Didi arrived after the morning contracts went up, a compact woman with close-cut black hair, a straight back, and a Crown permission seal in hand.
Elina followed with two record keepers, three travel cases, and a tired face that suggested she had explained the same decision since the carriage left.
Hajin watched the empty road behind them and thought, 'The Crown sent a seal instead of an army,' resting his hand on the gate, 'so someone wants credit for restraint.'
Didi stopped outside the registry and held the seal toward Marrick, who read its edges before turning the wax toward the morning light.
Didi said, "The Crown authorizes an inquiry into the escaped royal bloodline and its connected route, but I'm here as a witness and investigator, not a territorial commander."
Marrick kept the seal between two fingers and replied, "The wording leaves custody with the Sixth, so you can't remove a child, socket, or record without witnessed consent."
