Chapter111

"His Majesty is inside the throne room," Elina answered quickly, bowing her head. "He canceled the morning court session when he heard you were missing."
"Good," Didi said, turning her head slightly to look back at Hajin. "Follow me. We are going straight there."
Elina hesitated, taking half a step forward while wringing her hands together. 
"Your Highness, forgive me, but it might not be a good time to enter right now," the maid warned, her voice dropping a little. 
Didi stopped walking and turned back around. "Why? You just said my father canceled the morning session."
"He did," she said quickly. "But the head of the Flint family arrived for his royal summons regarding the new Gate assignment. His Majesty decided to proceed with the meeting while waiting for news from the search parties."
Hajin stopped walking entirely, his foot freezing halfway up the step while the words registered in his head. 
The head of the Flint family was his own father, the exact man who had formally stripped him of his name, thrown him out into the slums like garbage, and promised severe consequences if he ever tried to return.
'Are you actually kidding me right now?' he thought, staring blankly at the doors at the top of the stairs. 'Out of all the days he could visit the palace, he is waiting right inside the exact room I need to go.'