The sun was about to set, tinging the tower room with orange tones and elongated shadows. Dahlia watched her face's reflection on the surface of the hot tea, silently reflecting on her own plans. In a few hours, she would have to leave, but an uncomfortable doubt still accompanied her.
"Are you sure you don't want to send a letter to your mother?" Raven's soft voice interrupted her thoughts. "She is very worried, believes you have been treated too severely."
Raven, the First Princess, continued to demonstrate her impeccable and serene behavior. Dahlia looked up, meeting her sister's peach-colored eyes, and smirked a light smile.
"What good would it do to send a letter? Mom would insist on the issue of my marriage, and that would only irritate our father."
"Yes, dad has been easily irritated lately" Raven replied in a sympathetic tone. "Some nobles have worn him out, but the situation is... under control."
That news caught her by surprise. Well, it was normal for the Emperor to always look tired because of his work as ruler. Despite the great burden, he always transparently imposing that perfectly hid his weaknesses. Someone worthy of the crown he wears.
"Does he seem stressed? Is something going on?"
Raven drank a sip of the tea and smiled lightly. Always composed and elegant as a princess should be. The peach-colored eyes shone in combination with the sunset that shone behind her.
"Some investigations. Our father has dealt with cases of corruption among nobles, and this messed up the parliament. But things are going well... In fact, you would be surprised to know how some nobles get lost in their own ambitions."
The chaos... definitely the Imperial Palace has been in crisis for some time. Since the hunting festival things have become agitated. Or better... since the marriage of the Eighth Prince. Elyon, when alive, faced difficulties in relation to the Port of Baydenn, where the Grand duke's new consort spent his honeymoon.
Beneath the surface of her embroidered cup, Dahlia carefully observed her older sister.
"I thought the councillors of parliament would be dissatisfied, but... you don't seem bothered, Raven. In a way, they're using that to put you on the front line, right?"
"Some voices, perhaps" Raven smiled, lowering her gaze. "Some nobles tried to put me as the face of this question. But you know how it is... I'm happy to help discreetly, letting our father deal with the most... exhausting issues."
Of course, it would be good for Raven's reputation if she could be recognized as someone who contributed to the resolution of the problem with the rebels and mercenaries. At the same time, the nobles do not want her to gain too much prominence to the point of becoming a target and running some danger.
"Help discreetly..." reflected Dahlia. The expression on Raven's face remained calm, but there was something in the intonation of her words that aroused a strange restlessness. Dahlia could not avoid a quick glance at the corner of the room, where Raven's guard, Maverick Sageclaw, stood firm and silent. A handsome and strong alpha who has attracted the attention of various nobles. Many want to marry their children to him, since he is a war hero and also expressed his loyalty during the event of the hunting festival.
"He always accompanies you, right?" Dáhlia muttered, unable to disguise a dry tone.
"Ah, Maverick is a faithful guard and my protector. I'm safer knowing he's around" replied Raven with an almost dreamy smile. "Although the nobles always make up rumors about us. They do not get tired."
Dahlia watched her sister for a moment, remembering the rumours she had heard about Maverick and Stephen Baragnon.
"But there are rumours that he approached the Baragnon's son... Sir Stephen."
The careless comment made Dáhlia bite her cheek and discreetly look at her sister. However, to her good fortune, the First Princess kept smiling like a doll. Knew she had feelings for Maverick, and probably the nobles who supported her celebrated the Imperial Consort's decision to make him his escort.
"Ah, Sir Maverick just wants to help young Stephen adapt. He's a fair and friendly nobleman, but people like to create stories. He knows where your loyalty lies."
Dahlia arched her eyebrows, leaning a little forward, and noticed the discreet smile and eyes of Raven accompanying the guard.
"If you say so..."
"Anyway, I'm happy to be together. Oh right, we intend to announce our engagement soon."
"What? Engagement? With him?"
The surprise struck Dahlia's face, but Raven just lowered the cup and looked at her tenderly.
"Yes, dear. After all, he is the most convenient choice for me. Unlike certain choices, which put sisters in tower" she replied, in a light tone, but with the gaze fixed on Dahlia.
Dahlia felt attacked by those words. Raven was referring to her own engagement, the same one that the Emperor had rejected. The pain was still recent, and Raven's bite brought him resentment.
"Raven... how can you try to get engaged when even I couldn't? Do you think our father will allow that?"
"Well, Dahlia, the problem of your engagement was the identity of your fiance. Our father did not allow it because he suspected him. But Sir Maverick is a noble and still a knight recognized by the Emperor."
"Even so..."
"If you had followed my advice and accepted to marry a noble of our Empire, you would already be on the altar."
