"WE WILL BE seeing each other again. There's no reason to look so glum, milady," Silas said with a hearty laugh as he fixed the saddle on the chestnut-brown horse. "Besides, the Social Season is just around the corner. All the more reason for you to go."

Silas patted the horse's rear once the cinch was tight and the saddle was secure. Melusine had to reason that the rope she used to tie her mount came loose which guaranteed the horse's escape. If Silas had not convinced her that Celia had a spare horse in the stable at the back of the house, Melusine wouldn't take his offer to lend her his steed.

Prince Edric was still sour that afternoon and wouldn't let her ride with him. Melusine thought the prince was acting like a child, so she let him in his hissy fit until he came to his senses.

As for seeing each other again, Melusine did not doubt it. Sooner or later, their paths would cross. The interventions she'd made bound her fate with the Knights. . . and with the prince making his way to them, sitting mightily atop his white stallion.

However, the reason for her glumness was not of this timely departure but of the words spoken by the true seers of the sky. Ravens had the gift of prophecy and insight and many feared their presence for they were believed to be the harbingers of death and sickness.

Melusine knew the raven's prophecy to be the truth, but understanding did not come in pair with knowing. What certain price had to be paid? And who would rise as the Evil Queen? Even if the prophecy had yet to take place in the far future, Melusine's heart reached for that one innocent who would suffer the consequences.

"I thank you for your hospitality, Celia, despite my unforeseen presence," Melusine said.

Celia bowed her head graciously. "It isn't a bother at all, milady! Any friend of the prince is welcome here."

Melusine returned her smile and shifted her attention to the boy in front of Celia. Coco's judgment of her remained a mystery to Melusine. The boy would keep to himself all the time and observe in silence. She'd caught him staring at her once, smiled at him, and received nothing short of friendliness.

She reached out to ruffle the boy in his head but when he flinched, she pulled back.

"And you, too, Coco. I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

Coco responded with a low hum but that was better than nothing.

Well, that's a start. It's still progress. Maybe he'll warm up to me in time, she thought to herself, satisfied. After all, children fascinated her the most. No single child was a blueprint of another. They were the base of what an adult could be.

"Are you ready?" said the prince when his horse came to a stop beside her. At least, he was speaking to her now.

"Yes." Melusine put one foot in the stirrup and swung herself onto the horse's back. She reached below to Robby who seemed adamant to leave. He was the one who managed to tickle the soft spot in Coco.

Coco looked at Robby sadly. "Go now, buddy. We'll see each other again. I promise."

Robby's ears drooped. He nodded before he leaped and clung to Melusine's outstretched hand.

With one last look, the three departed and rode off the afternoon. Red and orange streaked the sky as the sun waved its goodbye to this side of the world to give way to the moon.

The wind started to get cold as they picked up speed to reach the castle before midnight.

"What will the king and queen say when we arrive?"

Edric blew a frustrated breath, throwing her a pointed look. "At least, I have an alibi. It's stated in the note I left my father that I'll be personally looking into the land that has been the sole interest of two feuding families over the years. But you? What is your excuse for leaving the castle to the king, more importantly the queen?"

Melusine scrunched her face. 

"THIS IS unacceptable!" Queen Harriet pounded her fist on the arm of her plush wingback chair. The color of the tweed matched the crimson shade splotching her cheeks. "Do you even know what this looks like from an outsider's point of view?"

A few hours before midnight, the king's major-domo stood waiting at the main castle's gigantic double doors to relay an order that the crown prince and a certain Lady Melissa were to report to the king and queen in the palace drawing room.

Apparently, the first event of the Social Season was two days away. And the only lady nonattending was Melusine.

King Adrian rubbed the queen's whitening knuckles. He pinned a stern gaze on his son, his lips curling down in disapproval. "Report, son."

Edric straightened in his seat and then nodded. The cogs in his head whirred as his perfectly rehearsed excuse ran in the background.

"The two families agreed to work with a mediator as per my advice. The mediator will have no legal power to choose the boundary, but he can help work through differences to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The success rate for mediation between the neighbors is relatively high, which is also less expensive than going to court."

The king raised a brow. "And this required Lady Melissa's presence?"

Edric pressed his lips in a thin line. His fingers curled to crumple the fabric of his dress pants.

