The morning after the banquet carried an unusual stillness through the palace of Aurelion.
Servants moved quietly through the marble corridors, speaking in lowered voices as though some invisible tension hung within the air.
In the royal council chamber, King Aldric sat upon his throne while several ministers stood before him.
Lord Cedric Valmont, Master of Intelligence, spoke gravely.
"The prisoner captured from Noctyra remains uncooperative, Your Majesty."
The king's expression remained calm.
"Has she spoken at all?"
"Only fragments," Cedric replied. "She refuses to answer questions directly, but she repeats the same strange warnings."
General Roland Ashford folded his arms.
"She claims the women of Noctyra should never be kept within these walls."
A younger councilman scoffed nervously.
"Superstitious nonsense."
Cedric shook his head.
"She is not an ordinary woman. Our interrogators report… unusual incidents around her cell."
Queen Lysandra, seated beside the throne, finally spoke.
"What kind of incidents?"
Cedric hesitated.
"Several guards claim they felt sudden dizziness when meeting her gaze. One man reportedly attempted to open her chains without remembering why."
The queen's fingers tightened slightly upon the armrest of her chair.
"And she is still alive?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
King Aldric rose slowly from his throne.
"Then ensure she remains confined within the Black Sea Tower."
His tone carried quiet authority.
"No sunlight. No contact beyond interrogators."
General Ashford nodded.
"That prison was built for the worst enemies of the crown. Even the most dangerous mage would struggle to escape its walls."
The king walked toward the tall windows overlooking the sea.
For a brief moment his reflection appeared faintly troubled.
But when he turned again, his voice was calm.
"The princess must not hear of this prisoner."
Queen Lysandra glanced toward him carefully.
"Why such concern?"
Aldric paused.
Then he spoke with gentle firmness.
"Because she is my daughter."
The queen nodded slowly.
Yet something in the king's eyes lingered strangely long before he turned away.
Something almost like unease.