Jimiya gazed at Lakel's retreating back in thoughtful silence. The photograph of the once-close siblings hanging on the wall beside her spoke of the gulf that time and their differing views had created.
Lakel trusted Jervis far too much. In the past, Jervis had indeed been the Lord Chamberlain their father trusted, utterly loyal and exceptionally gifted.
But!
People changed, especially those in high places.
Worry weighed heavily on Jimiya. Her younger brother was wonderful in every other way, but he was far too naive and trusting.
Things were chaotic enough already. She could only hope nothing else went terribly wrong.
She sighed. Would Lakel be able to shoulder the burden of a kingdom in the future?
Jimiya shook her head. She had no energy to think that far ahead now. The problems right before her were already exhausting her.
Just then, a short-haired woman dressed in black hurried down, panic written across her face.
A bad feeling stirred in Jimiya. She drew a deep breath. "Framel, what happened?"
Framel was her private secretary. She would never look so alarmed unless something serious had happened.
Framel quickly handed her several documents. These were some of the materials Jimiya had secretly asked her to investigate, found in Prince Lakel's and Jervis's rooms.
Jimiya's foreboding grew stronger. She took the documents and read them, her expression immediately darkening as a series of details gradually connected in her mind.
Nebel Plateau!
Volcanion!
Magearna!
And finally, everything led back to...
"Jervis!!"
Jimiya clenched her fists, her expression icy, with a faint trace of helplessness. "Does he know what he's doing?!"
He'll destroy the Azoth Kingdom!!
Never had Jimiya understood that more clearly than she did now.
But she soon realized something else...
Lakel is in danger!
"Framel, keep investigating this. Contact me whenever you