Jazdia listened, and she could already feel the grievance in his voice. Sullen and filled with self-doubt. The sad truth for him was the burden he felt on his not-yet-broad shoulder was just the beginning. 

Poor prince, has the lordship and thorns in your diadem sapped away your brilliance? Even as the enemy's captive, your voice was more resolute, and your eyes gazed brighter than they did now.

"[color=6ecff6]What I do know, is that if he felt the operation could not succed, he would not have summoned you here. There is great utility with holding the lot of you in reserve.[/color]"

"I asked you, not your father's opinion." Jazdia suddenly scoffed. It was at that moment Alec looked remotely provoked; he straightened himself, perhaps ready to form up words in a sharp retort. It was an amusing sight to see and made him look more exuberant and articulate at the very least. But Jazdia quickly continued, with a more conversational tone. 

"But that too is a wise answer," she said, lowering herself to be on the same eye level as him. "Anyway, I have not congratulated you properly for your coronation." She gestured for Alec to open his palm and handed him a round, polished trinket that immediately gleamed under the room's warm lighting. Guiding him to open one of its well-hidden buttons, it turned out to be a fancy-looking compass with a titanium body and golden pointers. 

Jazdia retreated two steps back, but instead of bowing, she chose to give the prince a knightly military salute. "May it serve you well even when the sun is out and the day is bleak."