“Have you heard anything from the marquess? It’s been three days since I sent the letters,” I asked Ruford, noticing his surprise at my inquiry.

"I have indeed received his responses. One was delivered to Lady Thyra this morning, and I have the response letter from the marquess for you," Ruford replied, handing me a sealed envelope.

Thyra may not be surprised to discover that I sent a letter to the marquess as well, considering our shared interest and the inclusion of my correspondence alongside hers.

I removed the wax seal of the envelope carved with the crest of their family and opened the letter.

Your Highness,

It’s good to know that my lady is under your care, assuming that it’s true. I would appreciate meeting her myself to and see how I could be of help to her. I’ve heard that it is forbidden for humans like me to enter Marrossi because we will die when we cross the barriers.

Her Highness is sensitive with matters related to Alryne due to personal reasons, so it won’t be wise to meet there even if it looks like the most convenient place to meet up since it is between Eurhyia and Marrossi. She can’t visit Eurhyia’s capital either, because she’ll be easily spotted due to her rare hair color – and a lot of foolish citizens are after her.

The best place she would suggest is to meet outside Alryne – somewhere in Heizen. It’s outside the capital of Eurhyia, around the southeast border of Alryne. I look forward to having an audience with both of you.

Marquess Jarvis Vassezac

I had initially hoped to meet with him privately, without Thyra's knowledge. However, it seems evident that he has a deep understanding of Thyra's thoughts and preferences. This suggests a close relationship between them. From his letter alone, it is clear that he is quite protective of her and genuinely wants what is best for her.

I tapped my fingers repeatedly on the table, analyzing the situation. If we're going to meet him, I have to look for a way to talk to him before the three of us formally meet. I believe there are things that the marquess can't say if Thyra’s around.

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“My liege, our messenger also gave this letter. It’s for you, coming from Lady Thyra.”

I removed the seal and pulled out the letter from the envelope.

Your Highness,

I have some important things to tell you that I need to discuss in person. We used to run to each other in the library, and I think the same place where we met will be the best. The topic is highly confidential, and I don’t want anyone to know that we’re talking. I’ll explain things to you when we meet. If it fits your schedule, I’d like us to meet two days from now at the same time we met.

Thyra Edevane

Her letter sounded polite, yet she couldn’t hide the tone of it sounding like an order than a request. How confidential could it be that we have to hide from the world? I don’t understand the way she thinks, but Thyra's desperate tone suggests that the matter she needs assistance with is not trivial.

I’m supposed to meet Kathrynne that day, but it’s easy to cancel plans – one of the advantages of being the crown prince. It makes me sick that Kathrynne’s actions are not strange – it always gives me the feeling that she’s hiding something behind her back. Still, I still need to dig deeper before coming up with conclusions.

Whatever the case, my heart is telling me that I shouldn’t ignore my doubts. I have to cancel the wedding without minding what the public opinion will be. I can picture the wedding looking like a funeral before it even starts. It’s nothing but pointless.

“So, what did you find out about the marquess?”

“The spy you sent in Eurhyia reported that Marquess Jarvis Vassezac was born in Ruizvon to a noble family. Before Marrossi took over Ruizvon, his family was known for turning back against the late king of Ruizvon and moved to Eurhyia, pledging their loyalty to the Eurhyian king. His father obtained the marquessate in their enemy’s land. However, they had their names changed. There’s also a rumor that the marquess proposed to Lady Thyra, but she refused it.”

He was rejected, and yet they remained as friends.

I hate that the more I learn, the more curious I get. Ruford’s report was brief but the information is enough for me to know the big picture of the marquess’ past.

But now that I think about it, having traitors in a family doesn't necessarily mean that everyone is a traitor. If he is Thyra's most trusted person, it suggests that he has met her expectations and has proven himself to be trustworthy. But why reject him? Is she the kind who wants to pursue royalty than a noble? Or she's the kind who won't pursue someone she doesn't love?

It is a common understanding that marriages of this kind are often driven by political considerations rather than purely romantic love, which makes it appear that both of us are in the same page.

I feel guilty after digging for information, but I wouldn't deny that I'm satisfied to know about it. She sure won't be happy if she finds out that I pried with Jarvis' life, and spied on her when she first came here. Will she kill me when she finds out how much I know?

All these things make me feel like I’m digging my own grave, and it is only a matter of time when she’ll find out about it.