The second they enter the office of the king, Ornum pulls back the hood on Spiro's cloak. Revealing her red hair.
"Hey." Spiro says only to be ignored.
"Ornum, how was the trip." The king asks
"Well Silas, James and Charles are likely dead. We couldn't even recover their bodies." Ornum says
"Damn... were the adventurers able to-" Silas says before looking at Spiro.
"Brother? Did you have a secret daughter with Elizabeth?" Silas says as he gets up and walks over to Spiro.
"The resemblance is too similar not to mention she has our family's hair. You had an heir this whole time." Silas says with a smile hoping to see the crushed looks on the noble's faces.
Are there nobles in the chamber? Are their looks crushed? This seems to imply they are in the chamber.
Ornum looks at Spiro.
'Now you look at me?' Spiro thinks still "upset" from being ignored earlier.
"Father, you can tell him. Though the watchers have to leave." Spiro says to Ornum since according to contract Spiro had to give permission first to reveal the secret.
Silas whistles.
"Watchers?" Ornum asks
'She couldn't possibly have seen the shadows?' Ornum thinks knowing about the shadows however he can't outright say it.
"Yes, there are three of them." Spiro says looking directly at a guy who is using the nanomachines as an active cloak. Another one attached to the ceiling. The third one hanging outside of the window.
"That's some impressive detection." Silas says going slightly on guard.
"We signed a contract." Ornum says
"Ah, well there is no need for them to be here then." Silas says knowing magical contracts require a great amount of trust to be signed since those who break the terms usually end up dead or worse.
Once the shadows leave stealthily. Still very freaked out because Spiro is staring directly at them as they make their exit.
"They left." Spiro says watching the last one go out of the door.
"Anyways unfortunately no she isn't my actual daughter, I found her in the sea of sand. And she agreed to be adopted by me." Ornum says
"The resemblance is uncanny. If you hadn't told me I would've believed she was yours and Elizabeth's daughter." Silas says looking into Spiro's blue eyes.
"Who's Elizabeth?" Spiro asks.
"We can talk about Elizabeth later." Ornum says gruffly changing the topic.
"Right, sorry." Silas says knowing Elizabeth is a sore spot for Ornum.
"What's your name?" Silas asks, looking at Spiro.
"It's Spiro, your majesty." Spiro says doing a curtsy.
Silas at Spiro's performance and etiquette before looking at Ornum silently who shrugs.
"What is it with you and finding runaways?" Silas asks rhetorically.
"Those nobles that keep sending the marriage contracts are gonna be upset." Silas says
"They can go pound sand." Ornum says with a chuckle.
"Pound sand?" Spiro asks
"Well then. Welcome to the family Spiro." Silas says
'Hey don't ignore me!' Spiro thinks having been ignored for the third time. Thinking it over she suddenly feels a calloused hand ruffling her hair.
"So, what's the plan?" Silas asks
"We could probably use Spiro's help with it." Ornum says knowing she could really mess with people given her ability and phrasing when writing the magical contract.
"Are we dragging other people's reputations through the mud?" Spiro asks innocently; however that massive grin on her face gives her away.
Silas laughs.
"How I wish my sons could react like that rather than start plotting behind each others backs." Silas says
"Aren't they only 13 and 11?" Ornum asks
The king sighs.
"Makes me wonder where I went wrong." Silas says
"Aren't you all too trusting of me?" Spiro asks
"You did sign the contract." Ornum says
'Ah right, though it doesn't matter since I have a higher command authority over the nanomachines.' Spiro thinks
"So, how are we gonna tell the nobles about your secret daughter?" Silas asks
"We could do it at the festival of falling stars?" Ornum says
"Two months from now, before the start of winter. That could work." Silas says
"Father you won't just hide me in a mansion for two months right?" Spiro says worriedly
"No you can go to the academy." Ornum says
"Isn't she a bit young?" Silas asks
"I've seen her perform chantless magic." Ornum says
"Really?" Silas asks.
Spiro nods before yawning a little wanting to remain somewhat under the radar. As with most
Government buildings, the walls have ears.
"Tired?" Ornum asks.
'No, I don't get tired but going into sleep mode would be nice. I would really like to clear my RAM cache.' Spiro thinks.
"Yes?" Spiro says as she sees the sun setting out the window.
"Well, we can talk about this later, brother." Ornum says.
"Yes, I have paperwork I need to finish as well." Silas says.