Iftia: Lyx Palace, Study

• Rowan •

"Your Highness, news came that the Princess of Thethia will be visiting with the Royal Secretariat of Thethia today. His Majesty has requested for you to host their visit." Ilias said.

"What's the reason behind the sudden visit?" he asked, his tone filled with reluctance and annoyance.

"It wasn't stated. The Royal Secretariat of Thethia simply arranged for a visit mentioning that the King of Thethia had an important message to be delivered," Ilias replied. 

"I need to inform Elianna about this. Meanwhile, gather the rest to head towards the Royal Palace," he sighed.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ilias left the study together with him.

Parting his way with Ilias, he turned and walked in the other direction towards where the medical office would be. Standing at her door, he carefully knocked on her door and a muffled voice sounded from within that shouted, "Come in!" 

When he entered the office, she was attending to one of the soldiers who had injured his arm. That poor man's face was all scrunched from drinking the medicine while Elianna bandaged him up. The medicine must've been too bitter for him to realise that he had entered the room until he teased, "Thomas, isn't this a good lesson to be more cautious when you're training?" 

Startled, the young soldier bowed towards him, "Y-Your Highness!" 

"Your Highness, could you be feeling unwell?" Elianna asked, seemingly surprised by the sudden visit. 

Rowan only smiled, "I'm all good, you can finish attending to Thomas first." 

"Yes, please give me a moment." 

Rowan nodded and settled down in the chair beside her desk. The young soldier left after she was done with bandaging him and she removed her gloves to wash her hands before walking towards him. Worry etched in her expression as she asked, "Rowan, why did you visit suddenly? Are you feeling unwell or have your injured yourself anywhere?" 

"I'm fine," he said, his hand reached out and gestured towards the seat on the other side of her desk. "Take a seat, love. I have something important to tell you."

She immediately walked around the table and sat down. Her eyes remained on him, trying to read his expression but a frown appeared when she noticed his silence, seeming expecting that all that he was going to tell him wouldn't be anything she would enjoy hearing. Rowan waited for her to sit before he broke the silence, "Thethia's making a visit to Iftia's Royal Grounds today." 

Her eyes widened at the sudden news and her hands closed into a grip so tight that her knuckles paled at the force that she was clenching. Her voice was sharper when she asked, "Who's visiting?" 

"Princess Elizabeth and the Royal Secretariat of Thethia."

She let out a small sigh of relief that he didn't understand. He was sure that she would feel uneasy at the news that Princess Elizabeth would be visiting, but she seemed slightly relieved at the moment. Rowan waited for her to ask further and she continued, "Do you happen to know why they're here?" 

"The agenda was not revealed," he said. "I'm worried that they'll come to Lyx and for this period of time, would you like to stay in the Royal Medical Department?" 

"Would I be a bother if I choose to stay in Lyx?" 

"You're never a bother, love," Rowan smiled, wondering why would she be bothered with such an idea. He wanted to send her to the Royal Medical Department only because that would be the easiest way for her to avoid meeting with the Thethian emissary and the princess herself. 

"If that's the case, be careful whenever you're out of the Medical Office. Do not leave without your veil," he reminded, standing up and walking around the table to her side. His fingers tucked her hair behind her ear and he angled her head to face him. His thumbs caressed the round of her cheeks and he leaned down to kiss her forehead. A soft blush surfaced against her pale skin and she was staring at him with her bright amber eyes that sparkled with surprise. He mentioned, "I've got to go and I'll see you in the evening." 

She nodded and walked him to the door, waving at him as he left to be on his way to the Royal Palace to greet the unexpected guests that had shown themselves up at such an unprecedented moment. 

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Iftia: Lyx Palace, Medical Office

• Elianna •

"Doctor Everson."

Elianna was busy filling in the medical report for the injured soldier for this morning when someone addressed her. She hurriedly reached towards the cabinet behind to grab her veil and placed it on. In a clear voice, she permitted for the visitor to enter, "Come in!" 

She was expected another injured soldier or a maidservant bringing a message to her but it was neither. The one who entered her medical office was Ray, the Second Prince's First Knight.

