The Letter in Question

*King Alexander*

By the time Ana's delicate voice rounded out the last words over the sound of the bubbling fountain, Alexander could only find one question come to mind. He licked his lips before clearing his throat, finally breaking his, until now, grave silence.

"This letter." Alexander began, checking his tone to be soft and inquisitive, opposite the rage burning inside him now. He was desperately trying to keep that in line for the moment.

"Did you happen to hold onto it?"

"No, I did as you suggested. I threw it into the fire that very day." Ana returned, her voice quiet as she looked down at hands pinching the hem of her shawl. 

"I'm sorry. Should I have kept it?"

"Well, it would've helped. " Alexander admitted with a heavy sigh, pressing his brows together, vexed. It would have helped a lot. But he wasn't about to blame her for it. Ana was twice a victim as it was.

Those bastards…Whoever had sent the letter was sure clever. They covered their tracks well. And that was all the more reason for him to clench his fist tight enough to dig nails into his pink palm because it had almost worked. 

Almost. But for the grace of Nicoli's persistence, that is. And Alexander could only let out a silent sigh of relief from the depth of his chest. But even with that saving grace, his mind was troubled with questions.

Who would want to wedge between them? Was it out of politics? Did someone want to separate ties with Dawny and Nochten?

He could think of some possible culprits. For example, it was no secret that opposition existed in the Nochten courts. They would not like to see the two rivals become allies. That and such an alliance would mean strengthening Ana's power.

A support that might counter others' plans. Alexander pushed his lips into a frown, reflecting on the tall teen at the party.

He was still around Ana, even despite his warning with the sword at his throat.

It seems my threat wasn't enough last time. He made a mental note that he should have another 'word' with the boy. 

Speaking of words, Alexander recalled where he saw the teen last. Mykhol was at Belinda's table. They were speaking innocently enough to each other. But were they? Alexander had to press his tongue to the roof of his mouth as darker thoughts came over him.

There was still another option he had yet to consider. Whoever wanted to drive them apart was not for political gains. But personal. And there was only one person Alexander could see willing enough to forge a letter.

But he hoped to god he was wrong. Alexander swallowed with a shaky breath before moving to clasp his hands over his knees. Finally, looking back to find the petite girl still pinching the end of her shawl next to him.

"Have you told any of this to Nicoli?" 

"No. I haven't spoken any of it to anyone. Just as you said." Ana solemnly nodded, her bloodred eyes looking down to her feet for a beat.

"Should I now? " 

"No. I think this is better to be kept between us for now. " Alexander sighed, moving to scratch into his thick brown beard. It would be best to say nothing to anyone until he could get Johan to look into this first. 

An investigation was in due order. Alexander sighed again, moving to stand back up on his boots, his eyes looking ahead to the party just beyond the hedges.

"For now, we won't talk about this again, alright?

"I…understand." She voiced after a moment before getting to stand. Alexander held out his hand for her, but she either didn't see it or still didn't trust him. She got up on her own, clinking the gold chains on her shawl as she did. 

Then she turned to swing the red shawl around her as she spun curtsy.

"Then I will have the carriages ready to leave by tonight. " 

"What? You're leaving? Already?"Alexander gapped after the bowing girl, incredulous. "But why?" He couldn't stop the question from dropping from his lips. 

Ana rose to meet his eye with a surprisingly steady gaze for one of only 12. "Did you not mean to dismiss me? I have gone against your wishes." Her response was so even toned, so reasonable, and again Alexander couldn't resist blinking after her dumbfounded.

"When did I ever say I wanted you to go?" Alexander's voice hitched higher as he could feel new wrinkles dig into his forehead. What in the world was she thinking?

How was she still misunderstanding everything? Alexander bit down his lip in frustration at finding the girl's blank but expectant stare all the more vexing. Did everything he said just go in one ear and out the other? Who knows. But he had to make sure this time it wouldn't. 

"No, my daughter, I've said nothing of the sort." Alexander looked directly into her eyes with every one of sincerity and warmth his blue eyes could ever hold. Willing her to understand. To hear him at last.

"Daughter? " Ana repeated, blinking up at him a moment, her mouth slightly open. But just as Alexander could cry out for joy, she was shaking her head with the click of the gold chains.

"No. I disobeyed you." Ana insisted as if that was the only single thought in her pretty little head. "I need to go." Her voice rang simply.

"You-" For the love of all that is good in this world. Alexander bit down on his lip, clapping his hand to his face a moment. Needing to hold in the urge to bark back at her for a steady moment before finally letting it out in a rush of air through his lips.

