned, as they were destroyed during the war and rebuilt from scratch," Pascai expins. "This tree has stood in this spot since the reign of the four lords. It may not be the most beautiful sight, but today it is a historical monument, the st remnant of the cruel rule and terror of the four lords," he says."But doesn't it bother the king? Every time he steps outside, doesn't it bring back terrible memories?" asks Mary."Every morning when he stretches and looks out the window," adds Kingston."You're absolutely right. But sometimes it's helpful to look back at past events to make better decisions in the future and learn from old mistakes," Pascai begins. "Besides, every attempt to remove the tree, despite several tries, failed because its roots are too deep.""Is that why it's so crooked?" Mitch asks, bored.Pascai ughs again, but this time more sarcastically."Then why didn't they just burn it down?" Tregory asks."This isn't a tree standing alone in the middle of nowhere! It's on the royal family's property!" Pascai excims, before starting the tour.

  Around noon, the tour comes to an end, and Mrs. Marger's pnned quiz for the css concludes."Now you may take some time to explore the grounds," Pascai suggests."I never realized what an impressive architectural icon this castle truly is," Mrs. Marger speaks reverently to herself, causing Pascai's eyes to suddenly light up.No one had ever brought up the subject with him before, and he was eager to talk more about it. Architecture fascinated him as much as history. Quickly and unnoticed, more than half of the css slips away to avoid yet another boring conversation between the two. Only Mary stays close by, eager not to miss a single piece of information.Meanwhile, Emmod and Novel have seated themselves on a bench in the courtyard, on the east side, across from the entrance door. Their schoolmate Kingston is sitting three benches down with Lotta Trug, who is wearing her hair down for a change, and the quiet Ben Kolle. Normally, Kingston would have sat with Emmod and Novel, but Emmod expined to him that they had private matters to discuss."You don't really think Mitch has a chance with either of them, do you?" Novel asks."He's from the Shinemore District. They're only talking to him because Tregory is with him," replies Emmod, as they watch Tregory and Mitch mock their guide, Pascai Frieder, while simultaneously trying to impress Aleria and Filora, who are sitting in the shade under the crooked tree next to them."He just doesn't have the muscles," Tregory says, flexing his arms, causing the girls to giggle while the other boys watching feel secondhand embarrassment.In the meantime, a familiar figure has joined Emmod and Novel."Someone's feeling pretty full of himself," says Mister Red, looking over at Tregory.Emmod and Novel shift slightly on the bench to conceal Mister Red as best as they can."I have good news and bad news. The good news: the king and his wife aren't here," Mister Red says."What? Where are they?" Emmod asks."I don't know where they are, but they're not here," replies Mister Red. "They took half the soldiers with them, which is why it's so empty today.""And the bad news?" Novel asks."I haven't been able to find Lina yet," says Mister Red."Well then, go find her. We don't have much time left here," Emmod replies impatiently."I've tried. Maybe she's gone too," Mister Red responds."And what about the person who can also understand you? Did you at least look for them??" Emmod asks urgently."Oh, right," Mister Red says, suddenly remembering. "I forgot about that.""You forgot about that?" Emmod snaps. "Are you out of your mind!?"

  "Calm down," Novel says."He's got to be messing with us...""Calm down!""Why!?" Emmod is audibly frustrated."Because the princess is right there," Novel hisses, pointing to a red-haired girl with long, loose hair and light freckles. She's standing with the royal guard, Greynyx, in front of the entrance hall, talking to the housekeeper, Suse.Compared to the rexed Novel, Emmod is about to jump out of his shoes. The others in the courtyard haven't noticed her yet, as Lina is standing in a blind spot from their view.

  "Should I just go over there and give her the forehead chain?" Novel asks, snapping both Emmod and Mister Red out of their trance.

