Duke Arkwright stood motionless for a long moment after the doors closed, his sharp blue eyes fixed on the spot where the peculiar group had stood. The pleasant facade he had maintained for the princess fully melted away, leaving only cold calculation.
Gareth broke the silence, his voice tight with frustration. "Your Grace, are we truly just letting them walk free? They're dangerous. Unpredictable. My scouts lost track of them completely after they left the duke's residence, and then they reappeared at the Crags and back here in less than a day. That's not normal. That's... unsettling."
The Duke finally turned, walking back to his desk and lowering himself into his chair. He steepled his fingers. "Worrying over them is a waste of energy, Gareth. The matter will resolve itself."
"How?" Gareth pressed, stepping closer. "The path you suggested? The Ghostwind Gorge?"