The words said by Raven stabbed Dahlia in full. She was right, she knew it. Raven advised her to join a noble who would guarantee the security and stability that Dahlia needed... as long as she relinquished the throne.
But in the end, leaving her marriage in other people's hands resulted in her being trapped in that tower as if she had committed a great crime.
Narrowing her eyes, Dahlia lost her appetite and left the cup on the coffee table.
"Sure, I'll pretend this is my fault."
"Well, mine is not" Raven answered slightly irritated, but soon her countenance was saddened "My sister... I know you're jealous, but don't take it out on me. You chose that man."
"There is nothing I can do for now" Dáhlia sighed as she crossed her arms "I'm more concerned about my mother's safety. So when will she leave?"
"I believe she has already left the capital. Returning to her family's territory will be the best thing. I wanted to try to talk to our father to get you out of this tower and make sure that you leave with it."
Raven's concern was clear, but Dahlia was more concerned with something else. The presence of the knight listening to their conversation irritated her. Besides, Dahlia didn't trust him.
"I understand."
"By the way, sister... I heard that Lucian came to visit you these days."
Dáhlia's body stiffened. Slowly she looked at Raven who was looking at her innocently. How did she know? Lucian came in hiding, even wearing a cape. Dahlia even learned that there was a commotion with the guards of the tower and that this would result in more people watching her.
"How do you know?"
"There is double surveillance in the tower. Some said to have seen the Eighth Prince here recently, but I believe it is only rumour. What would he have to deal with you, anyway?"
She should not reveal the truth. That she was already legally married to Rayland. Dahlia sighed and kept her composure to make sure that information was a secret.
"It seems that the Grand Duke sent him to find out if I am involved with the attack of the hunting festival."
"My goodness, don't tell me they're suspecting you after what happened with Elyon!"
"That's what it looks like" Dáhlia lied, clenching her fingers on her lap "I think that's why our father is keeping me trapped here."
"Poor Dahlia" Raven got up from the couch and turned around to sit next to her sister and hug her tight "How can they treat you like a criminal?"
"Raven..."
"Don't worry, Dahlia. I will protect you, and you will be able to get out of this tower before the New Year's Eve dance."
A shiver passed through Dahlia and she hugged Raven back. She didn't want to be there during the new year because it would certainly be used. Lucian's words made sense, and she knew very well that it would be used again if she stayed there too long.
Only that knowing that Lucian was seen... it made her afraid to run away.
After such a promise, Raven withdrew accompanied by her escort. Alone in the tower, Dahlia looked out of the window watching the sky darken. She stood up and changed her dress for riding clothes and fastened her hair before putting on a cape.
While she was writing a letter, a presence came through the window. Dáhlia raised her head as she saw the woman wearing a cape and a sharp gaze.
"Who are you?"
"I came to escort you to your husband. I am Ethera."
Dahlia remembered Lucian's words about sending an ethereal person to fetch her. So it was a code. It gave her chills.
When did Lucian stop being a coward?
"Don't you have any luggage?"
"No." Dahlia sealed the letter and approached the woman "When you have time, could you send this to my mother? Secretly, preferably."
Ethera stared at the princess and then looked at the letter and sighed. She picked up the letter and slipped it into some pocket.
"All right. Then let's go."
"But how are we going to get out? I heard they increased the guard after Lucian's visit."
"Excuse me."
Without understanding, Dahlia was taken by surprise when Ethera took her in her arms with ease. Clinging to her shoulders not to fall, the princess blinked stunned and was even more frightened when that woman simply jumped out of the window.
The insanity was excessive. The tower was several meters high!
But Ethera seemed to have used a rope, and there were some figures assisting her on the lower floors. Thanks to the dusk, they could escape easily!
After leaving the tower, Dahlia was put on the ground. So they followed through the back of the Imperial Palace, where a rented carriage was waiting for them. When the door was opened, a hand extended to Dahlia.
The perfume was recognized immediately.
Dahlia noticed the charming man smiling at her finally having her in his possession again.
"Come on, wife."
"Rayland..."
"Haha, you're cute when surprise" Rayland grabbed Dáhlia's wrist and pulled her into the carriage "Now there's no way to run from me, little princess."
The heart of the princess accelerated, but pride prevented her from falling into the charms of that charming pirate.
"What the hell did you do? My father didn't accept our marriage, and you involved the Eighth Prince in it?"
"Why, you've been running away from me like a scared kitten. I did my best to chase you" The carriage began to run hastily, making Rayland hold firmly and princess in his lap while looking at her with malice "Moreover, your precious brother is a lunatic."
"What?"
"Don't worry, it's just business" He tuck a lock of Dáhlia's hair behind her ear, watching how hot her skin became with his actions "I admit that I had no faith in that prince, but since we have reached this level... I must keep my part of the deal."