210 A painful return (part 2)

Clasping her arms around herself, Adela stood for the second time today, marveling at the rapid transformation young Kannen had undergone. Her melancholic gaze shifted to the portable enclosure adjacent to him.

Father...

The Archduke had gone to great lengths this time to ensure the creature's safe relocation, employing the very same cage that Adela had installed in her chamber for his transportation. He had also dispatched a contingent of the Archduchy's finest falcons and a physician to accompany the young creature.

All of them awaited her instructions, while she sought the strength to speak.

Her eyes drifted sideways and lingered on another gift that had become a thread of thorns encircling her wrist—the promise ring from Egon.

What a pitiful promise that had been.

She turned her attention back to young Kannen. If she prolonged her order any further, she would only risk changing her mind about it.