"Again, I'm so sorry, Queen Iris," Irene bows apologetically as we stand in Iris' study. "I should have noticed how your behavior was similar to someone under my influence, but the thought didn't cross my mind because I never used my magic on you."

"It's okay, Irene," Iris waves a hand as she sits at her desk, shelves of books lining the wall behind her and a sapphire chandelier hanging overhead. "You had no ill intent. I can't hold it against you. Now, I recognize the Wadsworths, and Reina and Leo of the Horsemen, but who else is with you?"

"My name is Rosaline Beaulieu, your highness," I bow respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you."

"Rosaline?" Irene's eyes widen in surprise. "I saw you possessed light magic, but I couldn't be sure that it was you. You're the one who was discovered in Sylver. You've been on the council's radar since you've been noticed."

"A light magic user?" Iris raises her eyebrows in surprise. "One of those hasn't been discovered since Delphine and the incident in Listine. Tell me, what proposal did you all have for me?"

"If I may, I'd prefer to have Irene leave the room for this," Leo says, his eyes flickering briefly over to her.

"Nonsense," Irene scowls, "whatever you have to ask of my queen you can ask in front of me."

"Perhaps it's best if Irene stays," Reina says. "After all, she'd only be more suspicious if she weren't allowed in the room. If she finds out the truth, so be it. It's better her know directly than snoop around for answers and be suspicious of our motives."

"Fine," Leo sighs. "I suppose you have a point."

"What's going on here?" Irene asks, crossing her arms with a frown.

"Queen Iris," I begin carefully, not wanting to out Esmerelda or Axas, "we'd like to ask you to be the beginning of an alliance. We believe that the Grand Master's actions are unjust and inhumane. To someone who doesn't know the truth, it may look like she is trying to protect her people in the only way she feels she knows how, even if it means abandoning the very magic that created Veridine. But the truth is that she isn't asking people to forfeit their magic, she isn't going about it kindly at all. While I would still disagree with outlawing magic and would still want to save it, I would be more understanding if she went about it with good intentions. However, her soldiers are killing specialists on sight without hesitation. Innocent people are dying all because of her paranoia and warped sense of justice."

"Irene, is this true?" Iris frowns, hurt evident in her eyes.

"Well—" Irene shifts around uncomfortably.

"It is," Dietfried scowls and crosses his arms. "She tried to kill Selia earlier when she found out our family has magic."

"What?" Irene furrows her eyebrows. "I only attacked you when you made it clear that you wouldn't back down. I thought you were a threat to Iris and a threat to the people until the truth was revealed about the situation Iris was placed in by Jasper."

"Regardless, you certainly threatened her, and that isn't okay," I shake my head. "You knew nothing about her or her intentions when you did that. All you knew was that she supported magic and she believed Iris was being influenced. She wanted to save Iris."

Irene glances off to the side at my words and crosses her arms, a guilty expression flashing across her face while Selia grows sad.

"It appears you owe them an apology, Irene," Iris frowns, "and I do hope that you'll make it up to them."

"But they're specialists, Iris," Irene counters, "I can't just let them go, even if they did help you."

"Even knowing the truth about the Grand Master?" I ask. "You've known this entire time, haven't you?"

"I admit, I did know that most encounters with specialists ended up in their deaths, but I thought that they were resisting to give up their magic and ended up fighting the soldiers who confronted them," Irene explains. "I had a sneaking suspicion that things may have been more initially violent than I realized, but the reports filed all seemed legitimate. My job on the council is to review the reports written and submitted by the soldiers who encounter specialists and to arrange the funerals for those who pass."

"I don't know what Jasper's motives were, whether to further the Grand Master's agenda or for personal gain, but something is clearly corrupt with the Grand Master's system," Selia says. "Rosaline is right, so many innocent people have died, and they'll only keep dying if we let the Grand Master continue the way that she is."

"So, what exactly are you proposing to me in this alliance?" Iris asks.

"We want to work with you to protect the specialists and to protect magic. Our plan is to unite the four rulers of Sylver, Asterithe, Helena, and Maracoste against Listine. If we can do that, we can stand a fighting chance against the Grand Master and at changing her laws," I say.

"As a child, I was always fascinated by magic," Iris begins fondly. "I thought it was one of the most special, most beautiful things in the world, to be able to create something out of nothing. If what you say is true, I'd be more than happy to form an alliance with you and the others rulers against Listine. I can't idly sit by while innocent people are treated so horrendously and are murdered. While I will need more evidence to support your claims and will have some of my trusted staff look into the situation, I have to thank you for saving me and for saving Asterithe. Your intentions seem pure of heart. Therefore, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and form an alliance with you. However, if I find out that your claims are false, the alliance will be broken and I will not protect you from being apprehended."

"You do know that's against the law, right?" Irene asks, raising her eyebrows. "You're not allowed to protect them or else you're breaking Valeria's orders."

"What she won't know won't hurt her, and it certainly won't hurt me," Iris says. "Besides, I'd rather go down for doing the right thing than sit high on my throne because I turned the other way."

"Fine," Irene sighs defeatedly. "None of you will face any resistance from me, and I won't inform the rest of the council or Valeria of this because I consider Iris a great friend of mine, and it is true that you did save her and my home. And if it is indeed true what you say, while I do support Valeria's cause, I don't support harming the innocent. But just know that I can't protect you."

"Then it's settled," Iris smiles and stands from her chair, "you have yourselves an alliance. You're guaranteed safe passage out of Asterithe, and I wish you the best of luck with your journeys. I trust we'll be in touch. Once we figure out Jasper's motives, I'll be sure to inform you."

"Thank you," Leo bows. "It's a pleasure to be working with you, Queen Iris. And thank you, Irene, for giving us a chance."

"Don't think too much of it," Irene frowns and crosses her arms, glancing away.

Reina, Leo, Selia, Dietfried, and I see ourselves out of Iris' study and head towards the exit of the palace together.

"Thank you, by the way," Selia says softly to Dietfried as they walk side by side.

"For what?" Dietfried raises a brow.

"For standing up for me, for saving me, for showing you actually do have a heart deep down, even if it is frozen over," Selia jokes and nudges him in the shoulder with her own.

"Well, whatever," Dietfried sighs. "Mother would've spiraled if I hadn't saved you and I hate seeing her upset."

"Just admit that you actually care about me," Selia rolls her eyes. "I care about you, you know, even if you have always treated me like a floor mat. It doesn't mean you haven't severely hurt me, and it doesn't mean that I forgive you or that I trust you. But I do care about you."

"Yeah..." Dietfried says softly, his expression briefly revealing the sadness that he buries deep inside. "Where will you go next?"

"Helena," Selia says, "to see Tatiana."

"Good luck," Dietfried nods, meeting Selia's gaze, "you'll need it."

"Take care of our parents for me," Selia smiles sadly.

"I will," Dietfried assures her. "Family takes care of each other."

"Yeah..." Selia says softly, her tone turning sad, "family..."

"Hey," I smile sadly at Selia, gaining her attention as I nudge her arm, "I bet you'll love Helena. There's tons of snow there, or so I hear."

"How are we getting to Helena, anyway?" Selia asks.

"Leave that to me," Reina says. "Once we arrive, I have my own devices to attend to. However, I can transport you there. Gather whatever you wish to take with you and meet me by the docks in three hours. I'll be waiting."

"Okay," I nod. "Let's go get our things, then."