Thalia ran through the castle walls, shoving anyone in her path, it was very rare to see her run through these walls, but she wasn't concerned about that at the moment.

A few hours ago, she had been informed by her attendants that lady catylen had been ambushed on the king's road on her way to the capital. She had tried to rush there only to hear that catylen had been carried through the gates.

She jumped down from the high walls, landing with a thud as she pushed through the crowd of traders that drew close to her, she was like a stick in the mud with her height, but she fought through throwing a few of them as hard as she could.

Soon she was in front of the gates, but she stopped in her tracks as she watched from a distance as prince Edric and her most hated half brother helped catylen off the horse of a stranger and prince Edric carried her with Ivo behind them pushed by Melisa.

She hated both of them, but she hated ivo more. She hated him for being in possession of what was hers, Catelyn was hers and hers alone.

Thalia had no plans on sharing her not with edric or Ivo, she genuinely loved her, ever since catylen had snuck into her room that night she had loved her.

A person who was not afraid of her, a woman nevertheless that loved her, that's why she had to win the king's game and become champion, wishing that she could take catylen to the sea with her.

Thalia stood there as Ivo and Edric approached her, she locked eyes with Edric for a few seconds before she turned to face catylen who had buried her head in edric's white silk shirt before she turned to the cripple whose face had no emotion like he had expected this.

He gave her a smile before turning to Melisa and continued whatever conversation they were having before.

She simply turned away and walked down towards the gate, she needed to go for a walk, she thought to herself.

This was not supposed to be a late night love drama, Ivo thought as he paced up and down his room, he had grown tired of sitting all day and his thighs ached.

One more and I might never be able to walk he thought to himself as he stared at the chair—the only reason his siblings haven't tried to slit his throat in his sleep was because they all believed he was a cripple

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The knock on the door drew his attention as he walked to his chair and sat up facing the door, “open up” he called out as the door flung open with Ida walking in with her silver haired lover.

Ivo flashed her a smile before turning to her companion “you must be Jacob right?”

“Jakob Rivera” the silverhaired youth added as he bowed slightly at Ivo who didn't know if he was supposed to be shocked or amazed by Jacob's way of greeting he knew Jakob was a gentleman, but he didn't expect him to give a half blood like him royal greetings.

“It is nice to make your acquittance Jakob, you already know me if not by name but by reputation,” ivo added with a smile.

“Likewise” the youth replied, Ida feeling left out, cleared her throat to draw attention back to herself.

“I came here for a reason Ivo not to make silly conversations but for something very important,” she started.

“The king's game starts in two nights and you are the only one who haven't declared your champion, I have refused to partake, and I can't stand as your champion as you know it, but I can offer the services of Jakob here” she said as she patted his shoulder.

“He may not look like it, but he is a strong knight from ironpeak” she said as Ivo smiled and sized him up.

“I don't know if it will be a good idea to have the heir to ironpeak fight for me, and besides, who said I don't have a champion?”

“Wait, what do you mean you have a champion and besides, how did you know Jakob was the heir to ironpeak?”

“Isn't it obvious? Silverhair to show they descended from the snowcrawlers as true blood of the snow queen, he carries a rapier made from cursed metal what else? Or am I wrong Jakob fairhaven?” ivo asked as he turned to face the youth who had been quiet.

“When Ida told me to trust you, I refused and called you a fool but seeing you now I have to rethink my position” he said as he drew his rapier and placed it on the ground and knelt in front of the blade

“I Jakob fairhaven, first of his name and heir to the iron peak mountains offer you his services” he said.

“Come on, I can't have a pure blood kneeling for me besides we all have one thing in common don't we? Soon you will be married to my sister” Ivo added as Ida punched him on the shoulder and turned to hide her red face.

“So come fairhaven—”

“Jakob will do sire”

“Alright, Jakob then let's drink to our future cooperation shall we?” Ivo added as he rolled his chair to pour a cup from the wine on his table.

“Before that” Ida interrupted, “I know how much of a hurry you are in to pour yourself a drink, but we would like to know who this champion of yours is actually” she called out.

“Oh, my champion?” Ivo replied, already pouring a cup

“Why do I have a feeling that I would be very surprised when I hear it” Ida replied as she watched Ivo's mouth form a smirk.

“Oh! But I can't ruin the surprise now, can I?”Ivo replied as he passed Jakob a glass and clicked his against it and drank.

“To the king's game,” he called out as he lifted his empty cup into the air.

“To the king's game!”