"You didn't have to escort us yourself, Prime Minister," Hades said as he and Luna followed the man down the long corridor toward the room they would be staying in for the night.
Originally, the plan was to leave the capital today and head straight to the county. By tomorrow night, they would have finished meeting everyone they intended to and then reach Torseque, where they would reunite with Peri.
But unexpected circumstances had forced them to stay in the palace for now.
Phil glanced back at them with a small smile. "It's nothing to worry about. I wanted to take a walk anyway." His tone was light, and he carried himself with an air of warmth that made him easy to talk to.
With his hands clasped neatly behind his back, Phil asked, "May I ask you something, Hades… about the late Prince?"
Hades paused mid-step, a faint stiffness in his shoulders, before answering, "Yes?"
"...Was he being manipulated to go after you?"
