When I entered the royal palace, I spotted Karlstadt, the royal palace gatekeeper.
The moment he saw me, he waved me through.
"...When you came bearing news of Lydia's death, the palace was still at peace."
"What was bound to happen eventually simply happened a little sooner."
"It's disheartening to know that you understand the palace better than I do, when I've spent my whole life guarding it."
The old gatekeeper's face seemed to have aged even further.
Feeling disillusioned? That made two of us.
"I'm thinking of stepping down from my post. I'm just too old now."
"That's a shame. Let's hope a tragedy like this never happens again."
"Perhaps even the late king... No, it's nothing."
Was there something involving the late king too?
All I knew about the late king was that he'd been quite a violent man but a devout believer. There was nothing particularly notable beyond his sudden death, which had led to Karlus's ascension to Grand Duke three years ago.