"His Highness, the Second Prince has requested for your presence in Nvre Palace."

"May I ask what is it for?" she queried.

"Nothing for you to be worried about, Doctor Everson," Ray replied.

"If it is nothing serious, I would like to reject the offer. Please give my gratitude to the Second Prince for his friendly invitation," she said.

Elianna knew how Rowan reacted when he found out that she visited Nvre Palace the other time. She also sensed that the relationship between the two princes was not amicable and if she wanted to continue to stay in Lyx, it would be wise to stay away from Nvre Palace and from the Second Prince. 

"Doctor Everson, it's a friendly request and His Highness would really like to have a talk with you," Ray mentioned. "I've let Sir Ilias know about it and I'll be sure to escort you back to Lyx safely after the meeting." 

"Oh," she frowned. "Alright then, please lead the way, Sir Ray."

She slung a small medicine bag over her shoulders as she followed being Ray to the carriage that brought her towards Nvre Palace. The trip took a while but when they arrived in Nvre, the tension that she remembered had disappeared. The surroundings felt peaceful and the guards treated her normally as though nothing ever happened. She was led into the receiving room and the Second Prince was already there when she entered. Elianna bowed politely, though slightly unwillingly, "Your Highness, I heard that you have requested for my presence." 

"Ray, it told you it was an invitation," the Second Prince sighed before turning towards her. "If Ray had been rude to you, I apologise in his stead." 

"No, Sir Ray wasn't rude at all," Elianna gave a wry smile. "I see that Your Highness has recovered. I think I should take my leave now." 

She was about to turn and leave until the Second Prince stood in a hurry as he grabbed onto her arm and requested, "Please wait—" 

Elianna could've easily avoided his hold but she decided that it would be wiser to not offend him since she didn't know if this prince would be a friend or foe. Though her gaze turned sharper when she looked towards him, almost demanding for an explanation. 

"Sorry," he panicked, letting go of her arm immediately. "I simply wanted to thank you for the other time and I also wanted to ask you a few things." 

"Please ask, Your Highness," Elianna remained defensive, guessing that he might want information about Rowan and if that was what this prince wanted, she had nothing to offer.

"I-I don't know how to ask..." he stuttered.

And she waited.

"Is my brother alright?"

Her head turned sharply and she stared at the Second Prince, eyes wide. The question caught her unguarded and what appeared to be more surprising was his face that flushed bright red when she stared at him. Suppressing a laugh, she asked, "Why did you think His Highness is not alright?"

"Um... Because he marched into Nvre for the first time in nine years looking scary as hell?"

She burst out laughing, "I-I'm sorry—"

"Oh goodness, why are you laughing?" the Second Prince panicked, but sadness filled his tone when he asked, "Did I ask something unnecessary?" 

"N-No—" Elianna was still trying to make sense of everything when she looked towards the prince who was awkwardly rubbing the back of his head with his hand. Smiling at him, she said, "Rowan is alright." 

"You addresses him by his name?" he asked, curious.

"Please pardon me, I meant His Highness," she coughed, giving a knock on her head for forgetting the formalities. He still looked at her with curious eyes, anticipating her answer.

"When we are alone, he allowed me to call him by his name," she sighed as she explained.

"What about him? What does he call you?" the Second Prince probed excitedly, seemingly to have a great interest in this topic.

Eli. Love.

She could hear Rowan's voice when she thought about the Second Prince's question. Pink blossomed on her cheeks and that made the Second Prince even more nosy as he cast a knowing smirk at her.

"I don't take those formalities too seriously too and I really hope to make friends with you," he smiled. "I heard that you're nineteen this year and that we're same in age. If it's not rude of me, can I also address you by your name?" 

She was slightly taken aback but she didn't see a problem in that because it was normal for someone of his rank to simply address her by her name. Nodding slightly, she allowed, "Yes, Your Highness, you may address me as Elianna."

"Cut it with the 'Your Highness', just call me Matthias."

She spent the afternoon with Matthias talking about various things, but mostly he asked her about Rowan. She could feel Matthias' concern for Rowan and it made her wondered what created the tension in their relationship.

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