"F-father left yesterday morning. Garret had left a few days before that and father went to search for him because-" Samantha started to answer when the duchess cut her off.
"Enough. I don't need a dissertation," she snapped, the earlier sweetness in her voice already gone as she addressed her daughter. "Just say you don't know. I don't need the useless information you were just spouting."
Jonas couldn't help but feel bad for the girl, but at the same time he knew there wasn't pleasing some people. As such, he could only let things play out as they were at the moment.
"So what would you like to know about Garret?" the duchess asked, the sweetness in her voice back in full force. "I'm sure that your information has to be wrong. Garret wouldn't do something like that."
"If you'd like, I can introduce you to the man who was able to get the information out of your chamberlain, who was another of the ringleaders in the attempt," the king replied.
The duchess' face paled for a moment before she collected herself and she took on a display of being wronged. "What gives you the right to accuse my house of these things without any proof?"
"It isn't your house," the king merely replied. "Just your chamberlain and captain of your guard. If I had received evidence of your house being involved, I would have sent words to the guards at the gates to take you into custody as soon as you arrived. If you want, I can allow you to talk with the man who got the information from your chamberlain. The reason your chamberlain was interrogated was because during the attack, he was present and directing the attack. I have multiple sources indicating he was instrumental in the attempt."
The duchess looked to be at a loss for words and she looked around her, as if she was being verbally assaulted from every side. Like she was being wronged with merely being told of events that had occurred.
Yet, when her eyes landed on Jonas and Kim, they narrowed, like she'd found the source of the problems that were plaguing her at the moment.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "What are you doing here?"
"My apologies," Jonas said, sweeping down in a half bow. "My name is Jonas and this is Kim. We're in service to the lady Elin."
The duchess' eyes searched through the crowd, almost like she knew that the 'lady Elin' had to be there because of what Jonas had just said. Idly, he wondered if he could get a seat in the gallery to witness when the duchess met with Owen. He couldn't imagine that wouldn't be entertaining to witness.
"You!" the duchess said the word like an accusation, her eyes focused on Elin.
"Me," Elin replied, her face impassive as she gave the duchess a curtsy. "My apologies for not greeting you when you arrived. I was merely held by the king to help keep him company, like he said."
The duchess didn't seem to take note of what the king had said. "Are you the reason for my daughter has become so unruly?" she snapped. "She should be practicing playing the harp about now."
Since the duchess wasn't looking in his direction, Jonas allowed a smirk to show on his face. First the duchess complained that her daughter wasn't waiting for her, at about the time she complained that Samantha was hanging out by this office. Now she was complaining Samantha wasn't doing something that would have kept her from meeting her mother when she'd arrived anyway.
While there was people who couldn't be pleased, this felt like it was on a whole different level. Almost like she was more of actively seeking out things to criticize. Which Jonas couldn't help but think was rather toxic. Much more than what he'd initially thought about Samantha's relationship with her mother.
"Well, I think it would be about time for me to take a break," the king said. "I wouldn't mind hearing someone play the harp. I'm sure it'd be rather relaxing."
Jonas looked at the king, trying to figure out what his reasoning was. If he was trying to protect the girl or if there were other reasons that Jonas hadn't heard. He was sure that this was going to be the most entertaining aspect of the day. Even more so than the announcement had been.
The one thing he was certain of was the fact that the king was merely using this as an excuse for something.Not that Jonas had any clue as to what it was right then.
Not that it mattered or that he really cared. It was more of an idle thought.
The king then turned to one of the guards and asked, "Do you know where my son is?"
The guard saluted the king and replied in a crisp, professional tone, "The young prince was tired, so he was directed to a room for him to use for the time being. If you want, we can see if he's awakened and is interested in joining us. Or you could let him rest for as long as he needs."
Jonas was a little impressed with how the guards were keeping up their professional appearance, even though he was ready to just let all this occur without him present. He didn't care about the political intrigues going on or any of the various games about in this country or world. So long as it didn't interfere with his group completing the challenges.
"Go and get him," the king said. "It might be time for him to consider learning a musical instrument and the harp is always a good choice."
The duchess didn't say anything, but she turned and left on her own, not bothering to say anything else or to look at anyone.
"Well, enjoy your musical entertainment," Jonas said, not interested in joining it himself.
"You're not coming? Elin asked, her eyes almost demanding Jonas come to listen to Samantha's playing.
"Wasn't planning on it," Jonas merely said, ignoring the look he was well aware of Elin was giving him. Not that it was like he cared what Elin thought of him. At least when it came to things like this.
Suddenly Kim elbowed Jonas is his side. "Don't be like that," she chided him. "At least show up and see what it's like." Kim paused for a minute, but then added, "I'm sure it won't corrupt you or anything."
Jonas merely shook his head. He wasn't that worried about any of that. He just didn't care for listening to music by just sitting and listening. If he could be doing something then it wouldn't be so bad, but right now it was clear that they'd be just sitting and listening. Although, he also wasn't that partial to classical music, which added to his reluctance at willingly going.
"If you really want someone else to join you, get Elmo. I'm sure he'd be more willing to go," Jonas merely said. "I just would rather look into a few things."
"Like what?" Kim challenged as the others left the room, except for two of the king's guards, who looked like they were there to keep others from entering the office while the king was away.
Jonas wouldn't be surprised if the king had told them to do that so he could continue his search. Or at least instructed them to do that if he had to take a break from his search for anything. Not that it mattered to him.
"Just wanted to see what the duchess might be up to," Jonas replied. "There's something off about her that I'm not sure about. It might be nothing, but I just want to be sure."
Kim merely shrugged. "Suit yourself. Though, if you see Elmo, let him know to look for Elin. I doubt he'd come to listen to the music if you told him that I had asked for him."
Jonas nodded. "Sure. I'm sure he'd be interested in listening to it. I'll just tell him to follow the music if I do find him."
Kim nodded as Jonas walked away in the direction the duchess had gone, which was different from where the king and others had gone to listen to Samantha play the harp.
Jonas did his best to keep his footsteps quiet as he followed the duchess. He could hear her walking ahead of him, though without his Keen Ears skill, he was sure that he wouldn't have been able to use this method to follow her.
As the duchess walked, he could hear her grumbling to herself, but it was quiet enough that he couldn't even hear what she was saying. Not that he cared. As long as it wasn't anything that would be useful to him, he didn't care what she was saying.
Maybe what she was grumbling about would be useful to him, but he doubted that. He suspected her mind was on her daughter and/or Elin at the moment. Given her reaction to the events before they all started splitting up.
Jonas had planned on talking to the king about heading over to the palace, but that was more because he had run out of things to occupy his mind here. Yet, now there was something else to entertain him, and he was curious about where it would lead.