Jacob had entered the room hundreds of times in his decades of service. Sometimes with Aultcray, other times with Mirellia and in other cases with many others to discuss matters of state. The differences were stark.

No guards for one. The Princess didn't see the need for them...or could hide them well enough that his senses weren't able to find them.

He knocked on the door and received an immediate response. Jacob stepped inside, studied the room and froze. He stared at the object that had stunned him again.

A man, younger than 16 years of age, was floating in the air. His clothing had been removed, but his modesty was maintained by the Earthen bonds and Vines from a plant that seemed to force him in place.

"Meet the Shadow you'd met a couple of hours ago," said the Princess, casually seated on the chair behind the desk, "Their prowess at using their equipment to change everything from gender to age is quite impressive isn't it? A pity that their mana suppressing tool is so obviously different from natural suppression that sensing it is effortless. "

Jacob swallowed, thought back to how many thousands had failed to see through Her Majesty's Shadows, and sat down at the chair opposite the Princess at her wave. "Your Highness," he said, "I swear I did not collude with her to oppose you-"

"Relax," said the Cane Hero with a smile, "I've already gotten what I needed from him and his friends. In fact, you deserve to be commended for your loyalty."

He gaped at her for a long instant before his thoughts returned to their normal state. Realization struck. This was a test. The man who was bound served one, singular, purpose.

To push him off balance.

It worked, he thought, unable to stop the pain at the thought of how much this was like Mirellia and Aultcray. The Princess was truly their daughter.

"Thank you," he said, "but there are some critical matters to discuss, the Sword and Shield Heroes current status, the most important among them." The Princess raised an eyebrow and nodded at him to continue, "The Sword Hero has been out of contact with the Adventurers guild for more than a week now. The Quest he was on, a simple monster hunt, should not have taken more than five days. It's been too long."

The Princess tilted her head, "What do you think happened?" she asked softly, while the massive contraption sealing the Shadow away began to glow. Jacob shuddered at the silent rictus of pain spreading over the man's face.

"I suspect that Her Majesty, the Queen or His Holiness," he said, wincing at the blank expression that rose, "have claimed the Sword Hero."

The Princess nodded, "Your sources?" she asked coolly.

Jacob relaxed. She'd expected this. "I have received some reports from the adventurers who had been called to serve the Sword Hero. They are not exactly my informants, but I have people who speak to them regularly, they don't have any direct proof, but the Sword Hero had been staying near the domain ruled by the Church before vanishing."

"Not absolute," mused Malty with her Cane tapping against the table, "but likely to be correct. Of course, we can't dismiss the possibility of another country taking him. I'll look into it. I'm sure that Spear Hero will be more than willing to find his fellow Hero. What about Naofumi?"

Jacob had to take a long moment to realize that she had spoken of the Shield by name and that her words held none of the fury or disdain she normally uttered them with.

"The Shield Hero has been spotted approaching the coasts by agents of the Three Heroes Church. They challenged him and lost, but I lack the precise details of the confrontations," he said and watched as her expression shifted into something furious before control resumed.

"This information is confirmed," she asked, eyes boring into him with uncomfortable intensity.

"Yes, Your Highness," he said, firmly.

The Princess relaxed abruptly, "You're the second source to confirm the same," she said with a smile, "It would seem that Naofumi allies are pretty decent and his determination has yet to fade." Jacob was puzzled at her pleasure at this turn of events. Malty didn't miss his confusion. "The Shield Hero is an enemy, but he is one that must be alive. I certainly don't want him to be a threat to this nation, however, him dying is worse for the world as a whole and is even more unacceptable. It's good news indeed that Naofumi has yet to give up. I'm glad that he's met my expectations and survived the murder attempts."

Jacob struggled to keep up. He had expected fury at the Church not reporting to her. Irritation at the Shield Hero surviving. Disdain towards the fools who couldn't kill two demi-humans and a weak Shield Hero. Instead, it was clear that she had expected the Church to defy her and try to kill the Shield and the Princess had gambled that the man would survive.

The Princess stood up, walked to her prisoner and tapped the Cane on his forehead, a Slave Crest began to glow. She turned to him afterwards, "You've done well, Lord Cromwell," she said as he stood up and then knelt, her actions had been too fast to react, "Keep gathering information on the Heroes and the Church. I have some interesting information regarding my dear mother and her allies. I'll deal with the church later. See yourself out."

The Princess vanished with her prisoner.

Jacob stood up after a long moment. Walked out the door immediately, unwilling to take the risk of being in there without her permission when she could simply be invisible and present, his mind whirring.

Malty Melromarc was more dangerous than he had expected.

It was what his country needed.