With Leticia's fever under control, Laurenn could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The anguish of losing her, as had happened with his mother, was unbearable to him. He visited her frequently, ensuring she was recovering well.
Taking advantage of her sister's improvement and Laurenn's absence—as he had gone to advise her to rest—Rachel decided to put her plan to seduce Aleph into motion.
She inquired with her lady-in-waiting about the knight's whereabouts, discovering that he was in the library.
"He is the most fascinating man in this kingdom," Rachel thought with determination. "And he will be mine."
In the library, Aleph was attentively studying the history books Leticia had recommended, also consulting other ancient documents. His concentration, however, did not prevent him from noticing Rachel's approach. Without looking up from his book, he asked:
"How can I help you, Lady Rachel?"
Rachel, ignoring the lack of formality, walked around the table with a seductive smile.
"I heard you will be departing soon, Sir Aleph," she said, placing her hand on his arm with an insinuating touch. "Why don't we have a little fun while there's still time? I imagine you're unoccupied now that the princess is ill."
Aleph glanced coldly at the spot where she was touching him and closed his book. Rachel, unshaken, leaned over him, whispering in his ear:
"We could... find a more private place."
"That would be an interesting proposal..." Aleph began in an enigmatic tone.
Rachel smiled, interpreting his hesitation as interest. But Aleph completed the sentence with a cutting coldness:
"...if I were interested."
Standing up, he gathered his books and headed for the exit, turning his back on Rachel without hesitation.
"How dare you?!" Rachel exploded, furious. "I will be the future queen of this kingdom! You should obey my orders!"
"I choose which orders I wish to follow," Aleph replied without turning around. "And they certainly will not be yours. Besides, if you intend to continue with this attitude, I advise you to be more cautious."
Aleph's arrogance enraged her even more. How dare he, a mere knight, reject her and still treat her with such disdain?
"I will not be humiliated like this!" Rachel thought, clenching her fists. "Who does he think he is?! He will pay for this!"
Rachel, consumed by anger and a thirst for revenge, swore to herself that she would make Aleph bitterly regret his audacity.
The next morning, with Leticia slowly recovering, Laurenn summoned Aleph to his office.
"Leticia will be leaving for the Autumn Kingdom soon," Laurenn began in a serious tone. "I know I shouldn't ask this, but... could you protect her during the journey?"
Aleph remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on some distant point.
"The princess's determination and strength, even in the face of adversity, inspire me," he finally replied. "I cannot let her face these dangers alone. I will accept your request."
Despite his decision, a promise still bound him. Aleph owed a debt of gratitude to someone, a person who had saved his life in the past, and he had sworn to repay the favor. He had not yet found this person, but the promise remained alive in his heart.
"I haven't found her yet, but when I do, my loyalty will be entirely hers, regardless of anything else."
Hesitantly, Aleph decided to broach a delicate subject.
"There is something that... I don't know if I should say..."
"You can speak. I will listen."
"Reconsider your engagement," Aleph said frankly. "This marriage was arranged by King Hayden. Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"
"How can I refuse when my sister was subjected to the same situation?" Laurenn argued.
"They are different situations," Aleph insisted.
"I see no difference," Laurenn countered stubbornly.
"I know I cannot interfere, but you should take the throne as soon as possible," Aleph continued, ignoring Laurenn's objection. "And avoid..."
Aleph stopped himself. He could not interfere in the internal affairs of another kingdom, nor reveal confidential information without concrete proof.
"I can say no more, Laurenn. It is up to you to discover the truth. Master Yoshi's guidelines are clear: a visiting prince cannot interfere in the politics of another kingdom."
"It's been a long time since we've talked like this, since our training with Master Yoshi," Laurenn commented nostalgically.
"I learned a lot in those days," Aleph agreed. "But so did you. Your reports in the library are impressive."
"Thank you," Laurenn replied, but sadness lingered in his voice. "But the person whose recognition I desire most... continues to despise me."
"Your lack of confidence is unfounded, Laurenn. Believe in yourself. Don't depend on the approval of others."
"But his approval is important to me..." Laurenn insisted, his voice heavy with anguish.
✧ Chapter Notes ✧
After completing the rigorous training with Master Yoshi, the crown princes embark on an exchange in another kingdom, a practical experience to enhance their knowledge of different governance models. Generally, this exchange focuses on administrative activities, allowing the princes to observe and learn from the practices of other courts.
In exceptional cases, at the request of Master Yoshi himself, the exchange may extend to other areas, such as diplomacy, trade, or military arts. In these cases, Master Yoshi sends an official communication to the chosen kingdom, informing the king or the crown prince of the start of the specialized training. Depending on the Master's objectives, the identity of the prince in training may be kept secret, even from the authorities of the host kingdom.
This discretion ensures that the prince experiences the reality of the kingdom without privileges or differential treatment, allowing for a complete immersion in the local culture and customs. In situations of danger, the prince can present a symbol of royal authorization, proving his identity and ensuring his protection.
During the exchange, the visiting prince is subject to strict rules: do not interfere in the internal politics of the host kingdom, respect its laws and traditions, and keep his royal identity secret unless absolutely necessary. This transformative experience aims to prepare future rulers for the challenges of leadership, providing them with a broad and diverse view of the complexities of governance.