Morning came slowly to the underground prison.
The torches along the corridor had been replaced during the night, their flames burning steadier now against the damp stone walls.
Above them, the palace had not slept easily.
Royal magisters had spent the night examining the chamber where the mysterious intrusion occurred, studying the fractured marble and lingering traces of mana.
But whatever had brought the three prisoners into the palace…
No clear answer had been found.
So the questioning would begin.
Heavy footsteps approached the cell.
Inside, Nine was lying on the narrow stone bench with one arm over her eyes.
Theresia was studying the stone walls with quiet fascination.
Rhea sat calmly on the floor with her hands folded.
The iron door opened with a loud scrape.
Several palace guards entered first.
Behind them came a group of nobles.
King Aldric did not attend.
Instead, the questioning was conducted by the kingdom's highest representatives beneath the crown.
Duke Garron Dravenhart.
Marquis Cedric Ardenveil.
Duke Severin Valcere.
Behind them stood their heirs.
Valen.
Rowen.
Lucien.
Theresia immediately brightened.
"Oh! Good morning."
Nine groaned softly.
"You're way too cheerful for prison."
Rhea bowed politely.
"Good morning."
Several guards exchanged confused looks.
This was not the atmosphere they expected from prisoners.
Cedric stepped forward.
The marquis' presence was calm but authoritative, the kind that did not need raised voices to command attention.
"You will answer our questions," he said evenly.
Valen stood half a step behind him, arms crossed, his gaze already sharp.
Theresia raised her hand slightly.
"Do we get breakfast first?"
Cedric regarded her quietly.
"No."
"Unfortunate."
Lucien's smile barely shifted.
Cedric continued.
"First, your identities."
He looked at them one by one.
"Names."
Theresia answered immediately.
"Theresia."
Nine lifted a hand lazily.
"Nine."
Rhea inclined her head.
"Rhea."
Cedric nodded once.
"And your occupation?"
Nine answered before anyone else.
"Travelers."
Theresia nodded enthusiastically.
"We take jobs."
"Different kinds," Rhea added politely.
"Mostly requests posted through guild boards."
Garron folded his arms.
"Which guild?"
Nine blinked.
"…Whichever one is paying."
Theresia nodded.
"We move around a lot."
Severin exchanged a brief glance with Cedric.
That answer was either very honest—
Or very carefully vague.
Cedric continued.
"Where were you traveling from?"
Theresia thought for a moment.
"A forest."
Valen's voice followed sharply.
"Which forest?"
Rhea answered calmly.
"Gleenwood Forest."
Rowen's expression shifted slightly in recognition.
"That lies near the western border."
Cedric nodded once.
"Near Thalassa territory."
His gaze returned to the prisoners.
"Do you belong to the Kingdom of Thalassa?"
Rhea shook her head gently.
"No."
"We have no connection to Thalassa."
Cedric studied her face for several seconds.
"Gleenwood lies far from most major trade routes," he said.
"Travelers rarely wander that deep into the western forests without a destination."
Nine shrugged.
"Remote contracts pay better."
Theresia nodded.
"Less competition."
Lucien's smile deepened slightly.
Cedric continued.
"And where do you come from?"
Rhea smiled apologetically.
"That may be difficult to answer."
Valen's voice hardened.
"Then try."
Rhea inclined her head politely.
"We do not remain in one place for long."
"We travel between cities and take work where it appears."
Nine added casually,
"Sometimes escort jobs."
"Sometimes monster hunts."
Theresia lifted a finger helpfully.
"Sometimes odd requests."
Garron frowned slightly.
"What kind of requests?"
Theresia thought.
"Exploration."
"Artifact retrieval."
"Ruins."
Rowen's gaze lingered on her.
"You explore ruins?"
Theresia nodded.
"They're interesting."
Nine muttered,
"And dangerous."
Cedric spoke again.
"Do you possess any connection to the Five Crowns?"
Theresia shook her head immediately.
"No."
Nine said lazily.
"Well… if you mean the Five Crowns—"
She shrugged.
"No."
Valen's eyes snapped toward her.
"That answer lacks detail."
Nine leaned back against the wall.
"You asked if we're connected to them."
"We're not."
The silence that followed grew heavier.
Even Garron frowned slightly.
Lucien's smile did not change.
But inside, his thoughts shifted.
That answer had sounded very deliberate.
Cedric stepped back slightly.
"Well," he said.
"That answered very little."
Garron's deep voice rumbled beside him.
"They are hiding something."
Severin remained thoughtful.
"…Or they truly do not understand what happened."
Valen crossed his arms.
"They are withholding information."
Rowen hesitated.
"…Perhaps."
Lucien looked at the three prisoners again.
Theresia smiling brightly.
Rhea standing calmly with her gentle composure.
Nine leaning against the wall with quiet amusement.
His smile remained perfectly in place.
But one thought passed quietly through his mind.
If they are lying…
They are extraordinarily good at it.
And if they were telling the truth—
Then something far stranger had just entered the Kingdom of Rovenwale.