Dylan had a typical, quiet breakfast, though he was curious about the absence of the Princesses and Hubris, who was also missing from the table.
Noticing Dylan's gaze, Nabal explained, "Hubris went to call the Princesses. They'll join us soon. Let's start eating, and they'll catch up."
"I'd like to wait for them," Dylan said firmly.
An uncomfortable silence followed until Hubris appeared, whistling.
Surprised by the sight of everyone waiting to eat, he asked, "What's going on?"
"We were waiting for you and the Princesses. Where are they?" Dylan asked.
Hubris rolled his eyes and, after a brief internal chuckle, replied, "I doubt they'll come."
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked.
"They've gone to sleep," Hubris explained casually.
"Ah, well, then we should eat now," Nabal suggested. With that, everyone began eating, except for Dylan, who eyed Hubris suspiciously. There was something strange about his behavior. He exchanged glances with Xavier, who also seemed to notice the oddity.
After dinner, as Dylan and Xavier stood to leave, Medea stopped them.
"Are you leaving so early? Why not stay for tea?" she asked.
"I already had tea before dinner," Dylan replied.
"Then perhaps a walk in the garden?" Medea suggested.
Nabal added, "It would be nice if you took a stroll for some fresh air."
"Karen, please escort him to the garden," Medea instructed.
Dylan raised an eyebrow, feeling suspicious. At first, he was puzzled by their words, but as soon as Karen's name was mentioned, he realized what was happening. He mentally groaned and replied dryly, "There's no need."
"But there is!" Medea insisted. "You're our guest. We can't let you leave alone."
Dylan rolled his eyes. It was ironic—throughout the day, they had shown little concern for him, yet now they were acting overly attentive.
"Come on," Karen said, already by the door, waiting. Dylan sighed and followed her, with Xavier trailing behind.
Once in the corridor, Karen turned to Xavier and snapped, "Leave us alone."
Xavier didn't budge. Annoyed, Karen asked, "Didn't you hear me?"
"I'm not your servant," Xavier replied flatly.
Dylan chuckled, watching Karen's reddening face. He turned to Xavier and said, "It's fine. Go get some rest."
Xavier nodded and left.
As soon as Xavier left, Karen muttered, "Should've done that from the start."
At that moment, Lyra stormed in, furious. Dylan had never seen her like this. He quickly stepped forward to approach her, but she flinched when she saw him. Her face hardened, and she asked Karen, "Where's Brother Wily?"
Karen hesitated but replied, "I think he went to the fountain in the eastern garden."
Without waiting, Lyra stormed off. Dylan followed her, with Karen trailing in confusion.
"Your Highness, where are you going?" Karen asked, but Dylan ignored her, calling out to Lyra, "Lyra! What happened?"
Lyra flinched at the sound of her name and stopped. Dylan approached her with concern. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"
Lyra forced a smile, though it was clearly strained. "I'm fine, just had some administrative matters to discuss with Brother Wily."
Dylan squinted. He knew she was lying, but didn't press her. It stung a little, though, that she didn't confide in him, especially after saying she had nothing to hide.
Before he could speak further, she briskly added, "I'll go now. Enjoy your walk."
She left quickly, leaving Dylan with more questions. "Let's go to the garden," Karen urged.
"I want to walk in the eastern garden," Dylan said.
"Alright!" Karen replied cheerfully, but then she realized that was where Brother Wily and Lyra were headed. She wondered what was going on.
Dylan, focused on Lyra, didn't wait for Karen and walked in the same direction as her. Karen silently followed.
When they reached the garden entrance, they saw Lyra arguing with Wily. Wily, flustered, seemed to be trying to calm her down.
Dylan was about to move closer when Karen remarked, "How rude. I don't understand why Brother Wily puts up with her."
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked, stopping.
Karen explained, "Lyra used to bully Brother Wily a lot, years ago. She's proud and rude."
Dylan was skeptical. He didn't believe Lyra would act that way. There had to be more to the story. He replied, "So, your brother must have done something for her to act that way."
Karen laughed it off. "Oh no, my brother is innocent. But you're right—Lyra's actions come with consequences, so don't feel sorry for her."
Dylan didn't buy it. He knew there was another side to the story, and he planned to ask Lyra about it later.
Suddenly, Karen stepped closer and said, "Prince Dylan, I know you're not thinking of marriage right now, but would you consider marrying me in the future?"
Dylan stared at her in shock. "Huh?"
Karen smiled, continuing, "I like you, Your Highness. Let's get engaged."
"I like you, Your Highness. Let's get engaged."
Dylan, feeling disgusted, responded in a low, irritated voice that carried a deep edge, as if he could barely tolerate her words.
"Don't be delusional. Get out of your imagination."
Karen flinched, her smile quickly turning into a glare.
"Don't you believe me?"
"It's not a matter of belief. It's just that I don't like you."
Dylan continued to reject her bluntly.
"What's wrong with me that you don't like me?"
"What's so right about you for me to like?"
Karen's face reddened with anger. She clenched her fists and pointed at him.
"You... just because you're a prince from another country, you think you can talk to me like this?!"
