King Leif VI called, beckoning her with a calm wave of his hand.
Caitlin seized the moment. Head bowed, she slipped past Maxwell without a word.
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Maxwell’s eyes followed her like a shadow, cold and unreadable, until she stood safely at the King’s
side.
“Your Majesty,”
She curtsied formally.
Leif VI gave her a subtle nod and, with a nce toward Maxwell, said clearly,
“I’ve learned everything I needed. You acted with bravery and selflessness, risking your life to save my son Magnus. On behalf of the royal family, I thank you.”
“It was nothing, Your Majesty. I simply did what anyone would have done.”
Caitlin’s tone was humble, her demeanorposed.
Leif VI gestured for his attendants to escort him out. As he wheeled away, he added without looking back,
“Maxwell, I’ll be taking her with me. There’s no need for any further questioning.”
“… Yes, Your Majesty<i>,</i><i>” </i>
Maxwell responded through gritted teeth.
Caitlin followed the King and his escort out of the Ministry of Justice. Once they were gone, Maxwell mmed a fist into the ss frame on the wall, shattering the surface.
He stared at the broken shards for a moment, breath heaving with quiet rage, then slowly looked down at the single strand of hair in his palm.
A strange smile began to tug at the corner of his mouth.
Outside the government building, Leif VI turned toward Caitlin.
“I must apologize, Miss Esme. I didn’t intend for you to be dragged into this mess.”
“You’re too kind, Your Majesty,”
This encounter gave Caitlin a deeper sense of the King’s character. He was sharp, principled, and just–truly a wise monarch.
2:27 pm
“I’ll have Utah escort you back to your hotel. If there’s nothing else, I suggest you all return home as soon as possible.”
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prepare to
Leif VI’s words weren’t just polite. He was clearly warning her. The longer she stayed, the more dangerous things could be–especially with Maxwell involved.
“I understand. We’ll leave tomorrow,” Caitlin replied, offering a polite smile.
Leif VI nodded in return, a rare warmth crossing his regal expression.
Then he turned to Utah, “Make sure Esme returns safely. Post guards at their hotel until their departure.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Utah motioned to the car.
“This way, Miss Esme.”
Caitlin offered onest curtsy to the King before following Utah to the royal transport.
Elsewhere, Sebastian and James were still waiting near the pce gates. Time dragged on with no sign of Caitlin.
“I’m going in to ask,” Sebastian muttered.
He stepped out of the car, and James followed closely behind.
But as they approached the entrance, guards blocked their way.
“Step back. This area is restricted.”
“We’re looking for someone. My girlfriend was taken by the royal guards. Her name is Esme. Where is she?”
The guard shook his head.
“No such person was brought in today.”
“That’s impossible. I saw the royal escort enter earlier. There has to be a record!”
“I said no one named Esme entered today!”
That answer only made Sebastian angrier.
“You better let her out now! Give her back to me!”
2:27 pm
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He moved forward aggressively, prompting the guards to raise their weapons. The tension snapped -an argument broke out.
Just then, a ck car returned from the government building and pulled up at the pce gate.
The guards immediately stepped aside and bowed–the King’s car had arrived.
Leif VI, from inside, noticed themotion.
“What’s going on?” he asked the driver.
The driver ryed the question to the guard, who answered honestly,
“Your Majesty, a civilian tried to force his way in. Says he’s looking for his girlfriend, someone named Esme.”
“Why?”
“He ims she was brought here by the pce guard. But we’ve had no record of anyone by that name entering today.”
Inside the car, Sebastian heard the word “Your Majesty” and immediately guessed who was inside.
He shouted toward the vehicle,
“Give Esme back! Let her out!”
His voice was loud enough to cut through the closed windows.
The King looked up and nodded to his driver.
“Tell them–Miss Esme has already been returned to the hotel. They can go
Hearing that, Sebastian wasn’t sure if it was the truth.
“Let’s just go check<i>,</i><i>” </i>James urged, tugging at his arm.
“We don’t want to make things worse.”
Sebastian finally relented, letting himself be pulled away.
there.”
From behind the tinted ss, Leif VI watched the two men retreat. The younger one’s face–it struck him. Something about him seemed… familiar.
But the car had already passed the gates and the moment was gone.
Caitlin was safely returned to the national hotel. Upon arrival, she was informed that Sebastian and
2:27 pm
James had gone to the pce looking for her.
She hadn’t even been near the pce.
Quickly, she called Sebastian.
“I’m back. I’m fine.”
Minutester, the doorbell rang.
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Caitlin opened it to find Sebastian and James. Sebastian didn’t say a word–he just pulled her into a tight embrace and held on for a long time.
Only after finally releasing her did he ask,
“Are you okay?”
“Come inside. Let’s talk.”
Once seated, James asked worriedly,
“What happened? Why are you back so soon?”
“Yeah, we waited at the pce for hours. I almost-”
Sebastian trailed off.
“Almost what?” Caitlin looked at him.
“He almost fought the royal guards,” James finished for him.
Caitlin sighed, pulling Sebastian down next to her.
“The people who took me–weren’t sent by the King. And they didn’t take me to the pce.”
“Where then?” Sebastian asked.
“To the national government building. The Ministry of Justice.”
Sebastian and James exchanged nces.
“You met with someone from their justice department?”
“Yes. Their Minister of Justice, Maxwell. I almost blew my cover…”
Caitlin ryed what had happened–how Maxwell had baited her with fake background details and nearly exposed her real identity.
“If His Majesty hadn’t shown up when he did, I don’t know what would’ve happened,” she said, still
2:27 pm S
rattled.
Sebastian frowned.
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“Maxwell… isn’t he the Queen’s brother? And instead of asking about the prince’s attack, he focused on your identity?”
“Exactly. He dug into Esme’s background andid a trap. I slipped up. He definitely suspects I’m not the real Esme.”
“That’s… strange,” James said.
“And then he pulled out a strand of my hair,” Caitlin added.
“He said he was going to run a test. Why would the Minister of Justice care about something so small? What does my identity have to do with him?”
The room fell silent.
That question–none of them had an answer for.