"Please let me pass. I have a message for Princess Reneira."
The girls turned to see a butler approaching, but Arkilla and Rail immediately stepped forward, blocking his path.
"What do you want?" Ren asked. After everything that had happened lately, she no longer had the courage to approach anyone lightly. They were probably angry that she had let Ara die. Minister Karon would seize any chance for retribution.
The butler raised a scroll and spoke calmly, "Lord Edis Qowen has requested an audience with you and Princess Gloria in the garden."
Ren exchanged a wary glance with Rail. He took the scroll from the butler and handed it to her.
She read it quickly, recognizing the handwriting and the wax seal stamped with House Qowen's emblem, a dagger crossed over a shield.
"Are you going to meet him?" Rail asked, nervousness flickering in his voice.