  "Are you crazy?" Emmod responds. "With the royal guard next to her, you won't get far.""Your brother's right," Mister Red agrees. "We need to separate them. I'll handle that. And you two..."But before he can finish expining his pn, Emmod suddenly storms over to Tregory, Mitch, Aleria, and Filora."What is he doing!?" Mister Red excims angrily, just as Emmod had done earlier. "Is he trying to ruin the whole operation?""Rex," Novel says, holding Mister Red back. "He knows what he's doing. I think.""What's going on, Emmod?" Mitch calls out as he sees Emmod approaching."My brother's driving me crazy today," Emmod replies."You're lucky Mrs. Marger wasn't around. You too, Mitch! Otherwise, I would've won the bet," says Tregory, making both Emmod and Mitch force brief, awkward smiles as he leaves them looking foolish."What were you betting on this time, Treg?" Aleria asks enthusiastically."Nothing less than honor," Tregory responds, turning his attention fully back to the two girls. Emmod seizes this moment to turn to Mitch."Still hanging out with him, huh? He'd drop you in a second if he got the chance," Emmod whispers, leaning against the wall next to Mitch."Mind your own business," Mitch snaps back. "I don't want to lose this bet because of you.""I'm thinking of climbing that tree," Emmod says dryly. "At least that way, I'll get out of here early if I get caught.""Hey, hey, hey. Don't do anything stupid, alright?" Mitch tries to stop him."What, are you afraid of losing in front of Aleria and Filora? I don't care," Emmod says, pretending to run off."Alright, alright. What do you want?" Mitch relents."Climb the tree," Emmod suggests."Why would I do that?""Because I'm sure Tregory's macho attitude is annoying you as much as it's annoying me," Emmod says, pulling Mitch closer. "And with that, you can prove how athletic you are. Just climb up and come back down quickly.""If I can do it, he'll definitely be able to," Mitch retorts."Yeah, but he won't do it. Not with his parents' status. That means you'll make a better impression than him for sure," Emmod counters."You really think so?" Mitch asks, surprised."Of course," Emmod replies confidently. "But if you can't even manage that, you're definitely going to lose the bet," he adds with a shrug.

  Emmod's pn worked, thanks to Mitch's ego and gullibility, influenced by his young age. Mitch takes a running start and dashes off.Before Tregory, Aleria, or Filora can react, he jumps onto the tree and starts climbing up. The tree is about 5 meters tall, and Mitch has already reached a thick branch about 3 meters off the ground.

  "Mitch, you idiot, get down here right now," Tregory says angrily but quietly enough not to draw too much attention. But it's already too te, as Kingston, Lotta, and Ben approach the scene. Meanwhile, Emmod has hastily and discreetly returned to his brother and Mister Red.

  "Emmod, whatever you've done," Novel begins, "you know..."

  "That Mitch is afraid of heights. Yeah, I know. It'll py right into our hands," Emmod says, without a hint of remorse.

  A few seconds ter, Lina and Greynyx stroll out of the entrance. As it's typical for this time of year, it's a hot summer day, which made Lina want to step outside despite the school group being present. Besides, what kind of tour would it be if the students didn't get to see someone from the royal family up close?This gives Lina a chance to meet people her own age. She shields her face from the bright sun with her hand but lowers it when she notices the commotion around the old tree in the courtyard. The students' jaws drop, and all eyes turn toward her. Everyone except Mitch, who has bitten off more than he can chew, is stuck on a branch about four meters up.

  "Get down here, now!" Tregory hisses at him again.

  "I-I can't," Mitch stammers, drawing attention back to himself. Even though his mind wants to, his body refuses. He clings to the trunk, his legs shaking violently, his heart racing, and his breathing heavy. Now he's starting to whimper, prompting some of his cssmates to ugh at him mockingly. Perhaps Emmod went too far.

  The ughter causes Lina and Greynyx to notice what's going on.

  "I'll go get someone," Greynyx says, realizing he's the only guard present for Lina in the courtyard. "Or you can wait inside."

  "Can't you handle this yourself, Greynyx?" Lina asks.

  "It's not really..."

  "I think I can manage being alone with a bunch of kids for a few seconds," Lina smirks, "And you could use a bit of a break. Show the kids what a royal guard can do."

  "Then please head over to Stewart in the garden. I'll join you shortly," Greynyx responds.

  "Take your time," Lina calls back as she walks away.