"Just like your mother. Only hearing what you want to hear."

Ana blinked blankly back at him. "I don't follow-. " her pitch lifted in a small yelp as he pulled her up in one swift motion to carry her in his arms, hoop skirt or not, before she was able to look back up at him. 

"What are you- " 

"You should eat more, daughter. " She's too damn light for her age. Alexander shuffled her small and birdlike frame in his arms to press her closer. Allowing a light smell of sandalwood to hit his senses. Her hair oil, Alexander assumed, was a rather mature scent, but then again, it matched her well. 

Clean yet sturdy, mature even at the young age of 12. Alexander could only shake his head, a laugh rumbling from deep within his chest. His feet pumping a bit faster as he zoomed past the hedges of ivy, towards the exit, and back to the sounds of the party ahead.

"Please, put me down, your majesty." Ana, finally growing aware of what was happening, darted her eyes from the entrance back to him with horror." If you're still mad, I – "

"I'm not mad at you, Ana. I never was. "

"But I've disobeyed –"

"A letter from five years ago is nothing to me. Let's live in the present now."

"The… present?" Ana echoed, blinking up at him as if unsure what she had just heard, but that only made Alexander step faster. His heart thrashed against his chest, suddenly driven by a need to prove that to her.

It did not take long before they were spotted out of the maze. But it was Nicoli who was the first to bound over, bouncing his shake of curls in each step until he stopped breathlessly in front of them.

"Ana, father! "Nicoli rushed out between breaths before throwing a smile that nearly swallowed his eyes in the folds.

"I was wondering how long you'd be."

"Ah, Nicoli, my son. Come aboard. "Alexander immediately brightened and, without a second thought, shuffled the tiny girl to one arm easily before extending the other. 

"What is – "Ana's voice caught on her lips just as her eyes widened with amazement, and Nicoli didn't even hesitate. The impish boy quickly scurried up his arm to join his sister. And Alexander instantly warmed, curling his arms around both of them before turning to the party.

"You know, I've been thinking," Alexander announced, his sapphire eyes scanning over the gaggle of little girls in their little hats and puffy dresses, blinking back at him.

"Nochten doesn't hold balls. " 

"Yeah. Ana told me they didn't when we snuck out to go dance – " Nicoli added before the petite girl struck out to cup his mouth.

"Snuck out?" He raised a brow to both of his children. Eyeing Nicoli, who was carefully dodging his glance before finding the girl a little paler.

"No, we did not, sir." Ana shook her head firmly, shaking the chains. But just as she let go of Nicoli's mouth, she was blinking back up."But why are we talking about this? "

"Never been to a what? " A heavy Almony accent cut over before Alexander could glance over the giant bounding their way. Hidi swung her sunflower yellow braid with each confident stride of her pink dress.

"Is this true? Anastasia has never been to a ball before?" She was asking.

"You are correct, Hildenberg." Alexander purposely raised his voice, intentionally invoking that quick exchange of excitement to ripple across the young girls' faces behind her. All according to his plan.

"Never? "Hidi, meanwhile, gasped before turning those peridot eyes onto Ana. "Oh, this cannot do. We can't have that at all. "

"My thoughts exactly." Alexander boomed again before shuffling both children higher into his arms. Nicoli giggled with a free smile on his lips while Ana seemed to hold her arms in, unsure as to what any of this was. 

All the more why, Alexander couldn't stop his lips from curling into a full smile.

"We'll have a ball."

"A ball!" A bright and audible gasp surrounded the lawn before the girls came rushing in a flurry of pastel dresses. The eager and innocent cheers surrounded them as they gushed and swayed.

"We are to have a ball!" 

"A ball? "Ana stuttered, stiffening in his arm. But Alexander reassured her with a gentle pat on her back. Pulling her tighter to his chest till he could smell that sandalwood again. Again, noting how small she felt compared to Nicoli. 

She did need to eat more. Alexander would have to remind the maids to make sure her portions were bigger, but that was a small concern for something more prominent. And just so, he flicked his eyes back to the grand table tucked to the far side.

Unlike the high-pitched shrills of girls bouncing around them in their dresses, their spot on the grass looked quieter. A subdued surprise, somber and hushed with tension, hung over the two main ones.

Belinda stiffened, meeting his blue eyes. But if she was uncomfortable, she hid it well enough, plastering on her poised lip-stained smile. The teen only jutted his shoulders back before tilting his head down in a light but respectful bow. Again, they both made it seem as if everything was harmless and innocent.

Or was that just how they wanted it to be? Alexander couldn't help but hold both his children a little closer to him protectively.