"But Princess Eiko couldn’t have given Prince Nikun her personal dagger..." Phari said, trailing off.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked to her husband. Arne gave her a slight nod and placed his hand on the small of her back, urging her to continue. She took in a deep breath and bit her bottom lip before turning back to face the crowd of royalties, who were staring at her like birds of prey.
"The rubies were chard before the withdrawal of magic," Phari explained. "These weapons were given to the princes and princesses to protect themselves when they’ve co of age, but also, the rubies would be used as charms to keep them out of harm."
"Talismans of protection," Atticus said as he nodded in understanding. "Understandable. Rubies have strong protective properties. There should still be a large batch in circulation even now that can be used even if the wielder possessed no magical ability of their own."
"But why does that relate?" Cordelia asked with a frown. She placed a hand on her hip.
"It was also connected to the king’s main weapon, the master ruby, so that he could monitor each and every owner of the daggers," Phari explained. "As much as it is for protection on the surface, it’s actually used to track his sons and daughters."
"But... why?" Daphne asked, frowning. "They’re all grown up. Why is there a need?"
"Because the king is particularly distrustful," Atticus answered quickly and easily, huffing. "He is guarded against his own children, whom he believes will one day assassinate him to take the throne from under his nose."
"It’s rather complicated," Phari said, picking up from Atticus’s point, "but it might be true. Prince Sebin has always been hungry for power, and rumor on the street is... that..."
Phari then bit her lip, cutting herself short. Her face first paled before she frantically shook her head.
"Forgive , Your Majesties. I have said too much."
"No, no," Atticus said, taking an impatient step forward. "Quite the contrary, you have not said enough. Finish that thought."
When Phari looked at Arne in fear, Cordelia sighed. She said, "You’re Nedish now. Even if Prince Sebin caught wind of this sohow — not that he would or could — you will be under Nedour’s protection. Prince or not, harming a citizen of another kingdom without rhy or reason is an act of war."
Would Nedour go to war for a re citizen? Perhaps not. However, Phari wasn’t just an ordinary citizen― she was the wife of a high-ranking official of the Nedish army. If Santok dared to harm even a hair on her body, it would be the sa as attempting to spit on Nedour’s face. That, on the other hand, was a perfectly good reason for Nedour to retaliate.
With Cordelia’s words, Phari seed much more relaxed. She gulped and looked at her husband, and when t with his supportive gaze, she turned to look at Princess Cordelia.
"The reason why the king is so sickly is because the first prince had poisoned his father," Phari said, her voice soft as though she was worried she would be overheard. "Or at least, that’s what the rumors claim."
"The king’s condition has been on a downhill spiral for weeks now," Arne finally said as his wife looked at him for help. "Or at least, that was what we heard from my in-laws."
"Prince Sebin has reached an age where he has beco impatient for his chance to rule," Atticus deduced, nodding with understanding. "He is willing to kill off his father, and now, his brothers."
"But―" Daphne said before she cut herself short. Did she really want to ask Arne and his wife this question?
She looked at them, then at Cordelia, and finally at Atticus. She couldn’t trust Arne and Phari, even though Cordelia seed to trust them. She was Nikun’s defense, and since Phari was once a Santok citizen, and there were so many factions in that ssy kingdom, Daphne couldn’t be sure which prince Phari’s family was supportive of.
"Daphne?" Cordelia prompted after realizing her best friend had gone silent, not finishing the train of thought she had.
"Never mind," Daphne said. "You know what, I suppose I am pretty exhausted. It might be ti to turn in soon."
"Very well then," Cordelia said. She waved her hand and sent Arne and Phari off. "You two are dismissed for tonight. Thank you for answering our questions."
"It was our pleasure, Your Highness," Arne said, bowing. Phari curtsied in unison, but she kept her eyes down the entire ti.
Daphne frowned a little as she watched Arne and Phari leave the room.
"What’s got your eyebrows knotted like that?" Cordelia asked once husband and wife had left, leaving just her, Daphne, and Atticus in the room once more.
"How well do you know Phari, Cordelia?" Daphne asked, her eyebrows still wrinkled.
Cordelia huffed, pursing her lips as she thought. "I’ve only just t her today," she said. "But Arne has been a mber of the knights for many years, and his reputation and skills supersede him. I trust him enough."
"His wife..." Atticus started, observing Daphne’s expression. "You shouldn’t trust her words too much."
"You believe that she still has ties to Santok’s politics?" Cordelia questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Even if she has ties with the kingdom, it would be due to her family, which consists of ordinary townsfolk. She wasn’t from nobility, nor did her family co from power."
"But she was once a palace maid," Atticus reminded. "And those who work for the palace are often crafty. They also often have a master other than the king."
"You think that she’s working for one of the princes?" Cordelia asked. "What for? To fra Nikun with murder so that he would be dealt with outside of Santok, where their hands wouldn’t be able to reach?"
"Or," Daphne said, finally eting Cordelia’s eyes thoughtfully, "Phari could be working for a princess."
"A princess?"
"She was so quick to defend Princess Eiko when we asked if a princess could possess a dagger," Daphne said. "But did we specifically point out it was her that we thought had given Nikun the dagger?"
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