Destrian raised a brow at the girl’s curious explanation. It was true that, despite his father’s ceaseless attempts to have them captured and executed, the kingdom wasn’t completely rid of its criminals. Yet at the same time, the kingdom was a much safer place than the surrounding woods. If anything, the girl and her mother were in even more danger out here than they would be behind its secure stone walls. The forest was teeming with rogue bandits who were just waiting for unsuspecting peoples to rob. Surely, her mother must know this.

**“Thank you for finding Grounii,”** the girl went on. **“But I think I should be going. My mother will be expecting me soon, and she has warned me to not speak to strangers. So, farewell.”**

Strangers? Destrian wanted to laugh at that. She wasn’t just putting on a careless act; this girl really _didn’t_ know who he was. Her mother must have kept her sheltered outside of the kingdom for many, many years if she didn’t recognize the face of its future king. Her blissful ignorance made the situation all the more interesting for Destrian.

The girl dipped in a brief curtsey and turned to leave. Destrian’s amusement faded. Was it alright to let her return to her cottage home? The peasant sectors were crowded in the kingdom, but he was confident that he could find their small family a place to live. It would be much safer than the open woods.

“Wait,” he said, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder before she could take a step away. “Show me this cottage of yours. I’d like to see it for myself.” He wanted to verify whether or not it was a secure place to live. The girl and her mother might not live within the walls of the kingdom, but they were still members of its people. As such, Destrian felt that it was his duty to ensure their wellbeing. Still, he carefully avoided the topic of his status. For some reason, he didn’t feel it was prudent to inform her that he was the prince. Not yet, anyways.