Of Queen and peanut cakes  

A girl walked lightly through the flower garden toward the eastern castle. Eliane Maris smiled brightly as she saw Althea reading a book on a wooden bench, accompanied by her two maids. 

"Althea!" 

Althea and her two maids turned their heads simultaneously to find Eliane approaching cheerfully. Many noble girls often looked at Althea with envy or mockery. Among them all, Eliane was the only one who sincerely considered Althea a friend. 

"Reading a book again?" Eliane asked, then sat beside Althea and commented, "How boring." 

Tyra and Noma merely smiled faintly, already accustomed to Althea and Eliane's closeness. They hurried off to prepare snacks, leaving the two close friends to chat privately. 

"What are you doing at the palace?" 

"His Majesty the King wanted to discuss something with Father," Eliane replied, then made a slight grimace. "I begged to come along so I could play with you." 

Althea nodded in understanding. Originally, the Maris ancestors were merely a wealthy merchant family. During the Great War of the Three Kingdoms, the Maris family donated nearly half their fortune to supply the crisis needs. In gratitude for their generosity, the previous king granted them a first-rank noble title as an honor. Although the Maris nobles were not involved in court affairs, their social status was highly respected. 

"What does His Majesty want to discuss with Marquis Maris?" Althea asked naturally. Eliane pondered for a moment, trying to recall. She glanced around and leaned in to whisper. 

"I only overheard a little, but His Majesty asked Father to find something." 

Althea frowned slightly at Eliane's words. For generations, the Maris nobles had collected various historical and highly valuable artifacts. They were known for their knowledge and ability to locate rare items. Whatever King Elvarion was searching for must be something important or special. 

"That's confidential information, okay?" Eliane said, winking meaningfully. 

Althea smiled at Eliane. Although Eliane was her junior by just two years, their relationship had grown so much that they could directly interpret each other's feelings without uttering a word.

Unintentionally, Eliane's gaze fell on the single rose-shaped hairpin in Althea's hair. The girl marveled in admiration. She had seen many beautiful, high-quality pieces of jewelry, but never one as simple yet elegant as this. 

"Your hairpin is truly lovely!" Eliane praised sincerely. 

Althea unconsciously touched the rose hairpin in her hair. When Noma and Tyra first saw it, they continuously complimented it, saying the same thing. They had even stubbornly insisted on putting it in her hair. 

"I'll give it to you if you want it." 

Eliane gave her hands a pronounced shake to indicate that she was not taking it, and said, "It is not my type. I must have a conviction that such a hairpin is designed to match your beauty only." 

Althea wanted to say something, but couldn't find the right words to refute it. A strange feeling arose as she recalled that the hairpin had been a gift from someone. 

'There's no way Cassian Greer deliberately made a custom hairpin for her, right?' 

Yet, considering its quality and material, Althea knew very well that the hairpin was far from cheap. It couldn't have been randomly bought and given away without thought. 

Her wandering thoughts were interrupted when Tyra and Noma returned with snacks. The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting with Eliane about many things.

.

.

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Prince Caelan walked into the palace, followed by his advisor. Several maids paused their work and bowed shyly in greeting. After passing a few buildings, Caelan's steps halted when he caught sight of a silhouette that had piqued his curiosity over the past few days. 

Immediately, Caelan changed direction. He hurriedly took a path leading toward where Althea was walking. Their steps both stopped as they crossed paths. 

Althea and Caelan bowed slightly in formal royal protocol. Althea gave only a small nod when turning to the prince's advisor behind him, who also lowered his head. In that brief moment, the girl deduced that the two had come to visit King Elvarion. 

"What a coincidence to meet you, Princess," Caelan said naturally, causing his advisor to nearly choke on a cough. 

"Is there something I can assist you with?" Althea asked without preamble. 

"Actually, we're a bit lost trying to find our way to King Elvarion's study and haven't encountered a single servant." Caelan glanced around once more before turning back to the girl before him with an expression of slight embarrassment and helplessness.

"If it's not too much trouble, would Princess Althea be willing to show us the way?" 

Althea fell silent for a moment before nodding politely. Indeed, servants were instructed to limit their activities around the palace's study and library areas. 

Caelan hid a smile and followed Althea as she led them down a long corridor flanked by towering pillars, his advisor trailing behind. Naturally matching her pace, Caelan stole a glance at the girl beside him, racking his brain for the right topic of conversation. 

"The weather in Estharen is quite sunny," Caelan began, "A bit different from Calethra, where it's always snowy." 

"Really?" Althea responded with mild interest. "I've heard Calethra has beautiful eternal snow peaks." 

"That's true," Caelan replied proudly—or rather, proud that he had successfully struck a topic that caught her attention.

"The Nivalis Mountains have peaks of perpetual snow. How did Princess Althea come to know about that?" 

"I've only read about it in a few books." 

"So, Princess Althea enjoys reading?" Caelan asked enthusiastically. 

Althea gave a small nod. "Just a way to pass the time." 

"That's wonderful. I, too, enjoy reading," Caelan added with vigor. 

The prince's advisor, walking behind them, discreetly wrinkled his nose. Prince Caelan's true nature was somewhat serious and deliberate. Since when had he suddenly become so amiable and spirited? 

Unconsciously, Althea stopped in front of a grand, imposing wooden door. Caelan was about to say something when the door suddenly opened, interrupting him. A beautiful woman stepped out of the room. They immediately bowed slightly in greeting to Queen Selmira. 

