-47-When they returned to the palace at dusk, Miriel was surprised to find the maids all poised and acting like normal."Welcome back, your highness, and Lady Lerkester." Vien said, as she stood in front of the doors."Here, Vien, please send the confections to the kitchen and the rest to my room." Elle said."Yes, your highness." Vien took the slew of pouches Elle had on her arms and around her waist, and then took the others from Miriel."Oh, that is much better now." Elle said, as she rubbed her arms.Vien returned after sending maids to deliver the goods and pouches."A guest arrived while you were away, your highness. For Lady Lerkester.""This soon?" Elle replied, "Hmm, I shall give him a pass then. Bring Miriel the letter and send her to receive the guest. Oh, and prepare a room for him.""I will abide." Vien bowed and turned to leave.Elle turned to Miriel, who was staring at the exchange with her brows creased."A guest?" Miriel asked."For you. Wait for the letter and head to the drawing room to find out. You may thank me after you do." Elle said.She giggled and waved to Miriel as she walked towards her room.Miriel stared at Elle's shrinking figure with her brows creased until she saw a black-haired maid pacing to her.Niact closed the distance and handed her a letter."Here, her highness's letter." Niact said, as she handed Miriel an envelope and a letter opener."Her highness says the letter will make more sense after you see your guest." She added."Who is the guest?" Miriel asked."Her highness says that is a surprise." Niact replied.Miriel opened the envelope, then handed Niact the envelope and the opener back.Niact bowed and turned to leave.Miriel watched as she left, then unfolded the letter she held, frowning as she read it. 'What does question and not threat mean? Nothing bad, just something?'Miriel did not understand what Elle wished to convey.'And who is the guest?'Miriel walked through the corridors - with questions in her mind - towards the drawing room.She opened the doors and inside was Mark sitting on a sofa with his head in his hands."Mark?" Miriel called, her eyes widening as she saw him.Mark slowly raised his head and blinked as stared at her. He exhaled and visibly relaxed as he stood.Miriel closed the doors and walked closer to Mark."Why are you here? Did something happen at Lerkester?" She asked."Well, something did happen but that isn't why I'm here. There was a letter for me that said something bad was going to happen to you, so I called Crausel and rushed here with the carriage.""Thankfully, you're safe." Mark said."Hm?" Miriel glanced at her letter for a moment, then blinked."Maybe this will make some sense for you." She said.She handed him the letter, which he read with squinted eyes.His eyes widened as he read it and he grit his teeth."I've been played! She had me completely fooled!" Mark said, he slumped on the chair as the letter slipped from his fingers to the ground.Miriel stared at the feeble Mark who sank in the sofa and lightly shook her head."Now what is this about Mark?" She asked.Mark stared at the windows for a moment before weakly turning to Miriel."Your princess sent the letter. She baited me here." He continued, "Well, I don't remember it clearly but she wrote in a way to make me think something bad would happen and rush here." Mark replied.He sighed as he put a palm to his forehead."I'm just glad you're fine." He said.Miriel watched Mark for a moment."Did you stop along the way? Did you rest properly?" She asked."I slept on the carriage. Crausel's probably asleep at the stables right now or something." He said, palm still covering his eyes.Miriel sat next to Mark and gently smoothed his head with her palm."What about a meal? Are you hungry?"
"I ate a bit before we arrived." Mark said.
Mark simply let Miriel smooth his hair as he sat on the sofa."Mark, Thank you." Miriel said.Marl sat on the sofa and didn't move."The maids have prepared you a room. Think you can rest there, for the night?" Miriel asked.Mark was still for a moment."I'll try." He replied."You need the rest. We may be able to return to Lerkester tomorrow, but only if you are properly rested." Miriel said."Okay." He nodded."Here, let me help you up."Miriel slung his arm around her shoulder and slowly helped him stand."That'll be enough, I can still walk." Mark said.Mark's arm returned to his sides as he straightened."I will follow you to your room at least." Miriel said."Mm," Mark nodded.As they opened the door, they saw Niact waiting for them outside."Lady Lerkester, Lord Mark, allow me to guide you to your room." Niact said."Lead the way." Miriel said.Niact turned and they followed after her.-The day after, as Miriel left her room, Vien was waiting outside."Her highness has matters to attend and will not be accompanying you today, and she recommends you spend the day enjoying the festival with Lord Mark. He is presently in the drawing room." Vien said.So she escapes.' Miriel thought."Will we be able to return to Lerkester today?" Miriel asked."Her highness will send a runner to inform the palace when you can. Likely around noon." Vien replied."Thank you, Vien." Miriel said.Vien bowed and left.Miriel turned and went to the drawing room.Inside it, Mark was standing by the windows staring at the garden below."Mark, did you sleep last night?" Miriel said, as she walked closer."I did, Somewhat. Well enough I guess." He replied, turning around to look at Miriel.His smile was strained and Miriel could see he was still groggy."You can rest today as well, if you are still tired." Miriel said.Mark shook his head."No, I'm fine. And, uh, I don't like this place, the sooner we get out of here the better. I think the maids are strange." He shivered as he spoke to Miriel."We will be able to leave around noon, if all is well.""That's good enough, I guess." Mark scratched his head."But you still look unwell, I suggest we stay one more night and leave tomorrow.""I'm fine enough to return. Besides, it won't be like when I came here with no stops in between." Mark replied."What if you stayed someplace else?" Miriel asked "Like an inn?Or…" Miriel trailed off."Before that, you said something happened at Lerkester yesterday. What was it?" She asked."We caught the… was it the snitch? It was one of the female servants. We caught her with her contact and kept them in the cells. Basically; Anne lucked out and found out about them, then we made a plan and nabbed them." He said.Miriel nodded."Well done. Have you questioned them?" She asked"We haven't," Mark shook his head, "I got the letter right after we returned. So I rushed here right after."'Perhaps we may not need to.' Miriel thought.She pondered for a moment, then turned to Mark."I recall you have yet to see the Capitol, Mark. How about we tour the Capitol for a bit today and join in on the festival?" Miriel said."Hm? Shouldn't we be rushing back to Lerkester?" Mark replied."Was Uncle Yorn at the Mansion when you left?""Uh, I think he was," Mark thought and answered, "Yeah, he just returned." He nodded."Then we do not have to rush. We will stay tonight and leave tomorrow, and tour the Capitol for today. There is also a place we have to drop by.""There is?" Mark asked."Mm," Miriel nodded, "Something you have forgotten."