"Your Excellency, I greet the Prince of the Sun, Ethan," said Althea's mother, Madeleine. Since there was no one around, I didn't need to pretend not to recognize her.
"Is Althea awake?" I asked Madeleine.
I noticed a slight frown on Madeleine's face, which indicated she probably wanted to say something but was holding back because of my position as a prince and the new status I had earned through the service guild.
"Althea is resting now, Your Excellency, but if you give me the flower, I can tell her that you visited," Madeleine said.
"There's no need. I want to speak with her alone," I replied, but Madeleine frowned again.
"Your Excellency Ethan... Althea is no longer your knight. She will return to me and assist me with my work. If you wish, we can arrange for someone else from the service guild to serve you," Madeleine said, her gentle mask replaced by a cold and real expression.
