Countess Ster's carriage stopped suddenly before it reached the foot of the mountain.
"What's wrong?" Helena's hand went to the sword at her waist. Two daggers appeared in her housekeeper's hands, and she sprang to the carriage door.
"My lady, it's Ted."
Helena frowned, then signaled for the housekeeper, whose daggers had already vanished from sight, to open the door.
Ted climbed in, his expression grave.
"Ted? What... Oh, the people from the Alchemy Association must be panicking if they went all the way to the harbor to find Prince Alexei.
"You heard what happened, and you're worried the earl might let Grand Sage Ismael summon those Moon Clan members directly into Basia City?" Helena quickly realized what troubled the steward.
Ted was ten years older than the earl and had practically watched him grow up. He understood the man's reverence for Grand Sage Ismael better than she did.
"Yes, Lady Helena." Ted sounded as though he had a toothache. His voice had gone hoarse with a sudden surge of anger. "Even knowing those Moon Clan members could cause serious trouble, the earl might still agree. No, he's very likely to agree.
"Even if it costs the family dearly."
"Why?" Helena lifted her chin. "I've always found it strange that he..."
"When the earl was young, the previous king was very 'fond' of him. While the former earl was away at war, the boy was sometimes kept at the palace. Grand Sage Ismael was still close to the royal family then..." Ted looked out the window and sighed. "The infighting within the Damboro Royal Family has always been fierce. The earl wasn't always safe there.
"A king's favor can be a double-edged sword, especially for a small child. There's always someone plotting to use him, whether he lives or dies.