Mikhailis looked up at Cerys, who had her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze fixed on him with a mix of suspicion and concern. The criminal guards were lying unconscious around them, and the tension in the air was palpable. He knew he had to act quickly, to steer the narrative in a direction that would allow him to keep his secrets while protecting the people he had just rescued.
Cerys raised an eyebrow, her piercing red eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"Your Highness, what in the world happened here?"
Mikhailis sighed, putting on a sheepish smile as he stepped forward.
"It's… well, it's a bit of a long story," he started, scratching the back of his head. He needed a good, solid story—something convincing but not overly elaborate. He needed to make this feel like a genuine mistake, an unplanned adventure. He met Cerys's gaze, then glanced at Aria and Callen, the two siblings standing slightly behind him, visibly shaken but trying to stay composed.
