~ The Dark Mage ~

"Could it be?" A noble lady asked, fanning herself with an ostentatious fan. "An engagement between the Crown Prince of the Aurosilio Empire and our lovely little Princess?"

Duchess Rowena frowned at her remark, paying attention to the crowds of people that were instructed to calmly exit the banquet hall. The King had abruptly ended the night's festivities with no explanation, but the Silvermondian knights were acting far too suspicious for it to be over nothing.

"It would make the most sense politically," Her friend whispered under the chatter of the crowd. "Her Highness could be married off to the Crown Prince as a way to further support the alliance between our Empires."

"Yes, yes," The lady replied, pursing her pink lips. "It is quite pitiful, I must say. There are several adequate suitors in our Empire alone. I do wish the Princess could've stayed within our lands."

Duchess Rowena clicked her tongue. "As of right now, Her Highness has only shared a dance with the Prince of the Aurosilio Empire. One should not speak so freely when a formal announcement has not even been considered."

The Duchess had taken quite a liking to the Princess as her teacher. Winter was different from the other noble children she had taught. She was extremely clever, kind and focused on her studies. She was mature and elegant, treating those of inferior titles with kindness and appreciation. Unlike the other noble children, Winter never abused her position nor looked down on her tutors.

The Duchess was a prominent figure in high society. Due to her position, she held the most influence as a socialite. The only person who could stand above her was Princess Winter. The Duchess fully intended to help Winter navigate the rough waters of the upper-class. She automatically shut down rumours about her, protecting Winter to the best of her abilities.

"Oh," One of the ladies walking with them said. "Duchess, correct me if I am mistaken. You do tutor the Princess, right? What is she like?"

The Duchess frowned from behind her fan, watching the knights pull people aside for searches. "Her Highness, Princess Winter, is a respectable and dignified individual. She is refined in all aspects of being a young lady."

The Duchess had promised the King that internal affairs regarding the Princess' education would be kept a secret. She, herself, knew more than anymore how fast gossip circulated amongst the upper-class. As such, when people questioned her, she would tell them the same things.

The lady giggled, fluttering her fan. "Oh my, Duchess. Please do be more specific."

"Yes, yes," Another lady added. "We admire the beautiful Princess. We only wish to know more about her!"

The Duchess feigned a smile. "Her Highness is very clever and an admirable student. She has wonderful manners and nearly perfect etiquette."

"Oh my," The giggling lady replied, batting her eyelashes. "As expected of our Princess! Say, have you seen the Prince? That child has the most gorgeous golden-"

The Duchess narrowed her eyes at the knights by the door, ignoring the idle chatter of the ladies. She noticed that they were only pulling aside mages. What could it be? She frowned, hoping Winter was safe.

~***~

"Well?" The man sitting atop the throne asked, swirling the red wine in his goblet.

"He is definitely there," Prince Henrik replied, kneeling before him. "I could sense his black magic. It was similar... no it was the same. The mana was the same as the Dark Mage's."

King Aurosilio smiled drunkenly, sipping the bitter liquid and allowing it to burn the back of his throat.

"Father," Prince Henrik replied, his eyes downcast. "We must alert King Del Silvermond. If it is the Dark Mage, then together perhaps-"

"No need," The King said with slurred words, waving his hand back and forth. "You said the banquet ended early, yes? If you were able to detect it, anyone with strong mana would've felt his presence. Caderyn probably noticed right away and is investigating now."

Prince Henrik bit his lip in agitation.

The King sighed, studying his son's anxious expression carefully. "Did you not gift the Princess the necklace with a protection spell? That necklace is a relic of our Empire. It will keep her safe."

Henrik shook his head, the strands of his slick navy blue that had fallen loose moved with him. "She didn't accept it."

"Child," The King told him softly. "If the King asks for our assistance, we will help. However, you should not meddle with the affairs of the Silvermondian Empire otherwise. Now that the Dark Mage no longer resides within our Empire, we are not to concern ourselves with his existence. It is a problem that no longer applies to us."

"But Winter!" Prince Henrik protested, his eyes pooling with worry.

The King sighed again at the sight of his lovesick child. "We have no proof that this man even exists, my child. Besides the events linked to dark magic and the feeling you detect from the similar mana at the crime scenes, there's no proof."

"The accidents stopped abruptly, father." Prince Henrik replied in a pleading tone. "They stopped all of a sudden around the time I first detected his mana at the Silvermondian Empire. I've been investigating, but every trace of his magic I've followed has led to nothing. I'm convinced he's hiding there, covering up his tracks."

"Continue your investigations in secret," The King sighed running a hand down his forlorn face. "That way, you can also stay near the girl you love so much."

Prince Henrik nodded.

"If the King finds out you've been using the portal freely, you know what will happen."

"I'll be careful, father."

Prince Henrik thought carefully about the mana he felt at Winter's banquet. What shook his core the most was the feeling of death it emitted. The Dark Mage had used his magic at the banquet. It was brief, but Henrik was certain it was there.

It was similar to the mana that came from Winter. He was sure they felt somewhat alike. Broken. Abnormal. Wrong. While Winter's magic felt broken and misplaced, the Dark Mage's magic felt eery and wrong.

They were alike yet worlds apart at the same time. Both were unnatural, but Winter's magic wasn't bone rattling or eery. Her magic felt interesting, like a broken puzzle or a jammed music box. The Dark Mage's magic felt wrong, like its existence reeked of death and misfortune.

"I need to figure out how to bring Winter here," He sighed. "If I propose, then she could come here under the guise of having to take bridal lessons."

"That is, if the King will allow it. I hear he cherishes his daughter a great deal."

Prince Henrik clenched his teeth. He would have to find a way to prove that the Dark Mage resided within the Silvermondian Empire. Only then, for her own protection, would the King allow Winter to come to Aurosilio.

Prince Henrik vowed to keep Winter safe and away from the mage who murdered his mother.