That same day, Prince Ryuuji summoned Aleph to his office. The tension of the morning seemed to have amused the crown prince, who wasted no time in commenting on the newly arrived Knight Daniel.
"So, Princess Leticia now has a second knight at her disposal..." Ryuuji began, leaning back in his armchair with a jeering smile on his lips. "I did not expect that!"
Aleph, who had already anticipated where the conversation was heading, maintained a neutral expression.
"Did you summon me merely to discuss this?"
"Indeed! Sir Daniel's behavior has sparked a certain curiosity in me. Tell me, what would you do if, perchance, I decided to... test her limits?"
"What do you mean by that?" Aleph's voice, though calm, held a note of warning.
"I mean," Ryuuji leaned forward, his smile now sharper, "if I decided to take certain... liberties... while others were not watching, who exactly would stop me?"
"You should think a little about her feelings. After all... she is alone in an unknown kingdom."
"Brother, brother..." Ryuuji shook his head, a false note of reprimand in his voice. "Your concern is touching, but perhaps a bit... excessive for your position. Someone might misinterpret such zeal."
"Forgive my intrusion, Your Highness," Aleph said, bowing formally, his jaw tight.
"Ah, this is becoming more entertaining than I expected," Ryuuji thought, observing his brother's controlled irritation.
"By the way, since I'm here, I have some documents for you to review," Aleph said. "Preferably by tomorrow."
With an almost imperceptible flick of his hand, Aleph caused a pile of documents to materialize, perfectly stacked, upon Ryuuji's desk.
Ryuuji blinked, genuine surprise briefly breaking his amused facade as he realized his brother's maneuver. The "punishment" for the tasteless joke had been returned with silent efficiency and a touch of irony.
Shortly after his conversation with Leticia, Daniel made his way to Aleph's office, where Akizawa, the assistant, received him with usual formality, informing him that Prince Aleph was momentarily meeting with Prince Ryuuji but would not be long. He requested that Daniel wait. As he waited, Daniel couldn't help but admire the elegance of the room, so different from the simpler settings he was used to. A certain apprehension took hold of him; the matter he had come to discuss was of extreme importance and gravity, and he wasn't sure how Leticia would react to all the details.
When Aleph finally entered the office, Daniel was surprised yet again, this time by the contrast between the imposing figure of the prince in his formal attire and the memory of the knight in simple clothes he had first met. Although he already suspected Aleph was no mere knight, the confirmation of his position as the second prince of Autumn still caused a slight sense of awe.
Without delay, Daniel laid out what he knew, repeating the report he had given to Leticia about the growing influence of a General Shineid in the Winter Kingdom, but this time adding the crucial information he had omitted from the princess: his investigations, though still with gaps, pointed strongly to King Hayden himself being the General Shineid behind the conspiracy. However, observing Aleph's reaction, Daniel realized that this information seemed to cause the prince no surprise at all.
"Aleph, I can't believe her own father wants to kill her!" Daniel exclaimed, incredulity still heavy in his voice.
"King Hayden is not Leticia's father," Aleph corrected calmly, the revelation hanging in the air.
Daniel was completely stunned.
"Then... How and why is he the king?"
"That is a long story, Sir Daniel," Aleph replied.
Realizing that Aleph would not elaborate on Leticia's complex lineage or the circumstances that led Hayden to the Winter throne, Daniel decided to change the subject, expressing his other surprise.
"One thing that caught me off guard was learning you are a prince... And there's more... I really thought you and Princess Leticia were in a relationship. That's why I suggested those more... romantic... inns. But now I find out she's betrothed to your brother, Prince Ryuuji." Daniel scratched his head. "Listen, if you really like her, why don't you... steal her from your brother? Or perhaps a strategic kidnapping? That would also be a possibility, right?"
Aleph sighed, a shadow of something Daniel couldn't identify crossing his gaze.
"This situation is... complicated, Sir Daniel. There are factors at play beyond what you imagine."
"Complicated? But, if I may be so bold, sometimes complications are just excuses we create!" Daniel retorted. "If the feeling is true, shouldn't you fight for it? Imagine the scene: a spectacular escape, or perhaps a duel to win her heart...?"
Daniel continued to chatter, offering a range of fantastic scenarios and alternatives for how Aleph and Leticia could be together. Aleph, who had been deliberately trying to push such thoughts from his mind, felt his irritation grow. With a quick and almost impatient movement, he opened a portal beside Daniel and, with a gentle push, directed the young man into it. The portal began to close rapidly.
"But... I wasn't even done talking!" Daniel's voice grew more distant and muffled as the portal contracted. "If you just keep repressing this feeling, you'll regret not doing anything! Remember my words!"
The portal snapped shut with a soft pop, leaving Aleph alone in the silence of his office. Daniel, for his part, found himself suddenly in a familiar place.
"Where did he send me this time? Ah... it seems to be the Winter Kingdom."