Oskar marched into his chambers and placed the new horn on his desk. He then went to where he kept the original horn. However, when he reached beneath his mattress, his fingers were met with something unfamiliar—no longer the smooth, solid horn he had hidden earlier before.

Pulling it into the light, his breath caught. The once-pristine ivory had crystallized, its surface now semi-translucent with a milky, opalescent sheen. Faint veins of gold and silver threaded through the structure, catching the candlelight in a way that made it appear to pulse with a dying glow. But the most unsettling change was at the edges—where the horn had once tapered smoothly, it was now fractured, flaking away in brittle shards like a relic on the verge of collapse.

"This is new," Oskar said as he brought the crystal to be with the other horn.

"Your Highness?"

Oskar looked up as Matthias entered the doorway with a pile of folded linens in his arms.

"Matthias," he said with a sigh. "You did not remove the horn from beneath my mattress, right?"

"You gave explicit instructions to keep it there," the servant replied as his eyes grew wide. "And I have made certain that no one enters without your permission or consent."

"Breathe, Matthias. You have done well. I did not mean to shock you just now."

Matthias nodded and exhaled as the tension in his shoulders eased. He made his way to the wooden bureau and Oskar turned his attention back to the black horn on the table, and the crystal in his hands. He placed the crystal on the table, pulling out the chair and sitting down.

"A second horn?" Matthias asked as he placed the linens in the drawer. "And different than the first?"

"I am as surprised as you are," Oskar replied, blowing out his cheeks as he exhaled. "And the reason I asked about the original horn is because I thought someone might have replaced it with this crystal. But you say you did not touch it, and no one else has entered this room... I do not know how to explain this."

"Perhaps there is more literature on the topic that you have not read yet?"

Oskar met Matthias' hopeful gaze and nodded.

"That is very possible," he said with a sigh. "The bookkeeper is holding certain texts for me... I suppose I should go retrieve them from her before someone else tries to take my assignment. Bring me my satchel, Matthias. Please?"

"Straight away, my prince."

* * *

When Oskar entered the library, it was different—too quiet, too still, as if someone had just been there and vanished the moment he arrived. He made his way to Clara's desk and found her in disarray. Her eyes were red and puffy, she blew her nose into a hankie, and her mousy hair was frizzled all over.

"Clara, what's the matter?" he asked, clutching the strap of his satchel, tight.

"Someone wanted the texts I found regarding the banner scroll," she replied, a sob erupting from her chest. "Two men—they wore coverings on their heads and faces. They said they would return soon... I did not give them the texts."

Clara disappeared beneath her desk, standing back up with two medium-sized tomes in her hands. Oskar took them from her, but he was more concerned for her well-being.

"You are not required to stay here," he said, glancing toward the doroway. "Come; I will escort you. Do you live in the servants' quarters, or do you commute from the town?"

"I live with Cook," Clara said, her voice becoming a gentle whisper. "She is my aunt."

"Good, let me take there."

Oskar held the books in one hand, extending his empty one to Clara. She accepted and allowed him to lead her around the table, toward the library exit. Oskar exhaled in relief when he saw a pair of guards waiting in the hallway. And then his brother was there.

"I thought I might find you here," Erasmus said, smiling in Clara's direction. "Miss, would it bother you terribly if I borrowed my little brother?"

Oskar spoke before Clara could answer.

"Clara has had a fright and I am escorting her back to her room. I will will come find you after."

Erasmus raised an eyebrow, his eyes bouncing between Oskar and the bookkeeper. The younger prince ignored his brother's silent scrutiny and continued guiding Clara toward the kitchen. However, the elder prince did not stay behind.

A moment later, Erasmus fell in stride. But Oskar was silently relieved to have his brother near. Erasmus was better skilled in combat while Oskar leaned more academic. This did not mean the younger prince did not have any combat skills—Oskar sparred with his brother and his father from time to time.

"Cook, a favor?" Oskar said when they arrived in the kitchen.

"What favor am I to be doin' for ya, little mouse?" the woman asked, her back turned to the doorway as she kneaded a large batch of dough.

"I believe Clara is in your care," he explained, guiding the bookkeeper to the wooden chair near the large fireplace.

