"Well, now. Quite the commotion here, it would seem?"
Valen's resolve faltered. He knew that voice. From behind him came a series of footsteps, originating from further inside the castle. Heavier footsteps and gentle ones alike; a small group of individuals, it seemed. The young duke turned around to meet the 'newcomers' with a pained expression... The council had finally shown itself.
He supposed it wasn't exactly a surprise that they were here already. Given the fact that his uncle had gone searching for the guard earlier, it was no surprise that the council had been notified of potential threats as well... still, they could've shown themselves at a more opportune time, surely.
Three members of the council approached; All dressed in similar garb, a silver and blue tunic, proudly displaying the duchy's colors and their regality. Two men, one portly, the other in quite good physical shape, accompanied a older woman, with blonde hair and gray eyes. "Lady Andrea, Lord Garen, Lord Daus." Valen spoke up immediately, bowing his head in respect to the three, as they did in turn (though nowhere near as deeply) to their duke.
"We were made aware of an... unwelcome guest, your grace?" The lady spoke first, her voice somewhat shrill, yet openly inquisitive. "I sought to have the guard expunge the intruder from the building... yet I hear now that you've granted them pardon?"
"I—"
"Surely you understand, your grace," Lord Daus, the finely-built man at the side of the blonde woman, interrupted Valen, openly undermining him, "That trespassing upon the demesne is no mere trivial matter. Much less upon your grace's personal effects. The danger that allowing such persons to roam free would pose undermines your health, and the safety of the duchy's integrity." The room grew uncomfortably tense as he continued, even for the guards as Andrea motioned for them to proceed to the front doors, and shut them. "As such, I would humbly recommend the re-evaluation of your stance, your grace."
"...But, she—"
"'Saved your life?' Your grace, you must not allow such transient words and actions to sway your resolve to uphold the order of your duchy. You have entertained the trespass of a potential threat to your life, and threat to you duchy's security— Such is unbecoming of a ruler. Surely you understand this?" Andrea's words stung like heated needles, causing Valen to lower his head further in shame. She was right. "You must learn to uphold the responsibility of your role in all circumstances— not simply those which you deem 'comfortable'. Please, your grace; return to your solar. Allow the council, as your humble aides, to tend to the intruder. We shall see to it that no harm comes to the woman... without due cause."
Valen's resolve crumbled, knowing he had no room to argue. Resigned to his fate— and to the young woman's— he simply nodded quietly, before Andrea motioned for two guards to come forth. "Please see the duke safely to his chambers. The rest of you— thoroughly search the demesne, the underground and servant passageways. The intruder is to be found, and brought to the lower levels for questioning."
"As you say, milady."
With that, Andrea waved a dismissive hand, and Valen despondently left with his two guards, returning to the Solar. He could only hope that by this point, the assailant had left— else, there would be a conflict... and he desperately wanted no one to be hurt, if nothing else.
