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[indent][sup][color=ab274f][b]Attire:[/b][/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/sTIjTiA.jpg]Banquet fit[/url], a simple princely crown
[color=ab274f][b]Date and Time:[/b][/color] Sola 28th, 6pm
[color=ab274f][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Castle
[color=ab274f][b]Mention(s):[/b][/color] Kilian, Alibeth
[color=ab274f][b]Interaction(s):[/b][/color] [@princess] Anastasia, [@Lava Alckon] Farim
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The moment Wulfric's hand touched the handle of the beige drawing room, hairs rose on his nape, stopping him mid-motion. It was one of those there-and-gone feelings. A premonition of [i]danger[/i]. It was an instinct he knew better than to ignore.

With one hand, he creaked the door open, while his other reached for a hidden dagger.

Nothing.

No one.

It was empty.

Wulfric frowned. He had spent time talking to the servants, yet Anastasia and Farim had not arrived yet. Certainly, they might have lingered in the hall to talk, but…there was that niggling suspicion.

[color=ab274f][i]Don’t tell me something happened the moment I stepped foot outside.[/i][/color] It was irksome, but [i]just in case[/i], he strolled back to the hall. Before he reached it, he spotted a harried servant departing from that very direction. He stopped the man, who was thin as a reed, pale as a ghost, sandy hair framing wide brown-green eyes. Upon the prince’s prompt, he introduced himself as Andreas.

[color=ab274f]“What is going on in there?”[/color]

[color=white]“Y-your Highness,”[/color] Andreas bowed. [color=white]“Uh…I’m not sure. Some man brought in a chained woman. I think he spoke to the queen?”[/color] He scratched his head. [color=white]“I didn’t really…khm, I figured maybe it was time to summon back the other guests.”[/color] His eyes shifted sideways, and Wulfric guessed he used the opportunity to flee the unknown.

The prince smiled thinly. [color=ab274f]“Oh, I expect it might be. Before that, however: is there a place I might see what is going on without being spotted?”[/color]

[color=white]“Er-well, if Your Highness doesn’t mind the servants’ passageway…”[/color]

[color=ab274f]“Perfect.”[/color]

That said, the prince followed the servant to a seemingly solid part of the wall. At a press of Andreas’ palm upon a part of a pillar’s relief, a soft click echoed. The man slid a panel aside, and led him into a well-lit corridor wide enough for food trolleys to pass through uninhibited. 

[color=white]“Here, Your Highness.”[/color] At an intersection, they began to ascend. At the top, the man fiddling with something produced another click, and they emerged behind an archway on the second floor. There wasn’t anything so grand as a balcony, merely a narrow ledge leading to the high windows lining the banquet hall. 

So, they were on a cleaning accessway? Fascinating.

From where he was, he had a decent view of the hallway when he peeked from beyond the archway. At the same time, thick curtains obscured him from the view of those below – if anyone even thought to crane their necks that far up. 

Wulfric saw the black-coated, white-haired man. The stranger practically [i]oozed[/i] killing intent. A bound, gagged, barefoot woman was dragged behind him, leashed on a chain. Like a dog. Or a [i]slave.[/i]

The unknown man watched the queen. The queen watched him in turn, calm and expectant.

He recognized this scene, had witnessed it many times before. It was a show being set up. A stage play sprung upon them, trying to force every single person into a predetermined role. 

Wulfric exhaled, nostrils flaring. He’d seen enough. 

He turned on his heel, and returned through the servants’ corridor to the hallway proper. The sandy-haired servant followed him quietly. [color=ab274f]“I have one more request, Andreas…”[/color] Wulfric beckoned him closer, and imparted his instructions.

[color=white]“Understood, Your Highness.”[/color] The man did not seem particularly enthused about returning to the banquet hall. But then, all he had to do was pass an order to another servant, after which he was free to leave.

The royal strolled to the designated meeting point, an alcove on a hallway leading to the kitchen, and waited. His servant-spy was cautious enough that it took a few minutes for him to arrive. Without a word, the agent in the guise of a middle-aged employee handed him a scrap of parchment. The two new arrivals’ magicae were noted. Too, the servant relayed in whispers what he’d witnessed. Wulfric nodded, and said, [color=ab274f]“Keep watching. If anything else is needed…you will know.”[/color]

The spy bowed, then they went on their ways without another word.

By the time he returned to the beige drawing room, Anastasia had arrived, leading Farim.

[color=ab274f]“Ah, it seems I am just in time,”[/color] he smiled, entering after the two did. He waited until the door was closed before posing his question. [color=ab274f]“You wished to discuss Callum?”[/color] He looked towards his sister and the shahzade, eyebrow arching.[/color]