"Clara?" Cook looked up and her gaze softened as it fell on the girl. "Oh, my dear one. Why are ye so pale?"

"She needs to stay in your proximity for the remainder of the day," Oskar went on, resting his hand on Clara's shoulder. "Perhaps she shouldn't go into the library for a few days, at least. I believe her safety is compromised."

"Compromised, how?"

Erasmus was the one to ask the question. Oskar glanced through the door and into the hallway before answering.

"Two men wearing face coverings wanted Clara to give them certain tomes connected to an old scroll she found on the shelf of banned texts. Threatening certain consequences if she does not give it to them upon their return... This is not something I thought would happen."

Cook was not at Clara's side, offering her a cup to drink. Oskar knew the tough woman had a softer side, but she rarely let it show. Let alone when Erasmus was present.

"Clara is good hands, my prince," Cook said, clearing her throat as she returned to her floured counter. "If I may speak boldly... I would not wait to speak with the king. Your safety may be in question as well."

"Thank you for the suggestion," Oskar said, nodding. "I agree—I should speak to him immediately. Erasmus, join me on my way to Father's study. Clara—" he glanced at the bookkeeper, who appeared more herself now. "Do not leave Cook's side."

"As you command, Your Highness," she replied, mirroring his nod.

He bowed politely and lead the way back into the main hallway, Erasmus following just behind.

As they rounded the corners, Oskar kept a firm hand on his satchel. The weight of the books pulled on his left shoulder. The princes remained silent, save for the scuff of their boots on the marbled floors. A pair of guards appeared and followed several paces behind. Their presence should have brought some comfort, but Oskar was weary of their pursuit. He didn't fully understand why.

Upon reaching the door that led to Father's private study, Oskar turned to the guards and waved a dismissed hand.

"Thank you, return to your posts," he said, and waited for them to leave before knocking on the door and opening it to hear Father's reply.

"Come in."

Oskar pushed the door all the way open, ushering Erasmus inside before shutting it behind them. The study was bathed in warm, golden sunlight streaming through the tall arched window behind their father's imposing desk. The scent of aged parchment and polished mahogany filled the air, mingling with the faint traces of ink and candle wax. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, their heavy wooden frames bowed under the weight of leather-bound tomes, gilded manuscripts, and scrolls tied with silk ribbons. Artifacts from past rulers and distant lands adorned the shelves—a ceremonial dagger with a jeweled hilt, a globe with faded markings, an ancient astrolabe, and a collection of sealed letters bearing long-forgotten royal crests. A thick, intricately woven rug covered the stone floor, muffling their footsteps as they entered. Despite the grandeur, there was a distinct sense of order—every book, every relic, every scrap of parchment seemed deliberately placed, a reflection of the king's meticulous nature.

"Father, I have a matter I must bring to your attention," Oskar explained, approaching the desk as he reached into his satchel. "The bookkeeper, Clara, was helping me find the tomes for the Unicorn research. We came across some interesting information and today, before I entered the library, she was threatened. Two men wanted these tomes that Clara was holding for me."

He brought out the books and placed them on the desk. The king reached for the one on top, glancing at the title on the spine.

"I do not like knowing Clara's safety was compromised over this," he went on, exhaling the tension from his shoulders. "I also do not like the fact General Corrin tried to take over the research."

"Corrin wanted to take over the research?" Father asked, meeting Oskar's gaze. "You volunteered for it when no one else did."

"Which is why his sudden interest puzzles me."

Father replaced the book with the other, glancing at Erasmus.

"And your brother's part in this?" he asked with a sigh.

"Emotional support," Oskar offered with crooked smile. "He wanted to say or show me something, but this needed to happen first."

Father nodded, "I will, privately, look into the matter myself. General Corrin's interest in taking over the research intrigues me. As for the safety of the bookkeeper, I will assign guards from my unit to stand watch."

"Thank you, Father."

Oskar bowed and took the tomes off the table, returning them to his satchel.

"I will share what I find in these later, today," he said, turning toward the door. "Erasmus?"

"Behind you," his brother replied, though he stepped in front of Oskar and reached the door first.