  "Mitch! Get down! Before the royal guard..." Tregory hisses but awkwardly trails off as Greynyx, in his flowing red cape over silver and gold armor, is already standing behind him. The students gaze at him in awe before he even lifts a finger.

  "Don't worry, kids. I'll handle it," he says casually. "Just stay where you are, boy," Greynyx says reassuringly.

  Mitch wasn't pnning on going anywhere anyway.

  Meanwhile, Emmod, Novel, and Mister Red have hurriedly squeezed behind the benches and bushes along the eastern wall, trying to follow Lina. The rustling of the foliage gives away their presence, but they need to act quickly, as this might be their only chance. A tunnel leads from the courtyard into the garden. The coast is clear. Once Lina disappears into the tunnel, they sprint after her. Cautiously peeking around the corner, they're confused to find that Lina has already gone further. Did she really move that fast into the garden?

  There's no time to ponder, as Greynyx has already managed to effortlessly get the trembling Mitch down from the tree.

  "Go!" Mister Red urges them, "To the garden."

  They rush through the tunnel, which has nothing inside except a small wooden door on the right side.

  "Psst. Psst," they suddenly hear. "Psst."

  The sound comes from the low wooden door, which they now notice is slightly ajar. Meanwhile, Greynyx is leaving the group of students, his face beaming as they cheer him on for his actions and kindness.

  In haste, they push open the door and slip inside the room before Greynyx spots them. It's nothing more than a small, dusty storage room with two long shelves, covered in dust, with four compartments filled with broken helmets, armor, and old household junk. At the far end stands a table on a moldy carpet, one of its legs broken.

  Without making a sound, Mister Red instinctively rushes to the table. Emmod and Novel follow more cautiously, moving deeper into the room until suddenly, the door behind them clicks shut.

  They flinch and whirl around in shock, seeing that it's Lina who has closed the door. They hold their breath. Lina stands there, with a bow and arrow drawn. Her grip is firm, but her pulse races, and her fingers tremble slightly.

  Her target is one of the Brymbach brothers. Both of them slowly raise their hands in a non-threatening manner, Emmod stepping slightly in front of his younger brother.

  "Why are you following me?" she asks, her voice shaky.

  "Why are you hiding?" Emmod counters.

  "I'm not hiding," Lina responds, pulling the bowstring back even further. "Why are you following me?"

  "Put the bow down first, before someone gets hurt..." Emmod trails off as Lina fires the arrow, narrowly missing him and lodging it into the wooden door behind them.

  Before Emmod and Novel can fully turn back, Lina already has another arrow drawn. "Are you crazy?!" Emmod shouts.

  Here, hidden from the eyes of the world, Lina can drop the mask of the princess.

  "Next time, I won't miss," Lina warns.

  "Wait," Novel interrupts, stepping beside Emmod. "We're sorry. We didn't mean to scare you."

  'Scare her?' Emmod thinks skeptically.

  "Then why were you following me?" Lina asks again, and now Emmod notices the uncertainty in her voice.

  "You don't remember me. I just wanted to return this to you," Novel says cautiously, unhooking the forehead chain from his belt and offering it to Lina.

  Lina looks surprised, but not in a bad way.

  "Here, take it," Novel says, extending his arm toward Lina, trying to make her feel more at ease.Lina hesitates.What if they're just trying to trick me? she thinks."But why?" she asks, confused."Let's just say someone convinced us," Novel replies as Mister Red steps forward."Mister Red!" Lina excims, all signs of uncertainty disappearing. She drops the bow and arrow and hugs him tightly."Not so tight, NOT SO TIGHT!" Mister Red gasps, his voice nearly muffled in her embrace."I thought something terrible had happened to you! Where have you been? Or did they find you?" Lina speaks breathlessly, so overjoyed that tears begin to well up in her eyes."Those two? More like I found them," Mister Red says, managing to free himself from her firm grip.He clears his throat."Allow me to introduce—this is Emmod and Novel Brymbach. And, well, you know who this is."Emmod and Novel give a brief wave in greeting."Lina—Elmhart," she responds, returning the gesture, her fears visibly fading."Next time you sneak up on someone, you might want to make less noise," she says with a smile, causing Emmod and Novel to awkwardly scratch the backs of their heads."So, do you want the chain back or not?"

