King Hayden had summoned Leticia to an administrative meeting to discuss the details of her marriage to Prince Ryuuji. All the royal advisors and Prince Laurenn were present. The advisors, with grave expressions, painted a bleak picture of the kingdom's financial situation, emphasizing the strategic importance of the marriage agreement with the Autumn Kingdom.
Hayden, leaning on his elbows, hands clasped, stared at the table with a worried expression.
"We cannot afford to refuse this proposal," he declared, his voice heavy. "We cannot have them as enemies… We would not have the strength to face them."
Laurenn, despite his deep disagreement, decided to support the decision. After all, he knew Prince Ryuuji from the time of their royal training. If Ryuuji treated Leticia with respect and kindness, the marriage, though unwanted, could be tolerable. Furthermore, the presence of a trusted knight would guarantee his sister's safety in the Autumn Kingdom.
When King Hayden began to suggest names of knights to accompany Leticia, she interrupted him firmly.
"Your Majesty, if possible, I would like to choose my own knight."
Laurenn's immediate support reinforced Leticia's request. The princess knew she needed to find someone outside the sphere of influence of the king and the advisors, a warrior truly loyal to her.
Apprehension tightened Leticia's chest. Marrying a complete stranger, in a distant kingdom, was a daunting prospect. But she understood the importance of her mission. The future of the Winter Kingdom depended on this marriage.
Leticia wrestled with a matter of protocol: would it be appropriate to send a gift to Prince Ryuuji in return for the dress? Unfamiliar with the customs of the Autumn Kingdom, she decided to consult the vast archives of the castle library. The research, however, proved fruitless, leading her to the marketplace in search of inspiration.
Her attention was captured by a stall of exotic fruits, a rarity in the Winter Kingdom. As she approached and reached for a particularly striking fruit, she noticed another hand reaching for the same one. It was Aleph. With a gentle gesture, he yielded the fruit to Leticia. They exchanged greetings, an amused smile illuminating both their faces.
The stall owner, a loquacious woman, interrupted their brief reunion.
"Have you heard the big news?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Aleph and Leticia showed little receptiveness to gossip, but the woman, undeterred, continued:
"The princess is going to marry a prince from another kingdom!" she exclaimed. "They say she's an extremely beautiful young woman, but she lives secluded in the castle. They say no one can see her, for they would fall madly in love! You, being a knight, have you seen her?" she asked, addressing Aleph.
Leticia was amused by the compliment, suppressing a smile.
"I'm not a knight of the castle," Aleph replied. "But if no one sees her, perhaps her beauty is just a rumor."
"A pity!" the woman lamented. "I so wanted to give her a gift, in gratitude for making this effort to help the kingdom."
Leticia, touched by the woman's words, held her hands affectionately.
"Even if you can't deliver the gift personally," she said with a gentle smile, "I'm sure your feelings will reach the princess."
The woman smiled, comforted by Leticia's words. Aleph, however, watched the scene with a thoughtful expression. There was something in the way Leticia spoke, as if answering for the princess, that intrigued him.
Suddenly, Aleph's expression turned to alarm. With a firm pull, he dragged Leticia close to him. Confused, she only understood what had happened a split second later. A stack of crates, precariously positioned beside her, crashed to the ground exactly where she had been standing seconds before. The impact was strong enough to cause serious, or even fatal, injury.
Aleph, his senses on high alert, looked around for any sign of the person responsible for the "accident," but found nothing.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tense with concern.
A tremor ran through Leticia's body. Until then, the incidents had seemed almost… accidental. But the fall of the crates was different, deliberate. What if Aleph hadn't reacted in time? What if the fruit stall owner had been in her place? Anguish washed over her.
Noticing her distress, Aleph gently led her to a nearby bench, away from the hustle and bustle of the market. They sat in silence for a few moments, Leticia still processing what had almost happened.
"I'm very grateful for your help," she said finally, her voice still trembling. "If it weren't for your quick reaction… I…"
"I did no more than my duty as a knight," Aleph replied in a calm tone, seeking to reassure her.
…
In a dark and damp alley, the atmosphere charged with tension, a hooded figure berated their subordinate with contained fury.
"Incompetent!" hissed the figure, their voice raspy and menacing. "You can't even knock over a few crates! At this rate, someone else will end up collecting the bounty on her head."
"But, boss, I couldn't have foreseen that meddling knight showing up!" the subordinate justified, their voice trembling with fear.
"I don't care about your excuses!" growled the hooded figure. "Next time you fail, your head will be the prize. Understood?"
…
Aleph, perceiving that Leticia had calmed down, prepared to leave. She, however, stopped him with a question. He sat back down beside her.
"May I ask you a personal question, Knight Aleph?"
"Please, Miss Ticy."
"If you are from the Autumn Kingdom, why did you come to the Winter Kingdom?"
"I came to find someone," Aleph replied, evading a direct answer.
"Prince Laurenn?" Leticia pressed.
Aleph pondered for a moment. Better to say it was him, to avoid further questions. It wouldn't exactly be a lie, after all, meeting Laurenn again was also part of his plans.
"Yes. He invited me to train here and I accepted. I've always been interested in the history of the Winter Kingdom," he added.
"If you like history, I can lend you some books from my private collection," Leticia offered enthusiastically. "And there are many others in the royal library at the castle. Our kingdom is famous for preserving its past."
"You seem to truly love your kingdom," Aleph observed, admiring the passion in her eyes.
"I get excited about the things I love," Leticia admitted, blushing slightly. "But, if you're going to work in the castle, you'll have access to the royal library anyway."
Aleph smiled, captivated by Leticia's genuine enthusiasm. She looked away, momentarily shy. He said goodbye and left, leaving Leticia lost in thought.
"He would be an excellent knight… He reacted so quickly to the incident…" she thought. "But if he came at Laurenn's invitation, perhaps he is already in his service. I need to investigate."