The soldiers who were witnessing the scene trembled. Their commandant whom they all respected and feared was going to be beheaded without trial. This is what would happen if one dared to mess with royalty.
Just then a messenger came on horseback. Heaven only knew how fast he had to ride to reach on time. He quickly alighted and knelt down to handover a message to prince Edgar.
"A message from the second princess, your highness."
Edgar took the message from the man. It looked like it had been written in a hurry and read like this, 'Commandant Astor is my best weapon the military. If you touch her I shall assume that you have gone against me.'
He read the message twice checking the signature and the seal. Then he threw it at commandant Astor and turned his horse back.
Only when the prince had left the military unit did the soldiers heave a sigh of relief.
********
The next day morning, Sam was lying in bed without feeling like getting up. She felt fresh pain in her muscles. She concluded that her body had gone a little rusty while she was in prison without any exercise, so it was a good thing she had a proper fight yesterday with the commandant.
She was thus lazily lying in bed when she was suddenly disturbed by prince Edgar's arrival.
"Are you alright?" He sat down beside her bed forgetting all sense of etiquette.
"I am fine,.... just feeling a little lazy. I heard you rushed to handle Commandant Astor. Let me ask you this, your highness...Are you out of your mind?" Sam tried to get up and Edgar helped her sit up straight.
"She went too far, only death will discipline her." He said coldly. Sam had never seen this side of his. It could not be that he lost his composure for her sake?
Sam tried to explain it to him.
"Commandant Astor has nothing to lose. Do you think she is afraid of death? She is an able, unbiased, and brave commandant of our army. She carefully chooses whom to serve, and will readily die for a just cause. What I need most right now is someone like her by my side."
Edgar listened to her carefully without taking his eyes off her. When she had finished explaining, Sam suddenly became aware that he was too close to her. One of his hands was holding hers and his other hand was supporting her back. Sam also realized with some embarrassment that she was in her nightgown.
Edgar saw Sam blush and quickly let go of her hands. He got up and said that he will visit her later. After he left, Sam sat for some time trying to figure out prince Edgar's behavior toward her. How should she describe their relationship? But the more she thought about it, the more she felt that it was not as simple as she had imagined. But she dared not come to any conclusions.
Prince Edgar went back and summoned his aide, Julius. Julius was a scholar from a northeastern city bordering Keirland. He knew the Keirish language and customs as well as the court politics of Hebelone.
"The second princess will soon choose an official advisor for herself." Said Edgar. "Is there anyone you recommend?"
Julius contemplated various options. He knew exactly what the prince was after. He had at first thought that prince Edgar was wary of the second princess rising in power. But he soon began to understand that the prince's sentiments in regard to the second princess ran in a different direction altogether.
"Your highness, do you want to plant a spy near the second princess?" Asked Julius in order to clarify the prince's intention.