  "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lina can't stop expressing her gratitude. "How can I ever repay you?""Well, I could think of a few things..." Novel begins, but Emmod cuts him off."Aren't you going to call your guards? I mean, we kind of snuck in here.""Who, Greynyx? He's busy getting your friend down from the tree," Lina replies calmly. "Besides, you're not a threat to me.""How do you know that?" Emmod counters."Anyone who's friends with Mister Red is a friend of mine," Lina waves off his concern, "Besides, if I wanted to, I could have dealt with you already," she adds with a shrug."Not true" Emmod and Novel mutter under their breath, feeling a bit embarrassed and slightly annoyed that Lina doesn't take them seriously.

  "Why are you here today?" Lina asks."Unfortunately, we don't always get to choose," Emmod replies with a shrug. "We'd rather be in the forest or down by the sea.""You're allowed to do that?" Lina asks in an admiring voice."Of course, pretty much every day. You're not?" Novel ughs."My parents forbid it," Lina says, dampening his amusement. "When I turned 14 st month, it was my first real day outside the castle walls. And maybe the st for a long time," she adds sadly."Why's that?" Novel asks, intrigued."Because of those Crimson Crusaders," Lina expins, her frustration clear in her tone. "I just wish I could see the sea up close, even once, instead of always watching it from afar.""Can you even swim? You'd probably drown," Novel says dryly, earning a sharp look from Mister Red.Emmod covers his mouth to stifle a ugh."I can swim perfectly fine, thank you very much," Lina replies confidently. "Can either of you handle a bow and arrow?"The question wipes the smile off Emmod's face and leaves Novel speechless. Lina's superiority only grows with their reactions.Usually, in her presence, every look is calcuted, every word measured, but right now, she seems happy and carefree.Perhaps these unusual new acquaintances could be her gateway to a world she only knows from books—a world of genuine, unbiased friendship.

  "It seems like he left out a few details in his story," Emmod remarks, casting a reproachful gnce at Mister Red."Excuse me. HE has a name," Mister Red insists on proper address."Yeah, yeah, Mister," Emmod responds indifferently."Mister Red!" Mister Red squeaks in protest."Wait... He told you? You can understand him?" Lina asks, perplexed, as the two slowly nod."Mister Red," she says, shocked, "They can hear you. They can understand you," she almost cheers."That's what I was getting at, but..." Mister Red starts but is quickly interrupted again."Wait, wait, wait..." the brothers suddenly realize."Don't tell me you're...""You guys... You can... him...""And he's... the person you were talking about..." Emmod and Novel babble over each other, not finishing their sentences.In all the excitement, none of them had realized that the others could also talk to the squirrel."You could've mentioned that in your story," Novel lightly nudges Mister Red, while Emmod is still in shock.They didn't have long to dwell on this revetion, though, as suddenly they hear an older male voice from outside."Miss Elmhart! Miss Elmhart," the man calls, and Lina blushes in embarrassment."Oh no," she groans."Miss Elmhart?" Novel asks with a grin, "Who's calling you that?""Uh—that's...""Miss Elmhart! MISS!" the voice now calls right outside the door.Lina sighs."Can't I have just one minute of peace?" she murmurs in annoyance, rolling her eyes."Stay here," she says, opening the door before the man does.

  "My goodness, there you are," Butler Stewart says, surprised. "But what are you doing in the storage room? And is that... where did you find your forehead chain again?"

  Meanwhile, Lina tries to expin as she leads Stewart a few steps back toward the courtyard.Instinctively, Emmod, Novel, and Mister Red press their ears to the half-open door to eavesdrop on every word."Is it so wrong to have a squirrel as your best friend?" Mister Red asks curiously in the meantime."Not wrong, but also not exactly natural," Emmod replies, sighing, "But what about us is natural anyway?""As a princess, surely she has plenty of friends, right?" Novel asks."Unfortunately, it's not that simple," Mister Red responds. "Since she doesn't know anyone outside the castle, she has no friends her own age. And inside the castle walls, she doesn't truly consider anyone a real friend. The people there are her subordinates. They care for her not because they're her friends, but because it's their duty."

