"And Mister Walton?" I inquired with concern. "He will be setting off on his journey after breakfast, child. I already provided him the letter to the king," explained Edward. "You didn't present it to me before you submitted it. Don't you think whatever you wrote needed my consent?" I asked in disappointment. "Mr. Walton is my guest, Edward. I can't just leave him without a proper farewell." As I voiced my concerns, I heard Mr. Walton's chuckle from behind me. "Good morning, Miss Lyle," he greeted, standing with an ugly mustache I had not noticed earlier. "Good morning, Mr. Walton. I hope you had a wonderful night." "Yes, I did! I hope to be setting off back to the Duskwick palace as soon as possible if you don't mind, Miss Lyle," he said. "Tell the king I send my regards," I replied, watching him gaze at Simmons, who discreetly hid behind me. "And the young man, I haven't met him," mentioned Walton. "Yes, what manners I have. Let me introduce you, please. Mr. Walton, meet Sim

"Would you perhaps want to come with me?" I asked Willette, for it was the day I had to go see the king of Duskwick, or the one she called the imposter. "That's not a good idea, Tara," she answered, folding a few of my clean clothes. "Won't it be a bad idea for you not to accompany me to the palace? Remember I told Sir Walton that you were my all-time companion. If I leave you behind today, it wouldn't be so technical of it." "Alright! Alright! But I have a bad feeling about this, Tara." "If anything happens during our visit to the palace, I promise to get you back here safe," I reassured her. "Okay then. I will go get ready." I wasn't a girl looking my age. I was tall, perhaps looking like a twenty-year-old with very thick eyeballs. Black long hair that, among all girls, mine was kept in a ponytail. I always went around in mostly black clothes because they gave me comfort and bravery; after all, black was my favorite color. That day, on our way to the Duskwick palace, I wore a