The following day, Prince Ryuuji invited Leticia to afternoon tea in the palace gardens. After a light refreshment, and with the discretion the conversation required, Ryuuji dismissed the staff, wishing for privacy with the princess.
"My brother has reported to me the dangers you faced during your journey," he began, his tone serious yet reassuring. "I am already taking measures to reinforce your security. As long as you are under the protection of this castle, you will be safe."
"I am immensely grateful, Your Highness," Leticia replied, inclining her head slightly in a gesture of thanks.
"Regarding our marriage," Ryuuji continued, observing her attentively, "I have decided, for the time being, not to officially announce it to the Kingdom. It is an additional measure to ensure your security."
"I am in no position to question your decision, Your Highness."
A glimmer of approval appeared in Ryuuji's eyes. "I thought she would be a spoiled princess who would burst into tears over the situation," he thought, admiring her composure. "But she has accepted her duty with remarkable dignity." Aloud, he continued:
"My royal assistant, Clifford, will provide you with the curriculum for your studies and training. These are necessary preparations for your future responsibilities as Queen of Autumn."
At that moment, Ryuuji noticed Aleph crossing a more distant courtyard, accompanied by a few assistants. He also noticed his brother's gaze linger a moment longer than necessary in their direction. A sudden and rather mischievous idea crossed Ryuuji's mind. Taking advantage of Aleph's apparent attention, he leaned in confidentially toward Leticia.
"By the way, Princess, there is something you might find interesting."
With a gesture, he invited her to draw even closer, as if he were about to share a state secret, his voice dropping to a whisper only she could hear.
"Would you like to know my brother's true name? The one he used before he became the warrior you know?"
"His true name?" Leticia repeated, her curiosity piqued.
"Aleph is the codename he adopted after his training with Master Yoshi. But his real name is..."
Ryuuji took a dramatic pause, bringing his lips even closer to Leticia's ear and speaking the name like a shared secret.
Ryuuji's maneuver was entirely intentional. From the angle where Aleph stood, the proximity and the gesture could easily be misinterpreted as a moment of intimacy, perhaps even a kiss. And it was precisely this spark of doubt or curiosity that Ryuuji wished to ignite in his brother. "Let's see how he reacts to this," he thought, an almost imperceptible smile on his lips.
After his little bit of theatre, Prince Ryuuji signaled for Clifford. The royal assistant promptly approached, carrying a clipboard with documents, and began to detail for Leticia the schedule of her activities and studies on the culture, history, and administration of the Autumn Kingdom.
After an extensive meeting with the First Counselor, Akiyama, Aleph—who held the positions of prince and Second Counselor—headed to his office, intending to immerse himself in pending governmental affairs, as his work had piled up during his absence.
Aleph was engrossed in organizing paperwork with his assistant, Akizawa, when the latter discreetly withdrew upon the sudden arrival of Prince Ryuuji. With a carefree air, Ryuuji entered the office and approached the desk where Aleph was working diligently.
"Ah, if only I had a way to record the look on your face when you saw me with the princess in the garden!" Ryuuji said, a playful smile illuminating his features as he lightly drummed his fingers on the desk's surface. "That look of contained anger... priceless!"
Aleph did not even lift his gaze from the scrolls, continuing to fill out the documentation with focus, a clear attempt to ignore the provocation. Ryuuji, however, was not to be deterred. He leaned against the edge of the desk, angling toward his brother, the amusement in his eyes now mingled with a piercing curiosity.
"So... what do you truly intend to do, brother, if by some chance I decide to become genuinely interested in her?" Ryuuji's voice was soft, almost casual, but the implication hung heavy in the air. "I think things could become a bit more complicated on your end, wouldn't you agree?"
"I only want Princess Leticia to be happy," Aleph replied, his voice controlled, without diverting his attention from his work. "Who she chooses to be with does not alter that fact."
"Are you sure about that?" Ryuuji pressed. "You don't truly want her? Think carefully. In the end, she can only give her heart to one of us. And you, what do you prefer? Think on it."
With those words lingering in the tense silence of the office, Ryuuji straightened up and departed as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving Aleph with his fists clenched under the desk and a rising irritation that made it even harder to concentrate on the mountain of work before him.
Meanwhile, the royal assistant, Clifford, presented Leticia with her schedule of activities. The first phase consisted of training focused on economic relations and her future administrative duties as Queen of Autumn, to be conducted by the First Counselor, Duke Akiyama. Secretly, Akiyama's intention with this initial phase was, above all, to assess the extent of the princess's prior knowledge.
Led to the library, Leticia found Clifford waiting for her. He handed her a dossier containing an evaluation prepared by the First Counselor. With permission to consult the archives of the vast library, Leticia dedicated herself to the task and, after a few hours of concentrated study, handed the completed document to Clifford.
Upon reviewing Leticia's answers, Counselor Akiyama could not contain his admiration. It was evident that her training with Master Yoshi had provided the princess with a distinguished level of knowledge and insight. Her arguments were solid, her references precise, and all her statements demonstrated a remarkable aptitude. Impressed, Akiyama commented to Clifford:
"Truly, the difference is astounding!"
"So different, Your Grace?" Clifford inquired, curious.
"Most certainly. A mind that has dedicated itself to deep and detailed study will always stand out above one that has merely scratched the surface of the same subject for a few months."
"I confess that King Ryuuichi's choice caused me some apprehension, considering the delicate condition of the Winter Kingdom; I feared the agreement might not be so favorable to us. But if Princess Leticia applies the knowledge she has demonstrated, this kingdom will certainly prosper even more with their union."
Satisfied, Duke Akiyama personally informed Leticia that she was excused from the formal first phase of training, though she would be required to submit monthly reports on the activities and studies she would undertake on her own. Thus, Leticia advanced to the second stage of her preparation: learning the customs and complex etiquette of the Autumn Kingdom's court. For this task, Akiyama assigned Duchess Hana, wife of Duke Kazeharu, one of the influential members of the official council.
For Leticia, many of these lessons on etiquette would not be new. Since her childhood in the Winter Kingdom, she had been prepared for a marriage with Prince Ryuuji, and the protocols of the nobility were part of her education. However, far from assuming she already knew everything, Leticia approached the new stage with humility and a genuine willingness to learn. Revisiting even the basic concepts could, in her view, offer new perceptions or reveal nuances from a different cultural perspective, and she was determined to absorb every detail.