  "So, those friendships are just tied to her high status?" Emmod asks, pity in his voice.Mister Red nods."Power, wealth, status—that's what they hope to gain," he replies, sounding a little distressed. "Whether they'll still be there for Lina if she loses her position remains uncertain."This weighs so heavily on Emmod and Novel's minds that, absent-mindedly, they clumsily stumble out of the storage room, tripping over each other.

  Instinctively, Stewart steps in front of Lina to protect her."Who are you?" he begins. "What are you doing here?! You don't belong here! GUARDS—""No, it was my fault!" Lina grabs his arm to stop him. "They're part of the css visiting the castle today. And I recognized him," she expins, pointing to Novel."That's the boy I told you about. From the marketpce," she whispers.Stewart seems to understand, before puffing up in front of them."You mean the boy who gave you that head injury? The boy who stole your chain!" Stewart excims indignantly."Hey, what exactly did you tell them?" Novel nudges Lina."The boy who returned my chain. And look," Lina replies, holding up Mister Red like a stuffed toy. "They even brought Mister Red with them."

  Stewart has to admit—he hasn't seen Lina this happy in weeks.He straightens his tie."It seems I owe you my thanks and recognition. There aren't many who would have acted so honorably in your situation," Stewart says formally, adjusting his stance."Brymbach! Brymbach!!" a less composed voice suddenly calls out from the distance."Oh no," Emmod and Novel say in unison."Oh, it seems you're being missed," Stewart turns around in surprise, and all eyes shift to the incoming figure—a locomotive in the form of their history teacher, Mrs. Marger."Stewart," Lina begins, "They brought me back two things that mean a great deal to me," she says. "And I have nothing to give them in return.""But Miss Elmhart, they—""Mother always says, 'Don't take more than you can give.' But how can I ever repay these deeds when I'm trapped in this prison?" Lina says."Very well," Stewart sighs. "I will speak to your parents, but until then, I urge restraint.""Got you!" Mrs. Marger snarls, grabbing Emmod and Novel by the ears. "I knew you two would cause trouble sooner or ter. Just wait until we—"She suddenly cuts off her tirade and stumbles back a few steps, pulling Emmod and Novel with her as she bows deeply."Myself and these two troublemakers apologize for the disturbance," she says, her voice now filled with respect and a bit of fear. "I hope these mischief-makers haven't caused you any trouble.""No, they just—" Lina starts, but Stewart steps in."It's quite alright," Stewart says firmly."I am deeply grateful," Mrs. Marger says, bowing again."HURRY UP, let's go!" she snaps, pushing the two boys forward.But they don't get far, as Mrs. Marger stops herself—and them—abruptly."W-What?" she stammers, as a boy accompanied by the royal guard, Enryn Barber, holding a spear in his hand, steps out of the entrance.

  The boy is wearing dark trousers and a white, tight-fitting shirt that emphasizes his muscur body. His dark blond, curly hair is unstyled, falling onto his shoulders. Today, he's not wearing his usual bck cloak.With a tired expression, he steps into the courtyard, his eyes scanning from right to left until they nd on his little sister, toward whom he walks purposefully."It's noisy here," he mutters, wrinkling his nose.All eyes are on him.The students stay awkwardly in the background. The girls blush.'What a hero,' they think, whispering comments to one another.The boys shrink back.'What an arrogant guy,' they think enviously, Emmod included.But none of them would dare say it out loud. After all, the boy carries himself with a confidence as if he owns the castle—wait, he actually does!"V-Vynce," Lina says in surprise when she notices him. "What are you doing here?""So that's the prince," Novel observes, impressed.Mrs. Marger, frozen in shock, loosens her grip, allowing Novel to slip free before she even realizes it.Novel extends his hand in a friendly gesture."Hello, you must be..."Before Novel can finish, a swift high kick sms into his face.The strike is perfectly executed. Unfortunately for Novel, it was delivered by Vyncent Elmhart himself, sending the younger Brymbach brother flying backward.Novel crashes to the ground, his vision turning red from his left eye as blood starts streaming down his face. Everyone in the courtyard, except for the royal guards and Stewart, is utterly shocked. Even Mitch and Tregory can't ugh this time. Emmod rushes forward to help but is quickly held back by Enryn Barber, who points a spear at him in warning. Lina can't believe it as well, but Greynyx, who has rejoined the scene, holds her back.

