The boat from Biathia had been docked at the Electrum City for almost a day, and yet not a soul on board had been allowed to step onto dry land. "This is simply insulting! Does the Tsar not realize I have business to attend to? Will he have us wait forever?" Count Ironac complained. The palace herald had been awkwardly waiting with them since delivering the news that they should remain onboard, and was sporadically subjected to the Count's impatient outbursts. The Northern Faction were now on their way to the capital for peace talks, and the royal guard were apparently still enroute to the city; since the Prince's safety was not yet assured, General Tsea had decided to delay his triumphant return. A small number of guards had been in a stand-off with Steen and Irel as they refused to let the passengers leave the boat.

Seren had found the whole situation quite funny, until he saw how anxious Lida had become. He caringly patted the woman's hands and went to find Jerel to see how things were coming along. "Are we likely to leave soon?" he asked, "I think Nurse Lida is keen to see her family." Jerel watched as his master tried unsuccessfully to bribe the herald into letting him disembark alone. "Count Ironac is growing impatient. Even if they want to keep us here much longer I don't think he will allow it. It probably irks him that he can't do what he wants for a change, since your highness has become the priority." Seren flashed a devious smile, "I've never been a priority before. Does that mean I'll have more power than the Count when we get into the city..?" he queried. "Aside from the Tsar, your highness is the second most important noble in the entire country." Jerel leaned in, "Don't let Ironac make you forget that, Seren. He'll try to exploit your position" he told him in hushed tones.

"Jerel" said Seren, "speaking of Ironac's devious nature, are you familiar with the Vandac family? I was told that the Count's house in Biathia belonged to them before he took it." Jerel shook his head, "Vandac?" he repeated, "Not in my time. When I entered Ironac's service it was already his, it's not a name I've heard of before. There was another family though, in the capital... I think their name was Rhodanac. They did something to upset the Count and he reported them for attempting to conceive an unregistered child. The Tsar awarded him their import business in the process." Seren's curiosity was piqued, "And was it true?" he asked, "What punishment did they face for trying to have a noble child without permission..?" What punishment would his mother have faced? Was all he really wanted to know. "Death" said Jerel, "Every marriage and birth in the kingdom must be approved by the Tsar, to 'correct and maintain' the balance of power. If a family tries to expand in number it is seen as a treasonous act... the entire bloodline is wiped out. I can't tell you if Countess Rhodanac really was with child, but I do know Ironac developed a close relationship with her before the family was arrested."

Seren determined that maybe it was better that his mother was with the commonfolk, at least he hoped she felt that way. Now that his father was gone, perhaps her life at the inn would be a little more bearable, at least until he found a way to return to her. "Did Ironac ever apply to have children?" asked Seren. "He'd have to choose a wife first, and I've never seen him deem any woman good enough to become his Countess" Jerel replied. "And what about you?" Seren asked him with a smile, "Have you ever made an application for a Mrs Jerel?" Immediately the image of Adalina popped into the valet's head. The sweet and kind commonfolk with the peaceful eyes. It would have been impossible anyway. "No" said Jerel, "not yet."

Seren leaned in closely and asked on another point of personal interest, "What happens if you were looking for a Mr Jerel and not a Mrs Jerel..? Is it possible in the capital?" Jerel turned pink and avoided Seren's eager gaze. "It's not unheard of I suppose... unofficially at least. There are some nobles that choose to live with 'friends' and never apply to marry. But for his highness the Prince at least... I think the Tsar will find a suitable wife..." For all the Prince's power, his life was just as dictated as a poor and helpless commonfolk boy. Seren's shoulders shrunk and a gloom downturned the corners of his pretty mouth as he conceded this temporary defeat. When such a time really arrived, Seren had already decided to fake the Prince's death and slip away to live in hiding with the commonfolk and his mother. For now, he would ensure that Lida and the others were safe and well, and experience all the beauty and splendor of the Electrum City while he could. If there was a way to find out how his mother was doing, he'd be satisfied to look on this whole situation as an unexpected adventure he could boast about to the girls at the inn.

"Jerel, is there a way to send a letter out of the city?" Seren asked. "I think that would be a bad idea... your highness." As Jerel replied, Count Ironac came over to interrupt them. "Jerel!" shouted the Count, "Why are you not finding a solution to this problem? Standing here whispering with the Prince when you should be getting us off this boat!" Jerel bowed to his master, "I will try speaking again with the herald" he said. Ironac stormed off to the state room to sleep off his annoyance, while Seren joined Lida, who'd been left sitting in a small wooden alcove just below deck. Jerel patiently spoke with the herald and asked for his understanding regarding his master. Until word came from the palace saying otherwise, their only option was to stay put. Lida's fingernails were bitten down to the nailbed, so Seren pulled a second pair of gloves from his inside pocket and slipped them over the Nurse's hands. "Just a little longer" he told her, "are you nervous about seeing your family again?"

