"Do not blame yourself excessively. What I need from you is the truth, not a confession." Lina softened her tone slightly, giving him a reassuring look. "Everyone knows you have always been conscientious and responsible. I do not believe this happened because you deliberately neglected your duties. There must be some reason we have yet to discover, and it is your responsibility to find it as quickly as possible. My safety, along with the security of the capital, remains in your hands."
Lina felt she had frightened him enough. In truth, she had a fairly good idea who was responsible for Pierre's death, and the captain was merely an unfortunate man who had been placed in a difficult position. Nevertheless, she still had to maintain appearances. More importantly, the incident gave her an opportunity to strengthen her control over the palace guards and remind everyone that their positions depended on her safety.
