Jacob stopped and stared at her with an incredulous expression.
"What do you mean the tea was poisoned?"
Maria stopped as well, still look forward emotionless.
"When I walked in the back entrance, I noticed the tea being brewed above the stove."
"How does that prove anything was poisoned? And why would he have a reason to kill me in the first place? It would hardly take the king any time at all to figure out my disappearance and he would be killed for his crimes."
Maria finally faced him.
"I recognize the poison because it has a distinct scent. I've seen the same poison used on your disobedient servants plenty of times, so I can recognize it fairly easily. As for your second question, I am unsure why he would want you dead. But to be prepared to kill you also means to be prepared to face the king directly."
Jacob paled after coming to a realization. If his uncle was prepared to face the king directly, holding him in the palace is not a good idea.
"What the hell?! Why didn't you say anything sooner?!"
Maria paled a little before responding.
"There was something wrong with the water. It... felt like it was looking at me. I'm not actually scared of being underwater. I'm sorry for lying, my lord."
Jacob's heart dropped to his stomach. He immediately took off sprinting towards the kingdom.
"We have to hurry back to castle and warn my father, before anything bad happens. Can you keep up? I've seen your abnormal strength up close...felt it even."
"My powers are still really new to me, I'm not really sure I can control them without leaving a crater in the ground or pushing myself the wrong way."
Jacob silently cursed to himself.
"Ugh. Just as expected out of a measly servant. Why did I start to think my time with you was beneficial? How stupid of me. Just try and keep up if you can. I have no qualms leaving you behind if I need to."
Maria nodded before doing her best to keep up with the prince. The two of them raced towards the palace as quickly as their legs could carry them. Moving through the streets of his kingdom, Jacob was ramming through bystanders to save as much time as possible. Maria followed close behind, even hopping on top of a person who fell on the ground.
Right as they both reached the entrance, a multitude of guards stop the prince in the front gate.
"What the -? Let me through, underlings! I have urgent news for the king!"
The guards stood their ground, struggling to stop the squirming prince.
"We're sorry my lord, but you know the rules! Everyone has to drink the wine before they can enter the palace. Even you!"
The prince grabbed the wooden cup from one of the soldiers and threw the liquid in his mouth. It burned his throat before it reached his stomach. Maria did the same, only when she went to grab the cup from the guard, it ended up shattering in her hand. So, she decided to lift the cup above her mouth and let the wine seep through the cracks of the mug to drip into her mouth.
"If that bastard dies because of that stupid rule, I'm going to kill him! And get rid of that rule!"
As much as he loathed his father, Jacob would lose the opportunity to take his throne if his uncle was there to take the king's place.
As Jacob and Maria approached the giant doors of the throne room, Jacob told Maria to stand outside and keep watch. Maria nodded her head and slowed her pace until she stopped and looked towards the vast, empty hall. Meanwhile, Jacob burst through the metal doors causing a sound to ring, signaling his entrance. He got on a knee heavily panting, trying to catch his breath before speaking.
"Father, I come with urgent news regarding the people you had me collect."
The king was calm and composed but looked at his son with a hint of confusion on his face.
"Whatever it is, it better be important for you to barge in here so dangerously."
"First, I need to know. Are the people you had me grab being held at the palace?"
"Yes, my guards informed that they are currently holding those people down in the dungeon until I need them."
"Well sir, I have reason to believe one of them is aspiring to kill you."
The king let out a hardy laugh.
"I would expect all of them to be after me! I persecuted them to the fullest extent of my power and now I brought them here against their will!"
"No, this one man is exceptionally powerful. It's your brother-in-law, my uncle. Why did you think it was a good idea to bring him here in the first place?"
Just then, the king's face grew stern and worrisome.
"What did you just say?"
Jacob felt threatened by his father's tone.
"ANSWER ME JACOB!"
The kings voice boomed through the room, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.
"Your brother-in-law, why was he on the list?"
The king stood up from his throne.
"I need every able body to check the dungeon immediately. Someone, get a hold of the head of the Katra clan and tell him to come back to the palace as soon as he can."
The king rushed toward his son.
"Let me see the list."
Jacob slowly removed the list from his pocket and handed it to him.
"This... this isn't my list. I don't recognize a single name here except my brother. Where the hell did you get this?"
Jacob hesitated, his eyes full of fear.
"This is the same one you gave me after class. There isn't a single chance it's different..."
"Damn it... Leave here immediately. Go back to your quarters and stay there until everything is clear."
Jacob rushed out of the throne room and ran into the long corridor where Maria was patiently twirling here hair around her finger.
"Hey meat shield, we have to get out of here until the situation is under control. Get in front of me and run to my quarters! If an enemy attacks me, do your job for once and jump between us!"
Maria nodded and darted toward the prince's chambers. Once there, Jacob slammed the door shut behind them. Then he ran over to his wardrobe and started rummaging through it. Eventually, he took out and equipped a light suit of armor made of pristine steel. He threw Maria an awkward glance then gestured to his wardrobe while holding a single finger up.
"Just this once. You can choose ONE item just this once so you can protect me better."
Without saying a word, Maria floated over to the wardrobe and immediately took her pick: a steel helmet that was way too big for her with its visor shut down. Her hair protruded from under the helmet, making her look goofier. Jacob cursed to himself.
"You can't be serious."
Maria, as if steeling her resolve, took a fighting pose, ready for any threat to come her way.
"Well, hopefully that big head of yours can block a couple arrows should the need arise. Man, how can we be the same age and you be so pathetic?"
After what felt like a long period of time, Jacob started growing impatient. Holding his ear against the door, he tried to listen to noise coming from outside. Yet, he hears nothing. He waits a bit longer than tries again. Maria was clearly getting annoyed from holding her pose for so long. Finally letting his curiosity get the better of him, Jacob opened the door. Everything seemed in order. Almost too perfect.
Suddenly, Jacob had a troubling intuition.
"Meat shield, take off your helmet and drop it on the ground."
Maria's body language showed she was a little upset at this command but obliged, nonetheless. When her helmet dropped, a loud clang sounded across his room. Then, Jacob grabbed his sword from his waist and tossed it into the open corridor outside.
"Shit..."