It wasn't a pleasant morning especially for the old steward. Now that Master Valentine had placed a great responsibility on Alonzo's shoulders. He had to make sure everything went according to their plan not to forget that also included looking after Prince Demian and Princess Seraphina. He huffed. He had been taking measurements on the situation and they had never thought it would become this dire. He wondered how Master Valentine would react at the moment. As he recalled the advisor's wrinkled face getting more wrinkles and giving deadly glares, Alonzo decided, it was best not to remember his face in this dire situation. Situation that involved wizards.

Wizards!

Again wizards! First, the young prince and princess were attacked by them and now the illegal trading as well!

Well, nothing would ever come out good if that involves wizards... No wonder the King had forbidden all sort of trading with them. As if it was in their nature to play with others. He fisted his palms as he didn't like the fact that wizards were meddling with their dragon nation. And now that had been giving his Highness quite a great headache. It might worsen the young Prince's health!

They were wicked and cunning and now after Alonzo found out about their involvement with this city, it made him despise them more.

He huffed again. He went to the great hall where families of the nobles still was staying. They were weeping or crying now and he saw Mrs Heartstone taking care of them. She indeed was a great person and he felt she shouldn't be here but his hands were tied. While Lady Cathride was trying to calm the women and patting the children so they can sleep peacefully the others were just minding their own business and all of them had taken shelter at the hall. Some had slept on the ground and some had placed aside the plates and had taken the tables as their beds. Even after they were stripped down from their posts, they still had the same ego glinting in them. He almost scowled at them. No wonder Prince Demian didn't like them.

He had seen the young Prince since his birth and saw how he had been seen as a bad omen and not to forget his dark sides. He had witnessed it all and now he was glad that the young prince had grown up and he knew exactly whose doing it was. He smiled inwardly.

The Dragon guards still stood straight in their armours and kept doing their job without blinking an eye. As he entered the hall, he dismissed them while accounted the next batch. They needed their rest after all.

As he was leaving, Lady Cathride came and asked with pleading eyes, "Can you provide us food and water?"

Alonzo looked at her with wide eyes as she corrected her sentence, "It would be great if you could provide food only for the children at least?"

Alonzo's eyes moved around and he saw some children were sleeping and others were crying as they were hungry. The previously day's food were finished as well.

He nodded as he knew Prince Demian would not allow their parents to have anything in a moment like this. At least the children could have sone food and water. He hoped the prince wouldn't be angry and called out some of the guards.

"Tell the cook to make food for the children." He ordered as the guard left.

Alonzo went ahead to the entrance and found the yard was a mess. People were running here and there even the guards were trying to handle them.

Many horse carriages stood outside and some inside the yard as he found the Lords who went to take their property papers and golds waited in lines. They all had exhaustion, worry, anger even sadness carved in swirls on their faces. Black bags had appeared under their eyes and their hair was ruffled which was finely combed the previous day. Now their faces had shrunken. Good! They needed to know what they had done wrong.

In a normal circumstances, Alonzo would have taken pity on them or even empathize with them however, their deeds weren't worth forgiveness.

"Line them up!" Alonzo shouted as the guards pushed them in lines, one carriage after carriage followed behind as their men made sure no penny would left in their pockets.

"Captain Seniel," he called out as one of the Drago's guards came rushing toward him. He bowed.

"Where is General Mifaso?"

"He went with others to check the different posts."

Alonzo nodded, "I want you, General Mifaso and Captain Morgan to write everything down from their coins, papers to who it belonged in papers. Take as many men as you want but be sure no a single penny is left."

"Understood, sir!" He bowed and departed immediately.

Alonzo huffed as it was just getting started. After putting every information on papers, his work would knock on his door. He would be very busy from now on.

He went to The Young Prince's chamber as today, they would be conducting the next set of interrogation on Irwin.

As he reached, he saw the previous three guards were still guarding at the door. As their eyes fell on him, they bowed and made him a way.

He knocked on the hard wood.

"Come in." Came a sound of a cold prince. He was already awake.

He peeked inside and found both of them were awake. Princess Seraphina was in her nightgown as her curly hair was ruffled. And she rubbed her eyes as she greeted, "Morning Alonzo."

"Good morning, Your Highnesses." He bowed and asked, "Shall I send your meals here?"

"Send it." Princess Seraphina said as she yawned and Prince Demian scowled at her.

"Not for me. Breakfast can wait as we need to go back, Alonzo," Demian said.

