Tybalt would find Augustus in his office. When the messenger came to tell him that the Commander had requested to see him, he did not hesitate in agreeing to do so. Nobody—nothing—was making sense, and Tybalt was one of the few people that Augustus felt was currently stepping up to make sense of an otherwise chaotic world.

“Commander.” Augusts would be seated when Tybalt came in. He’d dip his head in polite acknowledgment before indicating to a chair in front of his desk. “How can I assist you?”

No beating around the bush. Another feature of Tybalt Zane’s personality that Augustus appreciated endlessly. Augustus didn’t make a habit of checking his expressions or visible emotions when he was around those he trusted—Tybalt, now numbered among them. His eyebrows raised at the mention of an informant, the mention of Simon Mikaels , and his pursuit of a network. But those eyebrows dropped into a displeased furrow at the mention of the mirror.

“Do not apologize, Commander. You were right to come to me.” Augustus reached into his desk with a sigh, furrow starting to unravel as he put his momentary frustration behind him. “I’d prefer if knowledge of this mirror stays between us, Commander. If you have the opportunity to relay that to Miss Porter—again—as well, please do so. A tool’s more useful when it’s kept secret as I’m sure you understand.”

The mirror was unearthed, unassuming in appearance. He held it in his hands and said, “Show me Simon Mikaels .” The image materialized, for now only visible to Augustus given its angle. He paused for a moment, silent as he processed the vision in front of him. Then, wordlessly, he put the mirror on the desk and pushed it toward Tybalt.

What the commander would see was his wife, Felicity Zane , walking arm-and-arm with the duke in question on the grounds of Birkhall.

Augustus nodded. Yes, that was best. He wondered idly if perhaps there was still use for Annabeth Porter yet, though he quickly shelved the thought for later consideration. She was not the focus at present.

The prince was not one for shock and awe. His reason for revealing the mirror in this way was to catch Tybatl’s honest reaction—and as he had hoped, it was telling. His face was one of a man caught entirely off-guard by this apparent betrayal. The commander would find the window closed, and when he opened it the prince reached into his desk and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. Augustus had always considered the role of a royal to be one that required warmth and empathy, and that philosophy extended to every single citizen of Lorendale. Even the gifteds he sought to control—like a stern but loving father, he cared for them.

Augustus poured a glass and, putting a hand on the commander’s shoulder, offered a glass to Tybalt.

“Here - easy does it."

Augustus waited patiently. He took the mirror from the desk and put it in his lap so that Tybalt would no longer have to watch his wife promenade with a known traitor. Augustus was quiet, mind spinning off into different avenues of calculation. It was a complicated time, one where every angle was to be considered.

“I do think,” The prince said slowly, “It best not to jump to conclusions. And best that we uncover the truth before involving outside parties.” After a moment’s stillness, Augustus stood suddenly. “We should go to Brikhall at once. Before any other discovers the Duke’s presence there.”