"Why do you want to learn how to fight? Aren't you scared?" Elias asked, curiosity piqued.
He brought her into the training ground to see if he was willing to hold a weapon. To his surprise, she was excited and thrilled about it.
"No. I don't want to always depend on you. I want to be able to protect myself." She paused, then she looked at him. "And you."
Elias' heart skipped a bit. It was unfair that after saying those words, Helena winked at him and walked ahead.
He shook his head, smiling.
"Why are you smiling? Something happened?" It was Triton.
"Nothing." He stopped smiling and glared at Triton. "Why are you here? Are you done with your errands?"
Triton nodded. "Yeah. Just as we suspected, there is a secret space in the castle. I think that's where they keep the prisoners."
"They're not prisoners. They were abducted from their families or sold by their owners to serve someone. Have you confirmed who's behind it?" Elias asked. His eyes were fixated on Helena as she gracefully walked toward the training ground, but he was also paying attention to Triton's report.
"Well, I think you're right about your Uncle. He was reported walking outside the garden in the middle of the night with just his robe on. As we all know, he's very protective of himself. He always wears his armor as if he's one with it. Why would he wander at night wearing a thin robe, knowing that danger always comes at night?"
Elias nodded. "Yeah. He's definitely hiding something. But is it only one night or two?"
"No. It's every night. Around midnight. One of the guards asked him, but he gave him a beating instead."
"I see. Then we just have to confirm tonight. How many women have been missing so far?"
"Twenty-five including a young boy."
Elias frowned. "A boy? I thought—"
"I don't know either."
They were startled when Helena suddenly appeared in front of them. Elias was confused. He was sure she was standing a hundred feet away from them. How did she get in front of them so fast without him noticing?
"A boy? Is he human?" She asked.
Again, it was quite a surprise for them. The two glanced at each other with confused faces.
"Did you hear our conversation?" Triton asked.
"Yes." She simply answered.
Elias looked at Triton, telling him to stop asking about their confusion so he didn't.
"The boy. Is he human? Do you have other information about him?" She continued to ask.
"Can you tell us first why you're asking about the boy?" Elias asked.
"When we came to the gate, there was a mother with her son in front of us. He's ten years old. The mother was hired by the Countess of the Carlton House, but her son was not mentioned in the letter. So the guards at the gate took him.
Elias looked at Triton. "Do you have that information?"
Triton shook his head. "No. But the boy was listed as a shoe polisher in the palace. I'm not sure if we're talking about the same kid."
"Do you have any description of him?" Helena asked.
"He's around four feet seven inches. Tanned skin and has a mole on his upper lip."
Helena's eyes widened. "That's the kid at the gate. The inspector said he will be taken to an orphanage, why would he end up in the palace? And you mentioned about the abducted women, do you think my mom's daughter is one of them?"
Jolene told her to not hide about her daughter to the Crown Prince. She believed he had nothing to do with her daughter's disappearance so Helena agreed.
"You mean your sister?" Elias asked, confused.
"Well, I'm adopted. My mom's biological daughter went missing three years ago and she believed that someone took her."
"Did she also believe that her daughter is at the palace?" Triton wanted to see if Helena would tell the truth.
Helena nodded. "Yes. Someone told her that her daughter was last seen in the palace. She sent me here so I could find her."
"What? So you came here to look for the biological daughter?" Elias frowned.
She nodded. "Yes. I agreed to be the leverage so I could help her. She won't be allowed to enter the palace so I begged her to send me. Is it a crime? I just wanted to help my mom and meet my sister."
She made sure that her voice sounded lonely and pitiful. She also had tears in her eyes when she looked at the two men.
Elias' heart melted seeing her cry. "Hey, it's not a crime and it's a good thing you told me. I'll help you, don't worry."
On the other hand, Triton wasn't convinced of Helena's acting. But he knew about Jolene's missing daughter and he took the case because of her.
"Triton, we'll move tonight. Tell the warriors to prepare." Elias ordered.
"Can I come?" Helena asked.
"No!" Triton quickly answered.
Helena glared at Triton. Then softened her eyes when she looked at Elias.
"Please? I know I can be a burden but you're with me, so I know I'll be safe."
Triton frowned. 'Another acting.' He thought to himself.
Helena glared at Triton again, surprising him.
'Can she read my mind?' He thought.
Elias took a deep breath. "As you wish. But never leave my side. And since it'll be exhausting tonight, you can start training two days after."
Helena smiled sweetly. "Thank you. I'll be so happy if we can find my sister."
Elias asked Triton to accompany Helena as he was suddenly called by the King. He didn't want him to leave her with Triton, but he had no choice.
"What's your problem? Did I do something wrong?" She confronted Triton after Elias left.
Triton crossed his arms. "I know you're acting. You're bad at that. It makes me sick."
"All women do, especially if they're in front of a man who likes them. That act is for the Crown Prince, not for you. I don't care if you don't like it. I have no obligation to please you."
Triton chuckled. "Not all women are liars like you. What's your real motive?"
"If I tell you I want to annihilate the werewolves, will you believe me? No, right? Why would you think I have something under my sleeve? I'm just an orphan with nothing but a pretty face."
Before Triton could talk back, a gust of wind suddenly blew, removing Helena's scarf which was covering half of her face. She didn't take it off because there were a few warriors training and greeting them when they arrived.
Triton gasped, seeing Helena's face closely was suffocating. Is this how a Cytherian affects men? He thought.