Queen Selmira was momentarily startled but quickly composed her dignified expression. She offered a polite smile to Caelan and his advisor before casting only a fleeting glance at Althea. 

"Has Prince Caelan come to see His Majesty the King?" 

Caelan nodded courteously. "I've come to discuss a few matters." 

Queen Selmira nodded in understanding and gestured for Caelan and his advisor to proceed into the room. Caelan turned to Althea with a bright smile. "Thank you for guiding us. Next time, let's talk longer." 

Althea gave a brief nod in response. The sight of their friendly interaction made Queen Selmira's polite smile vanish the moment the door closed firmly behind them. She shot Althea a sharp glance and issued a curt command. 

"Come with me!" 

Althea, completely in a subservient manner with no uttering sound, calmly executed Queen Selmira's plan. They met in a place where they made the only pair and stopped. The queen turned around abruptly and very threateningly toward Althea, throwing a death stare at her.

"Mind your behavior!" 

Althea lifted her face with a puzzled look. "I don't understand what Your Majesty means." 

Queen Selmira's lips curled slightly. In disgust and scorn, she lifted Althea's chin with her index finger, looking at her.

"Don't believe that I don't see the way you are trying to seduce Prince Caelan!" she said, elongating the words with her grip, before letting go.

"Do you really believe you deserve to be treated like a princess just because King Elvarion has shown you a shred of kindness?" 

Althea met the queen's gaze calmly, without a trace of nervousness or fear. Her expression remained unchanged. She lowered her eyes again, maintaining decorum. 

"Your Majesty must be mistaken. I have made no effort to attract Prince Caelan's attention." 

"Just like a little whore," Queen Selmira sneered. "Pretending innocence while relying on your looks to lure others in." 

Althea showed no reaction, as if the insult had not been directed at her. The queen's already fired-up and calm posture of Selmira served only to add more fuel to the fire. That was the same temperament that Elryia showed, which Selmira hated the most.

Queen Selmira laughed with scorn, "Don't be so futuristic!" Then she changed to a prevention mode and said, "Just a reminder, you are born to take responsibility for your parents' sins. Clear?"

With that, the queen smiled again, her expression shifting back to dignified benevolence. She cast one last contemptuous glance before walking away. 

Walking through the flower garden toward the eastern castle, Althea suddenly halted when she spotted a familiar figure. The young man turned as if sensing her gaze. When their eyes met, Cassian merely smirked indifferently. Althea quickly approached, throwing a questioning look at her two maids, who had just stepped out of the room upon seeing her return. 

"General Cassian?" 

"Princess," Tyra immediately spoke up, noticing Althea's confusion. "General Cassian came to deliver something important." 

Althea's bewilderment faded, replaced by mild surprise. She began to wonder—could what Cassian brought be crucial information about Valmere, which she had inquired about some time ago? 

"Let's go inside," Althea said politely. 

Cassian suppressed a smirk and followed Althea as she led him into her sitting room. The girl gestured for him to take a seat and even instructed her maids to serve refreshments. 

"May I know what important information General Cassian has brought?" 

Cassian raised an eyebrow with a complicated expression, then gave a faint smile. "Did I say I came with information?" 

Althea, who had been waiting expectantly, was taken aback. "But didn't—" 

"Your maid said I brought information?" Cassian interrupted, correcting her while pouring himself a drink.

Noma and Tyra could only open and close their mouths like confused koi fish. General Cassian had indeed only said he came bearing something important. They had assumed it was crucial information and thus invited him to wait. 

"Well... General Cassian only said he brought something important," Tyra and Noma squeaked in correction, making Althea shoot her maids an exasperated look. 

"Then, what is this important thing?" Althea asked, her tone far from enthusiastic. 

Cassian smirked in amusement and pulled out a neatly wrapped paper package from beside his seat. No one had really noticed earlier that the young man had been carrying a paper bag in his hand. Instantly, Tyra and Noma exchanged puzzled glances. 

"Had too many peanut cakes and didn't know where to finish them." 

Althea nearly dropped her jaw, then took a deep breath to maintain her composure. The man in front of her always had a way of shattering her dignified demeanor. 

"Honorable General Cassian, the eastern castle is not a place one can freely come and go as they please," Althea said firmly, emphasizing her words before continuing, "My palace is not the backyard of the Greer mansion." 

Cassian merely shrugged indifferently and tore open the paper package in front of him. He arranged the peanut cakes on the available snack plate, then took a small bite of one. 

Just as Althea, thoroughly annoyed, was about to continue her reprimand, she was abruptly silenced when the man pushed a piece of peanut cake into her mouth. Tyra and Noma, standing behind her, paled in fear that Althea would explode in anger any second. 

But who would have guessed? The girl only blinked in surprise, then helplessly chewed the cake in her mouth. 

"Sweet treats can improve a bad mood," Cassian remarked with a faint smile. 

Althea felt the peanut cake instantly spread its sweet aroma in her mouth. The nuts and honey were blended in perfect proportion—the sweetness wasn't overwhelming, and it tasted surprisingly pleasant even to her palate, which usually disliked sugary foods. Strangely enough, the foul mood left by Queen Selmira's earlier words vanished just like that. 

Seeing the girl before him lost in enjoyment, Cassian subtly curled the corner of his lips. He waited for Althea to swallow the bite, then stood up with a satisfied expression. 

"Since I've delivered the important item, I'll take my leave now." 

Althea could only watch speechlessly as Cassian's retreating figure walked out of the room. Did that man think she was a dumping ground? A hairpin, peanut cakes, and... Althea suddenly remembered the wolf fur cloak.

…