I slid off my perch, which was already giving off a nagging pain in the sacrum, and walked closer to the men who had gathered around the royal desk. Stretching out on tiptoe, I looked over the shoulder of Count Milos, who was leaning over the table, resting his hands on its edge, and saw a lot of chaotically scattered papers, drawings and maps. Such familiar maps. It was a carefully drawn plan of Riliya’s castle, which I knew by heart like the back of my hand.

Something tightened in my chest from a premonition of the occasion of our meeting. The excitement grew, and with it the sounds of heartbeats, loud in my ears. I understood that this moment could not be postponed forever and sometime I had to return home. I understood, but I was in no hurry to bring this day closer.

The door opened with a bang, pulling me out of my thoughts, and distracting the men from the stormy discussion of something important.

He appeared.

Raphael walked into the office with heavy, confident steps, slamming the door loudly. His face did not express any emotions, as always a man-face-brick, but passing by me, he stopped and in a matter of fractions of a second I only managed to take a breath when his lips cut hard into mine, and his hand possessively laid on the back of my head and pulled me closer.

The kiss was simple, just a touch of lips, but so assertive and unexpected. When our lips parted, he stared at me for a moment with his probing hot gaze, watching my cheeks swim with embarrassment.

The corners of his lips twitched slightly in a smile, but soon he regained his stoic expression and walked around everyone present, stood next to Dexter, examining the papers spread out.

I have not yet fully recovered from the outrageous behavior of the king, but I noticed that Duke Parmont and Count Milos are barely restraining themselves from laughing. Dexter’s nostrils were even flaring as if they were ready to burst this second if he didn’t laugh heartily. God, it’s a shame, I wanted to sink through the ground.

- Thea, baby, are you just going to stand there? – Rafael called me, emphasizing the word "baby". – Come here.

I obediently approached, but not to him, but on the opposite, so that he would not plan to do something else with me in front of all honest people. His displeasure thickened, and I felt it pressing on my shoulders. But bravely withstanding his frown, I decided to ask a question that worries me.

- Are you going to capture Riliya? – indignation sounded instead of a question.

I saw how my question made Raphael’s hands press against the edge of the table so that his knuckles turned white. The excitement was growing.

- What makes you think that? – he asked too calmly, while the others silently exchanged glances.

- Queen of Adaman said that you are going to unite against Riliya. – the words were strained and I tried my best to keep calm. – What’s going on? What kind of unrest did she talk about and why would you unite against my people? What do you want, Raphael, to destroy everything? I won’t let you! – I blurted out everything in one breath and at the end, my eyes were burning with anger at the possible outcome for my country.

- And how long have you been gossip buddies with Serena? And you plan to stop me? What can such a fragile weak little girl do?

I didn’t know whether to be happy or not, because no one interfered in our dialogue, but now I desperately wanted to be alone with Raphael to strangle him without witnesses.

- I-if you hurt my people, you’ll never be able to find your artifact. I will not help you, and even on the contrary, I will do everything so that you do not find him. Never. - I declared with firm confidence in my voice, although I had no idea how to put my words into practice.

Instead of answering, I listened to the tapping of his fingers on the table top. Come on, tell me Serena’s words were a lie. Please tell me.

- How much expression. - the king said, breaking into a teasing smile. - Don’t believe everything the Queen of Adaman says, Thea. And you shouldn’t threaten me either. - his eyes flashed dangerously.

- Is that all you’re going to tell me? What about the answers to my questions? Any explanation at all? - I almost screamed, annoyed by his answer.

But the king was still annoyingly calm and smiling, suggesting to me that he might be testing me. So, I should not give in to this provocation. You need to keep a cool mind and calculate all the moves in advance. I won’t let him hurt anyone. I don’t know how yet, but I will definitely come up with something.

- We leave in an hour, milady. - Dexter answered instead and handed me a huge paper parcel. – Your father is going to go to war on other kingdoms involved in your abduction. Therefore, there is unrest in the south now.

- What? The war? But this is absurd, how did he know where I was? – it was absolutely ridiculous.

- That’s the whole point, that he doesn’t know who kidnapped you and where you are now. He’s desperate, if I may say so. Although I think he is no longer worried about you, but about his position on the throne. All his actions are reckless and dangerous primarily for your people. - the duke said.

- And that’s why you decided to team up with Adaman against him? – I rubbed my temples, which became unexpectedly painful.

- Thea, you are focusing your attention on the wrong thing. The world is not black and white, where everything is either good or bad. There are many other factors to consider. And now, if you want to save your people so badly, then go and get ready quickly. - Raphael replied.

Without moving, with trembling hands, I tore open the paper parcel that the duke had given me and found clothes inside. I looked questioningly at everyone present.

- I think these clothes will be more comfortable and will not hinder your movements. We don’t want anything to interfere with our work. - Raphael replied and winked at me. - You can use my room to change, no one will bother you there. Now go.