  "Next time, you bow before you speak to me," Vyncent sneers. "And you only speak to me when spoken to. Understood?"

  Novel, dazed from the kick, presses his hand against the gash on his head as blood covers the left side of his face.Vyncent rolls his eyes, crouching down to grab Novel by his greasy hair, forcing his head up."Did you understand?" Vyncent asks, his voice deadly serious.It's clear he won't repeat the question. Novel, staring back with a mix of fear, respect, and a trace of anger, simply nods.

  "What?" Vyncent asks, "I can't hear you"

  "Understood" Novel answers.

  "Good," Vyncent says, letting go of Novel's head abruptly.

  "Now, to answer your question, dear sister—I live here," he says, brushing the dirt off his hands as he nonchantly turns back toward the entrance."Come on. We should get ready. Father and Mother are returning today," he adds, and a fleeting shadow of worry crosses Lina's face.With a casual wave over his shoulder, Vyncent gestures for his little sister to follow him, which pushes Lina to the edge.She gnces apologetically at the bloodied Novel and then at Emmod."I'm so sorry," she says before hurrying after Vyncent.There's nothing she can do in the courtyard. Her assigned guards, Greynyx and Enryn, quickly follow the siblings, finally giving Emmod the chance to reach Novel, who is still sitting dazed on the ground.Once Lina and Vyncent disappear inside the castle, Lina confronts her brother on the main staircase."Vynce, you ruined everything!" she yells, grabbing his shoulder to make him face her."What? That just now? That was nothing," he replies casually. "A misunderstanding."Lina immediately sps him across the face."You're disgusting," she says, storming up the stairs to her room."You think that now. But one day, you'll thank me!" Vyncent calls after her, lingering on the steps."You're the worst brother ever!" Lina shouts back angrily from the upper floor, her voice echoing through the castle.

  "You really are the dumbest brother," Emmod says, meanwhile in the courtyard, trying to wipe the blood off Novel's head with his T-shirt.Novel was lucky, in an unlucky situation. Had he not reacted at the st moment, Vyncent would have struck his temple, which might have knocked him out—or worse—killed him.Thanks to his Uncle Ko, who had shown him the nerve points of the human body, Novel's body instinctively reacted to the kick, preventing more serious damage."Mr. Frieder!" Stewart calls loudly as the man unknowingly steps out of the entrance. "One of your students hit his head. Fetch some bandages quickly before he covers the whole courtyard in blood!"Pascai Frieder's eyes fall on the blood-covered Novel, and he doesn't hesitate for a second."As you wish. I'll handle it," he says and hurries back into the castle."I take full responsibility for their inappropriate actions," Mrs. Marger says, bowing for the third time in as many minutes.However, Stewart views the situation differently than Mrs. Marger. She has no idea about what Emmod and Novel did for Lina today. And even if she knew, Stewart suspects she'd be more upset than appreciative."You don't need to apologize, and I hope their punishments won't be too harsh, if they're necessary at all. From my perspective, this was an unfortunate misunderstanding," Stewart says, much to the surprise of Emmod and Novel.He pulls a handkerchief from his suit pocket and silently hands it to Novel. Novel takes it without a word and thanks him with a simple nod, which Stewart returns."If you'll excuse me," Stewart adds, adjusting his clothes and walking off with dignity just as Pascai rushes back from the castle moments ter."Are you okay, Novel?" Mrs. Marger asks. Novel silently nods in response.It was the first time Mrs. Marger had shown him sympathy and compassion, and Novel suspects she's doing it for the wrong reasons.This incident abruptly ends the css trip. Mrs. Marger hurriedly gathers her students to take Novel to see a doctor."At least neither Mitch nor Tregory won the bet," Emmod concludes as they leave the castle, trying to keep Novel in good spirits.