Dylan shrugged.
"Yes."
Karen let out a burst of hysterical laughter, crossing her arms.
"...Ha! Jerk. Who would want to marry you? You're not even on my level!"
Dylan's eyes fixed on her as he coldly replied, "Of course, I'm not. My level is higher than yours."
"I'll see about that... you'll regret this..." she muttered angrily as she turned and stormed off.
Dylan sighed in relief.
'At long last, I got rid of her.'
He quickly turned to where Lyra and Wily had been, but found no one there. Knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep after seeing that hurtful grimace on Lyra's face earlier, he decided to head to the princess's palace.
There, he ran into Astrid, who was taking her usual after-dinner stroll in the garden.
"Oh, what a surprise to see you here at this time," she greeted politely as Dylan went straight to the point.
"Did something happen to Lyra? She seemed terribly distressed earlier, and I even saw her arguing with Wily."
Astrid shook her head. "I have no idea. She won't tell me either. Her mood is extremely foul, and she wants to be alone. I decided to respect her privacy and give her some time to calm down. I'll ask her about it tomorrow morning."
"Then I'll wait till tomorrow too..." Dylan gritted his teeth. He wanted to help Lyra but didn't know how. Then, he recalled the things Karen had said earlier. While walking alongside Astrid in the indoor garden, he asked in a mellow tone:
"May I ask something, even though I shouldn't be asking behind someone's back?"
Astrid laughed lightly. "If you know you shouldn't, why are you?"
"I want to help Lyra. I'm worried about her, and I can't help her if I don't understand what's causing her distress."
Astrid's eyes sparkled as she observed him closely. Smiling to herself, she asked, "Is that so? May I ask why you want to help her? Why do you even worry about her?"
Dylan paused, trying to think of an answer. After a brief silence, he replied, "Is there really a need for a reason to care for someone?"
Astrid chuckled. "I guess it's too early for you to realize your feelings."
Confused, Dylan turned his head. "What does that mean?"
"Never mind. Ask whatever you're curious about. I'll answer to the best of my ability."
"Can you tell me if something happened between Wily and Lyra? Lady Karen told me that Lyra used to bully Wily."
Astrid burst into sarcastic laughter.
"I suppose she would say that since that's how they exaggerate it to everyone. The truth is the opposite. She was the one who got bullied."
"What...?" Dylan was astonished as Astrid continued.
"After they moved into the palace, Hubris and Karen were mean to us from the start. But Wily was different. He was the only one who talked to us, and it felt like he genuinely cared. Until that day. I was still the Crown Princess then, while Lyra was just a Princess. As you can see, none of them followed the royal code. Lyra would correct them multiple times, and that irritated Hubris one day, who knocked her into the deep lake. Lyra, who couldn't swim, was drowning. She screamed for help, and Wily, who could swim, was the only one there. But he just stood there, with a blank expression, watching her drown. Luckily, Nanny got there in time to save her. Since then, Wily would smile and pretend to support us, but soon we noticed he was the one spreading bad rumors about us. Lyra, being the type to fight back, became his exclusive target. At first, it was childish bullying—putting gum in her hair, hiding insects in her food, soiling her clothes, and ripping pages out of her books. We complained to our father, but he dismissed it as children playing. Once, he even locked Lyra in the cold, dark basement. Lyra, terrified of places like that, was deeply impacted. The next day, she argued with Wily and let out all her anger. She jabbed him right where he was self-conscious."
Dylan clenched his fists, anger building inside him.
Astrid took a deep breath and continued.
"Growing up, Aunt Medea always told Wily he would be the next King. After they moved into the palace, seeing how everyone treated me and Lyra with more importance, he developed an inferiority complex. Lyra's words that day hit him hard, and he lashed out, hitting her. It was around the time she was 15 or 16. They fought, and Lyra was more injured, as Wily used books to strike her. She still has a scar on her forehead, which she covers with her hair. When everyone came outside to see what was going on, Lyra complained that Wily started it, but he denied it. Aunt Medea hit Lyra and told her to be quiet if she wanted to live. The maids who witnessed it were loyal to Aunt Medea, and rumors spread that Lyra was violent and aggressive. Everyone pitied Aunt Medea and Wily, who were sacrificing so much for us, while Lyra was seen as a brat."
"Where was King Derek then...?" Dylan asked, his voice cold.
"He was visiting your Kingdom, I believe. Since he was ill at the time, we refrained from telling him anything, fearing his health might worsen. No one believed Lyra anyway, so she stopped fighting back."
"Fuck them."
Astrid, surprised by Dylan's curse, added, "Dylan. Language."
"I apologize, but I don't care about my language right now. I meant what I said."
Dylan felt a strong urge to see and talk to Lyra immediately. He wanted to assure her that everything would be alright and that, if no one else was there to listen to and believe her, he would always be there. But since she wanted to be alone, he decided to meet her at breakfast.
The next morning, Duke Nabal and Lady Medea woke up early and invited Dylan for breakfast. Dylan tried to refuse, but they wouldn't hear of it. As they chatted, Dylan subtly brought up the topic of letters.
