A Love Letter 02

Cailina dismissed Lai and was left alone to read the rest of the contents. The Crown Prince wrote a piece of much personal information about the Imperial Nobles that her father failed to collect.

As her father's documents about the Nobles were topics she could discuss with them; the Prince's information was about their mannerism and the things that would either make them love her or despise her with all their hearts.

She started reading about the Imperial Duke Clerham. She met him during her seventh birthday, to which her child self concluded that the old man was a nice person. She did not sense any hidden intentions at him, he was all smiles and wanting the best for her.

But behind the warm smile was the threatening side of the Duke. He was known for, or at least the Prince's sources said so, passively threatening even a royal. 

He was good at what he does, even his grandsons developed this personality of his.

Cailina knew that Duke Clerham wanted to have Edward be the Crown Prince. She never knew that it would be this much. 

Edward had begun to have a great influence over some cities of the Empire, and the Crown Prince was aware of it, but he couldn't do anything to put a stop to it as he was sent by the Emperor to another kingdom for years.

Was it the Emperor's plan to stir the people into choosing a different heir?

Cailina shook her head, it wouldn't be. All the Emperors wanted their direct descendants to be the ones to inherit the throne. So why must the Emperor do this?

He was blatantly saying that his only son grew up in a foreign land and was not fit for the throne. 

If the Crown Prince would fall, so does her family. As the Grandis made a blood pact with the first Emperor to protect and preserve the bloodline.

But this covenant was broken when the incident that shook the Empire happened decades ago. Her father went through many deaths in restoring the family.

Duke Grandis has yet to tell her the history of the events. She knew she needed to prepare herself for the worst. She was aware that her family was never in the path of goodness like the Clerham's ways.

The only thing she knew about her family's dealings was they were in charge of cleaning up the path and eliminating the threats that would hinder the royal bloodline.

Cailina continued to read as most of the things written to it was helpful information so she could not make a fool out of herself during the banquet.

After studying the Prince's second letter, she stared at the last letter in the chest. She wanted to rest and process the things she had just learned, but something was pushing her to continue.

She sighed, she truly feels unwell and not in the state to deal with such heavy matters. 

Aris's smiling face flashed in her mind. 

It made her stopped from reading the last one as her heart ached for an unknown reason. She shook her head as she composed herself, but her breathing began to shorten and the pain gradually became unbearable that she yelled for Lai.

Her attendant rushed to her side and saw his master lying cold on the floor. He tried to wake her up, but there was no response.

Lai roared at the knights to fetch the family doctor.

Everyone was in panicking and worrying for the Lady.

This never happened as Cailina was well taken care of. Lai carried Cailina to her room as he barked orders at the servants to act faster.

~

In the mountains where the Grandis' mansion resided at its foot. The rustling of leaves was heard through the dense forest. It wasn't the wind, but it was wolves chasing a man with blood eyes.

Aris coughed out a warm crimson fluid out of his mouth. He had been running away from the people that his uncle sent. He made sure to leave in the residence without leading the assailants to make a mess in the mansion.

It happened while he was reading Cailina's letters about life in the Capital. He was glad that she still remembered him and it rested some of his worries, but as he was enjoying his Lady's writings, he caught a whiff of a familiar scent.

He dodged fallen trees as he tried to lose the wolves from his trail, but they were set on ending his life at the moment they had the opportunity.

He only hoped that Cailina would be safe.