"You were told not to say?" he echoed, stepping forward. "You're one of my fathers men. Not his. And I'm not asking as a friend—I'm asking as the prince of this kingdom."
Orion's eyes narrowed, "Where has our guest gone?"
The guard flinched. His eyes darted to the left and right, as if looking for an escape. But under Orion's steady, noble gaze, he caved with a low sigh.
"He came to me early this morning," the guard admitted, his voice low. "Asked where the estate of the late Count Mareon was located. The one who was executed for hiding a dungeon of child slaves under his jurisdiction."
Iris' eyes widened in surprise as she heard what the guard said.
Rudra had…gone home? Why?
And why didn't he tell anyone where he was going.
"The one who got thousands of his own people killed," Orion muttered, recognizing the name.
His father had executed that count and multiple others who were involved in that scandal, so he knew it decently well.
The guard nodded.