"I would not advice that, Your Highness since your health comes first." Alonzo's moustache twitched as he had taken the job of look after the Prince's health and the young Prince needed to be well fed.

Demian gave him a look but Alonzo had promised himself that no matter what, he would not fall under his cold and threatening gazes. Otherwise, he would have to answer Master Valentine after returning and that he wanted to avoid at all cost. Alonzo tapped his foot as Demian glared at him. He felt cold sweat forming on his head but he kept on that.

"Alonzo..." Demian said with a voice cold as ice, "from where did you learn to disobey me?"

Alonzo's eyes moved to Seraphina as Demian's eyes moved to her and then to him and he waved his hands in the air, "Figured."

Seraphina who was still in her dizzy state looked between the men and asked, "What?"

"Nothing!" Demian said, "Bring the breakfast and make it fast."

Demian sat on the chair with an angry face and Alonzo went out to get the maids done their meals as fas as they can.

*****
The maids came with various foods as Seraphina devoured it quietly. The usual cheerful behavior of her when food is presented before her was missing. Whenever she woke up, she never missed a single chance to throw a few comments on his way yet, she hadn't even greeted him, properly.

"So, is the food your liking?" Demian asked expecting she would devour it like always she does instead she nodded. Curtly, if he could add. There was no enthusiasm in it and the playfulness was gone. Very stiff.

She wasn't even looking up. Her head hung low and she played with her spoon. Was she avoiding him?

As if Seraphina could feel his gaze and her cheeks reddened as her body went rigid.

Demian chewed on his food but held his gaze at her way his mind trying find the reason of her unusual posture. Whenever his eyes fell on her, she instantly stiffened. Had she done anything? Or had he said her something that might have hurt her?

He couldn't fathom what was wrong with her and he didn't want to irritate his state of mind while he was already annoyed so he asked, "What happened?"

He noticed as Seraphina startled and her eyes went wide but she shook her head. "N-nothing." She stuttered.

Demian's eyes narrowed down at her as she stopped twirling her spoon but still wasn't looking his way.

"Something has happened. What is it?" Demian hissed. Had someone threatened her? Or was she scared? Demian cringed at the thought as he had never seen her scared unless it involved him.

"It-it's nothing. Really."

Demian stood up making Seraphina startled as she, for the first time since they had woken up, looked at him in the eyes and as soon as their gazes met, she moved it. It irked him.

He went around the table and held hand as he asked once again but this time with more intensively, "I'll ask just this once. What. Is. It?"

Seraphina's ears grew red as Demian tightened his grip on her hand. She looked up at him from where she sat and as soon as she felt the closeness, she tried to run however, Demian made sure she wouldn't until she answer him.

"I- it's... It's no-nothing." Her breath quickened and he placed his palm on his forehead. "Are you having a fever?"

Judging by the temperature, it seemed normal as she shook her head vigorously and stood up.

Demian still didn't let go of her hand as she turned around facing her back at him and he said, "Fill yourself!"

"I'll eat later."

Strange! Seraphina saying food no was worst case scenario than finding the illegal trading ships. What was it that made her this difference in her behavior? Was it that serious?

And why the devil hadn't she is telling him?

But before he could ask Alonzo came back and Demian let go of her hand but it didn't go unnoticed that she released a sigh.

*****

Alonzo came and his eyes drifted between them as his moustache twitched suspiciously. "Shall I come after a while?" He asked and Seraphina immediately said, "No!"

Alonzo raised a brow. The human princess seemed a bit riled up at the moment and she was back facing Prince Demian not to forget, her face was all red. The candle goes off in his head. Were they...

Alonzo's moustache fluttered in the air as his cheeks grew warm. Young people are just so adorable.

Prince Demian seemed a bit angry as with a grumpy steps, he crossed Alonzo to the door and called him, "Let's go Alonzo, we have work!"

Seraphina immediately said, "I shall accompany you then."

Demian's eyes sent daggers at her as she moved her eyes away and said, "I-I don't want to stay here whole day."

"You will since I forbid you to set your feet outside of this chamber," Demian said his voice laced with anger.

"Th-then i'll jump from the window!" Princess Seraphina retorted. It was wonderful at how the princess was trying her best to retort the merciless prince even without looking at him yet, failing miserably as she could barely put pressure in her words. Alonzo could not help but wonder what had happened between them and it made his old heart swelling with excitement.

"Alonzo," Demian said, his brow twitching energetically, "Get me some ropes. I shall tie her up and after I get back, i'll see what I can do with her."

At that, both the old steward and the princess flushed. Young generation, these days, were very passionate indeed!