The hall had already fallen quiet by the time Aciel and Xylia returned home.
The image of Queen Beatrice standing in the center of the ballroom remained fresh in Xylia's mind, as did the revelation that the ten-year-old Crown Prince of Vostrea had vanished without a trace.
She changed out of her gown and removed the ruby necklace, placing it carefully inside its velvet box. Aciel had barely spoken during the drive home. His mind was clearly somewhere else.
The moment they entered the study, he reached for his phone.
"I'm calling my father."
Xylia followed him inside.
"Do you think he knows about the Fernandez Clan?"
"My father knows more about them than most people alive."
Aciel made the call.
Luciano answered after only a few rings.
"What happened?"
Aciel frowned.
"You already know something?"
"I know you don't call this late unless something is wrong."
