The Steinhouse mansion remained quiet and no one stepped out despite the curfew being removed. Lady Steinhouse did not understand what the men could be discussing all morning, but she noticed when they left to their various rooms later on. She wanted to take this moment to meet with Walter when she was informed her uncle was here to see her.
"The king?" she asked. Why? Her uncle had not come here since he brought her to marry the dying Lord Steinhouse on his sickbed. She noticed that only one carriage was outside, and frowned. He came without his entourage?
She rushed down to receive him, but he had not stepped down from his carriage. She approached the carriage sitting in her compound and bowed.
"Uncle, why have you not come in?" she asked.
"Helen, clear the way. I must enter unnoticed. Not even your maids must see me," he said. His words reminded her of Walter's arrival; he had made the same request of her when he came.
"You are here for the sleeping lady?" she took a guess and heard a gasp from inside the carriage. She was sure that was a woman's voice.
"Do as I say," the king instructed and she bowed and returned to her house. It was still daytime, and the carriage was parked in her stone-paved front yard, right at her door. All the king needed do, was descend and enter the house. After rushing and shouting out instructions, she returned to inform him to enter. The king stepped down and held out his hand for a woman to follow. The woman accepted his hand as she descended, and they entered the house.
"You know I'm here for my mother, then?" the woman asked and Lady Steinhouse stared. She wanted to ask who she was but held herself back.
"This way," she said and led them to her study. On entering, they saw three men in the study.
"My mother?" Lady Raine asked. Walter and the two lords saw them enter, but only the lords stood.
They signalled Walter to stand and Walter frowned. They had recognised the king, so they bowed; regardless of the Walter, who was still sitting.
"They are the only ones who know about this," Lady Steinhouse pointed at Walter and the lords.
"Your Majesty," Lord Morge greeted
"Lady Wickshire must have told you she was here?" Lord of Merve asked.
"Yes, let me see her," the lady answered instead.
"This way," Lord Morge led the way and they all went up to Lady Teel's room. Walter had never been in the presence of the king but did not care about this. He had met Lady Wickshire before and did not think that girl would be impressed by anyone else. To him, he would only ever bow to his parents, his teacher and Lady Wickshire at this point. He was yet to see what was great enough of this man for him to pay attention. Still, he was a farm boy not too long ago. Who would have thought that he would be here at this moment, in the presence of the king? That he did not find it exciting, he just felt the urge to sigh at his life.
Lady Raine entered the room and rushed to the bed. She looked at the familiar face on the bed and broke into tears.
"Mother!" she cried. The rest kept silent. From her words, all except Lady Steinhouse knew who she was.
"Uncle, who is this?" she asked the king.
"This is Lady Raine, my wife-to-be," the king answered and she blanched. Only then did she really look at the crying woman.
"What is going on, why is her mother the one you brought last night?" she asked Lord Morge and the rest. Her curiosity made Walter sigh. This was not the time for this. If the next queen now had her mother back; given that they had taken her from the hands of the Northern Laners, doesn't that mean a war is coming?
"You brought her?" Lady Raine asked the men before her.
The two lords nodded, but Walter remained silent. He had no intention of entering this conversation. As far as he was concerned, this job was instructed by Her Ladyship for the two lords; he only tagged along.
"Thank you," Lady Raine said.
"We only followed instructions, we don't deserve the thanks," Lord Morge answered.
"The way I see it, it's best that she is here and not in the palace. Keeping her away from prying eyes is for the best. Can I continue keeping her here?" she asked Lady Steinhouse, but Lady Steinhouse looked to Walter. Walter sighed at this. What was it with this woman? Did she intend on dragging him into this? He sighed and nodded to her.
"It does not harm you in any way," he said and Lady Steinhouse nodded.
"Of course, she can continue to stay. That maid came with her, she will continue to take care of her," Lady Steinhouse said.
"You?" Lady Raine looked to the maid, Lisa, who came with Walter and the two lords.
"I... I was told by the lady to help her escape; I will stay by the lady's side," Lisa stuttered under the scrutiny of Lady Raine's gaze.
"I will have my people stand guard," Lady Raine said with a nod. The king left the room with Walter and the lords, leaving the two ladies and the maid to talk. When they reached the study, the king took a seat at the desk while Walter and the rest sat before him.
"I know you all work for Lady Wickshire and are in her trust so, I do not expect you to bow your head and will not demand it. But I want to know, do you know why Lady Teel is unconscious there? My wife-to-be does not wish to talk about it," The king asked and the two lords sighed.
"The king of Northern Lan had her," Lord of Merve answered.
"Then how did you retrieve her?" the king asked.
"King Khor had already arrived the capital some days back and he is not the only one. A lot of powers have arrived and are hidden in the capital," Lord Morge said and the king frowned. He is king, yet was the last to know of this? Were his agents children compared to others?
"The lady already knows this?" the king asked.
"Of course. I'm willing to bet there are very few things she does not know," Lord of Merve said.
"Do you know why she helped out this time?" the king asked and the two men frowned. The silence caused Walter to sigh. Would they easily talk about the lady's matters?
"I know it's a stretch to ask but, the lady never said anything?" the king laughed softly before asking.
"You know you could just go see her. The only person that can tell you what the lady is thinking is the lady herself," Walter said to break the silence. Only then did the king really look at him. He had noticed Walter's presence since he entered but had no intention of asking who he was. The boy was still young and he only thought he was a follower of one of the Lords. Even though he did not get up when he entered the study, he was still a boy in the eyes of the king