Trojan had willingly accepted Alastor's invitation to visit the Royal Family. As usual, there was a reason behind his decision. The main and most obvious one was that Trojan would eventually have to confront the Royal Family once again.
Thought there were risks involved.
Judging by how it was a personal invite by Alastor, Trojan could guess that the meeting was to be kept in wraps. If Trojan could get word out to people that he was visiting the Royal Family, it would prevent him from being assassinated for quite some time. However, if word did not get out, Trojan could very well be executed in the Palace, a tragic end for him.
Rejecting Alastor would be a sign of distrust between Trojan and the Royal Family. If Alastor wanted to go all out and trick Trojan into doing something which sparks a conflict large enough to justify Trojan's execution to the public, Alastor may very well be able to do so. Rather than Alastor, Trojan found the King himself rather tricky.
The King was making moves perhaps as fast as Trojan himself, but most of those decisions were likely made my Alastor, who was the most capable person to entrust any task to. Trojan could not simply call out Alastor for being responsible for the death of the messengers since he had no conclusive evidence.
Heading to the Royal Palace, Trojan only had a few cards on hand. Domino, his mage, helped keep any spells of Alastor from reaching into Trojan's mind. Domino specialised in psychological spells, reading minds, erasing memories, especially cancelling other psychological spells. He was perhaps the more skilled than Alastor in that category, but if Alastor decided to forcefully attack them, Trojan doubted Domino would be able to stop him.
Despite that, Domino was a rather weak card for Trojan to play. For Domino to overpower any defence Alastor or the Royal Family had psychologically, it would take time, and Alastor would be able to fix it right after. Domino was also tired. Fatigue is never a good thing for mages.
Another card Trojan had were the letters. However, Trojan doubted that he would be able to spread the letters in his current position. He was in a tight spot, all he could do was fake it till he made it, at least, until it became real.
"If you do not mind, Duke Trojan," Alastor said to him, a smile on his face. "I would like to run a check in you. Please understand that it is for the safety of the Royal Family."
Domino glanced at Trojan.
Trojan waved him off, saying, "I do not carry weapons with me, it is uncouth."
"Of course, of course, it is simply a precaution," Alastor explained, standing up.
Alastor waved his staff in front of Trojan, an orange light shining on Trojan for a moment before it simply vanished. Alastor readied the staff beside him, Trojan and Domino bore standing as well.
"I shall bring Duke Trojan to the Palace now," Alastor told Trojan. "As well as your mage, Domino, if I remember correctly. Unfortunately, your maid has to be left behind as it is a rather serious matter."
"Would you prefer if I get a change of clothes?" Trojan asked.
Alastor knew how sly Trojan could be. The last time Trojan had been to the Palace, he had managed to outsmart the King and Alastor. Allowing Trojan a chance to prepare was dangerous for the Royal Family. Besides, the reason why Alastor had entered his estate in person was to catch Trojan by surprise, not allowing him to prepare for anything.
"No, it is a sudden invitation after all. I am sure his Majesty will understand Duke Trojan's circumstances," Alastor said.
Trojan would have much preferred being able to change into a set of clothes. Perhaps get ready another note of some kind, but it could not be helped.
Trojan had learnt something about Alastor in their last visit to the Palace. The search Alastor performed, the very same search he had performed just moments ago had a flaw. Trojan figured out that it likely only detected anything that could be considered a weapon, or something that was considered dangerous. The time Trojan was searched before entering the Palace, the note hidden in his glove was not detected.
So the note hidden in Trojan's Breast pocket was not detected by Alastor.
Alastor briefly did a search of Domino, and the mage was forced to leave behind a dagger, a gem, a needle and a feather. Though the feather had not been detected, Domino left it behind anyways.
"We are all set then," Alastor announced, sweeping his staff to the side.
Trojan looked at the older mage, not really sure the plan of his was going to work. He got a message in his head, a telepathic message from Domino.
'My lord, I have not been able to find a chance, but I do warn you that there is currently a revolt by the peasant people,' Domino had said to Trojan.
It was rather out of the blue, but Domino had been kept busy from the moment he had returned, so the information had almost slipped his mind.
'Is he listening?' Trojan asked back in his mind.
The both of them kept a stone expression, acting as natural as possible. Alastor did not show a single sign of having noticed what they were talking about.
'No,' Domino confirmed. 'Though I can't say for sure.'
'Whatever, tell me what it's about later,' Trojan ordered Domino.
'My lord, it is rather important.'
'I don't have the time now,' Trojan insisted.
They were surrounded by orange light as their surrounding changed in a snap. From the almost unfashionable estate of Trojan to the prim and beautiful interior design of the Palace.
Alastor walked past Duke Trojan and turned around when he reached the side of a throne. On it, was the King. His curly blonde hair seemed to be well managed, and his crown fit perfectly. He sat straight and formal, like any proper King. He seemed to resemble a picture, that was how perfect he seemed to look.
"Greetings to Your Majesty," Trojan said to the King. "I have heard that Your Majesty asked for my presence?"