The journey had already felt grueling before it even began. Every step out of Hinnom dragged at Keiser's bones, but what weighed more heavily was the princess's voice.
She stopped him before they reached the wagon, her expression grave, the kind of seriousness that made even hardened men pause.
"You're sure about this… Muzio?"
The name struck him harder than it should have. Muzio. Hearing her call him by the prince's first name made something cold ripple through him. It wasn't just strange... it was unsettling. As though she'd spoken to someone who wasn't there. Someone who should be.
"…Yeah," he answered after a pause, his voice rougher than intended. He didn't elaborate, and she didn't press.
Instead, she pulled Lenko aside. Their voices carried low but urgent, and though Keiser couldn't catch every word, the look on Lenko's face said enough. Serious, tight-lipped, a little too pale. That boy needed far more convincing than he ever let on.
