The next morning, Daniel, one of Leticia's informants, appeared with news. He had successfully infiltrated the castle and confirmed that security was increasingly negligent. He also reported the deaths of some councilors at the hands of the Shineideas, but reassured Leticia that Laurenn was not in immediate danger.
Daniel cast a suspicious glance at Aleph, aware that the two were sharing the same room. Aleph, with a subtle gesture, assured him that nothing improper had occurred.
"You two should continue staying together, as a couple," Daniel advised. "To avoid suspicion."
Leticia agreed. After all, they would be married soon. What was the problem?
"By the way," Daniel continued, "I discovered a charming inn in the next town. You should stay there."
He handed Leticia the address and hurried off, promising to return with more information. Leticia passed the address to Aleph, interested in the suggestion.
Shortly after, however, Daniel returned to speak with Aleph privately. His expression was serious.
"I don't know if I should tell the princess this, but… there are strong indications that Prince Laurenn is being… mistreated," Daniel revealed in a low voice.
The news alarmed Aleph. He had already noticed the change in Laurenn's behavior, the insecurity and fear that haunted him, unlike during their training with the Master.
"Stay vigilant, Daniel," Aleph requested. "I will take care of this."
Daniel, with his jovial and romantic spirit, typical of the inhabitants of the Spring Kingdom, couldn't resist asking a question.
"Sir Aleph, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"You and the princess… really nothing happened last night?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
Aleph sighed, incredulous, but Daniel continued.
"Look, you should approach her like this!" he exclaimed, leaning against the wall as if there were a person there. "And say: 'My love for you pulses intensely in my chest! Let us ignite the flame of passion!' And then… kiss her! What do you think?"
Aleph suppressed a laugh. This topic, so inappropriate after the serious conversation about Laurenn, amused him.
"Perhaps you're more the silent type…" Daniel continued, unfazed. "Look deeply into her eyes and… attack!"
Before Daniel could continue with his romantic tips, Aleph opened a portal and sent him back to the Winter Kingdom, freeing himself, at least for now, from his amorous advice.
…
Aleph and Leticia crossed the border into the Spring Kingdom, the magic of the place enveloping them like a welcoming embrace. As they traversed a lush forest, Leticia, distracted by the beauty of the landscape, accidentally bumped into a distracted young woman walking in the opposite direction. The impact caused the young woman to drop the basket of medicinal plants she was carrying.
"I'm so sorry!" Leticia exclaimed, rushing to help the young woman gather the herbs scattered on the ground. "Are they still usable?"
"Don't worry," the young woman replied with a gentle smile.
While gathering the herbs, they introduced themselves. Leticia was enchanted by Lilly's bright blonde hair and couldn't resist a compliment. Although her cousin, Prince Erik, was also blond, the shade was very different.
"Your hair is beautiful!" Leticia praised. "What's your secret?"
Lilly, in turn, was surprised by Leticia's appearance. The young woman was beautiful, with long black hair and blue eyes, while the young man accompanying her had silver hair and gray eyes, giving them both a distinctive appearance. In Lilly's eyes, they made a striking couple. However, upon observing Aleph, she had the slight impression that she had met him before.
It was then, as she accepted Leticia's outstretched hand to stand up, that a soft glow emanated from the crystal she carried close to her chest. Leticia, surprised, noticed a similar glow coming from the pink crystal Lilly wore as a pendant. Showing her own equally glowing blue crystal, Leticia commented:
"What a surprise! I've never seen my crystal shine like this," Lilly exclaimed. "I received this crystal from my parents, who told me to always carry it with me, as it would protect me."
For Aleph, there was no doubt: Lilly was the Guardian of Nature with the attribute of Spring. This unexpected encounter surprised him. He observed her carefully, trying to decipher the meaning of the crystals' glow and wondering if this chance meeting might awaken Leticia's dormant memories of the incident in the village. The Guardians' powers were still a mystery to him.
Lost in thought, Aleph didn't notice someone calling him. It was Lowell, the physician who had helped them after the Shineidea attack.
"It's good to see you recovered!" Lowell said, addressing Aleph.
"Thank you again for your help that day…" Aleph replied with a nod. "By the way, what are you doing here?"
"We're collecting some medicinal herbs," Lowell explained. "Lilly is one of the kingdom's greatest experts on medicinal plants. She developed a medicine with incredible healing power."
Lowell observed Aleph's reaction. He didn't seem surprised by the information, not out of disinterest, but as if he already knew about Lilly's ability. This intrigued Lowell.
Aleph, realizing it was time to leave, said goodbye.
"I hope you enjoy your stay in the Spring Kingdom," Lowell wished them.
As Leticia and Aleph walked away, Lilly commented:
"In such a short time, I felt like I could be great friends with Leticia… But, Doctor Lowell…" she hesitated, unsure how to express her thought. "Have you ever felt like… you owed something to someone you just met? Like a debt of gratitude?"
"Honestly, no," Lowell replied, frowning. "But in your case, perhaps it makes sense, considering your memory loss."
As they walked, following their planned route, Leticia commented excitedly:
"I enjoyed meeting Lilly. I feel like we could be great friends if we had more time to get to know each other."
"Perhaps, in the future…" Aleph replied with an enigmatic smile.