"How's your sister?

"

Nathan saw his father walk up the stairs, looking like he had rushed home as soon as possible. His usually neat brushed-up hair was slightly messy and creases were lining up the side of his eyes.

"The doctor is still inside, examining her.

"

George, the butler, had already removed the coat off of his shoulders and smartly retreated to the side upon realizing that the two were going to talk.

The marquis had finally got closer, his worried eyes fixedly staring at the closed door.

"She's not suffering any injuries, is she?

"

Nathan shook his head in return.

"Don't worry, father. She doesn't have any of that,

" he then put on a serious expression,

"But I need to tell you something.. It's about the ambush.

"

There was a slight pause as the air stagnated. Leon looked at Nathan, his face was grim.

"Who did it?

"

"Uno said that they were all mages.

" Nathan watched his father's reaction closely.

The marquis took a few seconds to take it in, seemingly surprised by what he heard and whispered.

"... Mages?

"

Nathan gravely nodded, his expression sour. He also doesn't like the information he had obtained from the guards and was partly confused. This is why he waited for his father to return so he could get his opinion.

"Father, what do you think of this? Why would they suddenly attack Nadia?

"

He knew about these mages, after all, it was one of his primary missions. Wasn't that the reason why Lukas traveled the whole empire to find out where these people were gathering? They have long known that they were around but they can't catch their tails at all.

The marquis was torn. After all, if it's true that the mages who had attacked Nadia are the same mages they are looking for… Then this is not a simple ambush.

"We still don't know if they are the same people. But if they are… it could be connected to the royal family.

"

He doesn't want to think so but the possibility is high. There are no other mages in the empire aside from those people, how come a whole lot of them would appear anew?

What could be their reason?

To them, it's still unclear. After all, if it's true that they are targeting the royal family, even though Nadia is a relative of the empress, it doesn't make sense to start with her. She won't bring chaos to the palace. Doing it in a roundabout way… there must be more into it.

Are they bringing pressure? Is their attack deliberate?

"Uno had already confirmed that those mages are the same presence who had been following Nadia around. Whatever their goal is, whether it's the empire, Nadia has been dragged into it. She should be closely protected.

"

Nathan's aura bristled. He recalled how Nadia cried to him before eventually falling asleep due to exhaustion. He had never seen his sister cry like that. And he could feel her body shaking, proof that she was really scared.

The marquis nodded.

"I know. Do what you have to do. Don't let her out of the estate for the time being. I will talk to the emperor about this.

"

The door to Nadia's room then opened and Doctor Haudie came out, holding his bag containing medical instruments. The two eager men who had been waiting for him for some time now immediately approached his side.

"How is she?

" Leon asked.

Doctor Haudie saw both of their anxious expressions and didn't dally any longer.

"Her vitals are stable and she is not suffering any internal injuries. She is currently sleeping because of fatigue but so far, there is nothing wrong with her. She just needs rest.

"

The marquis and Nathaniel sighed in relief in unison. Letting go of their anxiety in an instant.

"Thank you, doctor.

"

The doctor nodded to Leon.

"Let me escort you outside.

" Nathan then offered, leading him away.

The marquis, on the other hand, went inside Nadia's room to personally check on her. He sat down on the side of the bed, his movements slow and careful enough to not wake her up. He then softly stroked her hair, suddenly feeling exhausted. The weariness he felt in his heart when he heard about her accident came rushing out, looking like he had aged for ten years at that moment.

Leon let out another weary sigh. He remembered Helen, his dead wife. No… To be more accurate, his missing wife. Helen's body wasn't found anywhere on the scene, only Nadia and a 50-meter radius destruction. Before, he was still optimistic that she would get found eventually. It doesn't matter how long it takes, he only wanted to see her again.

But years passed by and not a single news was heard of her. She just vanished like that. No body, no nothing to even let them know if she's truly dead or not. He had gradually accepted that Helen won't come back to them anymore. And now, he almost lost his daughter for the second time today.

His tired ruby eyes caressed Nadia's pale face, his heart sour. He had already lost his wife, he won't let it happen to the rest of his family. After all, his two children are all that he has left.

---**

Regina was on the sofa, leaning contentedly on her side with a crystal goblet in her right hand. Her long slender legs were being held by a maidservant, kneading her dainty foot carefully. One other servant was busy brushing her hair, making it smoother and shinier than it already is.

Opposite the queen was Haagenti who was watching this scene with undisguised boredom. He was only waiting for a piece of good news to come, else, he would have already left this place long ago.

The air shifted and Farren appeared right beside him in an instant. The palace servants who were there looked at it with vacant eyes and stayed silent, even after several cloaked figures materialized one after another out of thin air.

Haagenti swept his gaze over them and after noticing that what he wanted wasn't with them, his red eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Where is she?

"