[table][row][/row][row][cell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/S98vWKh.png[/img][/center][/cell][cell]
[color=#50b0f1][center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220311/27efd277073263c7d99ebe605d1cfab8.png[/img][/center][/color]
[indent][hr][/indent][hr]
[indent][sup][color=ab274f]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/rijwHsc.jpg]Business & dinner fit[/url]
[color=ab274f]Time:[/color] 6:00 pm -> 7:00 pm
[color=ab274f]Location:[/color] Office -> Castle Dining Room
[color=ab274f]Mention(s):[/color]
[color=ab274f]Interaction(s):[/color] [@princess] Edin
[/sup][/indent][/cell][/row][/table]After concluding his conversation with Anastasia, Wulfric briefly retreated to his office. There, he checked that the documents he’d retrieved from the Guild were still in order. He then considered which guards to have escort Anastasia, and which to have watching over her covertly.

This was easy enough to decide, as he knew most of their guards, and knew which ones he could trust to protect his sister.

The greater issue was Delronzo himself. Wulfric had no idea how the man would play this. One possibility was that he would simply act as if he was innocent, and convince Anastasia that he had done nothing amiss based on the trust he’d managed to gain from her. This could be problematic, but Wulfric felt he could deal with it.

If he tried harming her by mundane means – trying to kidnap her, for example – then the guards he’d set on her should be able to handle it.

But what if he used magic again? If he erased her memories? His guards’ memories? With how easily he’d disappeared the evidence from last night, it wasn’t difficult to imagine he still kept it concealed with a magical illusion or some such.

Even more harrowing were the possibilities he’d mentioned to Anastasia. Besides the usual manipulation, maybe he’d even use magical compulsion to make her talk, or deepen her trust or – who knew what else, really? There were simply too many unknowns. Since Wulfric didn’t have the means to counter magic, he largely only had to hope Delronzo didn’t think it necessary to use it.

It also occurred to him that Anastasia was meeting him in person. This was an opportunity to capture him, and bring him in for questioning– 

[i][color=E77298]If your friend was being accused of something, wouldn’t you want to at least talk to them yourself before just throwing them to the wolves?[/color][/i]

Wulfric sighed, and a skewed smirk formed. [color=ab274f][i]Don’t you know I’m one of those proverbial wolves?[/i][/color]

Even so…he couldn’t bring himself to break her trust like that. He supposed it was similar for Callum. Even knowing they were in the wrong to trust Delronzo, to disregard how very likely it was that he was the culprit…Even when he thought torture of a suspect like that was just fine, he knew actually doing it would hurt them.

So, he would try any and all other methods he could think of first. Finding material evidence, gathering rumours, questioning the host [i]without[/i] torture, convincing his siblings that Delronzo wasn’t trustworthy…

A part of him even seriously considered using magic. But he didn’t know enough about it, and doing it himself as inexperienced as he was would be too much of a risk. 

What a shame he didn’t have a group of magical experts on hand.

Even if he lacked that, he still had resources a plenty. Besides ensuring Anastasia’s safety – this was absolutely the priority – he could have a few agents sent alongside to watch Marek, trail [i]him[/i], and investigate his establishments or hideouts.

In fact…yes…Alongside the guards, he would send some others.

It took some time for Wulfric to organize all this, from selecting the people, to speaking to them, to ensuring they’d all know what to do.

However, by the time he went to check the Dining Room, his father was still there. Taking his time enjoying that damn cake, of course.

[color=ab274f]“Father,”[/color] he greeted politely as he made his entrance.