The Princess and i had reached the front door to the palace, earning the ire of the palatial guards, and staff who saw our appearance, dust and mud clinging to our clothes, our hair unkempt and honestly from their perspective we'd look like we just rocked up from the city slums not as visiting royalty from the neighboring country.
As we were escorted through the halls and rooms, Yuri's face was down turned.
Julius knew why of course as she was muttering under her breath about how none of the guards or staff we people she knew, where had they gone?
She had many friends, Tutors, and mentors among the palace staff but in their efforts to limit her influence all those with close relations to the princess save for the king himself was purged from the palace.
Yuri could only fear the worst that all those she held dear had been slain so they would not rise up against the growing tyranny of her brother.