"Where are we going to stay now? Both of our rooms were in that wing." Rue realized as Cara landed next to Karl and her older brother.

"That's what you're worried about?" Prince Lukas laughed as he saw her pouting expression.

"It's not the only thing, but it's on the list. I'm more worried about the maids, but I'm trying not to think about that." Rue replied stiffly.

"Sorry, that was indelicate of me. Let's get you relocated to the Royal Wing. I am certain that the King would not object to having you with the rest of the family, and he can make an exception to allow the Envoy and Miss Cara to join you." The Crown Prince decided.

Just as he finished speaking, he felt someone staring at his back, and turned to see the King striding in their direction, unbothered by the unsure footing provided by the rubble.

"Situation report." He demanded.

"Three rescued, one more underway. Two staff members and three Palace Guards currently unaccounted for.

The Library has been confirmed to be intact, though the barriers and stone took significant damage.

The lower levels are undamaged, the blast appears to have been focused outward on this level, which collapsed the upper levels on to it." Lukas summarized.

"Find the rest of our people. Is there any indication of what sort of attack we suffered?" The King asked.

The Crown Prince was about to say no, but turned to the ladies for assistance.

Cara shrugged. "It contained anti-magic elements, to collapse the Illusionary Domain. Then a high-powered explosive that took out multiple rooms directly, and managed to destroy my barrier from the other end of the hallway.

The floor collapsed under us when the roof caved in, which dropped us into an intact room."

The King nodded. "I believe that it might be wise to relocate you entirely out of the Palace. There is a secure location in the mountains that we use as a family retreat. With a proper guard placed, it should be safe for you to remain there while the investigation is ongoing.

Lukas, that will include your family as well.

Until the target is determined, and the motive, it is not safe to leave you all in the Royal wing."

That alone was enough to tell them that the King had a strong suspicion who was behind this attack. If he didn't suspect that it was someone from the Royal Family, then leaving them in the Royal Wing would be much safer, as there was an entire guard force dedicated to keeping the family safe.

Prince Lukas nodded. "Alright, I can understand that position. I will gather my hatchling and take Rue and the Envoy with me to the mountain retreat."

The King sighed. "I may have to replace the guard at the retreat. Inform me if you sense anything off about them, or simply don't feel safe."

Karl cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, if I may? I can summon a set of personal guards who should be sufficient for the purpose of maintaining security around the Princess.

As long as the Crown Prince has a guard retinue that he trusts implicitly, we should be fine with the existing staff at the retreat.

I would advise that someone from your intelligence agency be sent to keep an eye on anyone trying to send messages to or from the location, though. I know that they are system linked, and we can't monitor those messages, but small items are often passed off as physical messages."

Small items like poison, Karl meant. But the messengers themselves were often used to ferry items within their inventory.

He should know, he kept a massive stock of items on him at all times.

The King nodded. "That is a valid concern. I can order that nobody enters or leaves the area until the situation is resolved. However, it could be some time, and food deliveries would be necessary, as well as any shopping that needs to be done in the town."

Karl smiled. "I can offer to do that. Shopping isn't beneath my dignity, and I can assure you that I will do my best to protect those in my care."

The King nodded. "Fine, I won't object. Lukas, lead them away. I will have guards accompany you until you are outside of the Palace. After that, you will be travelling alone with your assigned guards, so that word of your destination does not reach outsiders.

I will keep in touch as we investigate, but I don't expect the resolution to be fast or easy."

The tone of the King's voice changed at the end, and Karl saw that an understanding was being reached between father and son.

They both had a very good idea who was behind this, but they had to be one hundred percent sure that it wasn't a situation where someone was being used as a scapegoat, while the real perpetrators managed to get away for lack of solid evidence.

At the upper levels of the Royal Family, only the strongest of proof would do, and that was not going to be easy for the King to obtain, unless someone turned on their employer.

While that could and did happen, the odds of the person being a member of someone's personal guard were extremely low.

They were chosen for loyalty, and often bound with spells that would alert their employer if they even seriously considered betrayal.

But more than that, if they were system linked as guards or Guild members, they would be flagged for attacking their own if they did betray. And no guild would accept someone with that flag.

In fact, many would attack on sight, assuming them to be a wanted criminal.

The Darklight Host had never suffered such an incident in Karl's time, but he had heard about it from many of the Alliance members. Usually as slander of another Guild. You had to do something pretty objectionable for a member to risk that, unless they were flat out insane.

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