Lida's gently glowing eyes shone on Seren's face; "Your highness? Will they really let us return to the palace?" she asked. Seren took her hand and smiled, "Who would dare keep us away? I am... the Crown Prince of Electrum after all!" he lied, "Where I go, you will follow. I will take you wherever you want to be." With this declaration, Seren took a breath and approached the palace herald. The herald bowed deeply to the young Prince, "Your highness... I can only offer my sincerest apologies for the delay..." he said with deep conviction. It was not yet known what kind of man the Prince had grown up to be outside of the capital, and there was much speculation as to whether he would be as difficult and demanding as his royal father. Seren nodded his head in understanding. "I have heard we are waiting for the royal guard to arrive, is that correct?" he asked the herald. Upon confirmation, Seren continued in his princely act.

"Tell me, herald, are you honestly attempting to detain the Prince of this country due to the ineptitude of the military? On whose order?" asked his highness sternly. The herald's jaw went slack and Jerel was mildly surprised by the boy's sudden change in character. "The General... G... General Tsea, your highness..." That was all he needed to hear. Since Jerel had told him his power was second only to the Tsar, it meant he could override anyone else that tried to stop him. Linking his arm with Lida's, Seren proudly walked past the frightened herald and stepped out onto the deck. "Steen, Irel" he called to his guards, "ready the carriage, we shall leave for the palace immediately." The few royal guards blocking the path were forced to withdraw under the Crown Prince's command, and hurried in assisting the important passengers off the ship. Seren gave Lida's hand a squeeze as they made their way into the waiting carriage, his heart near to bursting through his chest. It was only as they sped away under royal escort that he remembered he'd left Jerel behind, not to mention the sleeping Count.

Jerel had been impressed with Seren's bravado. I think he might survive the palace after all, he thought to himself. The herald took his leave and raced off in a panic, leaving Jerel behind to inform his master. Count Ironac was woken from his slumber to find the Prince and his attendants had left without him. "Why didn't you wake me? Why was I not informed until after the fact?!" he screamed, "Hurry and help me on with my boots! How am I supposed to explain this to the Tsar?!" Count Ironac was furious. How dare that little shit from nowhere play pretend at his expense, did he not realize his position as the Prince was entirely at his mercy? He would find suitable punishment for Jerel and the Prince once this annoyance was dealt with. 

The Prince's carriage drove through the streets without fanfare. No adoring citizens and only a handful of troops to escort him. Still, Seren's excitement was building at the thought of entering the noble's royal palace and meeting the exalted ruler. In the letters he'd read from the Tsar to his son, his encouragement of the Prince's lessons seemed to show some affection for his child, but Seren still wasn't sure what kind of greeting to expect from him. The palace guard were not prepared to receive the Crown Prince; they had their hands full getting ready for the Northern Faction's' imminent arrival, and were thrown into a panic when the carriage pulled up unexpectedly. "Where is Wirac? Quick! Quick! Someone bring him here immediately!" cried the guard at the gate, "His highness has arrived!"

Wirac had been overseeing the finishing touches on the Tsar's grand ballroom when he was given the news. Rather than the royal guard or Mercurac's grandson, it was his royal highness the Crown Prince that had made an appearance. He rushed down the corridor with his robes fluttering behind him, instructing his subordinates to ready the Prince's room as he went. He felt another headache coming on, but had no time to rest, getting into place and motioning for the footman to help the Prince down from the vehicle. As the carriage door was opened and a beautiful golden-haired youth stepped out before him, Wirac felt like the pain in his head was floating away into the ether. By Solaris, but that little boy had grown up so well! The model of a perfect prince.

At first Wirac had failed to notice Seren's one darkened eye, but as his vision lingered on his face he couldn't help but cry out. "Your highness!" he said in alarm, before consciously biting his tongue. Seren helped Lida down from the carriage and greeted Wirac with a small perfunctory bow. "If my father is busy you can lead us to our quarters" he told him, "The journey home has been longer than expected." Wirac led the Prince and his servants to the Crown Prince's wing, apologizing as they went that his highness had not received a formal welcome befitting his miraculous return to court. "I will speak with the Tsar immediately and arrange your highness's long-awaited reunion!" he declared, before leaving the affable Prince and his Nurse alone in the Prince's drawing room. Steen and Irel were stationed outside, and as the door closed behind the Tsar's excited little servant, Seren dropped to his knees and tried to breathe.

Lida panicked and rushed to help him, "Your highness!" she cried. "I... I'm... okay, Lida..." Seren was worried she might call for help and expose him. He pulled himself together and got back on his feet. "Lida..." he said between breaths, "You're back... you're back in the palace." Seren smiled at the Nurse as she soothed his back and tried to steady his breathing. "Your highness," she said, bowing her head as her eyes welled with thankful tears, "I won't let you die this time..."