"You are having a love affair with one of the lady suitors, son. What do you think the other ladies think? That their future king, their potential husband, is a philanderer? What is the purpose of having them here if your attention is set on only one? Might as well cancel the Social Season and delay it for another year." The queen massaged her temples and rested her head on the king's shoulder. "Adrian, you can't have an heir who portrays a bad image to the crown. Stefan will be more suitable—"

"As my oldest son, Edric remains the heir to the throne, Harriet. He hadn't caused any serious problems before so it would be unfair to change that now. However"—he turned his attention back to Edric —"the queen's right. You should have been more careful. At least until before the season starts. After that, we wouldn't care who you choose."

The queen huffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're always like that. So spoiling and forgiving. No wonder Edric has more control over you than you do over him."

Melusine sat as still as a statue. She moved not a finger or turned her head an inch, afraid to redirect the queen's wrath to her.

Something akin to fire flared beside her, searing her skin, as anger radiated off of Edric. Melusine risked a peek at him. A thousand daggers in the form of a glare punched holes in the queen's skin. The queen wore her unbothered and rough exterior as a shield.

First, Edric did not once call the queen his mother. And as far as Melusine could perceive in their recent interactions, their current relationship stemmed from a long history filled with bitterness and indifference.

"Go," King Adrian said, swishing his hand in dismissal. "It's getting late. I expect none like this will happen again, Edric." Then his gaze lingered longer on Melusine. The creases between his brow exhibited his disapproval. "And Lady Melissa, please, show some modesty. A fine lady makes a fine queen."

The king's words sent a blow to her chest. The insult was a low blow, but she couldn't counter his claims without further lengthening this debate. Or worse, she might say something she shouldn't by accident.

Edric pressed a hand to the small of her back, guiding her towards the door when the queen cleared her throat and said. "Distance."

He retracted his arm and let it fall to his side. Edric's fingers opened and closed as if restraining himself to lash at a thing.

A soft knock put them to stop. The door opened to reveal the major-domo as he bowed to the royal family. "Your Majesties, Prince Stefan wishes to speak to you."

The queen perked on her skin. Her pale complexion shined with a lively glow at the mention of the other prince.

Melusine looked at Edric with her brows furrowed, passing to him an unspoken question. He never once mentioned a brother.

"Send him in," said the queen.

The major-domo stepped out of the room to relay the message, then a new face entered.

Well. . . not entirely new.

Melusine's face was drained of color and Prince Stefan froze midstep. Tall and slender with short black hair that curled to the tips, the lavishly dressed man she bumped into at Landow was a prince. His face gave nothing away, neutral and inexpressive. No indication that he recognized her. He simply stared as if assessing.

"She's Lady Melissa, one of your brother's lady suitors," King Adrian said to break the silence.

"Oh?" Stefan took slow and agonizing steps towards her, stripping her bare of her lies. He must have remembered her from that morning. Worse, she told him she had a husband.

An invisible rain sprinkled over her head, hence, the sweat on her forehead.

Edric blocked Stefan's advances. The youngest grinned at his older brother. "I see. You have your eyes on this one."

The brothers bumped their fists and slammed their shoulders in a brotherly greeting. The princes shared a smile.

"It's good to have you back," Edric said.

"I feel the same." Stefan pulled his eyes away from his brother to look at the king and queen who were patiently watching the exchange. "Well, I see you were just about to head out. I won't keep you any longer, and I have matters to discuss with Father."

Edric dipped his head as goodbye as he made for the exit in rushed steps. Melusine followed, matching his strides, eager to escape suffocation from that room.

As the door closed behind them, Edric instantly pulled her to the side, and said in a whisper with equal parts anger and confusion, "What was that?"

Melusine put her hands up. "Listen." She recounted their first encounters, including her claim of having a husband, until they parted. Edric failed to hold back the barrage of curses raining out of his mouth.

Pacing back and forth, he mumbled to himself.

Melusine twisted her fingers. "Will he tell your Father and Mother?"

Edric pivoted and stalked towards her. "First of all, my Mother's dead. Stefan is the queen's son." He put two fingers up. "And second, my brother knows better than to tell them. However, I expect a confrontation from him no sooner than tonight."

"Will you tell him our secret?"

Edric stared long and hard. "Despite my rocky relationship with the queen, my bond with Stefan is nothing close to that. But our secret isn't something I can confide in to him. Now, let me think of something to fix this mess you made."