The bursts of laughter took a few more seconds to subside.
Bryan wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, finally regaining his seriousness.
— Well... friends, I'll take advantage of it while we're all here. There's something I need to tell you.
The change in tone was immediate.
Asher raised his head. Miria felt her stomach drop.
"During the battle," Bryan continued, "I and my troop captured several prisoners.
He paused.
—And among them... I recognized one of the attackers.
A member of my brother's bodyguard.
Silence fell like a leaden blanket.
—Wait...what? whispered Alix.
— You mean… Alastor?! she suddenly exclaimed.
Miria jumped.
—Did Alastor do that?!
For what ?!
Bryan nodded slowly.
—I think he wanted to teach Miria a lesson.
For his lack of respect towards Morena.
- What ?! Kira said indignantly.
It's impossible... he and she don't get along at all!
"Correct," Eiden confirmed in a serious tone.
Bryan frowned.
—What makes you say that?
Kira exchanged a meaningful look with Eiden.
"Well…" she murmured.
Eiden sighed, resigned.
—Back when Kira, Morena and I were friends... Alastor used to stalk her.
He loved her. Obsessively.
Miria felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Morena never shared her feelings," Eiden continued.
And when she realized that he might force her hand... she asked me for help.
— You mean… force? Alix whispered, frozen.
Miria raised her hand.
—Wait a second.
If I understand correctly... Morena trapped Kira and Eiden to use them as blackmail.
In exchange for her silence... she got your protection, Eiden?
A heavy silence settled.
Kira gave a bitter smile.
—I see you weren't first for nothing.
"But…" Miria murmured, troubled.
She's so...ruthless...
"That, you said it," Alix confirmed.
Bryan spoke again, even more somber.
— But that's not all.
Asher sat up abruptly.
—What then?
— Remember. During the battle, other men arrived.
Men who weren't supposed to be there.
Miria turned pale.
— You mean...?
—I have strong reason to believe that they belonged to Fishlegs.
This time, no one spoke.
—How is this possible? Miria asked in a tense voice.
"Because there's probably a traitor," Bryan replied.
Someone who informed Fishlegs of Morena and Alastor's plot.
Otherwise, his men would never have been able to enter the battle.
—Are you sure of yourself? Alix asked.
- Yes. Only his men can attack without distinction.
Miria clenched her fists.
—So… what do we do?
Bryan stared straight into her eyes.
— We are strengthening your security.
From now on, it won't just be Alix and Kira.
Eiden, Asher… and I too, we will watch over you.
"We could ask King Drakkar's son for help," Kira suggested.
Miria blinked.
—Whose son?
"The werewolf king," Asher explained.
He's a very good friend… or so he was.
Since a certain incident, we haven't seen each other again.
"But don't worry," Kira added with a reassuring smile.
He's a good person. You would know it if you saw it.
Miria frowned.
- Why do you say that ? Do I know him?
"I doubt it," Asher said.
Kira almost whispered, in a strange voice:
—Maybe...maybe not.
Bryan stood up.
— Before following you, I still have things to sort out.
See you later.
He left the room.
A thoughtful silence followed his departure.
"He would make a much better king than his brother," Miria murmured.
Nobody contradicts her.