Ryuuji, who until then had been observing Daniel with an analytical curiosity, noted that this was a second knight in Leticia's service, one about whom he had not been previously informed. Daniel's aura, though not as uncommon as his brother's, awoke in Ryuuji the desire to probe the character of this young warrior. "I don't mind being hated," Ryuuji thought, a new resolution forming, "but Leticia's safety is paramount, and I need to understand the loyalties that surround her."
He stood up. Instead of granting the request directly, he approached Leticia. With a gesture that silenced the hall, he gently took her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. His voice, though low, carried a deliberately icy and possessive tone.
"What could you possibly have to hide from me, Princess? There should be no secrets between us. After all... we will soon be married." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "And it does not seem appropriate, nor prudent, for you to converse with other men without my company."
The veiled threat in Ryuuji's words hung in the air. Before Leticia could react, Daniel's staff appeared between them, not aggressively, but as a firm, symbolic barrier, forcing a slight retreat from them both.
"With all due respect, Your Highness," Daniel said, his voice firm, though a glint of contained fury sparked in his eyes, "I find your behavior and your insinuations toward Princess Leticia to be profoundly inappropriate."
Ryuuji turned slowly to face Daniel, a cold and dangerous smile beginning to form on his lips.
"And I could consider your meddling and your posture a grave offense to the crown of Autumn."
The two faced each other, a sparking tension filling the space between them, the silence of the hall broken only by the suspended breath of those present.
Daniel had been flagrantly disrespectful, interposing his staff and challenging the ruler of the Autumn Kingdom. Leticia, perceiving the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to de-escalate, lightly touched Ryuuji's arm.
"Your Highness, I ask that you forgive my knight's overzealousness..."
Ryuuji ignored her apology, his gaze still fixed on Daniel before turning coldly back to Leticia, his tone laden with an authority that brooked no argument.
"Princess, your knight's dedication is evident, but his impulsiveness in a foreign court could generate serious misunderstandings. I advise you to instruct him quickly on the appropriate conduct, before he discovers that Autumnal etiquette can be taught through rather... convincing methods."
With a nod, Ryuuji granted them permission to withdraw. Leticia, who had not expected such harshness and authoritarianism from Ryuuji, which in a way startled her, gave a tense curtsy and excused herself from the hall along with Daniel, both aware of Ryuuji's piercing and calculating gaze on their backs.
"At least the boy knows no limits in his devotion to protecting her," Ryuuji murmured to himself, a trace of unexpected and dark satisfaction in his voice.
After the tense conversation with Ryuuji in the throne room, Leticia and Daniel made their way to the outer gardens of the palace, seeking a more private place where they could talk without curious eyes. They found an isolated stone bench in the shade of an ancient oak tree.
Daniel unfolded a small scroll, clearly a report.
"Princess Leticia, the situation in the Winter Kingdom is worse than I thought. I've identified the actions of a General Shineid who, using the people's despair and the ambition of some nobles, is dragging them to Risny's side, offering power and false solutions to the crisis. Many are falling into this trap, weakened by hunger."
Leticia listened attentively, her brow furrowed in concentration, trying to absorb the gravity of his words.
"But how can this be possible, Sir Daniel? For what reason would our people turn to... the shineideas? We were always taught to fear them, to resist their influence."
"Despair is a powerful weapon, Your Highness," Daniel explained, his tone heavy with regret. "This General Shineid is making the current government look like the cause of all the problems. I haven't managed to get all the details yet—his network of contacts is large and discreet—but it is evident that loyalty in the Winter Kingdom is fracturing dangerously."
Leticia's concern, already intense, deepened. If the situation in the kingdom was so volatile, her brother...
"And Laurenn? How is he in this situation, Sir Daniel?"
Daniel hesitated, his gaze shifting away for an instant. It was clear he was reluctant to share all the details, likely to avoid distressing her further.
"Princess Leticia, your brother..." he hesitated, clearly measuring his words. "Prince Laurenn's situation is very delicate, not to say dangerous. His safety is at serious risk, because General Shineid is spreading propaganda that the prince is the one to blame for the kingdom's current state."
The mere mention of danger made Leticia's heart clench. She knew Laurenn's courage, but also his vulnerability, and now there was the threat of the shineideas. Perceiving the anguish stamped on the princess's face, and understanding the depth of the bond that united them, Daniel hurried to add, his voice now firm and resolute:
"But I assure you of one thing, Your Highness: I will spare no effort to help him and keep him safe. I give you my word."
"Please, Sir Daniel, do everything you can to help him."
With a swift gesture, she removed a sealed letter from a small pouch, one she had written previously when she learned Daniel would be at the castle.
"Deliver this to him, please."
Daniel received the letter with a bow.
"I will carry out your orders, Princess."
Leticia knew she couldn't be physically by Laurenn's side at this critical moment, but she trusted in her brother's inner strength. The letter was a testament to that faith: a message of unwavering support, reminding him of his impressive abilities and the resilience he didn't always recognize in himself. She firmly believed that, with the right support, Laurenn could overcome any challenge.
Daniel prepared to depart, the mission to protect Prince Laurenn now engraved in his mind. However, before saying his farewells and activating the portal key that would take him back to the troubled Winter Kingdom, he knew there was one last pending conversation, one crucial piece of information he hadn't dared to share with Leticia, but that needed to be told to Aleph.