"Lady Medea, have you gotten to the bottom of what happened to those letters?" he asked.
Nabal, who seemed unaware of the issue, turned to his wife.
"Letters?"
"Yes, Lady Medea mentioned that all the invitations we sent to the princesses never reached her, so maybe someone along the way is the culprit."
Dylan nodded, and Nabal narrowed his gaze at Medea.
"But I delivered them to her..." Nabal said.
Medea glared back.
"Well, I didn't get them."
"It's okay, no worries," Dylan interrupted. "This time, I'll give an in-person invitation for my upcoming birthday."
Dylan smiled, and for a moment, Medea's face brightened, but then he added, "I'll go invite the princess after this. I really hope to see them, and this time, there will be no excuse about lost letters."
Medea stood up, fuming. "It is not an excuse! Do you think I'm lying? Are you calling me a liar?"
"No, who called you that?" Dylan replied, confused.
"You just did! I know you think I'm lying, but what would I gain from lying?" Medea shot back.
"Calm down... He didn't call you a liar. Now, let's talk about what we're gathered here for."
"I thought it was just a simple breakfast," Dylan shrugged, curious about their intentions.
"It is, but actually... I wanted to talk with King Aaron about this, but before doing so, I felt it would be more appropriate to talk to you first," Nabal said, glancing at his wife.
Dylan wondered what this was about, but he couldn't believe what Medea blurted out next.
"We want you and Karen to get engaged!"
Dylan's glare was cold as he looked at Lady Medea, whose face flinched ever so slightly before she gestured for her husband to speak. Nabal, sensing the tension, intervened.
"Don't speak so bluntly," he advised, but Medea was not deterred.
"Yes, my daughter is attractive. She'd make a splendid match for you," she declared without hesitation.
Nabal quickly attempted to soften the blow, offering a more calculated explanation.
"What my wife means to suggest is that a political marriage could strengthen the ties between our kingdoms. We've had discussions on this matter, and it's unfortunate that Lyra has refused. Before I speak to your father, however, I wanted to hear your thoughts. I will respect your wishes, of course."
Dylan could sense the underlying reason for Nabal's words—he knew that the proposal would be rejected, and he was merely playing a game to make sure Medea overheard it.
The proposal ignited Dylan's temper. He opened his mouth to refuse immediately but paused, considering his next words.
"Everything you said is true," he began, shocking Nabal.
"Huh?" Nabal looked bewildered, while Medea's eyes lit up with hope.
"However..." Dylan continued, his voice measured, "If we're talking about a political marriage, then the Princesses, being the direct royal heirs, would be the first candidates. Marrying your daughter offers no benefit to Helios."
The room grew silent as Nabal and Medea absorbed Dylan's words. Dylan stood, preparing to leave, but not before making his stance clear.
"I don't wish for a political marriage. I firmly reject this proposal."
With that, Medea stormed out, glaring at Nabal. The Duke sighed softly.
"I see. Understood."
His expression shifted to one of forced cheerfulness as he added, "It seems Hubris is waiting for you. He promised to show you around today. I hope you enjoy your time."
Dylan grumbled, frustrated by the encounter but determined to see Lyra. However, before he could leave, he ran into Xavier, who was also on his way to meet him. The two were walking down the corridor when they encountered Mary, Astrid's personal maid and Delilah's twin sister.
Mary bowed respectfully, then asked, "Has Your Highness seen Crown Princess Lyra?"
"No, why?" Dylan responded, his concern piqued.
"She left in anger earlier. We're worried she may get into trouble," Mary explained, her voice laced with concern.
"Trouble? What happened?" Dylan's unease grew.
Mary, unlike Delilah, was more open. "Well, last night, while Princess Lyra was in the bathroom, Hubris... Pardon my bluntness, but I only show respect to those who deserve it."
Dylan nodded, signaling her to continue.
"Hubris barged in, thinking no one was around. He searched the bedrooms and, finding no one, entered the bathroom. He said something that angered Princess Lyra terribly. She even went to complain to Wily about it, since Hubris listens to him more than anyone."
Dylan's jaw tightened in frustration. "What happened next?"
Mary continued, "This morning, some knights came to apologize for not guarding the Princess properly. When Lyra learned that Hubris had been spreading rumors about her, she became even angrier and stormed out. Since then, we've been searching for her everywhere."
Dylan's heart clenched. "I'll go look for her."
With that, he turned on his heel, leaving the corridor in haste. Xavier, who had been listening closely, turned to Mary.
"If you don't mind me asking, why don't the Princesses have royal guards or knights with them?"
Mary sighed, her expression softening with sympathy. "They used to, but Medea made excuses to keep them away. She'd say they needed extra training or had business elsewhere. When the knights refused, they were punished or threatened with dismissal. Princess Lyra didn't want them to suffer because of her, so she dismissed them. In truth, all the knights cared for the Princesses and wanted to stay. But Medea, being the one in charge of the palace, made sure they couldn't."
Mary looked at Xavier with pleading eyes. "Please, help us find Princess Lyra. I've never seen her this angry before."
"We will," Xavier reassured her, before heading off with Dylan to search for Lyra.